Register for the Ohio Women Veterans Conference now!

Ohio Women Veterans Conference to be Held in August 2019 (Columbus) – Registration is now open for the biennial Ohio Women Veterans Conference to be held Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. Optional pre-conference activities will kick off the conference on Friday, August 9.

The theme is #SheServedToo and the conference is expected to attract 1,000 women veterans from throughout Ohio and surrounding states. This year’s daylong conference will feature 25 speakers and 12 breakout sessions; more than 75 exhibitors, vendors and participants; an area that focuses on mental, physical, spiritual and emotional care; a job and career readiness fair and a women veterans art exhibit.

And during Friday’s optional pre-conference activities, attendees will visit some of Columbus’ hallmark visitor destinations. 12 breakout sessions – more than ever before. Some of the new topics include:

The Veteran Entrepreneur o Public Service as a Career Choice

Sense of Purpose through Volunteerism o Cultural Change in the Military and Civilian Sectors

The Changing Landscape of Women’s Healthcare at the VA 25+ speakers, panelists and moderators – more than ever before. Ohio speakers include: o Deborah Ashenhurst, Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director

Dr. Janet Porter, the Columbus VA’s Women’s Health Services Deputy Director o Charlynda Scales, CEO of Mutt’s Sauce and recipient of Bob Evan’s Farms 2017 Heroes to CEO Award o The Honorable Cheryl Brooks Sullivan, the only African American elected county treasurer in Ohio

National speakers include:

Lyla Kohistany, Director of Government Programs at the Cultural Intelligence Center and Co-Founder of PROMOTE – a nonprofit organization providing mentorship and executive leadership development education to women and men in the U.S. Special Operations community. She is a George W. Bush Veteran Leader Scholar.

Meaghan Mobbs, serves as a Presidential appointee to the United States Military Academy, West Point, Board of Visitors and is a George W. Bush Veteran Leader Scholar, Tillman Military Scholar, and a Noble Argus and National Military Family Association Scholarship recipient.

This year’s theme is #SheServedToo and a focus of this year’s conference is health, wellness and resiliency.

New features include:

HER2 Room: Health, Empowerment, Restoration and Relaxation. The HER² Room focuses on mental, physical, spiritual and emotional care and is being coordinated by the Women Veteran Program Managers from Ohio’s five VAs.

Women Veterans Art Exhibit – featuring works in various mediums from 15 Ohio artists. The 2019 Expo with 55 exhibitors in 10 categories including: o Community Services & Advocacy

Financial Services o Health and Personal Care o Veteran Mentoring o Veteran Service Organizations

Veteran Destinations Job and Career Readiness Fair o Veteran friendly businesses, representatives from higher education and HR professionals conducting mock interviews, and critiquing resumes and LinkedIn profiles

Friday, August 9 Pre-Conference Activities – Mix, Muster and Mingle

Two free afternoon tours – the Ohio Statehouse (1 pm) and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (3 pm)

Dinner at Columbus’ Hofbrauhaus (At attendees’ cost)

Ohio Women Veterans VIP Night at the Columbus Clippers (At attendees’ cost – registration required)

Network Nightcap in the Short North Arts District (At attendees’ cost) Registration Registration is now open at OhioVets.gov.

Cost for the conference is $34.80 and includes all sessions, exhibits, continental breakfast, lunch and daylong beverage service. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-ohio-women-veterans-conference-tickets-60275623011

Hotel Rooms

A hotel room block is available at The Springhill Suites Columbus OSU at 1421 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, with a group rate of $129. Call 614-297-9912 or book your room for the conference at http://dvs.ohio.gov/main/women-veterans-conference.html. For more options visit: https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/hotels/near-osu/

About Ohio Women Veterans Advisory Committee

The Ohio Women Veterans Advisory Committee serves at the pleasure of the ODVS Director to provide advice, counsel and input to the ODVS Director on issues, opportunities and programs impacting Ohio women veterans. The statewide advisory committee members function as advocates and ambassadors for Ohio’s 67,000 women veterans and plans the biennial Ohio Women Veterans Conference in collaboration with the ODVS Women Veterans Coordinator.