Program Highlights
Saturday Conference Tours
Coming to Sandusky a little early for OMA 2024? Or, not able to make it to the full OMA conference but still want a great OMA 2024 experience? See more of the region and join us Saturday, April 13 for two great options for Saturday tours!
NEW FOR 2024! In honor of our location in Sandusky on the beautiful Lake Erie coast, we are offering two Saturday tour opportunities:
Our "Shore" tour is a drive-and-explore-on-your-own opportunity for attendees to make their own schedule and map their own trip as they explore seven museums around the shoreline.
Our "Island" tour is an organized field trip to Lake Erie's beautiful South Bass Island. Attendees will take the Miller Ferry from Port Clinton and enjoy a full day of exploration and fun at six museums in Put-In-Bay.
Learn more about the 2024 OMA Saturday Conference "Shore" and "Island" Tours and register here.
2024 Opening Reception - Sponsored by Ohio's EMP Chapters
Join your fellow conference attendees at this OMA 2024 opening reception! Ohio’s EMP Chapters welcome all museum pros and Emerging Museum Professionals to enjoy networking and fun at this annual conference kickoff gathering!
Sunday Conference Workshops
OMA is proud to present two Sunday Conference workshops in 2024.
Volunteer Engagement Fundamentals: How Your Organization Can Adapt to the Changing Volunteer Landscape, will take place on Sunday, April 14 from 12:00-3:00 pm, and is presented by ServeOhio. Learn more about the OMA 2024 Sunday Conference ServeOhio Workshop and register here.
Audio and Deaf Cafes: Disability Centered Programs for All, will take place on Sunday, April 14 from 1:00-3:00 pm, and is presented by Art Possible Ohio. Learn more about the OMA 2024 Sunday Conference Art Possible Workshop and register here.
Sunday Evening Museum Tours
Enjoy an evening exploring four Sandusky museums! Buses will leave Sawmill Creek for downtown Sandusky, where attendees can use the OMA shuttle to hop between four amazing museums: Cooke-Dorn House, Follett House Museum, Maritime Museum of Sandusky, and Merry-Go-Round Museum. Spend as much time as you like at each location before jumping aboard the OMA shuttle, which will be running a continuous loop to all four museums.
Be sure to meet back at the Maritime Museum’s parking lot by 7:10pm to board the buses back to Sawmill Creek!
2023 OMA Awards
The Annual Ohio Museums Association Awards Dinner will be held at OMA 2024 HQ, the Sawmill Creek Resort. Enjoy networking with museum professionals from across the state as the Ohio Museums Association recognizes our 2023 Visual Communication and Award of Achievement winners.
Keynote Address
OMA welcomes Steve Zimmerman, bestselling author and Principal of Spectrum Nonprofit Services for our 2024 Keynote Address, Honest Conversations: The Hard Work Toward Sustainability.
It is hard to imagine an era of more turmoil in our sector and trends indicate the winds of change aren’t dying down. While the pace of change may be paralyzing the values and impact of our work are more necessary than ever. How does an organization align board and staff to balance short-term survival needs with the vision and decision-making necessary to build toward longer-term sustainability? Steve Zimmerman, co-author of the best-selling books, Nonprofit Sustainability and The Sustainability Mindset, lays out the core competencies and approach necessary for board and leadership today to ensure the values and the mission of your organization endures long into the future.
Afternoon Keynote Leadership Workshop
OMA welcomes Steve Zimmerman, bestselling author and Principal of Spectrum Nonprofit Services for our 2024 Afternoon Keynote Leadership Workshop, Pursuing Sustainability: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions
Nonprofit sustainability lies in committed, passionate leaders coming together with a shared understanding of the organization’s business model to make strategic decisions to adjust to the dynamic environment and constituent needs. Steve will dive deeper into the matrix map, a visual tool to engage nonprofit leaders in difficultdiscussions to drive exceptional impact in a financially viable manner. The matrix map allows board and staff to understand their organization by integrating mission impact and financial viability in a way that allows them to frame choices and make the adjustments and investments necessary to strengthen the business model. Participants will gain experience with a tool they can immediately use to engage staff & board in the pursuit of nonprofit sustainability.
OMA 50/50 Raffle
Get your raffle tickets for OMA’s first 50/50 raffle! Support Ohio’s museums and the work OMA does on behalf of Ohio’s museum community, and enter to win a cash prize in the process! Tickets will be available at the registration desk and with Raffle team members throughout the day. Winner will be announced during the afternoon break.
Conference Sessions
Sunday - April 14
12:00pm-3:00pm Sunday Conference Workshop
(Ticket Required—This workshop can be included as an add-on to conference registration)
Volunteer Engagement Fundamentals: How Your Organization Can Adapt to the Changing Volunteer Landscape
COVID
shifted the landscape of volunteer engagement. Many older adult volunteers never came back to their volunteer positions, younger volunteers are more inclined to volutneer virtually or in one-time opportunities, and recruitment can seem tougher than ever. Join ServeOhio to discuss current trends in volunteer engagement and discuss best practices for recruitment, retention, and strategic volunteer engagement to strengthen and sustain your volunteer program and your mission.
Speakers: Rebeccah Verhoff-Kiss, Director of Strategic Engagement, ServeOhio; Sarah Short, Volunteer Engagement Program Officer, ServeOhio
1:00pm-3:00pm Sunday Conference Workshop
(Ticket Required—This workshop can be included as an add-on to conference registration)
Audio and Deaf Cafes: Disability Centered Programs for All
Art Possible Ohio and artists Elizabeth Sammons and Mania' Pothorski share this lively workshop on the benefits of disability centered programs. The group will overview 2 successful examples: Audio Café and Deaf Café, held at Wexner Center for the Arts last year. Writing and drawing prompts will be incorporated into the workshop.Speakers: Megan Fitze, Executive Director, Art Possible; Elizabeth Sammons, Independent Writer; Mania’ Pathorski, Independent Artist
Monday, April 15
9:15am-10:15am CONCURRENT SESSIONS MORNING I:
Energy Efficiency Planning for the Future
Energy Efficiency means doing more with less all while controlling building systems, updating procedures, and becoming more efficient. We’ll discuss how to control energy use, costs, and equipment; operate buildings efficiently and comfortably; organize projects to reduce carbon footprint and expenses; and locate incentives to lower costs on sustainability projects.
Speaker: Justin Kale, Director of Opportunity Development, Energility
Sustaining, Retaining, and Engaging Front Line Staff for Execptional Guest Experience
Hear from frontline staff members discussing best practices for engaging, retaining, and sustaining frontline staff and fostering superior visitor engagement. From training to team building, we will explore creative ways to foster development and sustainability for future frontline teams.
Speakers: Theresa Sanderell, Guest Experience Supervisor, National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM); Jaylen McBee, Guest Experience Associate, NVMM; Daniel Hunegs, Guest Experience Associate, NVMM; Ashley Legg, Guest Experience Manager, NVMM
Connecting Stories and People: Using the America 250 Anniversary as a Sustainabilty Strategy
Museum sustainability includes being stewards of relevant and timely content that tell the stories that illuminate important truths, elevate ideas, inspire conversations, and ultimately connect communities. America 250-Ohio will provide a once-in-a-generation platform for museums to elevate content, connect with communities, and sustain relevance. Learn concrete and actionable programs that museums can align with to create turn-key opportunities to celebrate and commemorate the anniversary.
Speakers: Chris Hurtubise, Communications Director, America 250-Ohio; Taylor Tomu, Outreach and Engagement Specialist, America 250-Ohio
Inclusive Connections: Accessible Social Media Best Practices for All
In this session, we will delve into the world of accessible social media and explore best practices to ensure that everyone can fully participate and benefit from online engagement. The session will mix core principles and real-world examples with a generous Q&A session. Additionally, resources and handouts will be provided to help participants implement accessible social media practices in their own contexts.
Speaker: Ceci Dadisman, President, Cardinal + Company
10:15am-11:00am MORNING BREAK AND ROUNDTABLE SESSION:
Take a break to explore the OMA exhibit hall, and network with your colleagues in the ballroom during our morning roundtable sessions. Choose one of many discussion tables with topics important to Ohio museum professionals.
Morning roundtable topics coming soon!
11:05am-12:05pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS MORNING II:
Who Wants to Live Forever
We want our museums to live forever. To help make that happen, this session will focus on the economic side of sustainability: how do we find the funding needed to maintain our current level of operations? Where do we find additional dollars to make it grow? How do we position our museums to be financially sound & a legacy for our communities? Learn how to create multiple streams of income, explore naming opportunities with sponsorships, tax levies, grants, capital campaigns & planned gifts.
Speakers: Wendy Zucal, Executive Director, Dennison Railroad Depot Museum; Alexandra Nicholis Coon, Executive Director, Massillon Museum; Jacob Masters, Director of Development, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Developing a Stronger, More Creative Team Through Play
What is the impact of play time on a person’s ability and capacity to make decisions, take risks, and be creative? Learn how incorporating play into the workplace can support the next generation of museum workers and collaborate with your peers as you brainstorm ideas to implement today.
Speakers: Charity Counts, Executive Director, Association of Midwest Museums; Tricia O’Connor, Exhibit Developer/Consultant, Water’s Edge Consulting
The JOY of Art and Aging
What if instead of embarking on a battle AGAINST aging, you went on a PRO-aging adventure full of discovery and delight? So often, society views aging as a problem rather than a privilege. Learn how the Akron Art Museum turned its focus to the joys and possibilities of older adulthood through the Creative Aging Institute.
Speakers: Gina Thomas McGee, Director of Learning and Engagement, Akron Art Museum; Merry Petroski, Creative Aging Institute Project Manager, Akron Art Museum
Ensuring Epic Experiences for All
Individuals with autism and their families want to travel and make memories; they also represent a large, growing segment of the travel market, spending more than $29 billion on travel each year. Destination Toledo is helping pave the way for Toledo to become a Certified Autism Destination. Learn how your organization & community can earn this distinction and ensure that your museum offers epic experiences for all.
Speakers: Christie Weininger, Executive Director, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums; Jayme Mazur, Relationship Manager, Destination Toledo; Katie Shelley, Manager of Access Initiatives, Toledo Museum of Art; Meredith Tekin, President, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards
12:10pm-1:30pm LUNCHEON & PLENARY ADDRESS
OMA Welcomes Steve Zimmerman, bestselling author and Principal of Spectrum Nonprofit Services
Honest Conversations: The Hard Work Toward Sustainability
It is hard to imagine an era of more turmoil in our sector and trends indicate the winds of change aren’t dying down. While the pace of change may be paralyzing the values and impact of our work are more necessary than ever. How does an organization align board and staff to balance short-term survival needs with the vision and decision-making necessary to build toward longer-term sustainability? Steve Zimmerman, co-author of the best-selling books, Nonprofit Sustainability and The Sustainability Mindset, lays out the core competencies and approach necessary for board and leadership today to ensure the values and the mission of your organization endures long into the future.
1:30pm-2:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS AFTERNOON I:
Keynote Workshop: Pursuing Sustainability: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions
Nonprofit sustainability lies in committed, passionate leaders coming together with a shared understanding of the organization’s business model to make strategic decisions to adjust to the dynamic environment and constituent needs. Steve will dive deeper into the matrix map, a visual tool to engage nonprofit leaders in difficult discussions to drive exceptional impact in a financially viable manner. The matrix map allows board and staff to understand their organization by integrating mission impact and financial viability in a way that allows them to frame choices and make the adjustments and investments necessary to strengthen the business model. Participants will gain experience with a tool they can immediately use to engage staff & board in the pursuit of nonprofit sustainability.
Speaker: Steve Zimmerman, Principal, Spectrum Nonprofit Services
Automate to Communicate
In today's fast-paced communications landscape, museums face unique challenges in reaching their goals and making a meaningful impact. Marketing automation offers a powerful solution to address these challenges by streamlining processes, optimizing engagement, and fostering stronger connections with donors and patrons. Join us in this enlightening session as we explore the compelling reasons why museums of all sizes should embrace marketing automation to increase the number of visitors, enhance their outreach efforts, boost fundraising initiatives, and maximize success.
Speaker: Ceci Dadisman, President, Cardinal + Company
Building a Hub for Education: The Redevelopment of Ford Nature Center
In 2017, Mill Creek MetroParks began redeveloping a century-old mansion as a nature education hub to upgrade, consolidate, and strengthen their education initiatives. This session explores creating long-term sustainable visitor learning integrating building, exhibits, sitework and programs. Attendees will leave with practical ideas to use in their own organizations.
Speakers: Justin Rogers, Director of Planning and Operations, Mill Creek MetroParks; Cindy Fernback, Education Manager, Mill Creek MetroParks; Paul Haynes, President, InterActive Group; Kyle Zook, Architect, DLR Group, Todd Mayher, Project Manager, DLR Group
Accessible Exhibitions: Collaborative Design for Blind/Low Vision Museum Goers
This case study follows the creation of an exhibition centering 3D prints of original artwork that expands accessibility for individuals who are blind/low vision. We will share the stages of this process, including the technology used, convening a focus group, and exhibition design.
Speakers: Ellis Lane Curatorial Assistant in Education, Allen Memorial Art Museum; Tom Babinszki, Accessibility Consultant, Even Grounds
2:35pm-3:05pm AFTERNOON BREAK :
Take a break to explore the OMA exhibit hall, network with your colleagues, and get those final 50/50 raffle tickets! Raffle winner will be announced prior to the Afternoon II sessions.
3:10pm-4:10pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS AFTERNOON II:
Public-Private Partnerships to Build Financial Sustainability
This panel explores how public-private partnerships can bolster financial sustainability and increase education outreach for museums. We will discuss strategies for effective outreach, how to secure funding opportunities, and how to leverage government engagement to amplify community outreach. Discover how these partnerships specifically enhance a museums’ resilience – ultimately fostering a more substantial community impact.
Speakers: Erica Olivares-Vincent, Director of External Affairs, COSI; Jake Vasilj, Senior Manager of State External Affairs and Public Policy, COSI; Katherine Liming, Manager of Local External Affairs and Public Policy, COSI; Heidi McAllister, Education Program Specialist, United States Forest Service
Making the Most of the Moore House: Deaccession and New Uses
After 10 years displayed as a historic home, the Moore House is getting an update! LHS is undertaking a massive deaccession of artifacts that do not support LHS’s mission and transitioning the Moore House into a space better suited for public programs, storage of objects, and behind the scenes tours.
Speakers: Kaitlyn Donaldson, Curator/Senior Collections Manager, Lorain Historical Society; Jen Neuhaus, Collections Manager, Lorain Historical Society
History Where it Happened: Crafting Engaging Walking Tours
Walking tours offer a unique opportunity to share stories typically untold within the walls of a museum. Participants will learn how to research and write tour outlines, plan logistics and marketing, cultivate new audiences through community partnerships, and showcase locations whose significance may have been lost in the past.
Speaker: Traci Manning, Curator of Education, Mahoning Valley Historical Society
Creating a Climate of Inclusion through Accessible Ohio
This session will describe how to enhance your accessibility journey and make Ohio’s venues accessible and inclusive for all. Presenters will share how to prioritize accessibility, assess and identify goals, implement accessibility enhancements, and partner with Accessible Ohio as a resource. Discussion will include practical examples and an interactive exercise.
Speakers: Julie Wood, Accessible Ohio Manager, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD); Shelly Burkhart, Accessible Ohio Specialist, OOD; Brianna Potter, Accessible Ohio Specialist, OOD; Tanya Vela, Accessible Ohio Specialist, OOD; Julia Wagner, Accessible Ohio Specialist, OOD