Insider Innovations

Join us on Tuesday, July 28th, 2026
The Point at Otterbein University

60 Collegeview Rd, Westerville, OH 43081
$25 to attend

In partnership with ICAA

Why Attend?

Insider Innovations is a space and place for advancement, alumni relations, and career services professionals to connect, collaborate, and learn with colleagues and peers from their own institutions and others across Ohio and beyond.

Who Should Attend?

OFIC is offering a discounted rate ($25 per person) to member campus career services teams.

Agenda:

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Arrival and Check in
Morning sessions will be for all attendees.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Keynote, Kevin Smith, CEO, Leadership Ohio
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM: Learning on Location: Connecting Students to Employers through Alumni and Funding
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM: Access to Experience: Investing in Work-Based Learning
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Luncheon & Awards
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM: Employer Relations: Strategies for Greater Impact
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM: From Vision to Funding: NetVUE Grants in Action
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM: The Power of 40 Hours: OFIC Leverages Micro Internships
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM: OFIC Closing Remarks

Tuesday, July 28th, 2026

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

The Point at Otterbein University | 60 Collegeview Rd, Westerville, OH 43081

KEYNOTE

Kevin Smith, CEO, Leadership Ohio

Kevin Smith is a visionary civic leader, strategic connector, and champion of community engagement, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Ohio, a statewide organization dedicated to cultivating informed, collaborative, and forward-thinking leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Presenter:

FEATURED SESSION

From Vision to Funding: NetVUE Grants in Action

Interested in developing programs on your campus that promote vocational exploration among your students? This presentation/panel session will feature information about grant funding opportunities through the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). Special emphasis will be on the ways NetVUE funding can support and augment career development initiatives on campus. Leaders from OFIC member institutions will share experiences leading grant programs, including lessons learned, program impacts, and practical insights for developing sustainable campus programming.

Panelists:

FEATURED SESSION

Employer Relations: Strategies for Greater Impact

Strong employer partnerships are built through intentional relationship management, consistent engagement, and a clear understanding of mutual value. This session will explore practical strategies for cultivating employer relationships that lead to meaningful opportunities for students while advancing institutional goals.

Participants will learn approaches for identifying high-potential partners, deepening existing relationships, leveraging alumni and stakeholder networks, and creating engagement models that move beyond transactional recruiting.

Presenter:

Kevin Smith, Leadership Ohio

Robert Pampel,
NetVUE

Shelley Amstutz-Szalay, Muskingum University

Drew Poppleton,
John Carroll University

FEATURED SESSION

The Power of 40 Hours: OFIC Leverages Micro Internships

What can a student accomplish in 40 hours? More than you might think! This session showcases how OFIC leveraged university-funded micro-interns over two consecutive summers to tackle priority projects, gain fresh student perspectives, and increase organizational capacity. Presented from both the organizational and student perspective, attendees will gain insights into identifying suitable projects internally or externally, engaging student talent effectively, and building successful partnerships. Participants will leave with practical ideas for creating meaningful micro-internship experiences that benefit both students and organizations.

John Lisko,
Kenyon College