Insider Innovations: July 2026 Recap
For the third consecutive summer, OFIC partnered with Independent College Advancement Associates (ICAA) to host Insider Innovations, bringing together representatives from OFIC member campuses and career services professionals, for a day of professional development and collaboration.
Attendees participated in engaging morning sessions and lunch together before breaking into specialized afternoon tracks tailored to advancement, alumni relations, and career services professionals. The day wrapped up with networking over an ice cream sundae bar, making for a fun and memorable conclusion to a day of learning and connection.
The event was held Tuesday, July 28 at The Point at Otterbein University in Westerville. Kevin Smith, CEO of Leadership Ohio, opened the day with a keynote on civic leadership and collaboration across sectors.
Morning sessions covered ground relevant to every attendee, regardless of specialty. Vilmarie Perez and Gabriella Valentine of Oberlin College and Jackie Vascura of Muskingum University led a session on funded, employer-based travel experiences that connect students to careers. That was followed by a panel on work-based learning funding featuring Andrea Domachowski of Ohio Northern University and Leigh Mascolino of Ohio Wesleyan University.
A luncheon and awards program brought the group together at midday before the afternoon split into role-specific sessions. Career services and employer relations professionals explored strategies for building stronger, more sustainable employer partnerships. A separate session, led by Josh Lisko of Kenyon College, looked at practical strategies for cultivating employer relationships that lead to meaningful opportunities for students.
Advancement and grant-focused attendees heard from a panel on NetVUE funding, including Robert Pampel of NetVUE, Shelley Amstutz-Szalay, and Drew Poppleton of John Carroll University, who shared how vocational exploration grants have supported campus career programming.
In another session, Lucy Tarpy of OFIC and Denison University, Jessica Hall of Denison University, and Melanie Garrabrant of OFIC presented "The Power of 40 Hours: OFIC Leverages Micro Internships," drawing on two consecutive summers of university-funded micro-internships to show how OFIC identified priority projects, engaged student talent, and built practical models other campuses can replicate.
OFIC closed the day with remarks thanking attendees, presenters, and ICAA for another successful year of Insider Innovations.