Hello,

Everyone here at the Ohio Employee Ownership Center hopes that all of you, and your loved ones, are in good health and staying sane during this stressful time. We want to take a moment to update you on future programming, and plans, from the OEOC.

First, we are following the protocols established by Governor DeWine and state health officials and are postponing our 34th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference scheduled for Thursday April 30th. We have set a reschedule date of August 20th 2020 at the same location – the Akron Fairlawn Hilton. We will be providing updates on our programming on the conference page on our website as we reconfirm speaker availability for our new date. Please check our website for further updates in the upcoming weeks.

Second, we will continue to provide online virtual learning services, and are planning a significant ramping up of our webinars and other online offerings to provide our employee-owned companies with important (and ongoing) education and training opportunities as we all ride out this storm.

Third, we have been ordered by the Kent State administration to work from off of campus. Currently we are working with the University to fully take advantage of technology to help us continue to do what we do. Over the next few days we should be able to complete that process. In the interim, you can always reach us at our main phone number, 330-672-3028. If we do not immediately answer, please leave a message and will get back with you as soon as possible. You can always send us an email at oeoc@kent.edu as well. We appreciate your patience.

Finally, we can expect some disruption and dislocation over the next few months, and perhaps beyond. The OEOC remains committed to helping out where, when, and in whatever way we can, to keep the employee ownership community strong, and moving forward. We are truly in this together!

Roy Messing, Director
And the Staff of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center

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Frequently Asked Questions on the rescheduling of the 34th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference

Why is the conference being rescheduled?

Based on concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the State of Ohio issues restrictions on large group gatherings for an undetermined period of time. Given the projected peak active timeframe of the COVID-19 as outlined by Ohio’s Department of Health DirectorDr. Amy Acton, the ban on the large group gatherings will extend well into May and possibly beyond. As such, it was time to reschedule the session and communicate all the relevant information to the employee ownership community inOhio and beyond.

We take seriously our responsibility to ensure the safety of all attendees, sponsors, speakers, and staff of the OEOC. Therefore, we have rescheduled the conference at the Akron Fairlawn Hilton on August 20th, 2020. See the annual conference page on our website for details and ongoing updates.

What happens to my conference registration?

Your registration will automatically be transferred to our rescheduled conference on August 20th. This session will maintain the registration rates that were established for the original event.

What if I choose not to attend the conference on August 20th?

If you choose not to attend the August conference, you have several options.

·       Until April 24th, 2020, you can receive an OEOC credit for the full amount of your registration fee for future OEOC programming (we won't charge the administrative fee).

·       You can receive a refund of your registration fee (minus a $50 administrative fee). The deadline to request a refund is April 3rd, 2020.

·       If you would like to continue to support the OEOC, you can convert any portion of a refund into a tax-deductible contribution to the OEOC. Please contact us at oeoc@kent.edu for information on how to convert your registration into a donation.

Can I cancel my hotel or airfare (if using that mode of transportation) without a penalty?

You should be able to cancel your hotel reservations without any penalty charge. Please contact the Akron Fairlawn Hilton directly at (330)867-5000. Most airlines are offering refunds or credit for travel during this period. Please check directly with your airline about their policies during this current state of emergency.

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Can I still register for the conference on August 20th if I did not sign up for the April 30th conference?

Yes! We will continue to take registrations for the Annual Conference up to a few days prior to the conference date.

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