Join OWIG in Central or Northeast Ohio to celebrate International Women's Day and network with other women interested in government and policy in Ohio!

Registration requested.

Columbus:
Parable Coffee
149 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215

Cleveland:
The MidTown Tech Hive
6815 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103

Have you ever wanted to serve on a government, corporate, or nonprofit board but weren't sure how to get noticed or whether you had the qualifications? Do you currently serve on a board and want to learn tips for how to become an invaluable contributor?

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, February 15th from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM for an informative lunch seminar on board service. Michael Corey, Executive Director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, Haylee Dunahay, Director of Boards and Commissions for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and Dina Tantra, Board Chair for Heartland Funds will be sharing key insights with attendees.

Thursday, February 15, 2024
11:30 AM - Networking
12:00 PM - Program begins

Lunch will be $8 for members and $15 for non-members.

Register here!

Looking to start of your new year right? We invite you to join your fellow OWIG Members to be a part of our upcoming Women's Build with Habitat for Humanity!

The Build will take place Saturday, January 27 at 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM in Linden. The address for the home and additional information can be found in the registration link. Shift is for 10 volunteers and will be rolling based on any registration drop-offs.

We hope to see you there!

How to register:

• Follow this link to register

• New volunteers will need to create an account prior to registering.

• Once registered, they will receive a confirmation email and reminder email with all the “need to know” details for their shift 

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, January 25th from 5:30-7:30 our annual networking happy hour at El Arepazo! This is always a well-attended event full of energy for an upcoming year of fellowship and programming - don't miss it!

OWIG will be sponsoring great food and wine for attendees.

Register here!

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, December 7, from 7:30-9 am for our annual meeting, "Reflections on Women in Government: OWIG Founders Panel."

Panelists include:

• Terri L. Enns, JD, Clinical Professor of Law at the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University

• Christine Vineis, Founder and President at Unite for Safe Social Media and President at Capital Partnerships, LLC

• Patrice Gillespie, President and Chief Operating Officer at Friends of the Underline

This event is free for current 2023 OWIG members. Networking will begin at 7:30 AM and the program will begin at 8 AM. Light breakfast will be served.

Register today. Please e-mail OhioWomeninGovernment@gmail.com if you are unsure of whether your membership is current.

Please note that if you register for the event but cancel with less than 48 hours notice, OWIG will bill you for the cost of your meal. Thank you for understanding our efforts to keep our programming affordable for all our members.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, November 16th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a media training luncheon seminar presented by OWIG member Mandy Minick.

11:30 AM - Networking
12:00 PM - Program begins

Lunch will be $8 for members and $15 for non-members.

About Mandy: Over more than 20 years, Mandy has acquired public relations and communications acumen from nearly every angle—as a reporter for the Warren Tribune-Chronicle, in the press office of the Ohio Senate, doing non-profit association work representing Ohio’s small businesses and at the Ohio Department of Education.

Click here to register.

We are thrilled to return to Cleveland on Monday, October 23rd at 5 PM for networking and a fantastic panel of "Changemakers" sponsored by our long-time members at G2G Consulting!

Join us at COhatch Ohio City for an evening of conversation with women who beat the odds to change policy and improve life for Ohioans. You will have the opportunity to network with other women working in and with government in the region and beyond, and you can join OWIG at the event for a special $25 annual rate!

Panelists:

• Angela Thi Bennett, Digital Equity Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration

• Randi Clites, Rare Disease Policy Director at Little Hercules Foundation and State Policy Director at Ohio Bleeding Disorders Council

• Anne Tillie, Project Coordinator for the City of Cleveland in the Department of Finance

Click here to register!

In May of this year, OWIG launched its very first Scholarship Program for female college students interning at the Ohio Statehouse. The part-time internships offered at the Ohio House and Ohio Senate are typically unpaid, which limits the ability of financially disadvantaged students to gain exposure to state government and the opportunities internships offer. OWIG's scholarships provide funding to underrepresented students that demonstrate need for costs associated with their internship.

This fall, OWIG is piloting the program by supporting one internship candidate. Help us make this program the best it can be by joining us at our Scholarship Fundraiser!

Click here to register.

Thank you to our committed sponsors thus far, including our Gold Sponsor Delta Dental!

And thank you to our Silver Sponsors:
Government Advantage Group
Governmental Policy Group
JLF Advisors

OWIG is proud to be hosting three incredible panelists, who bring diverse backgrounds in housing development, advocacy, program management, and more. We are welcoming:

Amy Reigel, Executive Director, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio

Leah Evans, President and CEO of Homeport

Carlie Boos, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio

These women in key housing industry leadership roles will share their experiences working in partnership with government at the state, local, and federal levels to drive policy that houses vulnerable individuals and people on limited incomes.

Register here.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, June 1 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a lunch and learn and resume workshop.

Attendees will enjoy a presentation on resume and job search best practices with Leadership and Career Strategist Erin Kinnison of Crosworks.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes to workshop after the presentation with Erin and peers.

Find more information and register at https://conta.cc/3oBT9lA.

Resume Workshop & Job Search Best Practices - Lunch & Learn
Thursday, June 1 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Meeting Room 2B
96 S. Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215

Ample parking is available in the attached parking garage.

Join OWIG on Thursday, May 18 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Parsons North Brewing to celebrate the launch of our new scholarship program and network with other women interested in government and policy in Ohio!

Register here!

Join OWIG on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 7:30-9:00 AM at Parable Coffee to celebrate International Women's Day and network with other women interested in government and policy in Ohio!

Register at https://conta.cc/3kBp9Ez.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Monday, February 27, 2022, from 11:30-1:00pm for lunch and a discussion about the gains and challenges in promoting diversity in c-suites and board rooms. Attendees will enjoy a panel discussion and Q&A with Stephanie Hightower, and two Columbus Dispatch reporters who highlighted a study on the topic last fall: Erica Thompson, Features Editor for the Columbus Dispatch, and Mark Ferenchick, Reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, moderated by OWIG Membership Co-Chair, Alexandra Denney. Their conversation will stem in part from the results of the over 2,000 companies, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and city governments surveyed in advance of the article’s publication.

This event is free to OWIG members and costs $10 for non-members. Lunch provided by Simply Plated, a Black- and women-owned catering company, is included with registration! Members who do not cancel by 2/25 and do not show up to the event will be invoiced $10 for the cost of their lunch.

Register here!

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, January 26, 2023, to kick off our 2023 slate of events with our annual networking happy hour at El Arepazo in the Brewery District! Appetizers and wine will be provided.

Register today at conta.cc/3WmP3ZL!

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, December 8, 2022, from 7:30-9:00 am for breakfast and our annual meeting. The OWIG Annual Meeting is an opportunity for current members to connect with one another, vote on leadership for 2023, discuss the organization's year in review report, and hear from key speakers.

We are very excited to announce that our members will hear from former State Representative and current Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley and former State Senator and current Warren County Commissioner Shannon Jones!

This event is exclusively for OWIG members and is free for paid members to attend. Please register at https://conta.cc/3V8DZQ1.

If you aren't sure of your membership status, please email us at ohiowomeningovernment@gmail.com.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, November 17, 2022, from 5:30-7:00pm for a happy hour and discussion with women leaders in Ohio's arts and humanities sectors! Attendees will enjoy a panel discussion and Q&A with Rebecca Brown Asmo, Executive Director of Ohio Humanities, and Donna Collins, Executive Director of the Ohio Arts Council.

This event is free and open to the public. There will be a wine bar with a suggested donation amount per glass (cash or PayPal). OWIG members will receive a complimentary drink ticket!

Register at https://conta.cc/3SGj5FJ.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 6:00-8:00pm for a member appreciation event at the Brass Hand! Members will enjoy wine, food from Lavash Cafe, and the opportunity to create their own cactus arrangement in the Brass Hand's one-of-a-kind potting room.

This event is free and open to dues-paying OWIG members only. Spots are limited, so RSVP soon at https://conta.cc/3s9vc3y ! If you aren't sure of your membership status, you can email ohiowomeningovernment@gmail.com.

Join Ohio Women in Government and G2G Consulting for a networking event, with a brief program on “Women, Entrepreneurship & Government,” on November 1 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at CoHatch Cleveland, 2814 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland OH 44113. Join us to network with women who have worked in and with government to help spur economic growth in the region.

Panelists:

• Mindy McLaughlin, Managing Director, Global Business Development, Team NEO

• Dr. Natoya Walker Minor, Deputy General Manager, RTA and former Chief, Public Affairs for Mayor Jackson

• Catherine Tkachyk, Chief Innovation & Performance Officer, Cuyahoga County

• Kate Warren, Director, Greater Cleveland American Rescue Plan Coalition

Register at https://conta.cc/3seLVlH.

Join OWIG on September 1 for a lunch and learn on women-led philanthropy with Sophia Fifner! Box lunches from Katzinger's Deli will be provided, and attendees must register at https://conta.cc/3JVNeOO by Friday, August 26.

Sophia helps women and organizations amplify their purpose through philanthropy, and she has nearly 15 years of experience in corporate affairs, philanthropy, and public policy. Sophia started her career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and currently serves as the Executive Director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation at NiSource, one of the largest natural gas companies in the United States.

In 2022, Sophia founded Brave Philanthropist, a platform that revolutionizes philanthropy for women and girls by amplifying, strengthening, and democratizing giving.

With less than 2% of philanthropic funds supporting women’s and girls’ nonprofit organizations, the company aims to disrupt philanthropy by changing the face of philanthropy, expanding access and resources for giving, and explicitly using the collective power of all women to do more good that matters.

Sophia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication from Miami University and a master’s in communications and marketing from Franklin University. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter @sophiafifner.

Join Ohio Women in Government on August 4 for a group volunteer shift at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective!

Some OWIG volunteers will be positioned at stations within the MOFC Pantry and tasked with loading specific items into grocery carts. Others may be helping to push the carts from the Pantry to the loading station (a very large tent that is set up in the MOFC parking lot). Others may be asked to help load the groceries into customer vehicles. Lastly, some may help with cart retrieval (outside of the tent) after the groceries have been loaded. The area from the Pantry to the loading station is outside, but enclosed. Based on where volunteers are most needed that day, some volunteers may be more exposed to the weather than others, so please bring all necessary weather gear.

For safety purposes, please wear close-toed shoes while volunteering.

Please register at https://mofb.volunteerhub.com/lp/OhioWomenInGovernment/....

If you are not able to stick around for the entire shift, please e-mail OWIG Steering Committee Member Hallie Carrino at HCarrino@mofc.org and she will help plan the workflow for the evening accordingly.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, June 23 from 5:00-7:30pm in Bricker and Eckler's outdoor courtyard to brush up on your networking skills post-pandemic!

Beer, wine, light refreshments, and some helpful questions to kick-start or refresh your in-person networking skills will be provided.

In lieu of a registration fee, you'll have the choice of making a small contribution to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective in advance of an OWIG-sponsored volunteering event there later this summer. We also understand that some may not be able to donate at the moment, so registrants will have an option to register for this event without donating. There will also be an option if you cannot attend but would still like to donate.

After registering here, registrants will receive a confirmation email. Join us for some great conversation and engagement!

Bricker and Eckler has a parking lot available behind their building that will be available to registrants during the event. Additional, paid parking is available on Third Street.

Join Ohio Women in Government and G2G Consulting on Friday, April 8 at 12:00PM for a panel discussion with women who have risen to the top of their fields in government affairs. Hear about their stories, the challenges and opportunities they have faced, and advice they have for other women.

Panelists:

Hillary Gross Parkinson – Chief of Staff for Congressman Bob Gibbs
Michelle Gillcrist – Northern Ohio Regional Liaison for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
Imani Edwards – Executive Assistant to the Secretary at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Angela Woodson – Senior Advisor for Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb

This event is free and open to all. After you register at https://conta.cc/3wABv3x, you will receive a confirmation email. Registrants will receive Zoom login information a few days prior to the event.

We are all faced with times when we have to have tough conversations at work. Thinking back to the last time you had a necessary candid conversation, how did it go? Did you exchange information about issues that mattered to both parties? Did you leave knowing you learned something from the other person, and that you offered some advice in return? No matter your experience level, you always have an opportunity to learn how you can be better. And no matter your role, you have an opportunity to influence, and provide coaching and feedback to others.

Join OWIG on March 17 from 11:30am to 1:00pm for our first in-person lunch event in two years! This luncheon seminar, with Senior Management Consultant Barb Utrup of PRADCO, will lead attendees in an interactive and engaging session on how to give and receive coaching tips and constructive feedback without producing feelings of anxiety or frustration.

Attendees must register at https://conta.cc/3LRZKiG by Monday, March 14. Boxed lunches from Freedom a la Cart will be provided. After you register below, you will receive a confirmation email. Bricker & Eckler requires masks to be worn unless actively eating or drinking.

Join Ohio Women in Government on Thursday, February 10 for our first in-person networking event of 2022 at El Arepazo in the Brewery District! Appetizers will be provided and so will one complimentary drink per member.

After you register at https://conta.cc/35MMnjd, you will receive a confirmation email.

Please grab your favorite beverage and join OWIG on Thursday, January 20 at 5:30 PM for a virtual unveiling of our new 2022-2025 Strategic Plan!

After you register at https://conta.cc/333ibPO, you will receive a confirmation with Zoom login information.

OWIG's Annual Meeting will be a virtual breakfast held via Zoom. Pre-meeting networking will start at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, December 16, with the formal meeting beginning promptly at 8:00 a.m.

The OWIG Annual Meeting is an opportunity for current members to connect with one another and discuss the organization's year in review report.

We are also very excited to announce that our members will enjoy a message from First Lady Fran DeWine!

This event is exclusively for members and is free for paid members to attend.

After you register at https://conta.cc/3rHdgxY, you will receive a confirmation email with Zoom login information. Plus, attendees should keep an eye on their email inboxes for a special gift from OWIG for the meeting!

Join OWIG on Thursday, November 18 at Land Grant Brewing Company from 4:30-7:00 PM for our final networking happy hour of 2021! One complimentary drink will be provided per member, but all are welcome to attend! After you register at conta.cc/3ESQgzA, you will receive a confirmation email. Plus, keep an eye out for details about our virtual annual meeting in December, featuring a guest speaker to be announced soon!

Many of us feel comfortable using social media for personal or informal use, but it can be a challenge to figure out how to leverage that same media presence in a strictly professional way. Join OWIG and national marketing speaker and consultant Jennifer Darling on September 30 to learn how to take your professional social media to the next level, particularly by expanding your LinkedIn presence! You'll gain valuable insight into how to show up online as a leader, especially as a woman, and why that's so important.

Key takeaways you'll learn:

• 4 essential components to amp your visibility

• How to substantially increase your network of influential connections

• 4 ways to share your message and spread your ideas

As usual, we'll be doing some networking prior to Jennifer's presentation, so please join us at 11:30 AM for 30 minutes of socializing before our program begins at 12:00 PM.

Jennifer has been leading teams for nearly 20 years for media giants such as Hearst Television and Comcast. She has a Master's Degree in Management and has went on to start her own consulting company. She works with Thought Leaders to build visibility and position themselves in a competitive digital environment. Jennifer is the author of the highly sought-after book, Increase Your Leads with LinkedIn: 52 Tips to Sales Success, and the creator of the popular online training program, Mastering LinkedIn.

Jennifer helps business professionals tackle social media with simple, stress-free strategies. She delivers keynotes, seminars, workshops, and virtual trainings on this topic as well as leadership, sales, and change.

Register at https://conta.cc/3l0ypOF. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with event login information.

Join Ohio Women in Government on September 13 at Wyman Woods Park for an outdoor networking event with fun, food, and family-friendly games!

OWIG has secured a permit that allows guests to BYOB to this event, so bring your favorite beer, wine, or other festive drink! We’ll handle the food, and we ask that you please detail any dietary restrictions or allergies in your registration. Dogs are not allowed in the park, but members are welcome to bring children or other women interested in OWIG.

Register at https://conta.cc/3BPPYaX. After you register below, you will receive a confirmation email.

Join Ohio Women in Government at Columbus Axe Throwing for a members-only event celebrating the beginning of summer and the re-launch of our in-person programming!

This event is exclusively for OWIG members and is free for paid members to attend. Food and a round of drinks will be provided, and members who prefer to observe are welcome! All attendees are required to complete an online waiver here and wear close-toed shoes.

Members must register at https://conta.cc/3hmqZod by Thursday, July 15.