2026 Conference Agenda
Check back often as we update this schedule with more information including announcing our Professional Development sessions and more!
Please note: This Agenda is subject to change at any time
8:00 AM
Registration
Fitton Center Main Lobby
Sponsored by MAGIC ROCKS! Illusionist Leon Etienne
+ All Day Coffee & Tea Bar
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Welcome / First-Timers Orientation & Mentorship
Fitton Center, Room TBD
Kick off the Conference with a special Welcome message from OAPNs Executive Director, Jessica Rosenblatt, and select board members! Then, we will offer tips on how to get the most out of your conference experience, plus take some time for a Q+A. Pre-Registered Mentors & Mentees will have time and space to meet and talk with one another.
Light refreshments provided
12:35 PM - 1:45 PM
Professional Development for Presenters
Fitton Center, Room TBD
Hosted by: Charles Allen, President and CEO of The Lakeside Association, Lakeside Chautauqua
“The Presenter’s Mandate: Curate Meaning. Steward Well. Engage the Modern Audience in a Noisy World.”
Discover how today’s presenters can thrive in a world overflowing with noise. This session introduces the new mandate for modern presenting: curate meaningful experiences, steward resources with wisdom, and engage audiences who crave authenticity and connection. Practical, strategic, and inspiring — this workshop equips presenters to lead with clarity and purpose in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Charles C. Allen is a visionary nonprofit CEO and servant‑leader with more than two decades of experience guiding organizations through transformation, growth, and renewal. As President & CEO of Lakeside Chautauqua, he has driven multimillion‑dollar fundraising growth, strengthened community partnerships, and implemented strategic initiatives that elevate mission, belonging, and innovation. Known for uniting diverse stakeholders around a shared vision, he blends operational excellence with people‑first leadership to deliver measurable, mission‑aligned impact.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
One-on-One Speed Networking Session 1
Fitton Center, Room TBD
A 90-minute signature speed networking session featuring 5-minute one-on-one meetings between agents, artists, and attending presenters in a fast-paced, friendly, “speed dating” style format.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Opening Night Reception
Fitton Center | Vista Room, 3rd floor
Kick off the 2026 conference with an evening of networking, food, drinks, and fun at our Opening Night Reception. The Vista Room & outdoor patio looks over the beautiful Great Miami River!
Enjoy a complimentary drink ticket thanks to our Opening Night Bar Sponsor, VBO Tickets
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
9:00 PM - Midnight
9:00 PM - ?
OAPN After Hours
WellHouse Hotel, Lucky Well Bar
For our night owls who want to continue to network and hang out, the Well House hotel bar, The Lucky Well, will be open for drinks and late night snacks!
8:00 AM
Registration
Fitton Center Main Lobby
Sponsored by MAGIC ROCKS! Illusionist Leon Etienne
+ All Day Coffee & Tea Bar
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Professional Development, Round 1
Fitton Center, Rooms TBD
Three Sessions
Session information, coming soon
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Professional Development, Round 2
Fitton Center, Rooms TBD
Three Sessions
Session information, coming soon
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Sponsored Lunch
Fitton Center, Vista Room, 3rd Floor
Sponsored by Pat Hazell, The Wonder Bread Years
Take a break, enjoy lunch, and connect with colleagues during our Sponsored Lunch. Box lunches will be provided for all registered attendees, with roundtable seating designed for networking and conversation.
Presenters will gather in the Vista Room (3rd Floor) for a sponsored showcase featuring The Wonder Bread Years, a nostalgic, one-man comedy show created and performed by former Seinfeld writer Pat Hazell.
Artists and Agents will participate in concurrent lunchtime sessions focused on timely industry topics and professional development opportunities in the Tech Studio (2nd Floor) and Dance Studio (1st Floor). Session details and topics will be announced soon.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
One-on-One Speed Networking Session 2
Fitton Center, Room TBD
A 90-minute signature speed networking session featuring 5-minute one-on-one meetings between agents, artists, and attending presenters in a fast-paced, friendly, “speed dating”-style format.
3:15 PM - 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall
Fitton Center | Ballroom, 3rd floor
5:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Dinner on your own
Dine Arounds to be scheduled in advance. OAPN meal discounts at select locations. More information coming soon.
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
10:30 PM - ??
OAPN After Hours
WellHouse Hotel, Lucky Well Bar
For our night owls who want to continue to network and hang out, the Well House hotel bar, The Lucky Well, will be open for drinks and late night snacks!
8:00 AM
Registration
Fitton Center Main Lobby
Sponsored by MAGIC ROCKS! Illusionist Leon Etienne
+ All Day Coffee & Tea Bar
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Presenter Roundtable Session w/ Coffee
Fitton Center, Room TBD
"Outdoor Series That Scale: Booking, Budgets & Community Buy-In"
Four Northeast Ohio amphitheater presenters share their strategies behind a successful concert series—from booking and season planning to fee structures, sponsorships, and community engagement.
Featuring:
Shane E. McAvinew (City of Mayfield Village)
Nick Standering (City of Mentor)
Kevin Cindric (Mentor Rocks)
Justin Gollin (City of Painesville)
This session is ideal for presenters, with valuable behind-the-scenes insight for artists and agents on how seasons are booked.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting with Sponsored Artist Showcase
Fitton Center, Theater, 1st floor
Join OAPN for our annual Awards Ceremony and Meeting as we recognize outstanding achievement in the field—honoring an agent, artist, and presenter for their impact and excellence. Hear brief organizational updates from Executive Director Jessica Rosenblatt, Board President Erin Miller, and Treasurer Aulbrie Kitson, including a look ahead to 2026.
The program includes a must-see, 15-minute sponsored showcase by David Lee, Lake Erie Illusions.
Light refreshments provided & sponsored by Ohio Contemporary Ballet
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
3:05 PM - 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall
Fitton Center | Ballroom, 3rd floor
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM
Presenters Only Block Booking Session
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Closing Night Party
Marriott Hotel, Riverview Reception
End the conference on a high note at a closing night party you won’t want to miss. Enjoy food, drinks, and OAPN’s signature not-your-average karaoke—where attendees take the stage and the extraordinary talent steals the show.
Set in the Marriott’s Riverview Reception space, the evening flows between indoor and outdoor settings with fire pits, waterfront views, and a lively ballroom perfect for dancing, mingling, and celebrating together.