Annual Conference

Conference Theme: “Pearls of Resilience: 30 Years of Turning Challenges into Strengths in Floodplain Management"

Keynote Speaker:  Julia Dian-Reed, Service Hydrologist/Meteorologist - National Weather Service (NWS)

August 20-21, 2025

LOCATION:  HILTON COLUMBUS/POLARIS,

8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH 43240
MAP

CALL FOR PRESENTERS NOW AVAILABLE!  CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MORE INFORMATION

The Conference Registration & Agenda will be posted to this website by June 13, 2025.

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION
The Ohio Statewide Floodplain Management Conference is an annual training developed to educate attendees on various aspects of floodplain management. The conference is intended to develop & expand the proficiency of floodplain management professionals throughout Ohio. Conference sessions are designed to provide local floodplain managers with information & skills necessary to implement effective floodplain management programs within their respective communities.

The conference is relevant for Floodplain Management Professionals including Floodplain Managers, Community Officials, Planners, Engineers, Building Officials, Emergency Managers, Federal/State/Local Government, private sector, & nonprofit interest groups.

CONTINUING EDUCATION & CREDITS

• Twelve (12) Continuing Education Credits (CECs) (six credits/day) will be provided toward Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) accreditation through the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) for attendance by Certified Floodplain Managers.
• Twelve (12) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours will be provided for Engineering & Surveying Professionals attending the conference.
• Certification Hours will be requested from the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS)
• Attendance certificates will be emailed to attendees within 30 days of the conference.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS
A block of overnight rooms has been held at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris for conference registrants.  More information will be posted soon.

Hilton Columbus/Polaris
8700 Lyra Drive │Columbus, OH │ Ph: 614-885-1600

The Standard Room rate is $175/night + tax. Overnight rooms for the conference will be held until July 20, 2025. 

You can make your reservation at the Hilton by visiting the BOOK YOUR ROOM page.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS

To ensure that local floodplain managers have a chance to develop and grow their professional expertise, the Ohio Floodplain Management Association’s (OFMA) Managing Board has approved the granting of limited scholarships for attendance at the annual conference. Scholarships cover the cost of registration and may include one night’s lodging for floodplain managers who work and live in communities located outside of Franklin and contiguous counties.

If you are interested in attending this year’s Statewide Floodplain Conference on August 20-21, 2025 and your community cannot provide training/education funds to support you, we would like to offer you an opportunity for an OFMA Scholarship. Please submit your request for the scholarship on your local government letterhead. Indicate if you are requesting both registration and lodging (if eligible).

Scholarships will be granted on a first-come-first-serve basis by the Committee. Scholarships will not be awarded to Federal or state agency representatives or private sector consultants who may be serving as local floodplain managers.

The DEADLINE for requesting a scholarship is July 20, 2025.

CANCELLATION POLICY

To obtain a full refund of registration fees paid, cancellations must be submitted in writing to Sarah Saylor (WMAO Administrator) at wmaohio@gmail.com by 4:00pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025. This notice is necessary since OFMA must submit the number of conference attendees to the conference facility in advance of the event. If a registrant is unable to attend the conference, they may send another individual in their place at no additional cost. If this becomes necessary, please notify OFMA prior to the event & provide registration information for the alternate attendee. If a registrant finds (after this deadline) they cannot attend the conference due to illness, OFMA may make exceptions at its sole discretion to the refund policy. Registrants that are absent from the event without notice of cancellation, are responsible for payment of the registration fee. The registrant will be billed & the registration fee will be due within thirty (30) days of the conference.

SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Display space is available at the 2025 Ohio Statewide Floodplain Management Conference for the private sector, government agencies, & nonprofit organizations. More information about obtaining sponsorship information will be posted soon.

QUESTIONS?

Mark Seidelmann at 614-844-4015 or mark.seidelmann@stantec.com (Conference)
Alicia Silverio at 614-265-1006 or alicia.silverio@dnr.ohio.gov (Conference)
Sarah Saylor at 614-935-8471 or admin@wmao.org (Registration)