2026 State of the Region
Shaping Ohio's Next Generation of Talent: Advancing Education-Employer Collaboration to Power Ohio's Economic Future
When
March 26, 2026
8:00 a.m. – Noon
Doors at 7:30 a.m.
Where
BGSU Lenhart Grand Ballroom
1001 E. Wooster Street
Bowling Green, OH 43403
Agenda
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7:30 – 8:15
Check-in & Networking Breakfast
8:15 – 8:45
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Opening Sponsor | Firelands Regional Health System
Rodney K. Rogers, Ph.D. | President of Bowling Green State University
Representative Haraz Ghanbari | Ohio State House of Representatives District 75
8:45 – 9:15
State of the Region Address: Northwest Ohio's Economic & Workforce Landscape
Nichole Fifer, Ph.D. | Director of the BGSU Center for Regional Development
9:15 – 9:45
Keynote Address: Purdue Improved Crop Storage Innovation Program (PIC)
Dr. Ravi Krovi | Provost & Senior Vice President at Bowling Green State University
Dr. Dieudonné Baributsa | Purdue Center for Global Food Security
9:45 – 10:15
Networking Break
10:15 – 10:50
Regional Partnership Spotlight: BGSU Partnerships Supporting Regional Community Vitality Projects
Robin Beringer | Clinical Manager, Center for Health Women's Services ProMedica
Carly Salamone | President, Vantage Healthcare of Ohio
Dr. Justin Rex | Associate Professor, BGSU Department of Political Science
Crystal King | Queens Village Coordinator, HCNO
Lydia Applin-Behan | Ph.D. Candidate Public Policy, Ohio State University
Alyissa Horn Johnston | Research + Evaluation Associate, Rucks Group
10:50 – 11:00
Transition Break
11:00 – 11:30
Industry Partner Panel Discussion: Building the Workforce We Need: Industry Insights & Commitments
Steve Russell | Moderator | Chief Partnerships Officer & AVP Career Outcomes
Jeremy Normington-Slay | Panelist | President & CEO, Firelands Regional Health
Joe Wager | Panelist | Director of Marketing & Product, Owens Corning
Tom Kroma | Workforce Panelist | Executive Director at LISC Toledo
Mike Koralewski| Panelist | Chief Supply Chain Officer, First Solar
11:30-12:00
Student Panel Discussion: Launching Careers: Hopes, Realities & the Road Ahead
Gabe Dunbar | Moderator | Senior Director, Career Design
Kylie Stanley | Panelist | Policy Fellow, American Diabetes Association
BGSU Students | Panelists
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12:00
Conference Closing
Thank you to our sponsors
Updated: 03/31/2026 12:17PM