U.S. Ombudsman Association Posts Agenda for 2018 Conference in Portland

USOA has released the agenda its 39th annual conference, "Ombudsman: Blazing a Trail to Fairness." The conference is preceded by two training programs, a two-day New Ombudsman Training and a one-day course on Dealing with Unreasonable Complainant Conduct. 

Here's a summary of the conference agenda:

Wednesday, September 26th

Conference Opening and Welcome Remarks

Plenary Session 1

• Fundamentals of a Fair InvestigationPresenter: Gareth Jones, Director, Special Ombudsman Response Team, Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario

Lunch & Keynote

• Ombudsman Function: A Vital Independent Aspect of A Democratic SystemRobert J. Martin, CEO and Founder of Tartoosh LLC and former National Ombudsman for the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Concurrent Sessions

• Perseverance, Persuasion and Leveraging the Power of the Press: A Tale of Two ReportsPresenters: Margie Sollinger, Ombudsman, City of Portland and Tony Green, Deputy Ombudsman, City of Portland
  
• How Not to Give Legal AdvicePresenter: Amanda Caffall, Founding Executive Director and Staff Attorney, The Commons Law Center

Concurrent Session

• USOA Chapter Meetings
  
• Town Hall Meeting – Supporting Fairness

International Ombudsman Institute Meeting

Thursday, September 27th

Concurrent Sessions

• Starting an Ombudsman Office: Lessons from the FieldModerator: Linda Lord-Jenkins, Retired Ombudsman, State of Alaska; Panelists: Michael Mills, Project Manager, Oregon Solutions, National Policy Consensus Center. Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University, Ruth Miles, Tribal Liaison and Small Business Advocate, Oregon Secretary of State, Traci Shinabarger, Chief Child and Family Ombudsman, State of Montana
  
• Communicating Transparency and ChangePresenters: Stephanie Villafuerte, Ombudsman, Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman, Jordan Steffen, Communications and Policy Director, Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman

Plenary Session 2

• Advancing Racial Equity: The Role of a Government OmbudsmanPresenter: Amalia Alarcón Morris, Government Alliance on Race & Equity, West Project Manager

Lunch and USOA Annual Meeting and 2019 USOA Annual Conference Announcement

Plenary Session

• Expediting Fairness: Resolving Systemic Issues in a Timely MannerPresenter: Sherra Profit, Taxpayers’ Ombudsman, Canada Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman

Concurrent Sessions

• Navigating the Audit TrailPresenter: Orlene Hawks, Ombudsman, Michigan Office of the Children’s Ombudsman
  
• Tell Us a StoryPresenter: Brent Walth, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication

Networking Event Plaza del Toro

Friday, September 28th

Plenary Session

• Communicating Effectively with People Living in PovertyPresenter: Lynda Coates, Gold Star Speaker with Communication Across Barriers

Conference Closing

(USOA Conf Info.)

Related posts: Follow the USOA 2010 Conference on Twitter; USOA Will Meet in Ohio for 31st Annual Conference; United States Ombudsman Association Opens Registration for 32nd Annual Conference; USOA Announces 2012 Conference Details; USOA Posts Agenda for 2013 Annual Conference; USOA 2015 Conference Agenda Set for Arizona; United States Ombudsman Association Opens Registration for 2016 Conference in Virginia; U.S. Ombudsman Association Posts Agenda for 2017 Conference.