OWMA Annual Conference
&
Business Meeting
OWMA would like to thank everyone that attended the 66th Annual OWMA Conference on Friday January 16th, 2026 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus, Ohio.
We are already planning the 67th conference. Please check here in the fall for updates and registration.
Click Here for Registration.
” Success Stories: “Then and Now,” will celebrate the Ohio wildlife community’s ability to overcome challenges in wildlife conservation and management.
Gregory J. Lipps Jr. has been invited to be the keynote speaker on
Ohio’s Conservation Reliant Wildlife: Navigating the Tightrope of Conservation Success
Greg Lipps is a conservation biologist whose career has been devoted to ensuring Ohio’s amphibians and reptiles continue to thrive in his home state. He is the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Coordinator within The Ohio State University’s Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership and recently joined the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as their first conservation biologist. Greg works statewide to assess populations, restore habitats, and coordinate recovery efforts for species such as the Eastern Hellbender, Eastern Massasauga, Spotted Turtle, and Blanding’s Turtle.
He is an editor and contributing author of Amphibians of Ohio (2013) and Reptiles of Ohio (2021) and has authored numerous technical reports and conservation plans for the Ohio Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Greg co-founded the Ohio chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) and is a past Co-Chair of Midwest PARC. His work has been recognized with the Ohio Environmental Council’s Conservation Achievement Award (2008), the Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation (2017), and the Columbus Zoo’s Commitment to Conservation Award (2023). A lifelong Ohioan, he lives in the Oak Openings region of Fulton County.
Conference Registration and Events
Conference registration will open November 1st, 2025.
The Ohio Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Workshop: Thursday, January 15 at 12:00pm.
- Location: Delaware Wildlife Area Public Shooting Range (Education Center), 1110 OH-229, Ashley, OH 43003
- Join us for a hands-on exploration of cutting-edge remote sensing tools revolutionizing wildlife research and conservation. This workshop will equip biologists, conservationists, and wildlife professionals with practical knowledge of emerging technologies that are transforming how we monitor and protect wildlife populations.
- Workshop enrollment is $10 OCTWS Members, $30 for Non-Members. Lunch is included in fees https://wildlife.org/ohio/membership/
The OWMA business meeting will be held on Thursday January 15th at 5:15pm.
- Location: Division of Wildlife District One Office. 1500 Dublin Road Columbus Ohio 43215.
- Please consider volunteering your time and knowledge as an officer.
- Annual OWMA membership dues are included in the price of conference registration, but OCTWS memberships are not. More information about becoming an OCTWS member can be found on the Membership tab
The Backcountry Hunters & Angler’s pint night, Thursday January 15th at 6pm.
- Location: Land Grant Brewing Company: 424 W Town St, Columbus, OH 43215
Conference Registration Cost Breakdown
- Professional 35.00 + 2.89= $37.89
College Student 20.00 + 2.13= $22.13
High School Student 10.00 + 1.63= $11.63
Conference Sponsorship
Thank you to our 2026 conference sponsors! 2026 sponsor logos can be viewed on our Partners tab, under the About Us drop-down. Would you or your organization like to sponsor the 2026 conference?
Sponsorship levels and associated benefits can be found in the chart below. To become a sponsor, email the OWMA President, Emily Pellegrini at emily.pellegrini@dnr.ohio.gov. Please include your name, organization name, phone number, organization email, and sponsorship level desired. Organization logos should be attached to the email as high resolution images.
Sponsorship payments can be made via PayPal using the blue button at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, checks can be addressed to OWMA and mailed to OWMA at 326 North Dean Street, West Mansfield, Ohio 43358.
