Ohio Legislative Service Commission

New Member Orientation Program - 2026 Agenda & Presentations

Program Home 2026 NMO Agenda & Presentations Administrative Forms for Representatives-Elect
Tuesday, November 17
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Arrival at Renaissance Hotel
Lobby

50 North Third Street

Orientation Registration

11:15 a.m.
Luncheon & Welcome
Hayes E
  • Bill Rowland
    Director, Legislative Service Commission (LSC)
  • Julie Rishel
    Assistant Director, LSC
11:45 a.m.
Getting Acquainted
Hayes E

New Members’ Brief Self-Introductions

12:15 p.m.
Administrative Information for New Legislators

– Salary, Insurance, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), Deferred Compensation, & Other Benefits

– Office Policies of the General Assembly

  • House & Senate Administrative Staff 
Room 21

Senate Members

Hayes D

House Members

1:30 p.m.
Administrative Details
Lobby

– Hotel Check-in

Rooms 20 & 21

– Individual Administrative Questions

Room 22

– Building ID Photo

3:30 p.m.
Nonpartisan LSC Staff Services for Legislators
Hayes D
  • Megan Cummiskey
    Director, Office of Research and Drafting (ORD)
  • Melaney Carter
    Director, Legislative Budget Office (LBO)
4:30 p.m.
Meet Legislative Leadership
Hayes D
  • Rob McColley, President
  • Nickie J. Antonio, Minority Leader
  • Matt Huffman, Speaker
  • Dani Isaacsohn, Minority Leader
5:15 p.m.
Reception (with cash bar)
South Foyer
6:00 p.m.
Dinner
Hayes E

An Introduction to PUCO

  • Jenifer French
    Chair, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
7:15 p.m.
Walk to Statehouse
7:30 p.m.
Ohio Statehouse Services
Governor Thomas Worthington Center
  • Megan Wycuff
    Executive Director, Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board (CSRAB)
7:45 p.m.
Statehouse Tour
  • Dayna Jalkanen
    Deputy Director of Museum & Education, CSRAB
  • Chris Matheney
    Historic Site Manager/Assistant Deputy Director, CSRAB
Wednesday, November 18
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Hayes E
8:30 a.m.
Administrative Details Follow-up
Rooms 20 & 21

– Individual Administrative Questions

Room 22

– Building ID Photo

9:00 a.m.
Navigating & Understanding Legislation: Bills & Related Documents
Hayes D
  • Amanda Goodman
    ORD Division Chief
  • Reid Fleeson
    ORD Senior Attorney
10:00 a.m.
State Budget Overview
Hayes D
  • Melaney Carter
    LBO Director
  • Russ Keller
    LBO Division Chief
11:00 a.m.
Education & Medicaid Funding 101
Hayes D
  • Jason Phillips
    LBO Assistant Director
  • Ivy Chen
    LBO Division Chief
Refresh for Attachments
11:45 a.m.
Luncheon
Hayes E

Protective Intelligence Operations Team (PIOT)

  • Saayee Arumugam
    Intel Manager, Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP)
  • Alex Nichols
    Intel Analysist, OSHP
  • Autumn Groat
    Intel Analysist, OSHP
12:45 p.m.
Walk to Statehouse
1:00 p.m.
Group Photo at the Statehouse
2:00 p.m.
Attend Session
3:30 p.m.
Protocol for Committee Meetings
Senate Chamber

Senate Members

  • Vincent Keeran
    Senate Clerk
  • Chris Edwards
    ORD Attorney
  • Jason Glover
    LBO Senior Budget Analyst
House Finance Committee Hearing Room, Room 313

House Members

  • Brad Young
    House Clerk
  • Jason Hoskins
    ORD Attorney
  • Jacquelyn Schroeder
    LBO Senior Budget Analyst
4:15 p.m.
Orientation to Floor Session
Senate Chamber

Senate Members

  • Vincent Keeran
    Senate Clerk
House Chamber

House Members

  • Brad Young
    House Clerk
5:00 p.m.
Tour of Key Offices
Statehouse

Senate Members

Riffe Center

House Members

6:15 p.m.
An Evening at the Statehouse
Statehouse
Hosts:

CSRAB
 

Capitol Square Foundation
Rotunda

Reception

Atrium

Dinner

Thursday, November 19
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Hayes E
8:30 a.m.
Hotel Check-out
9:00 a.m.
Working with Executive Agencies
Hayes D

Moderator

  • Christine Morrison
    Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor

Panel

  • Matt Damschroder
    Director, Department of Job and Family Services
  • Molly Rafeld
    Chief of Staff, Department of Job and Family Services
  • Kathleen Madden
    Director, Department of Administrative Services
10:00 a.m.
Managing Your Legislative Office
Hayes D
  • Senator Al Landis
    • Parker Deering
      Senior Legislative Aide
  • Senator Beth Liston
    • Madison Flading
      Senior Legislative Aide
  • Representative Phil Plummer
    • Jack Mounts
      Legislative Aide
  • Representative Beryl Brown Piccolantonio
    • Esther Kelsch
      Legislative Aide
11:00 a.m.
Ohio’s Public Records Law
Hayes D
  • William Cox
    Chief Legal Counsel, Senate
  • Heather Blessing
    Chief Legal Counsel, House of Representatives
  • Lynda Jacobsen,
    Division Chief Legal Review and Technical Services
Refresh for Attachments
12:00 p.m.
Luncheon
Hayes E

Ethics & Reporting Requirements

  • Tony Bledsoe
    Legislative Inspector General, Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (JLEC)
1:15 p.m.
Serving in the General Assembly
Hayes D

Moderator

  • Senator Susan Manchester

Legislator Panel

  • Senator Shane Wilkin
  • Senator Nickie Antonio, Minority Leader
  • Representative Marilyn John
  • Representative Meredith Lawson Rowe
2:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Hayes D
  • Bill Rowland
    Director, LSC
  • Julie Rishel
    Assistant Director, LSC
Refresh for Attachments
2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Optional Follow-up Sessions for Individual Questions
Hayes E

Legislative Ethics Questions

  • Tony Bledsoe
    Legislative Inspector General, JLEC
Rooms 20 & 21

Administrative Questions

  • House and Senate Administrative Staff
Hayes D

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and Deferred Compensation Questions

  • OPERS Representatives (by appointment)
  • Deferred Compensation (by appointment)