2026 Ohio River Way Summit

September 30-October 02 | Trails, Tourism, & Ports | Ironton, OH | Ro-Na Theater

Presented by the Marathon Petroleum Company: Catlettsburg Refining & Marathon Marine

Register Today

Join us in Ironton, OH, this Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 for our 2026 summit, themed "Trails, Tourism, and Ports.” Hosted at the Ro-Na Theater, we look forward to collaborating with community leaders, business partners, and other friends of the Ohio River Way on shared opportunities and challenges.

Register Now

  • Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Ohio River Way Summit. Feel free to reach out to info@ohioriverway.org to indicate interest in supporting the event and receive online and in-person recognition for your business or community!

  • Explore the tri-state area on the afternoon of Thur., Oct. 1, with a variety of field trips. These include voyageur canoe trips, a guided hike in the Wayne National Forest, and a walking tour of Ironton.

  • We have a room block at the Holiday Inn Express, only a 0.5-mile walk from our programming at the Ro-Na Theater. Click here to book at the Holiday Inn Express at the discounted before August 31, 2026.

  • If you’re interested in tabling, please out to info@ohioriverway.org for more information.

Agenda

Wednesday, September 30

2:00-5:00 pm | Registration & exhibitor set-up at the Ro-Na Theater

5:00-8:00 pm | Happy hour, dinner, and visiting Ironton’s “Queen of Clean” at the riverfront

Thursday, October 01

8:00-9:00 am | Registration & networking open at the Ro-Na Theater

9:00-9:30 am | Mayors’ welcome & Ohio River Way opening session

9:30-10:30 am | Riverfront investments & economic development panel, featuring:

  • Ashley Diekmann, River Vision Advancement Director, Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

  • Jessica Keeton, Assistant Director of Community Development, Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization

  • Dennis Schnurbusch II, CEO, The River Heritage Conservancy

  • Will Weber, President and CEO, Southbank Partners

10:30-11:30 am | Committee breakouts

  • Breakouts will include Tourism, Conservation, Bikeway Planning, History, and more

11:30-12:00 pm | Exhibitors & networking session

12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch and keynote, featuring:

  • Director Pamela Boratyn, Ohio Dept. of Transportation

  • Tori Murden McClure: Athlete, author, lawyer, and former university administrator, Tori was the first woman to solo row the Atlantic, the first American to ski to the South Pole, and regularly rows on the Ohio River in Louisville.

1:00-2:00 pm | Regional tourism & the outdoor recreation economy panel, featuring:

  • Brandy Clark, Managing Director, Five and Dime Creative

  • Dave Lavender, Apprenticeships & Film, West Virginia Division of Economic Development

  • Jim Epperson, Executive Director, SoIN Tourism

  • Sarah Wickham, State Tourism Director and Chief of Staff, Ohio Dept. of Development

2:00-2:45 pm | State Water Trail Designation from Director Mary Mertz, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources

3:30-5:30 pm | Field Trips: Voyageur canoe expeditions, guided hike in Wayne National Forest, a walking tour of Ironton, tour of Marathon Oil Refinery, tour of Superior Marine Ways, Inc.’s barge drydocking facility

6:30-8:30 pm | Evening reception with heavy appetizers and premiere of a new documentary co-produced with the National Park Service and panel discussion, featuring:

  • Evelyn Moreno, Writer and Editor, National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

  • Ian Vorster, Filmmaker and Experienced Worker, National Park Service

  • Heather Passchier, Program Manager, National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

Friday, October 02

8:00-9:00 am | Registration & networking open at the Ro-Na Theater

9:00-9:15 am | Words from presenting sponsor, Marathon Petroleum Company: Catlettsburg Refining and Marathon Marine by Eddie Davis, Marine Division Personal Safety Manager

9:15-10:15 am | Industry, ports, and commerce panel, featuring:

  • Taylor Abbott, Executive Director, the Ohio River Commission

  • Ben Collier, Business Manager, Plumbers, Steamfitters, & HVACR Local 248 Eastern Kentucky

  • Eddie Davis, Marine Division Personal Safety Manager, Marathon Petroleum Company

  • Capt. Alex Schuchter, Captain and Cruise Director, BB Riverboats

10:15-10:30 am | Break

10:30-12:00 pm | Sustainable Waterways & Ecological Restoration: Local, State, and Federal Perspectives, Including Updates on the Ohio River Restoration Program Act in Congress

  • Local: Undergraduate Students, Ohio River Way Floating Laboratory

  • State: Sarah Orlando, Program Manager, Ohio Clean Marinas

  • Federal: Jordan Lubetkin, Senior Director - Ohio River Restoration, National Wildlife Federation

12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch & looking forward