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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 Thursday, October 1st with a variety of regional field trips. See registration link (coming soon) for more details.
There is a block of discounted hotel rooms at the Townplace Suites in Ironton for the nights of September 30 and October 1.
The hotel is a 0.5-mile walk from the conference venue, the historic (and newly renovated!) Ro-Na Theater.
Click here to book your discounted room before August 31, 2026.
To indicate interest in setting up a table on behalf of your organization, reach out to info@ohioriverway.org for more information.

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

5:00-8:00 pm | Happy hour & dinner at the Ironton riverfront

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

9:00-9:45 am | Mayors’ welcome & Ohio River Way opening session

9:45-10:30 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, Executive Director, The River Heritage Conservancy
Will Weber, President and CEO, Southbank Partners

10:30-11:30 am | Committee breakouts

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

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

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.

1:00-1:45 pm | Regional tourism & the outdoor recreation economy panel, featuring:

Brandy Clark, Managing Director, Five and Dime Creative
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 Mary Mertz, Director, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources

3:30-5:30 pm | Field Trips

6:30-8:30 pm | Party & exclusive pre-screening of the new documentary co=produced by the National Park Service and Ohio River Way

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

9:00-10:15 am | Industry, ports, and commerce panel

Taylor Abbott: Facilitated by Taylor Abbott, inaugural director of the Ohio River Commission

10:15-10:30 am | Break

10:30-12:00 pm | Ohio River restoration: presentations and perspectives from the local, state, and federal levels

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

2026 Ohio River Way Summit