Dear OCEA Members and Partners,
Welcome to the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA)! As President of this vibrant organization, I am excited to invite you to explore all that we offer. Since our founding in 1971, OCEA represents the oldest state cooperative education association in the nation. Historically, OCEA was built upon three primary constituencies: employers, higher education, and regional government. In addition to our traditional partners, we now actively engage career technical centers and economic development organizations as we strengthen partnerships across Ohio's talent development ecosystem. These relationships position us to support talent development from multiple perspectives and across multiple sectors.
This year, I look forward to our exciting professional development opportunities, including the 2026 Fall Drive-In in Columbus, OH and the 2027 Spring Conference in Youngstown, OH. These events, along with periodic webinars, newsletters and a member only portal will provide invaluable chances to connect, share best practices, and continue shaping Ohio’s future workforce.
Whether you're an educator, employer, or someone passionate about developing future talent, our purpose remains clear: to serve as a resource for best practices in work-based learning and to support individuals, institutions, and organizations committed to developing, attracting, and retaining talent throughout Ohio.
As we move forward, I believe our focus for the year should be on three key priorities:
1. Increasing member value throughout the year, not just during conference season.
2. Strengthening connections across our diverse constituencies to encourage collaboration and shared learning.
3. Positioning OCEA as Ohio's leading voice for work based learning and talent development.
The good news is that we are not starting from scratch. We have a strong foundation, a dedicated board, engaged members, and a rich history of innovation and partnership.
Thank you for your interest in OCEA. Reach out with questions to a-domachowski@onu.edu. I look forward to all we will achieve together!
Warm regards,
Andrea Domachowski
2026-2027 President