Schedule

We have two exciting days of work and fun in downtown Columbus.

Monday includes keynote presentation and CFIS functionality open discussion and feedback, where you can exchange ideas and CFIS best practices with others from across the state.

Tuesday includes keynote presentation with multiple informative breakout sessions. You will be able to select and attend breakout sessions specifically tailored to the needs of both program and finance professionals.

Jump to: Sunday Monday Tuesday

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025

Conference Registration Check-In
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Virginia Building
Grand Ballroom Atrium

Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Conference Registration Check-In and Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Virginia Building
Grand Ballroom Atrium

Opening Welcome
8.30 AM - 9:45 AM

Grand Ballroom

Siva Kakuturi, Founder, Sivic Solutions Group (SSG) – Welcome & Opening Remarks

Eric D. Seguin, President & CEO, Solix, Inc.

Andy Lin, CIO, Solix, Inc. – Brief Overview of Solix & SSG

Sabrina Jamison, Bureau Chief County Finance and Technical Assistance

Matt Damschroder, Director of Job and Family Services

Jon Honeck, Executive Director of the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association

Keynote Presentation
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Trinity Tomsic - Deputy Executive Director of Federal Funds Information for States (FFIS)
A View from Washington: Funding Changes - How Big and How Soon?
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM - Break (Grand Ballroom Atrium)
Session A
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Systems Program/OWD Fiscal Program/HHS Other
CFIS 101
Ballroom 1
CCMEP Strategies
Cypress 1
RMS Big Picture
Ballroom 2
Benefit Bridge
Ballroom 4
Power of Positivity
Cypress 2
Tasia Blackwell/ Wesley Shrider
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Megan Sullivan
Office of Workforce Development
Karen Murnane
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Denise Olson
Office of Family Assistance
Dawnielle Pierce
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Lunch Buffet
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Grand Ballroom

Session B
1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Systems Program I Fiscal Program II Other
OWD Systems: Functionality and Interactions
Ballroom 1
CCMEP - The Power of Connection: Driving Outcomes Through Partnership
Cypress 1
Fiscal Medley
Ballroom 2
Payment Accuracy – You Matter!
Ballroom 4
Creating Effective Cross-Generational Teams
Cypress 2
Dave Felty
Office of Workforce Development
Heidi Rowland
Office of Workforce Development
Sean Miller
Tatiana Robinson
Kyle Erwin
Tiffany Knight
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Matthew Linn
Bureau of Program Integrity Office of Family Assistance
Kelly Hickle- Lentz
Wood County
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM - Break(Grand Ballroom Atrium)
Session C
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Systems Program I Fiscal Program II Other
Client Level Tracking (CLT) for new WIOA and CCMEP Users
Ballroom 1
Navigating Title IV-E Claiming and Reimbursement
Cypress 1
OWD Support - WIOA Allocations, LMI, MOU Agreements
Ballroom 2
Fraud Trends 2025: Strengthening Frontline Defense
Ballroom 4
SNAP E & T Updates
Cypress 2
Matthew Farschman/ Mark Anderson
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Dan Shook
Chief Financial Officer, Franklin County Children Services
Nick Wallace
Scott France
Raye Riley
Office of Workforce Development
Chasity Parks
Fraud Control, Office of Family Assistance
Hannah Knies
Bureau Chief of SNAP/TANF Policy, ODJFS
Welcome Reception
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Grand Ballroom Atrium

Dinner
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Grand Ballroom

Networking
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Grand Ballroom

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM - Breakfast Buffet (Grand Ballroom Atrium)
Keynote Presentation
8:30 AM-9:15 AM

Kara Wente - Director of Department of Children and Youth
Jeff Van Deusen - Assistant Director of Department of Children and Youth

CFIS Enhancements and User Group Discussion
9:15 AM-11:00 AM

Grand Ballroom

Siva Kakuturi - President, Sivic Solutions Group
Suresh Muppala - Vice President, Sivic Solutions Group
Sabrina Jamison - Bureau Chief for County Finance and Technical Assistance

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM - Break (Grand Ballroom Atrium)
Session D
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Systems Program I Fiscal Program II Other
How can the Ledger Functions menu give you the ability to better track your county budget, contracts and purchase orders?
Ballroom 1
Administering an effective local Family and Children First Council: It doesn’t have to be scary
Cypress 1
RMS Table Talk
Ballroom 2
Investing in Independence: Funding Normalcy and Permanency with Passion and Purpose
Ballroom 4
New Uniform Guidance and Other Audit Tips
Cypress 2
Mark Anderson/ Matthew Farschman
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Jeffrey Felton
John (Jack) Regis
Colleen Tucker
Department of Children and Youth
Karen Murnane
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Tara Shook
Department of Children and Youth
Amanda Stidham
Ohio Auditor of State
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Grand Ballroom

Session E
1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Systems Program I Fiscal Program II Other
Client Level Tracking (CLT) for new WIOA and CCMEP Users (Repeat)
Ballroom 1
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Data Validation
Cypress 1
(R)esourceful & (M)onetary (S)trategies
Ballroom 2
Payment Accuracy – You Matter! (Repeat)
Ballroom 4
Jeopardy
Cypress 2
Matthew Farschman/ Mark Anderson
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance
Shelia Cunningham
Elizabeth King
Vonda Rowe
Office of Workforce Development
Lisa Gallagher-Hall
Graig Pellman
Office of Fiscal and Monitoring Service
Terri Burns
Summit County
Kelly Hickle-Lentz
Wood County
Matthew Kurtz
Lorain County
John Piper
Coshocton County
John Folk
Champaign County
Matthew Linn
Bureau of Program Integrity
Office of Family Assistance
Patti Gorman
Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance

Session Topics

CFIS 101

Tasia Blackwell, Wesley Shrider

Demonstration of basic CFIS Main functions related to monthly and quarterly financial reporting for PA, PCSA and CSEA. Topics we will cover include Monthly Financials, Cost Allocation, Post Allocated Adjustments, Certification of Funds, Cash Draws and Reversing from OAKS.

CCMEP Strategies

Megan Sullivan

Discover the latest CCMEP strategies to engage and support the young people in your program. Get practical tips for navigating CFIS, and stay up-to-date on important ARIES system updates. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to connect with fellow youth caseworkers, share best practices, and leave feeling recharged and ready to make a difference in the lives of the CCMEP participants you serve.

RMS Big Picture

Karen Murnane

Who participates in RMS and why? Who is responsible for what and what are the deadlines? And more! We will also cover the NEW RMS enhancements, what they mean for agencies and how you can utilize them. This session is beneficial to everyone from case workers to Directors.

Benefit Bridge

Denise Olson

Benefit Bridge is a pilot initiative that helps to better engage, prepare, and support our most vulnerable Ohioans for long-term economic independence. Clients involved in the pilot will work with a collaborative team specifically trained to meet their needs to set them up for success, utilize a specialized tool to determine impacts of life changes or decisions, and have access to episodic support to encourage independence. Want to learn more? Come join us.

Power of Positivity

Dawnielle Pierce

Have you ever noticed how some people radiate happiness no matter what life throws their way? There’s something infectious about their zest for life that goes beyond mere circumstance. This essence, often rooted in a positive outlook, isn’t just about feeling good -it’s a powerful tool that can transform your entire existence. Embracing positivity isn’t just about seeing the glass as half full. Instead, it’s about reshaping your interactions with the world to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life. This session explores transformative effects of positivity, showing how this mindset is not just a choice but a key to unlocking your best life.

OWD Systems: Functionality and Interactions

Dave Felty

This session will focus on how to most effectively use the ARIES, OhioMeansJobs.com and WIET systems, Enhanced features including message center, measurable skills gains, and system interactions with programs and other systems (OJI/OUIO, HOPE, RESEA)

CCMEP - The Power of Connection: Driving Outcomes Through Partnership

Heidi Rowland

Discover how collaboration and strong partnerships within CCMEP drive participant success and improve outcomes for youth and young adults.

Fiscal Medley

Sean Miller, Tatiana Robinson, Kyle Erwin and Tiffany Knight

Join the Regional Fiscal Supervisors on a medley of fiscal topics. Each speaker will take you through different key points, resources, and materials. Topics include: • Quarterly Checklist Review • Quarterly Reminders • CR505 Projection Report • CR301 and Common Error Messages • CSEA o 454(a) - 66/34 split o Budget References and Resources o How much in Federal Incentive is needed to cover State Match? • Show and Tell of CFIS Resources • Common "Did you Know?" topics • Food Assistance/Income Maintenance Projections • WIOA o FIFO o Draws o Budget Distributions

Payment Accuracy – You Matter!

Matthew Linn

This session is for anyone that works in the SNAP program but especially for Case Workers and Supervisors that establish SNAP benefits in OBWP. You will learn about the importance of Ohio’s error rate and the biggest contributing factors that cause errors. You will also learn tips and tricks on how to prevent errors to ensure families are receiving the correct amount of SNAP benefits.

Creating Effective Cross-Generational Teams

Kelly Hickle- Lentz

This upbeat, fast paced training will address the various characteristics of the current generations in the workplace and how to encourage cohesiveness amongst the various groups. Discussion will center around the ways each worker may bring certain qualities and how best to harness these qualities to form an effectively functioning team. Attention will be paid to the stereotyping that occurs regarding each generation and how these idealizations can make or break your team if not recognized. Participants will self-assess what part they play as a team member and if they are making a positive impact on their team. Hands-on activities will show participants how to work together as a functioning team, so they may in turn share these same ideals with their assigned units.

Client Level Tracking (CLT) for new WIOA and CCMEP Users

Matthew Farschman and Mark Anderson

Matt Farschman will be presenting best practices for CLT users. Matt will be sharing some new desk guides for the newer users, discuss some best practices to manage client data. The second stage of the presentation will address the proper way and time to close client cases in CFIS (hint: closing cases will speed up your CFIS processing time) and the CFIS reports that will allow you to manage the proper closing of cases. The final stage will be a review of the Case/Services – Batch Process tab for case managers (hint: time saver for processing certain client changes).

Navigating Title IV-E Claiming and Reimbursement

Dan Shook

This workshop will provide county staff with a practical, high-level overview of key financial and administrative processes related to placement contracting, Title IV-E reimbursement, and recent state and federal policy changes. Whether you are new to fiscal administration or seeking a refresher, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how the pieces fit together to support accurate claiming and maximize available funding.

OWD Support - WIOA Allocations, LMI, MOU Agreements

Nick Wallace, Scott France, Raye Riley

LMI discussion on the basics of labor market information, including monthly estimates of employment and unemployment, annual occupational wage and employment estimates, quarterly wage and employment data by county, and bi-annual long-term occupational employment projections. WIOA Allocations, Local Workforce Area Roles, and Procurement Rules will be reviewed.

Fraud Trends 2025: Strengthening Frontline Defense

Chasity Parks

This session provides a comprehensive overview of emerging fraud trends in 2025, with a focus on how frontline staff can play a critical role in early detection and prevention. Attendees will explore the importance of effective interviewing techniques and learn how to recognize red flags early in the process. The session will conclude by highlighting the vital role of timely and thorough collection efforts in maintaining program integrity and reducing financial losses.

SNAP E & T Updates

Hannah Knies

Want to hear about what’s going on in the Office of Family Assistance (OFA)? Want to know the latest on SNAP Employment and Training? How about learning more about Benefit Bridge? If the answer is “yes” then this is the perfect session for you!

How can the Ledger Functions menu give you the ability to better track your county budget, contracts and purchase orders?

Mark Anderson and Matthew Farschman

Mark Anderson will review all the tabs in the Ledger Functions menu and show you how to quickly review your data to understand how your financials are impacting both your county budget and your current state allocations. Some key points are: how are contracts and purchase orders related, why should you keep your ledger budget up to date, what are the batch processes available (including batch printing). Questions are strongly encouraged during this presentation as there are so many variables between county structures that this presentation may not completely address your fiscal operations.

Administering an effective local Family and Children First Council: It doesn’t have to be scary

Jeffrey Felton, John (Jack) Regis, Colleen Tucker

Participants will hear from Ohio Family and Children First and Belmont County Job and Family Service Representatives as presenters provide a brief overview of Ohio Family and Children First and Family and Children First Councils, including their core functions, funding and mandates. Belmont County will then discuss the role of a Council Administrator, how their county has blended funds and combined resources to meet the needs of youth and families, and ways their community effectively partners with other systems.

RMS Table Talk

Karen Murnane

In this session, BCFTA Staff will be on hand to hear whatever YOU all have on your minds with RMS. Do you have ideas? Do you have challenges? BCFTA as well as other Agencies attending the Table Talk can provide valuable input and collaboration. Anyone interested or involved with RMS are welcome!

Investing in Independence: Funding Normalcy and Permanency with Passion and Purpose

Tara Shook

How do we move beyond compliance and truly invest in the lives of youth and families? This session explores innovative strategies to maximize funding for critical supports like normalcy activities, independent living supports, adoption, and post-adoption services. Participants will learn how to creatively braid and blend funding streams, understand why it is so important for kids in care to do normal kid things, and redesign processes that prioritize independence, stability, and belonging. Whether you're navigating budget constraints or seeking to amplify impact, this session will equip you with tools, inspiration, and real-world examples to fund what matters—with passion and purpose.

New Uniform Guidance and Other Audit Tips

Amanda Stidham

This session will highlight major changes to the Uniform Guidance due to the 2024 Revisions, the effective dates of the 2024 Revisions, auditing guidance, and how to prepare for the 2024 Revisions. It will also touch on other Federal hot topics.

Client Level Tracking (CLT) for new WIOA and CCMEP Users (Repeat)

Matthew Farschman and Mark Anderson

Matt Farschman will be presenting best practices for CLT users. Matt will be sharing some new desk guides for the newer users, discuss some best practices to manage client data. The second stage of the presentation will address the proper way and time to close client cases in CFIS (hint: closing cases will speed up your CFIS processing time) and the CFIS reports that will allow you to manage the proper closing of cases. The final stage will be a review of the Case/Services – Batch Process tab for case managers (hint: time saver for processing certain client changes).

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Data Validation

Shelia Cunningham, Elizabeth King, Vonda Rowe, Lisa Gallagher-Hall and Graig Pellman

Want to learn more about WIO ‘s Data Validation Process? Come join us as we explore the requirements of the Department of Labor when it comes to monitoring data validation for WIO programs.

Resourceful & Monetary Strategies (RMS)

Terri Burns, Kelly Hickle-Lentz, Matthew Kurtz, John Piper, and John Folk

This session will guide participants through the entire Random Moment Sample (RMS) process, from how employees select program and activity codes to the subsequent cost allocation and funding of employee pay. Additionally, we will provide valuable resources and strategies designed to optimize RMS for PA, CSEA, and PCSA. We will explore a couple of specific scenarios and how to use the CFIS reports to research financial transactions.

Payment Accuracy – You Matter! (Repeat)

Matthew Linn

Overview – This session is for anyone that works in the SNAP program but especially for Case Workers and Supervisors that establish SNAP benefits in OBWP. You will learn about the importance of Ohio’s error rate and the biggest contributing factors that cause errors. You will also learn tips and tricks on how to prevent errors to ensure families are receiving the correct amount of SNAP benefits.(repeat)

JEOPARDY

Patti Gorman

Want to test your knowledge of CFIS and other JFS programs? Come join us for a good old-fashioned game of Jeopardy in which you can compete against other colleagues to see who knows the most or learned the most about JFS and DCY!!