Columbus Emerging Leaders' Summit
The CYP Club is proud to present the 12th annual Columbus Emerging Leaders’ Summit, a leadership experience that brings together passionate, smart, and engaged young professionals from across Central Ohio to connect and grow while learning from local speakers and thought leaders. Young professionals and local employers participate as active participants in shaping the next generation of leaders — connecting professionals who are motivated, values-driven, and invested in their community.
This year’s summit will be hosted on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 8:00am-3:00pm at Capital Choice Office Furniture.
Supporting sponsors include BBB of Central Ohio, Brekkie Shack, Clean Eatz, Credit Union of Ohio, Fisher College of Business at OSU, HRACO, Huntington National Bank, Case Western Reserve University, Eldorado Scioto Downs, Alzheimer’s Association, Cancer Support Ohio, Columbus Early Learning Centers, Communities In Schools of Ohio, COTA, Dawson, Denison Edge, Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA), Ohio Wesleyan University, OSU Honors Cohort, and Owens Corning. If your organization is interested in supporting this signature event, please view our Sponsor Packet.
HERE IS OUR AGENDA:
8:00 – 8:45 am | Arrival, Breakfast & Networking (breakfast catered by Brekkie Shack)
8:45 – 9:00 am | Welcome Remarks
9:00 – 10:30 am | Fireside Chat with Columbus Innovators & Impactors
Aaron Helton - Leadership Consultant at Integrated Leadership Systems
Hannah Shafransky-Smith - Founder/CEO at Modern Maven Advisors
Katherine Grogan - Director of Operations at Accelerating Angels
Kenneth Williams Jr. - Co-Founder & Board President at Minority Autism Connection
Marilyn Mehaffie - Chief Executive Officer at St. Stephen's Community House
Moderated by Christian Noel Johnson - Founder and Empowerment Coach at Christian Noel
10:30 – 10:45 am | Coffee & Networking Break
10:45 – 11:45 am | Executive Speed Networking (intro, 2–3 rotations, wrap-up), featuring:
Ashley Otler - Owner of Simply Plated / Founder of Black Women Connect
Dana Sadiq - Vice President CCB Marketing Strategy Testing & Analytics at JPMorgan Chase
Elizabeth Skovron - Director of Marketing & Communications at Denison Edge
Erika Hidalgo - Deputy Director of Legal Operations at Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Kelsey Lensman - Founder & CEO at Xpand Your Limits
LaTasha Pannell - Owner and CEO of Agape Care
Laura Klarich - Chief of Staff at Columbus Young Professionals (CYP) Club
Lillian Morales-Laster - Executive Director at Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy
Michaun Winborn - CEO at Born2Win Coaching / DEI Senior Manager at United Way of Central Ohio
Michelle Brown - President and CEO at Children’s Hunger Alliance
Michelle Kellner - Vice President, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Huntington National Bank
Nick Fortine - President and Publisher at Columbus Business First
Phillip DiSilvestri – President, Capital Choice Office Furniture
Sarah Peters – VP, Branch General Manager, Huntington National Bank
11:45 am – 12:45 pm | Lunch (Open Networking + Sponsor Introductions)
Lunch will be catered by Clean Eatz
Attendees can mingle while eating, visit vendor tables, and recharge
12:45 – 1:45 pm | Leadership in Real-Time Talks
You’ll hear 5-7 minute talks from speakers in their 20s through 50s, sharing back-to-back stories of leadership, accomplishment, and learning across generations
Nicole Espinoza - Business owner and Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus
Hannah McCorkle - Senior Manager of Marketing & Director of Marathon in Training at Fleet Feet Columbus
Ankit Shah - Manager of Organizational Development at EXPRESS and Vice President at Central Ohio Belonging Consortium
Kristy Wedel - Founder at ReMemora AI
Adero Robinson - Chief Executive Officer at Communities In Schools of Ohio
Anthony McIntosh - CEO at UpRys
1:45 – 2:15 pm | Moderated Q&A with Real-Time Talks speakers
2:15 - 2:45 pm | Key Takeaways from our 2026 Host Committee
2:45 – 3:00 pm | Closing & Call to Action
COST TO ATTEND: An "early bird" summit pass is $30. On December 1st the price will increase to $40 and on March 21st it will increase to $50 until we are sold out. Tickets include access to all speakers & presentations, networking with nonprofits and other attendees, light breakfast & coffee, catered lunch buffet, and free parking. Water, coffee, and snacks will be available throughout the summit.
Join the next generation of Columbus leaders for this special event - now in its twelfth year!
This event will sell out, so don’t wait until the last minute to register! Attire is business casual.