2025 Winter General Assembly

Join TMACOG at the 2025 Winter General Assembly, where we’ll collaborate on regional issues, conduct important business, and hear how the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is partnering with communities to drive economic growth and job creation.

TMACOG members, partners, guests, and the public are invited to this year’s Winter General Assembly on Friday, January 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.

Reserve your seat before registration closes January 21!

Check below for the full itinerary, agenda for the business meeting, and other important documents.

A highlight of the day is our keynote conversation, “Resources for Revitalization: Partnering with Ohio EPA for Economic Development.”

Sally Gladwell, senior vice president/principal for The Mannik & Smith Group, and Melisa Witherspoon, Ohio EPA's chief of Environmental Response and Revitalization, will review successful case studies about projects with impacts that transcend water quality, revitalizing urban and rural areas and attracting new businesses and job opportunities.

While Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel shares her regrets that she is not able to attend as previously scheduled, we are excited to welcome Melisa Witherspoon to share her specialized expertise on Ohio EPA's environmental revitalization programs.

This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about steps you can take to turn unused or undesirable land into a community asset. Coordinating strategic investments through federal funding programs can also improve property values and support industries of all shapes and sizes.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about funding programs and connect with EPA representatives who are eager to share information and resources with you.

Click the registration button on this page or go here to reserve your seat!

The cost of your registration includes breakfast, access to all activities, and lunch from a Mediterranean buffet that’s sure to have something for everyone, including chicken, fish, vegetarian, and vegan choices.

If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event or have questions about registration, contact Jennifer Allen at allen@tmacog.org or 419-241-9155 ext. 1107.

Agenda

8:30 a.m.	Registration / Breakfast Reception / Vendor Exhibits Open
9 a.m.	Caucus Sessions / Selection of Trustees
10:30 a.m.	Networking / Break
11 a.m.	Business Meeting / Caucus Reports / Election of TMACOG Leadership
Noon	Lunch
12:45 p.m.	Keynote Conversation: Resources for Revitalization: Partnering with Ohio EPA for Economic Development
1:45 p.m.	Closing Remarks

Click here to download the agenda.

Documents

Caucus Sessions

Business Meeting

Speakers

Melisa Witherspoon is Chief of Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental Response & Revitalization. She oversees programs within the division including the voluntary action program, hazardous waste program, and remedial programs. Witherspoon joined Ohio EPA in 2014 at the Southeast District Office in the Division of Air Pollution Control, serving as assistant chief before starting her current position in 2019. Witherspoon has years of experience in environmental assessment and remediation, environmental regulations, and oversight of staff.

Witherspoon graduated from Heidelberg College with a bachelor's degree in biology/psychology and earned a master's degree in occupational health-industrial hygiene from the Medical University of Ohio (now the University of Toledo).

Sally Gladwell is Senior Vice President/Principal for The Mannik & Smith Group, as well as a Certified Professional in Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program for brownfields revitalization. She has more than 31 years of experience in the environmental field focused on urban revitalization, environmental due diligence, natural resources restoration, sustainability, and community engagement. Through her keen problem-solving skills and creativity, she has worked with diverse project teams to develop projects that transform underutilized land and incorporate input from key stakeholders.

Sally has completed and has helped design and lead technical writing courses and an environmental due diligence course for environmental consultants. She is a successful grant writer, combining strong writing and organizational skills with a solid understanding of regulatory issues and requirements. Committed to community-wide revitalization, Sally has organized and hosted workshops to explore funding opportunities for brownfield revitalization in Ohio. Similarly, she planned a half-day Brownfield Leadership Summit, held at the University of Toledo, commenced with opening remarks from the Mayor of Toledo, and featuring a keynote address by a national expert on urban revitalization.

Since 2019, Sally has served on a panel of expert grant strategists at a statewide brownfield funding workshop hosted by Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA. Sally served on a committee to plan the 2023 National Brownfields Conference and is serving again for the 2025 conference.