OCSEA Steward Conference

Saturday, June 6, 2026 
Lewis Center, Ohio

The annual OCSEA Steward Conference is the perfect opportunity for OCSEA stewards and chapter leaders to come together to learn about the value of powerful union contract enforcers and to build important skills that give Ohio's public employees a voice on the job. Every OCSEA steward and leader should plan to attend.

This year's Steward Conference is in-person on Saturday, June 6 at The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center in Lewis Center, Ohio (north Columbus), with pre-conference trainings on Friday, June 5 starting at 6 p.m.

OCSEA Steward Conference
Saturday, June 6, 2026
The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center

Address: 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

The OCSEA Steward Conference is Saturday, June 6, 2026, in-person at The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center. The conference will provide union leaders and stewards with important networking opportunities and skill-building to be taken back and applied immediately at the chapter level.

On-site check in, informational tables, and breakfast will be available from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, and the main session begins at 10 a.m. Two pre-conference trainings, GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Training and Chat GPT Training, will take place the evening of Friday, June 5. The trainings are in-person only and are limited to 70 participants each. Scroll below to view the tentative agenda.

Registration

Conference Registration closed on May 22, 2026.

Pre-conference Trainings

There will be two pre-conference union trainings held the evening of Friday, June 5. The trainings (see below) are in-person only AND are limited to 70 people for each. Please indicate on the registration form whether you are interested in attending a training, and which training of the two trainings you would like to attend. Both are limited to the first 70 people who sign up.

The pre-conference trainings will include:
1) GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Training (70 person limit): 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
2) Chat GPT Training (70 person limit): 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. THIS TRAINING IS FULL.
The trainings will take place at the hotel. Please note: You must register in ADVANCE for these trainings. No drop-ins are permitted. There will only be enough training materials for those who sign up in advance via the registration link.

Hotel accommodations 

PLEASE NOTE: All hotel rooms are currently booked
Overnight lodging for the conference will be held at The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center (formerly the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center) at 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035.

Please note: Hotel rooms are available at a special group rate; however, there are a limited number of rooms available at this rate. Reservations are not guaranteed after the cutoff date of Friday, May 15, 2026, and availability may be limited (The Memorial Tournament is the same weekend). Attendees are encouraged to make reservations as early as possible. Use the online booking link below, or call 614-880-4300 and use the Group Code: 2606OCSEA.

Group Rate: $157.00 plus taxes per night
Room Reservation Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026

Steward Re-Certification

Chapter-appointed stewards who attend the entire Steward Conference and have also completed Basic Steward Training will receive their official OCSEA Steward Re-Certification. This certification is good for two years. If you have questions about steward certification, contact Judi Ayers at 614-865-2656 or email jayers@ocsea.org.

Speakers

Lee_Saunders-AFSCME-1000

Lee Saunders

President, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Lee Saunders is the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, a union of 1.4 million public service workers. He was elected at AFSCME’s 40th International Convention in June 2012, after serving two years as the union’s secretary-treasurer.

Saunders began his career as a state employee in his native Ohio, where he was a member of the AFSCME-affiliated Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA). First joining AFSCME’s staff in the late 1970s as a labor economist, he has played a lead role in several major organizing campaigns, contract negotiations and political mobilizations across the country. Saunders has also served as administrator of a number of AFSCME councils and large locals, including District Council 37, New York City’s largest public employee union.

Saunders was raised in a union household in Cleveland, where his father was a city bus driver and a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union. He received a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1974, a year after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University. Saunders and his wife, Lynne, live in Washington, DC. They have two sons, Lee Jr. and Ryan, three grandsons and one granddaughter.


Joe-Trejo

Joe Trejo

Mediator | Labor Relations Professional | Conflict Resolution Specialist

Joe Trejo is an experienced labor relations and conflict resolution professional with more than 30 years of experience in mediation, collective bargaining, labor-management relations, and dispute resolution. He is the founder and principal mediator of Trejo Mediation LLC, where he provides mediation, consulting, training, and relationship development services for unions, employers, public agencies, and organizations.

Through Trejo Mediation LLC, Mr. Trejo specializes in collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, collaborative negotiations, conflict management, labor-management committee facilitation, contract administration, and steward/supervisor training. His work focuses on helping organizations build productive relationships and resolve workplace conflicts through practical and collaborative solutions.

Mr. Trejo also serves in the Labor Management and Employee Relations Department for Columbus City Schools, where he provides guidance on labor relations matters including collective bargaining agreement interpretation, workplace investigations, employee discipline, and employee relations issues.

Prior to launching his private practice, Mr. Trejo retired in June 2025 as a Federal Mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). He served for 14 years promoting stable labor-management relationships through mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Before joining FMCS, he spent eight years with the Office of Collective Bargaining, ultimately serving as Manager of Labor Relations and Dispute Resolution.

Mr. Trejo began his labor relations career with Teamsters Local Union 284, where he served as a union steward, and later Secretary-Treasurer. Throughout his career, he has negotiated collective bargaining agreements, represented parties in mediation and arbitration proceedings, facilitated training programs, and worked to strengthen labor-management partnerships.

Known for his balanced approach, practical experience, and collaborative leadership style, Mr. Trejo continues to help organizations successfully navigate complex workplace and labor relations challenges.


Tentative Agenda

The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center  
Address: 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, OH 43035
 

Friday, June 5

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
  

Early On-Site Check In
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
 GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Training
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
 ChatGPT Training

Saturday, June 6

8:30 am - 10:00 am
  

 
On-site Check In, Informational Tables & Breakfast Buffet
10:00 am - 11:45 am
 Morning Session
11:45 am - 12:45 pm 
 Lunch
12:45 pm - 2:30 pm
 Afternoon Session
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
 Closing and door prizes (Must be present to win)
3:00 pm
 Adjourn

Contact

Have questions about your registration? Contact Judi Ayers at 614-865-2656 or jayers@ocsea.org.