The Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association's mission is to educate, inform, provide professional interaction for its members, and advocate for excellence in public-sector labor and employee relations. OHPELRA strives to complete this mission by several means, but are probably best known for its educational events.

Annual Events

The OHPELRA Annual Training Conference (ATC) is OHPELRA's premiere event and is traditionally held the first week of February, beginning on Sunday and ending on Tuesday. OHPELRA kicks the program off on Sunday with a general session for early arriving attendees followed by a reception which has recently been a NFL Superbowl party. The ATC then features two days of information packed plenary and concurrent sessions involving a plethora of topics surrounding employee and labor relations and human resources management. The program also provides interaction for its membership through the President's reception and dinner, and the annual Pat Webster Memorial Euchre Tournament held Monday night. OHPELRA lives up to its commitments to succeed to educate, inform, provide interaction for its members, and advocate for excellence in public sector labor and employee relations with the ATC. The ATC has been held at the Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark, Ohio for the past several years, so mark your calendars as we hope to see you there.

Depending on the human resources and labor relations climate and the actions of the legislative and rule-making bodies that govern our industry, OHPELRA holds one to two OHPELRA Spring/Summer Programs each year. These programs may be held anytime between May and July and are provided free to OHPELRA members. The topics of the Spring/Summer seminars include “hot topics” of the day and/or those areas of our profession that continue to change and require continuous review and update.

The OHPELRA Fall Program is a full-day seminar devoted to bringing membership up-to-date on issues with a significant impact on our industry and/or work life as human resources and labor relations management professionals. The Fall Program concentrates on practical application of legal requirements. The Fall Program is typically held in the Central Ohio area at a nominal cost to members.

NPELRA Programs

The National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) Annual Training Conference is held typically in April annually in rotating locations throughout the United States. The NPELRA ATC is similar to the OHPELRA ATC with a much broader view of employee and labor relations and concentration on issues that affect us from a national perspective. The NPELRA ATC gives members a great opportunity to meet fellow human resources and labor relations professionals from around the United States and to discuss strategies that work and don't work in the administration of human capital.

From time-to-time, the NPELRA Labor Relations Academy Certification Program will partner with OHPELRA to hold one or two academies in Ohio. The NPELRA Labor Relations Academy Certification Program is an innovative teaching program designed specifically for public sector labor relations and human resources professionals who are new to the field, as well as for experienced practitioners seeking additional training. Members, who successfully complete the three required training academies and the required professional paper, receive the title of Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP). The NPELRA Labor Relations Academy Certification Program, continuing to work with OHPELRA, may also offer elective academy programs in Ohio.