USOA Annual Conference

USOA conference flyer. Ripples of Impact, 2026 annual conference, August 30 through September 4. Traverse City Michigan.

United States Ombudsman Association’s 45th Annual Conference

August 31 – September 4

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd., Acme, MI 49610

The USOA 2026 annual conference schedule at a glance, page one

Registration is OPEN!

Early Bird Rate: Early Bird rates will be offered until July 17, 2026.
Registration will tentatively close on August 7, 2026.

*Payment notifications will be sent out on August 10, 2026 for unpaid invoices. No registration refunds will be issued after August 14, 2026. Substitutions are allowed if someone is unable to attend after August 14, 2026. If the USOA does not receive confirmation of payment by August 14, 2026, then the registration will be canceled. (Please see additional information in Terms and Conditions below.)

USOA MEMBERS NOTE: To see and secure the member only pricing you must be logged in to the USOA website using your email and password to login. Email would be the email you use for USOA interactions. If you have forgotten your password, simply hit forgot password and the system will send a new password to your email.

NOT A MEMBER and want to secure the member pricing for the conference as well as, enjoy all the other benefits of membership? Visit the USOA website to join.

Registration options and links are listed below.

Conference Registration Options:

Register today to be invited to the Mid Conference Sunset Cruise!

All paid registrants of the 2026 USOA Annual Conference will be invited to step away and enjoy a refreshing change of scenery aboard The Discovery Cruise, which includes a two hour sunset cruise on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The cruise departs at 6 p.m., offering incredible views and a fun mid conference break.

Transportation is included, and your ticket covers the cost of your meal. An open bar will be available, with alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Space is limited to just 100 attendees, and tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis, making this an exclusive experience you won’t want to miss. Conference attendees may purchase tickets for guests.

More details and a link to purchase tickets will be shared with all conference registrants mid-July, as we draw closer to the conference.

Main Conference Registration

Registering for the main conference gets you into all sessions Wednesday September 2 through Friday September 4 and includes:

New Ombudsman Training (Monday & Tuesday) Registration

This is a two-day, renowned training workshop for public sector ombudsmen and their staff new to the field. The faculty is made up of seasoned experts and fellow members of USOA. This training will take attendees through each stage of a dispute process and provide some of the tools necessary to better handle a variety of issues faced by ombudsman offices. Registration includes:

Strategic Planning Workshop (Monday Full Day) Registration

This session will connect first-order research with practical tools to grow your ability to lead strategic planning. This session equips leaders with the skills to build a strategic plan that is deeply rooted in organizational culture, driven by a clear and authentic strategy, and informed by a rigorous environmental scan. Participants will learn how to guide teams toward a shared vision of the future, anticipate and navigate obstacles, and design an implementation approach that ensures the plan is actively used rather than forgotten. The session also covers how to effectively scope a project proposal when engaging an external consultant to support the planning process. This session includes:

Conflict Management and Mediator Techniques (Tuesday Full Day) Registration

Participants will complete an exercise for self-assessment of individual conflict styles and participate in small group activities to experiences techniques and meetings models to determine efficacy for real situations. Trainers from the Dispute Resolution Center (The DRC) will provide a full day training for organization members to learn and/or enhance conflict management skills. This registration includes:

Recentering Ombuds Principles Through Equine Assisted Learning - Offsite location (Tuesday Morning Only):

Visit Peace Ranch to learn with horses. Experience neutrality, independence, and presence through embodied learning. This registration includes:

Future Proofing Child & Family Advocacy: A Pre-Conference Power Session Registration (Tuesday Afternoon Only):

Join the Children and Families Chapter for a fast-paced, essential half-day pre-conference deep dive into what’s next for child and family well-being. This session includes:

USOA conference flyer. Ripples of Impact, 2026 annual conference, August 30 through September 4. Traverse City Michigan.