Aim Hire 2025
Breakout Session
Round 1

11:00 am – 11:45 am

From Campus to Career: Retaining Ohio’s Top Talent

Discover bold strategies and policies—scholarships, co-ops, career-aligned pathways, and more—that keep Ohio’s best and brightest learning, working, and thriving right here at home.

Location: Pheoris West A, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

Michael Graham is an experienced legislative professional with a demonstrated commitment to public service and government operations in the state of Ohio. Currently serving as the Director of Legislative Affairs at the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), Michael works at the intersection of law, policy, and education, shaping impactful legislative strategies that support students and institutions across the state.

Prior to his current role, Michael served as the Legislative Liaison at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), where he facilitated key policy initiatives to enhance accessibility and services for Ohioans with disabilities. His career in state government began in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he held multiple legislative positions over nearly five years.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics, with a minor in Political Science and Government, from The Ohio State University, and is currently attending Capital University Law School to pursue a Juris Doctor degree.

From Campus to Career Slides

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Emily D. Turner is passionate about creating economic opportunities through education, training, and job creation. She has worked within the public, private, and non-profit sectors to build collaborations that increase talent development and access to employment opportunities. Emily is committed to implementing public policies that address both the needs of employers and the challenges faced by today’s workforce.

Staring in economic development, Emily provided consulting services to companies creating jobs in Ohio and around the Midwest. After seeing employers struggle to find the talent they needed, Emily shifted gears and focused on workforce development initiatives. She led a statewide association for a workforce-oriented non-profit organization and was laser focused on workforce development policies that impacted people and employers.

Currently, she serves as the Director of the Choose Ohio First STEM scholarship program with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Choose Ohio First is an innovative program designed to recruit more students and educators into post-secondary STEM programs.

Emily holds a master’s degree in public administration from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Miami University. Emily and her husband are a Miami Merger and reside in central Ohio. They are proud parents of a Gen Z son.

The GRIT Project: Driving Opportunity & Change in Appalachian Communities

Learn about the GRIT Project, which focuses on helping Appalachian community members thrive by supporting individuals in gaining employment, connecting businesses to talent, and collaborating with local agencies to create change and reduce stigma.

Location: Roman Johnson, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

Dan Leffingwell is an accomplished educational leader currently serving as Vice President for Advocacy at Future Plans, Client Relationship Director at SHP, and Director of the Appalachian STEM Collaborative. He is dedicated to empowering school districts and communities to develop personalized pathways that align student strengths and aptitudes with industry demands.

Dan has a diverse background, having previously held roles as a teacher, coach, high school principal, and school superintendent. In 2022, he was honored as the BASA Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, the Noble Local School District became Ohio's first K-12 STEM designated school district, achieving a continuous “4-star BAC award” that emphasizes the importance of connecting students to future workforce opportunities.

Dan and his wife Debbie(36 years) have two adult children (Darci and Dylan) and one awesome granddaughter (Norah).

The GRIT Project Slides

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Opening Doors: Guaranteed & Direct Admissions

Explore how Ohio is streamlining college access through guaranteed and direct admissions to boost enrollment, equity, and student success.

Location: Pheoris West C, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

Jana Fornario serves as the Vice Chancellor of P-16 and Strategic Initiatives at the Ohio Department of Higher Education, where she leads efforts to strengthen alignment between Ohio’s K-12 and higher education systems. Her career began in the classroom as a high school English teacher, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to education as an engine for opportunity.

Over the years, she has directed a nonprofit focused on teacher certification, managed grants at a higher education institution, and led development for an early college high school. Jana also served as the K-12, higher education, and workforce policy director in the Office of the Governor of Ohio and later worked nationally as a consultant on higher education policy.

Prior to her current role, she was Chief of Future Forward Ohio at the Ohio Department of Education, where she oversaw strategic initiatives aimed at helping students recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening Doors Slides

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Christopher Kacir is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the Ohio Department of Higher education, responsible for vision, guidance and management of departmental initiatives focused on postsecondary access, success and attainment including college and career navigation, financial aid, student retention, student basic needs and credential acceleration and attainment at Ohio’s universities, community colleges and career technical centers.

Christopher is an experienced academic and administrator, having served nineteen years at Shawnee State University (SSU) in Portsmouth, Ohio. In his time at SSU, Christopher has held the position of Professor, Department Chairperson, Dean and Associate Provost, contributing significantly to the growth and success of many of SSU’s strategic initiatives including efforts to improve student retention, addressing access challenges, and academic program development.

Christopher holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Clinical Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio University. A lifelong Ohioan, Christopher has called many Ohio cities and towns home; he currently lives in Dublin, Ohio with his wife and two children.

Delivering High-Quality Career-Connected Learning Through Collective Impact

Learn how over 150 organizations are coming together in Northeast Ohio to deliver high-quality
career-connected learning to local students.

Location: Pheoris West B, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

David Giesige is the Chief Program Officer of the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium and has almost a decade of experience in education and workforce. An Ohio State graduate and Fulbright Scholar, Giesige has dedicated his career to building career-connected learning pathways that lead to high-wage, high-opportunity futures. Currently, he serves over 30,000 students through the PACE Framework, a comprehensive career readiness curriculum embedded in nine school districts.

Deliverering High Quality Slides

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Transition & Employment for Students with Disabilities

Join us to learn about assessments and programs for students with autism, highlighting autonomy and
care continuum to ensure successful transitions into adult services or competitive employment.

Location: Massey C, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

Amy L. Gould is a licensed BCaBA and dedicated behavioral health professional with over 18 years of experience in behavioral services, specializing in adolescent studies and transition programs. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Services at New

Story Schools in Ohio, where she leads and oversees the departments of Special Education, CIA, Special Therapies, and Transition programs across eleven schools within the network.

Her work includes establishing and expanding curricula, building partnerships with community stakeholders, and implementing programs and operational systems that promote quality services and student development. Amy’s leadership continues to innovate by developing programs that foster independent living and workplace readiness skills for students. Her dedication to professional development is evident in her participation in leadership teams and conferences, as well as her commitment to ensuring quality educational experiences for students with diverse needs.

Throughout her career, Amy has demonstrated a passion for developing high-performing teams and fostering an environment where students can thrive. She has created and implemented several transition programs that help students achieve both academic and personal success beyond high school, including the ABS and New Story Schools Intern Cohort Program and Post-Secondary Transition Program. Her ability to manage complex operations, from staffing and curriculum development to building community relationships and securing state funding, has been crucial to her success. Amy’s leadership is recognized through numerous awards, such as the ABS Outstanding Leadership Award and the World’s Best Clinic Supervisor Award, highlighting her commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of both students and staff.

Transition and Employment Slides

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Alex is an ABS Dayton’s Transition Service Specialist this year! Her role is to support students as they build the life skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom. She focuses on helping each learner navigate big changes. This includes starting a new routine, preparing for work experiences, and building independence at their own pace. She collaborates closely with our BTs, BCBAs, families, and schools to create goals that are meaningful, functional, and client centered.

From practicing communication and daily living skills to building confidence in the community, she is there to help students take the next step. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis through Purdue Global University, with the goal of becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She is passionate about helping individuals grow through evidence-based strategies, and she is excited to continue expanding her knowledge and impact within the field of ABA.

How Sinclair College is Building Future Talent with Work-Based Learning

Discover how Sinclair College is launching students into successful careers through internships, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships—where employer partnerships offer students on-the-job
experience while earning their degrees or credentials.

Location: Massey AB, Floor 3

Speaker Biographies & Slides:

Angie Tapogna is the Assistant Director of the Work-Based Learning Office at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio where she leads a team of four staff members to assist students with securing internship opportunities. In her role she collaborates with employers to integrate academic learning with practical work experience to allow students to apply their skills in real-world settings.

With more than 20 years of experience in management, communications, and marketing, she has served in governmental roles for city, state, county, and educational entities. She has an outstanding track record of earned media press coverage which includes national, state, and local credits in television, newspapers, and online journalism.

Outside of work, Angie has volunteered her time with elementary schools, hospice facilities, and political campaigns, and has served in numerous Boards of Directors roles that support education, non-profits, and civic organizations as well.

Sinclair College Slides

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Return to Main Page

Hosts

Aim Hire 2025
Breakout Session
Round 1

11:00 am – 11:45 am

From Campus to Career: Retaining Ohio’s Top Talent

Michael Graham - Director, Legislative Affairs, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Emily Turner - Director, Choose Ohio First, Ohio Department of Higher Education

The GRIT Project: Driving Opportunity & Change in Appalachian Communities

Dan Leffingwell - Client Relationship Manager, SHP

Opening Doors: Guaranteed & Direct Admissions

Jana Fornario - Vice Chancellor, P-16 & Strategic Initiatives, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Chris Kacir - Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Success, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Delivering High-Quality Career-Connected Learning Through Collective Impact

David Giesige - Director, Career Pathways, Greater Cleveland Career Consortium

Transition & Employment for Students with Disabilities

Amy Gould - Senior Director, Student Services-Ohio, New Story Schools

Alex Harker - Transition Coordinator, New Story Schools

How Sinclair College is Building Future Talent with Work-Based Learning

Dani Heeter - Director, Work-Based Learning, Sinclair College

Angie Tapogna - Assistant Director, Work-Based Learning, Sinclair College

Hosts

Aim Hire 2025 Breakout Session Round 1

11:00 am – 11:45 am

From Campus to Career: Retaining Ohio’s Top Talent

Michael Graham - Director, Legislative Affairs, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Emily Turner - Director, Choose Ohio First, Ohio Department of Higher Education

The GRIT Project: Driving Opportunity & Change in Appalachian Communities

Dan Leffingwell - Client Relationship Manager, SHP

Opening Doors: Guaranteed & Direct Admissions

Jana Fornario - Vice Chancellor, P-16 & Strategic Initiatives, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Chris Kacir - Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Success, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Delivering High-Quality Career-Connected Learning Through Collective Impact

David Giesige - Director, Career Pathways, Greater Cleveland Career Consortium

Transition & Employment for Students with Disabilities

Amy Gould - Senior Director, Student Services-Ohio, New Story Schools

Alex Harker - Transition Coordinator, New Story Schools

How Sinclair College is Building Future Talent with Work-Based Learning

Dani Heeter - Director, Work-Based Learning, Sinclair College

Angie Tapogna - Assistant Director, Work-Based Learning, Sinclair College

Hosts

Aim Hire 2025
Breakout Session
Round 1