Better Together: Ohio & Kentucky Local Government Management Summit

August 5:

6:30 PM:   Welcome Reception

Join us for an evening of networking with friends and colleagues from OCMA and KCCMA! 
Hors d’oeuvres and a hosted bar will be available.

Kentucky Gateway Museum Center
221 Sutton Street
Maysville, KY 41056

The reception will begin at Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, a cornerstone of the region’s cultural and historical preservation. Located in the heart of downtown, the museum showcases an impressive collection of decorative arts, regional history, and changing exhibits that celebrate the stories of Maysville, as well as northeastern Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley. You will be fascinated by the Kaye Savage Browning miniatures collection – the largest private collection of its kind in the world!

We will then go just steps away to the Old Pogue Experience, highlighting one of Maysville’s most storied legacies: bourbon. The Pogue family began distilling in the late 1800s and proudly bears DPS-KY-3 as the second oldest operating distillery in the state. Part of the museum campus, the Old Pogue Experience blends history and hospitality, inviting visitors to explore the family’s distilling tradition through exhibits, storytelling, and yes, tastings.

August 6:

8:00 AM:   Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM:    Welcome

8:45 AM:    Keynote Address

“It Always Begins with Leadership” with Milton Dohoney, Jr.

10:00 AM:  Breakout Sessions:

• • • “Creating and Retaining Income-Aligned Housing: An Economic Development Strategy” with Tara Johnson-Noem, Executive Director and Geoffrey Milz, VP at Penrose, APA-OH Board of Trustees
    • “Ethics Matter” with Jessica Cowles, ICMA Ethics Advisor

11:15 AM:    General Session

“Cyber Security in your Local Government” with Dave Hatter

12:15 PM:    Networking Lunch

1:15 PM:      Breakout Sessions:

• • • “Building Resilient Homes and Stable Insurance Markets: The Role of DOI-Led Mitigation Programs, NAIC Coordination, and Local Government Leadership” with Brian Powell, Catastrophe Risk Resilience Advisor, Center for Insurance Policy and Research (CIPR)
    • “Building Competitive Regions: Structuring High-Performing Economic Development Organizations” with the Montrose Group, LLC

2:30 PM:    Closing Session:

“Leading Well to Serve Well: A Manager’s Conversation on Mental Health and Wellness”

Local government management is demanding, high‑stakes, and often isolating. In this candid closing panel, experienced city managers share personal insights, practical strategies, and leadership lessons for maintaining mental health, supporting staff wellness, and modeling resilience in the profession—so leaders can sustain themselves and their organizations for the long term.

Featuring:

• • • Bryan Heck, City Manager, City of Springfield, Ohio
    • Brian Dehner, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Edgewood, Kentucky
    • Jim Arndt, President & CEO, Arndt Municipal Support, Inc.

Featured Speakers:

Keynote Speaker: Milton Dohoney, Jr.

Milton Dohoney, Jr. is the City Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor. Prior to this role, he was the Assistant City Manager of Phoenix, serving as its Chief Operating Officer. He worked for seven years as city manager of Cincinnati, Ohio and for more than three years as chief administrative officer of Lexington Fayette Urban County Government in Kentucky. He also served for 20 years with the City of Louisville, Kentucky, including as assistant community services director, chief administrative officer and public safety director.

General Session Speaker: Dave Hatter

Dave Hatter is Cincinnati’s top cyber security pro. If his name sounds familiar, it’s not surprising: He’s an award-winning technology professional who’s done thousands of media interviews as a subject matter expert. In addition to offering expert advice on the radio, TV and internet, Dave serves as Intrust’s cyber security consultant. During Dave’s 30 plus years in the business, he’s focused on software development and cyber security. He has experience as a software engineer, project manager and instructor. In addition to working in the industry for decades, Dave has been an adjunct instructor at Cincinnati State Community and Technical College for nearly 20 years, teaching programming courses to help the next generation of workers prepare for careers in technology.

Panel Session Speakers: 

Bryan Heck is the City Manager since 2019. Heck oversees 585 employees with an annual general fund budget of $59 million, and a city population of over 60,000 residents. Prior to his appointment as City Manager, Heck served in various capacities including Assistant to the City Manager, Planning and Zoning Administrator and Deputy City Manager.

During his 19 years with Springfield, he has played an integral role in many urban planning and economic development projects, including the Springfield Regional Medical Center, redevelopment of the former International Lagonda Assembly Plant into Topre America Corporation, South Limestone Corridor rezoning and redevelopment, downtown parking garage, Center Street Townes and several other recent housing developments. 

Among Heck’s professional affiliations, he is a Member of ICMA and current Vice President of OCMA. Heck serves on a variety of internal and external boards and commissions as part of his role overseeing the operations of the City of Springfield. Heck received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Dayton in 2008. While at U.D., he was a graduate assistant in the Political Science Department. Heck earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wittenberg University in 2006, with summa cum laude honors.

Brian Dehner is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University. He is a value driven Executive Leader with a broad senior level management portfolio comprised of planning, finance, human resources and leadership development.  He has over 30 years of progressive experience leading groups and organizations in both the private and public sector.

Mr. Dehner currently holds the position of Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Edgewood, Kentucky.  In this role his leadership guided the city to a #1 ranking as best places to live in Kentucky and #17 in the country by 24/7 Wallstreet.  He currently manages a staff of 85 employees providing police, fire, public works and parks/recreation services.  Brian oversees all finances and budgeting for the city and concentrates his energy on financial health, debt reduction, long-term planning and leadership development.  In his tenure with Edgewood he has worked on expanding parks, building event centers, overseeing multi-phase road projects totaling in excess of $15 million, increasing investment by over 50%, refinancing over $5 million in loans and creating a data driven organization.

Before being named CAO for the City of Edgewood he also served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Cities of Ludlow, KY and Independence, KY.  

Jim Arndt has served in local government for more than 23 years. Jim served as the City Manager for Paducah Kentucky for three years before opening his own local government consulting business in 2021. Before becoming Paducah’s City Manager, he served eight years as the City Administrator of Effingham, Illinois. He also has been the Administrator for the City of St. Clair, Missouri, and the Village of Union City, Ohio. Before entering the realm of city management, Arndt served six years as a police officer in Mattoon, IL.

Arndt is a military veteran, serving three years in the United States Army. During his military career, Arndt spent time in Germany, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Arndt has direct executive-level experience in economic development, municipal finance, budgeting, human resources, executive level recruitments, collective bargaining, compensation and compression studies, succession planning, reinventing organizations, strategic planning, priority setting, City Council Retreats, Leadership Team Retreat

Breakout Session Speakers:

Presenting Sponsor: SecureCyber

Open to KCCMA and OCMA Full and Affiliate Members only. Fee: $55.00

2026 Better Together Summit Registration Form

Name *

First

Last

Job Title *

Email *

Organization *

Phone

Please select your affiliation (you must be a member of OCMA or KCCMA to attend): *OCMA MemberKCCMA MemberStudentEvent Sponsor

Please select your type of government: *CityCountyTownshipVillageOther GovernmentMember in Transition (free registration at checkout)

Please select which conference activities you plan to attend:

• Wednesday Evening Reception (August 5, 2026 6:30 - 8:00 PM)
• Thursday Morning - Breakfast
• Thursday Afternoon - Lunch

Please list any dietary restrictions

Registration Fee *

Price: $55.00

Coupon

Apply

Total

$0.00

Method of Payment *--- Select Choice ---Credit CardCheck

Mail Checks To:
OCMA
1810 College Road
210 Page Hall
Columbus, OH 43210

Stripe Credit Card *

Card

Name on Card

Check Payment Made? (Internal Only) YesNo

Check Details (Internal Only)

Check Payment Date (Internal Only)

Comments or Questions

Submit