Created Conference 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026 I 9am–5:30pm I Columbus, OH
Created Conference is a one-day gathering where artists, designers, writers, filmmakers, and creatives of all types join together as a vibrant community to hear inspiring talks, panel discussions, and learn from a collective of fellow creators.
Being a creative isn’t just a job, a career, or a title. It’s an identity. It is something given and found in the wonder of the creative process. It's the power to bring emotion, action, and change in our minds and the world around us.
2026 Emphasis: COLLAGE
Collage reflects the beauty of God bringing together unexpected stories, seasons of failure, success, and the mundane, and diverse people to create a masterpiece once unimaginable. This year, we celebrate how the fragments of our lives and what and how we create are woven into God’s greater story, bringing unity and beauty out of brokenness and struggle. From our individual creative acts to the gathering of the nations and final restoration of the new heavens and new earth, we honor the Master Artist who transforms every scattered piece into a unified display of His glory.
Create with Purpose.
Craft with Intent.
Impact with Meaning.
WHEN & WHERE
LOCATION
5970 Godown Rd, Columbus, OH 43235
SCHEDULE
8:00 AM — Doors Open & Check-In
9:00 AM — Welcome & Kickoff
9:15 - 10:35 AM — Lightning Talks: Joe Le-Mon, Layne Ewing, Emily Bader, Sam Vasquez
10:35 - 10:55 AM — Break
11:00 - 11:30 AM — Panel: Holiness of Work
11:35 AM - 2:15 PM — Lunch & Maker's Fair
2:16 - 2:30 PM — Welcome Back
2:30 - 3:00 PM — Panel: Creating Created
3:00 - 3:40 PM — Lightning Talks: Thad DeVassie, Mike Jones
3:45 - 4:00 PM — Break
4:05 - 4:50 PM — Keynote: Gloria Umanah
4:50 - 5:00 PM — Closing
5:00 PM — Conference Concludes
6:00 PM — Afterparty at ORBC
Schedule subject to minor changes.
2026 Conference Speakers
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2026 Conference Speakers •
Sign up for our email list for more speaker announcements!
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![A woman with shoulder-length styled hair, wearing a white sleeveless top, smiling and looking slightly to her right against a light background.]()
Gloria Umanah
Founder, CEO at Hope Booth
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![A man with a beard wearing a gray and red baseball cap and a black polo shirt with thin white stripes, standing with arms crossed against a brown textured background.]()
Mike Jones
Designer & Co-Founder of Creative South
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![A young woman with brown hair, green eyes, wearing a white shirt and gold necklace, standing in a room with framed artwork and decorative textiles on the wall behind her.]()
Layne Ewing
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![A man with tattoos and glasses carrying a toddler in a baby carrier on his chest, with an older girl sitting beside him and a young girl sitting in front, all outdoors under a tree during sunset.]()
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![A woman with light brown hair and a light-colored sweater smiling with her arms crossed, standing indoors in front of sheer white curtains.]()
Sarah Shobe
Creative Director, Prentis Collective
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![Close-up of a man smiling outdoors in front of trees and a building, wearing an orange jacket and dark shirt.]()
Dominic Stacer
Filmmaker, Stacer Media
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![A smiling woman with long red hair and glasses, wearing a maroon t-shirt with white text, sitting outdoors on grass during sunset, with a paper and QR code in front of her.]()
Emily Bader
Industrial Designer & Entrepreneur, Band of Idiots
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![A young man with a beard and short brown hair, smiling outdoors, wearing a maroon T-shirt that says 'Band of Idiots' with green foliage in the background.]()
Brooks Dibble
Co-owner, Band of Idiots
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![A man with glasses, smiling, wearing a blue shirt and blazer, with gray hair and beard, standing against a light-colored wall.]()
Thad DeVassie
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![Close-up of smiling man with short, dark, and gray hair, wearing a gray hoodie.]()
Aaron Fourman
Associate Pastor, Linworth Baptist Church
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Joe Le-Mon
Maker’s Fair
Your chance to meet and learn from professionals in a hands-on “show and tell” environment where designers and illustrators, photographers and animators will pull back the curtain on how they create. Learn at your own pace, ask questions, and get insight on how some of the best in the creative industry do great work.
NEW THIS YEAR!
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Josh Emrich
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Gloria Umanah
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Mike Jones
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Jonathan Rooney
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Doc Reed
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Zari Nelson
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Joseph Le-Mon
Young Adults Pastor & Spoken Word Poet
Creative Writing & Bringing a Vision Into Fulfillment
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Jeff Lees
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Emily Bader
Industrial Designer & Co-Founder, Band of Idiots
Illustration, 3D printing and Design Process
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Brooks Dibble
Industrial Designer & Co-Founder, Band of Idiots
Illustration, 3D Printing & Design Process
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Tim Courlas
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Nicky Reardon
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Anna Neely
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Sam Brieck
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Thad DeVassie
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Sami Dibble
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![Josh Emrich Created Conference Headshot]()
Josh Emrich
Designer & Illustrator. Emrich Office
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![Betty Juang Created Conference Headshot]()
Betty Juang
Letterer, The Lettering Lounge
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![Taylor Smith Created Conference Headshot]()
Taylor Smith
Digital Marketing Director, Lifepoint Church
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Doc Reed
Designer & Illustrator, I am Reedicus
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![Rebecca Faith Created Conference Headshot]()
Rebecca Faith
Owner & Lead Copywriter, Faith Editorial
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![Scot Crabtree Created Conference Headshot]()
Scot Crabtree
Design fabricator, Crabtree Creative
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![Daniel Sinclair Created Conference Headshot]()
Daniel Sinclair
Hip Hop Artist
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![Brandon Triola Created Conference Headshot]()
Brandon Triola
Co-founder & CCO, Forrest Company
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![Rosie Xiong Created Conference Headshot]()
Rosie Xiong
Videographer & Content Creator, Rosie Xiong
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![Sean Moreno Created Conference Headshot]()
Sean Moreno
Photographer, Wndrfully Made
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![Lindsey Meredith Created Conference Headshot]()
Lindsey Meredith
Brand Designer & Illustrator, Lindsey Meredith
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![Nick Nye Created Conference Headshot]()
Nick Nye
Executive Director, For Columbus
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![Dominique Waters Created Conference Headshot]()
Dominique Waters
Founder, Akron Sneaker Academy
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![Faith Slagle Created Conference Headshot]()
Faith Slagle
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![Caleb Slagle Created Conference Headshot]()
Caleb Slagle
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![A young man with short hair, glasses, and a denim jacket smiling at the camera indoors.]()
Shane Huey
Pastor, Cross & Crown Church
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![Jim Stevenson Created Conference Headshot]()
Jim Stevenson
President & Co-founder, ICC
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![Joe Deptowicz Created Conference Headshot]()
Joe Deptowicz
Principal UX Designer, Cambium Learning
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![Tyler Mitchell Created Conference Headshot]()
Tyler Mitchell
Creative Team Lead, GP Creative
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![A smiling man with glasses and a shaved head wearing a gray and brown zip-up jacket, standing in a room with colorful art posters on the wall behind him.]()
Daniel Swartz
PRINTMAKER, HOOSIER TYPE CO.
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![A woman with long wavy brown hair wearing a large gray hat and olive-green sweater, smiling indoors with warm lighting and colorful decorations in the background.]()
Michelle Chapin
MAKER, HUMBLE HANDS
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![A smiling man wearing glasses, a gray sweatshirt, and a black baseball cap with the MLB logo against a neutral background.]()
Matt Vojacek
ANIMATOR, MADE BY THINGS
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![Black and white photo of a man sitting on a chair, smiling at the camera, wearing a dark jacket and pants, in a room with a framed picture on the wall.]()
Jeremy Rosario
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![Man with glasses and dreadlocks speaking at a podium on stage.]()
Gerald Murphy
PASTOR, GARDEN CITY CHURCH
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![A smiling young man with a beard and short brown hair, wearing a gray t-shirt, posing against a dark background.]()
Grant Smucker
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![Young woman with long brown hair, smiling outdoors with fall foliage in the background.]()
Leah Rachel
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![A man with a beard and shaved head wearing round glasses and a plaid shirt, smiling at the camera against a dark background.]()
James Graves
DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR, VISUAL JAMS
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![A smiling man with a beard in a black North Face jacket standing inside a rustic store or cafe with wooden beams and shelves in the background.]()
Shane Tucker
NETWORK DIRECTOR, FOR COLUMBUS
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![A man wearing glasses and a black cap, smiling at the camera, with colorful artwork and display items in the background.]()
Jeremy Slagle
DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR, SLAGLE DESIGN
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![Black and white photo of smiling young man with glasses and short hair]()
Joe Deptowicz
UX DESIGNER, WINMORE COLUMBUS
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![A smiling bald man with glasses standing against a white brick wall, wearing a black jacket.]()
Ben Stafford
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![A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a beige knit sweater, smiling and resting her hand on her head, sitting indoors.]()
Lorianne Kuntz
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![A man with glasses and a beard wearing a beige cap with white embroidered text, a light green shirt, and an orange corduroy jacket, looking to the side against a plain gray background.]()
Taelor Gray
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![Close-up of a smiling woman with dark brown hair, wearing a purple cardigan and layered necklaces, standing outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.]()
Ellen Foell
AUTHOR & WRITER
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![A woman with short brown hair, smiling, wearing a red and black patterned sweater and a black top, standing against a white brick wall.]()
Beth Stafford
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![A young man with red hair, glasses, and a beard wearing a brown cap and a blue plaid shirt, writing or drawing on a tablet with a stylus in a room decorated with colorful posters on the wall.]()
Jonathan Rooney
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![A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a dark top standing outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.]()
Bethany Schweitzer
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![A smiling man with glasses, a beard, and a black shirt, wearing a black cap with an orange logo on the front.]()
Mike Marrah
Conference Tickets
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Conference Tickets •
Current students use code STUDENT at checkout for a 25% discount.
