Registration is Open!
Breaking Barriers: Pathways to Empowerment, Well-Being & Leadership
The 2026 OLLG Fall Conference is coming to Woodburn!
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Woodburn Fire District Facility, Woodburn, Oregon
Join us for a day of learning, inspiration, networking, and leadership development as we explore resilience across communities, minds, and careers.
Here’s a preview of what’s planned:
Welcome by Ibzan “Omar” Ortiz
Ibzan “Omar” Ortiz brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in the fire service and 26 years of military service. Originally from Puerto Rico, Omar served in both the U.S. Army and Air National Guard, retiring in 2026 as a Chief Master Sergeant and Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard Domestic Operations Task Force. Throughout his career, he has held numerous fire service leadership roles, including Fire Chief at Portland Air Base and Regional Fire Marshal for the National Park Service's Pacific West Region. Today, he serves as Fire Marshal for the Woodburn Fire District, leading fire prevention, public education, and community risk-reduction efforts. A strong advocate for proactive community safety, Omar is passionate about developing leaders, building partnerships, and creating safer communities through prevention and education.
Voting Rights, Civic Participation & Community Engagement
Explore the importance of voting rights, civic participation, and how community engagement can strengthen local democracy.
Meet the Speaker: Debbie Cabrales
Debbie Cabrales serves on the Woodburn City Council and is Executive Director of Centro de Servicios para Campesinos. She brings a unique perspective on civic leadership, advocacy, and empowering communities to make their voices heard.
Mental Health & Well-Being
Join an important conversation around mental health and well-being, with a focus on lived experience, empathy, understanding, and connecting individuals with resources.
Meet the Speaker: Alexandria Alvarez
Alexandria is a mental health advocate who draws on her lived and professional experience to encourage greater understanding of mental health challenges. She is a recipient of the 2026 Lived Experience Award from NAMI Central Oregon and has participated in Crisis Intervention Team trainings for law enforcement.
Impostor Syndrome, Our Worst Enemy!
Through interactive activities, reflection, and open dialogue, participants will explore impostor syndrome through the Latino experience, including the pressure to prove ourselves and the feeling that we sometimes need to leave parts of ourselves behind to succeed.
Project Leadership and Unwritten Rules
Explore foundational approaches, tools, and resources to help navigate the many variables involved in project management.
Meet the Speaker: Beth Carter
Beth has more than 25 years of leadership and project management experience across a variety of industries. She is the founder of Running Dialogue LLC, where she focuses on developing new and aspiring managers.