Central Zone Interim Meeting

Meeting details

May 14–16, 2026
Central/Northeast Zone Joint Interim Meeting
Hilton Columbus/Polaris
8700 Lyra Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43240

The deadline for member boards to name funded delegates is February 3.

Registration will open in mid-February. Anyone funded to attend the meeting must use the registration link provided in the invitation.

The registration deadline for funded attendees is March 30. Fees for paying delegates and guests will increase by $50 after this date.

The Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors is pleased to host you in Ohio’s capital, a growing city blending Midwestern charm with metropolitan vitality. Set along the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers, Columbus features the Scioto Mile riverfront, the Short North Arts District, the Arena District, and top destinations like Easton and Polaris. Welcome to Columbus—where culture, innovation, and energy meet in the Midwest!

Registration

Delegate registration fee: $400 for delegates, which includes Thursday’s welcome reception; Friday’s breakfast, lunch, and evening event; and Saturday’s breakfast. The registration fee will increase by $50 after March 30. 

Guest registration fee: $350 for guests, which includes Thursday’s welcome reception; Friday’s breakfast and evening event; and Saturday’s breakfast. The registration fee will increase by $50 after March 30.

Registered guests may add lunch with delegates on Friday at NCEES’ cost for the event.

Registration process

The method used to register depends on whether you are funded by NCEES to attend the meeting. All NCEES-funded attendees will receive a special invitation via email containing detailed funding information and an individualized link to register.

Online registration should only be used by delegates who are not funded by NCEES. If your board has not yet named its funded delegates, you may wish to wait to register. Check if your board has already named its funded delegates.

Funded delegates should allow one week after their board has submitted the notification form to receive an invitation. If you have not received an invitation and feel you should have, email [email protected].

Registration will open in mid-February.

Meeting and event details

The NCEES zone interim meetings are held each spring for representatives from the member licensing boards to hear and discuss reports from the NCEES board of directors, CEO, standing committees, and task forces. The work of the committees and task forces results in motions that will be presented for Council vote at the annual meeting in August. Zone meeting delegates can ask questions and discuss possible annual meeting motions, and they are encouraged to take information back to their boards for further discussion. Member boards will provide individual board updates. The Central Zone will elect a zone vice president and assistant vice president and select a nominee for NCEES president-elect (election to be held at the annual meeting in August). The Northeast Zone will elect a zone secretary.

Friday luncheon with guest speaker

Delegates will break and enjoy lunch with a special guest speaker. Guests may choose to have lunch with the delegates for $60.

An Evening at the Center of Science and Industry

Experience a dynamic evening in the stunning Atrium at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). Surrounded by the spirit of innovation and modern architecture, you are invited to a private event with dinner and drinks at COSI, voted the #1 science museum in the country by USA Today readers. Transportation will be provided.

Business casual attire is appropriate for all meetings (for example, polo shirts, blouses, slacks, skirts, khakis, or dress pants). The evening events are resort casual.

Elections

Elections will be held at the 2026 Central Zone interim meeting. The terms will begin at the conclusion of the annual meeting in August. Candidate pages will be added when campaign materials are received.

2026–27 NCEES president-elect candidates

Jason Suelter, P.E., S.E.

2026–28 Central Zone vice president candidates

James D. Hollandsworth, P.E., P.S.

2026–28 Central Zone assistant vice president candidates

Kimberly Kramer, Ph.D., P.E., S.E.

Hotel

The meeting will be held at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. NCEES has negotiated a room rate of $189 for standard rooms, single or double occupancy. Current taxes are 16.1 percent.

Check-in is after 3:00 p.m.; checkout is at noon.

The hotel does not provide an airport shuttle. See the “Travel and local information” section of this page for important ground transportation information.

The hotel provides a courtesy shuttle within a five-mile radius of the hotel between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Attendees and guests may use this service based on availability at the time of the request.

Full funding details will be provided in individual invitations. Accommodation funding is not transferable to alternate dates.

NCEES will be direct-billed for the standard room rate, taxes, and required fees for funded nights. Attendees are responsible for paying for any additional nights or incidentals at checkout. Additional nights are subject to availability and may sell out during registration.

Register online by March 30. NCEES will make hotel reservations for NCEES-funded attendees (such as funded delegates, past presidents, and zone officers) based on information provided during registration. A hotel confirmation will be emailed about two weeks before the meeting.

Delegates not funded by NCEES can make hotel reservations after registering for the meeting. The link will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

Register and reserve accommodations as early as possible before the NCEES room block is exhausted. The NCEES room block will close shortly after March 30. NCEES may cancel any reservations made within the block if there is not a matching registration for the meeting.

Self-parking (currently $10 per night) is available at the hotel.

Travel and local information

John Glenn International Airport is located 15 miles (30 minutes) from the hotel.

If you are funded by NCEES to attend the zone meeting, you must arrange your flight through Travel Inc. Booking instructions are provided in the personal invitations.

The hotel does not provide an airport shuttle.

Ground transportation options include taxi, Uber, and Lyft. The fare for any option is typically $35–50 (excluding tip).

To start planning your trip and discover things to do in Columbus—like exploring the historic neighborhoods or enjoying the local cuisine—visit Experience Columbus.

Other

NCEES will fund the lodging and travel expenses and meeting registration fees for the designated member board administrator from each member board. When an MBA represents more than one board, the funding will be for the designated MBA only and not for the assistant MBA or for member board staff. In addition, NCEES will fund the lodging and travel expenses and meeting registration fees for three voting delegates from each eligible member board. NCEES will be direct-billed for airfare and hotel room and tax charges for up to three nights (May 14, 15, and 16—funded nights must fall within this date range; accommodation funding is not transferable to other dates).

For delegates to qualify for this funding, NCEES must be notified of their identity by February 3. Substitutions can be sent to [email protected] until March 30.

Funded attendees must register and make travel arrangements for the meeting by March 30. If you have questions about funding, send an email to [email protected].

All registrations for NCEES zone meetings should be submitted with payment by the registration deadline. Registrations that have not been paid by April 29 will be canceled.

Only written refund requests as outlined below will be considered.

Written requests should be sent to the NCEES Meetings Department and must include

  • Name of registrant for whom refund is requested
  • Name of member board or other organization represented
  • Name and address of party to whom the refund should be issued (if payment was originally made by check)

Complete requests for refund received at least 31 days prior to the meeting will be granted, less a $35 administrative fee per registration.

Complete requests for refund received 15 to 30 days prior to the meeting will be granted, less a $100 administrative fee per registration.

Refund requests received fewer than 15 days prior to the first day of the meeting will not be granted.

Note: Registration fees may be transferred to the credit of a substitute delegate upon request at no additional charge.

Refund exceptions for medical reason or family emergency

Delegate: A delegate who cancels attendance for a documented medical reason or family emergency will be granted a full refund.

Guest: NCEES is unable to refund any costs already incurred for a guest at the time of cancellation. Individual guest costs (i.e., guest tour, hotel meals, catering, or optional events) are incurred once a guarantee is submitted as required by each vendor. A refund will be granted, less any of these already incurred costs at the time of cancellation. No refund is typically possible within seven days of the event.