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Fame Forward 2026 has ended
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Friday, April 24
 

7:00am EDT

Breakfast
Friday April 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT
CR West and South
Fuel up for the day with breakfast!
Friday April 24, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT
CR West and South

7:00am EDT

Registration Table
Friday April 24, 2026 7:00am - 12:00pm EDT
OPH Foyer
Stop by the registration table to check in, pick up your badge and materials, and get ready for a great conference experience.
Friday April 24, 2026 7:00am - 12:00pm EDT
OPH Foyer

8:00am EDT

Morning Welcome
Friday April 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
CR West and South
Start your final day at Fame Forward with fresh energy and a look ahead. We’ll highlight what’s in store for the day, reflect on the week’s biggest insights, and set the stage for a strong finish filled with learning and collaboration.
Speakers
avatar for Ricky Alfaro

Ricky Alfaro

General Manager, CEO, Fame, Inc
As General Manager of Fame, Mr. Alfaro is responsible for growing Fame's business through key initiatives and bringing new products to market. He has 18+ years of management and process improvement experience and 14+ years of experience working with student information systems, financial... Read More →
avatar for Steven Pabom

Steven Pabom

Director of Product Strategy & Operations, Fame
Steven is at the forefront of driving the overall product strategy for Fame, overseeing a diverse portfolio of products. With a remarkable 23 years in the Higher Education industry, Steven brings an extensive background in financial aid, boasting over 20 years of knowledge and expertise.Steven... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
CR West and South

8:30am EDT

Will Your Educational Programs Meet New GE and OBBB Measures Clarified in Recent Rulemaking?
Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
CR West and South
This session will review the latest outcomes from ED's ongoing AHEAD rulemaking process, explain how they impact program eligibility requirements in the new Gainful Employment regulation and the new Accountability Measure established in the One Big Beautiful Bill and outline the likely standards that educational programs will need to meet in order to retain eligibility for federal student loans and grants.  
Speakers
avatar for Ron Holt

Ron Holt

Attorney, ROUSE FRETS WHITE GOSS GENTILE RHODES, P.C
Ron brings 41 years of experience in a broad range of commercial and general litigation matters in various industries regionally and across the country. He has a national practice representing institutions of higher learning in litigation, regulatory matters and business transactions... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
CR West and South
  Management Track

8:30am EDT

Support Room
Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Fins Left
Have questions? Stop by the Support Room to connect one-on-one with our team and get the answers and guidance you need.
Speakers
avatar for Kristin Ravassipour

Kristin Ravassipour

VFAO Disbursements and R2T4 Team Lead, Fame

avatar for Jessica Posey

Jessica Posey

Customer Success Manager, Fame


avatar for Carolyn Melton

Carolyn Melton

Fame
Carolyn has been in the higher education sector for 26 years. Carolyn served as Director of Financial Aid prior to her finding a position in the Consulting Services Department at Fame. She now brings her extensive knowledge of ESP, Advantage FinAid, Freedom, Freedom FinAid, and APFAM... Read More →
avatar for Ibis Chow

Ibis Chow

Consulting Services Manager, Fame
Ibis Chow received her Bachelor's and Master of Science in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Since joining the higher education industry in 2002, she has attained a myriad of experiences and extensive financial aid knowledge within her different roles. She... Read More →
avatar for Sally Samuels

Sally Samuels

Director of Compliance, Fame
Sally is one of the country’s leading authorities on Federal financial aid administration with 41 years of “in the trenches” experience. As a respected Industry leader, she is frequently called upon to speak at School, Accrediting, Regional and State conferences as well as... Read More →
avatar for Christal Carson

Christal Carson

Early Customer Success & Training Manager, Fame
Christal Love Carson serves as the Early Customer Success & Training Manager at Fame, bringing 15 years of experience in financial aid operations, software training, and client support. Her career spans award packaging, customer support, and a strong, well‑established training background... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Fins Left
  Support

8:30am EDT

Tech Demos
Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Pre-Function South
See what’s new in action. Visit the Tech Demos to explore the latest features, enhancements, and innovations!

Speakers
avatar for Christie Michaelides

Christie Michaelides

Advantage FinAid Product Owner, Fame
Beginning her journey on the FA Processing team, Christie showed an innate understanding of financial aid processes and navigating the complexities of Title IV funding. Throughout the years she transitioned through several positions within the department, each time bringing a fresh... Read More →
avatar for Andrei Yancheuski

Andrei Yancheuski

Advantage Product Owner, Fame
Meet Andrei, an accomplished professional with over 15 years of hands-on experience in Information Technology (IT). With a rich and diverse background, he has led numerous projects, demonstrating a unique ability to transform complex technical concepts into user-friendly solutions... Read More →
avatar for Joseph Gonzalez

Joseph Gonzalez

Director of Development, Fame

Friday April 24, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Pre-Function South
  Tech Demo

9:30am EDT

AM Break
Friday April 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am EDT
OPH Foyer
Grab a snack, stretch your legs, and connect with fellow attendees. Don’t forget to swing by the vendor booths to see what’s new before the next session starts!

Friday April 24, 2026 9:30am - 10:00am EDT
OPH Foyer

10:00am EDT

Implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Hemisphere Dancer
The One Big Beautiful Bill, goes into effect July 1, 2026, understanding and implementing the new requirements.
Speakers
avatar for Sally Samuels

Sally Samuels

Director of Compliance, Fame
Sally is one of the country’s leading authorities on Federal financial aid administration with 41 years of “in the trenches” experience. As a respected Industry leader, she is frequently called upon to speak at School, Accrediting, Regional and State conferences as well as... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Hemisphere Dancer
  Financial Aid Track

10:00am EDT

Maximum Time Frame when Schedules Change in Clock Hour Programs
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
CR West
Do you check Maximum timeframe before disbursing Title IV Funds to your student? Let's discuss the requirement and learn the formula behind the maximum timeframe calculation.
Speakers
avatar for Ibis Chow

Ibis Chow

Consulting Services Manager, Fame
Ibis Chow received her Bachelor's and Master of Science in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Since joining the higher education industry in 2002, she has attained a myriad of experiences and extensive financial aid knowledge within her different roles. She... Read More →
avatar for Christal Carson

Christal Carson

Early Customer Success & Training Manager, Fame
Christal Love Carson serves as the Early Customer Success & Training Manager at Fame, bringing 15 years of experience in financial aid operations, software training, and client support. Her career spans award packaging, customer support, and a strong, well‑established training background... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
CR West
  Financial Aid Track

10:00am EDT

Protecting Your PPA in an Era of High-Stakes Enforcement
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
CR South
A 360-Degree View of Administrative Capability, Institutional Integrity, and Campus Safety
Speakers
avatar for Ben Sanders

Ben Sanders

Compliance Manager, Lightheart Sanders and Associates
Ben Sanders, Compliance Manager at Lightheart Sanders and Associates (LSA) since 2009, oversees compliance audits for Title IV schools, ensuring clients adhere to Department of Education rules and regulations. Ben earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Utah Valley University and has... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
CR South
  Management Track

11:00am EDT

Consumer Information - What do you know?
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
CR West
This fun, interactive game gives you an opportunity to test your consummer information knowledge and win some prizes. A great way to wrap up the conference.
Speakers
avatar for Sally Samuels

Sally Samuels

Director of Compliance, Fame
Sally is one of the country’s leading authorities on Federal financial aid administration with 41 years of “in the trenches” experience. As a respected Industry leader, she is frequently called upon to speak at School, Accrediting, Regional and State conferences as well as... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
CR West
  Financial Aid Track

11:00am EDT

Data Breach Tabletop for Financial Aid: The First 24 Hours
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
CR South
Data incidents rarely arrive neatly labeled—and for financial aid and school operations teams, the first 24 hours determine whether response is coordinated or chaotic. In this interactive tabletop, we’ll walk through a realistic breach scenario involving a ransomware event with potential data exposure through vendor-connected systems. Participants will practice making time-sensitive decisions with incomplete information: containment and evidence preservation, vendor escalation and fact-gathering, controlled continuity of critical processes, and notification triage. Attendees will leave with practical, reusable tools, including a First 60 Minutes/First 24 Hours checklist, a vendor incident escalation script, and a notification triage worksheet they can adapt for their institution.
Speakers
avatar for Brittney K. Mollman

Brittney K. Mollman

Counsel, Thompson Coburn LLP
Brittney Mollman is counsel in the firm’s Business Litigation group, with a practice focused on privacy and data governance. She advises companies on navigating complex data, technology, and regulatory decisions in fast-moving business environments, informed by her experience assisting... Read More →
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
CR South
  Management Track

11:00am EDT

How AI Is Effecting Your SEO Website Traffic & What To Do About It
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer
Many searchers are getting the info they seek from AI, such as the AI overview in Google or platforms like ChatGPT. Come to this session if you're interested in the overall impact, and what to do about it.
Speakers
avatar for Morgan Williamsen

Morgan Williamsen

Account Executive, Oozle Media

Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer
  Technology Track
 

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