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Venue: CR South clear filter
Wednesday, April 22
 

1:00pm EDT

Level Up Your Brand: 6 Lessons from Getting on Game Shows
Wednesday April 22, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
Discover personal branding strategies that aren’t only a win for yourself, but also your school! From owning your strengths, to researching your target demographic, to crafting your story together – you’ll learn how to better connect with Gen Z on tours and in the classroom. As an added bonus, you’ll get a crash course on TikTok so that you better understand why video-based platforms are crushing competitor social apps and how you can capitalize on this craze. (You’ll even learn the secret to getting cast on a game show!)
Speakers
avatar for Jenn Lyles

Jenn Lyles

Executive Director, Beauty School Marketing Group
Jenn Lyles is an award-winning marketing and communications professional with an expertise in vocational school marketing and lead generation. She's helped schools across the country dramatically grow their population with her millennial and Gen Z expertise. She currently serves as... Read More →
Wednesday April 22, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
CR South

2:00pm EDT

The Cheapest Student You’ll Ever Recruit Is the One You Keep
Wednesday April 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Every student who walks out the door before graduation takes tuition, aid eligibility, and your school’s reputation with them. In today’s regulatory climate, retention isn’t optional — it’s the single greatest lever for protecting revenue and ensuring compliance.
In this session, you’ll discover how to connect leadership, student support, and career services into a powerful system that keeps more students enrolled, engaged, and walking across the finish line. Because when it comes to the future of your school, the cheapest student you’ll ever recruit is the one you keep.
Speakers
avatar for Penny Burns

Penny Burns

Founder, Beauty Cast Network
Penny Burns – Founder, Beauty Cast Network
With nearly four decades in the beauty industry, Penny Burns
is a passionate advocate for career success in the beauty and
wellness space. As the founder of Beauty Cast Network, she
brings a wealth of experience—from owning and managing
n




... Read More →
Wednesday April 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
CR South

3:15pm EDT

Meet your Starts Goals: Simple Marketing Moves That Drive Profitability
Wednesday April 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
You don’t need a big budget to get big results, just a smarter approach. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways schools can improve their marketing and make every campaign more profitable. Learn how to turn your website into an active lead generator, and how AI can help you reach students with the right message at the right time. You’ll walk away with proven tactics that can boost inquiries and enrollments, without increasing spend.
Speakers
avatar for Sterling Simpson

Sterling Simpson

Enrollment Resources
Sterling is a driving force in reshaping digital marketing and admissions performance in higher education. His ability to unearth and leverage untapped opportunities for schools has significantly boosted enrollment rates and revenue while enhancing marketing efficiency without increased... Read More →
Wednesday April 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
CR South

4:10pm EDT

The Admissions Playbook on Turning Student Interest into Enrollments
Wednesday April 22, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
Reaching enrollment capacity doesn't just happen, it's built on consistent best practices. This session walks through what the most successful schools are doing to connect with students earlier, follow up faster, and close more enrollments. We’ll cover simple frameworks to improve communication, nurture inquiries, and create a student experience that builds trust and commitment from the very first interaction. Walk away with practical ideas your admissions team can apply right away to attract, engage, and enroll more students.
Speakers
avatar for Sterling Simpson

Sterling Simpson

Enrollment Resources
Sterling is a driving force in reshaping digital marketing and admissions performance in higher education. His ability to unearth and leverage untapped opportunities for schools has significantly boosted enrollment rates and revenue while enhancing marketing efficiency without increased... Read More →
Wednesday April 22, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
CR South
 
Thursday, April 23
 

10:30am EDT

Navigating State & Federal Changes for Institutional Loans & Payment Plans
Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Regulations are rolling in like high tide—so it’s time to secure your lines. Join fellow education leaders as we chart a safe course through shifting state and federal rules affecting institutional loans and payment plans. We’ll cover TILA requirements, state registration, default management, and the legislative “storms” forming on the horizon. Leave with practical knowledge to stay cool, stay compliant, and keep your school steady amid the waves of change.
Speakers
avatar for Sean Steinmarc

Sean Steinmarc

CEO, TFC Tuition
Sean Steinmarc is transforming how students access higher education as CEO of TFC Tuition, making college financing more affordable and accessible nationwide. With his Wharton MBA and leadership experience at a Top 5 global bank and Fortune 100 company, Sean brings a powerful blend... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
CR South

11:30am EDT

Federal and State Updates and How Your Schools Can Be Part of the Solutions
Thursday April 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
In this session, learn about recent happenings at the federal level and within the states. Hear how these changes may/will impact your schools and what you can do to help.
Speakers
avatar for Garret Shuler

Garret Shuler

President/Chair, AACS
Garrett Shuler is a second-generation school owner who grew up in the beauty school industry. From sweeping hair off the floor as kid to his current role as Vice President of Kenneth Shuler Schools in South Carolina, Garrett is passionate about the beauty and wellness industry and... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
CR South

1:30pm EDT

Title IV Audits - Best Practices to Avoid Volatility In your Annual Student Financial Aid Examinations
Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
This session provides school administrators and financial aid officers with a comprehensive overview of key financial oversight topics, including top audit findings and how to minimize your exposure to these on an ongoing basis. We’ll also highlight financial responsibility standards critical to the financial aid teams, and new federal audit requirements on the horizon.
Speakers
avatar for John Mazurek

John Mazurek

CPA, Sikich
John Mazurek, CPA, is a principal with more than 25 years of audit and advisory experience focused in the higher education sector. John manages and leads audits and other special projects related to a wide range of services amid regular changes in Federal, State and accrediting rules... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
CR South

2:30pm EDT

Using AI at your school from a legal perspective
Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Jessica High to speak on using AI at your school from a legal perspective.
Speakers
avatar for Jessica High

Jessica High

Special Counsel, Duane Morris LLP
Jessica S. High is a special counsel in the Trial Practice Group. She counsels private sector colleges and universities in their many specialized relationships, including matters of state and federal regulation, accreditation compliance and advocacy, and student and employee disputes and concerns.Ms... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
CR South

4:00pm EDT

Washington Update
Thursday April 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Tom Netting to speak on updates from Washington.
Speakers
avatar for Tom Netting

Tom Netting

CEO, TEN Government Strategies
Tom Netting has more than 30 years of experience working in government relations and public policy and has established himself as a leader in strategic policy development and advocacy in the fields of higher education and workforce development, elementary and secondary education... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
CR South
 
Friday, April 24
 

10:00am EDT

Protecting Your PPA in an Era of High-Stakes Enforcement
Friday April 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
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

11:00am EDT

Data Breach Tabletop for Financial Aid: The First 24 Hours
Friday April 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
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
 
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