Fame Forward 2026: Full Schedule

10:30am EDT

How to Manage Student Retention

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Hemisphere Dancer

Join Colton as he walks through how to manage student retention.

Speakers

Colton Woo

Co-Founder & CEO, KlassApp

Colton Woo has spent over 25 years in the tech sector and has successfully led companies as a Founder and Chief Technology Officer. He is astute with technical requirements, gamification, product design, and has had strong success in the HealthCare and EDU space.

Thursday April 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Hemisphere Dancer

Technology Track

11:30am EDT

Student Journey with VFAO

Thursday April 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

Hemisphere Dancer

As students increasingly expect digital-first experiences, financial aid offices are shifting to virtual models to meet those needs. This session will explore the student journey within the virtual financial aid office—highlighting stages from initial outreach through award disbursement and continued support. Attendees will gain insights into how Fame is leveraging technology to improve accessibility, streamline processes, and deliver more personalized, student-centered support in a fully virtual environment.

Speakers

Joseph Gonzalez

Director of Development, Fame

Thursday April 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer

Technology Track

1:30pm EDT

Improving Efficiency with Financial Aid Processes

Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Hemisphere Dancer

The Fame Team to speak on improving efficiency with FA processes.

Speakers

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 →

Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer

Technology Track

2:30pm EDT

How to Automate Student Accounts

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Hemisphere Dancer

We’ll explore how to efficiently manage tuition and other charge autoposting within Advantage to ensure timely and accurate billing. We’ll also cover bulk award postings —especially for clients not integrated with AFA. Additionally, we’ll dive into how all posted charges and payments influence key compliance metrics, including the 90/10 rule and 1098-T reporting. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to maintain financial integrity while optimizing operational workflows.

Speakers

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 →

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer

Technology Track

4:00pm EDT

Conversion Journey from Freedom to Advantage

Thursday April 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Hemisphere Dancer

The Fame Team to speak on the conversion journey from Freedom to Advantage.

Speakers

Joseph Gonzalez

Director of Development, Fame

Thursday April 23, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Hemisphere Dancer

Technology Track

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

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

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

Morgan Williamsen

Account Executive, Oozle Media

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

Technology Track

10:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:30pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

10:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

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