We are thrilled you would like to present at ACTE’s Postsecondary CTE Summit. The information you provide on this form will help us review your proposal, evaluate its fit for the conference program and gather the details needed to feature your session if selected. Please complete all sections to give our Proposal Review Committee a clear understanding of your topic, audience engagement strategies and expected outcomes. The deadline to submit is April 24.

Important Dates:

• Notification of submission status: May 15
• Presenter acceptance confirmation deadline: June 1
• Presenter registration deadline: July 28

Leading Postsecondary CTE in an Era of Workforce Transformation: A Systems Approach for Senior Leaders
Presenter:  John A. Vasquez, PhD
Cost: $175

As postsecondary CTE expands to meet urgent workforce and economic development demands, institutional leaders must move beyond programmatic innovation toward systems alignment. This interactive leadership workshop introduces a practical, streamlined framework for understanding how policy, funding structures, pathway design, advising models, employer engagement, and institutional culture collectively shape learner outcomes. Rather than attempting to solve everything at once, participants will focus on identifying a small number of high-impact leverage points within their own institutional context. Drawing on systems change theory and equity-minded design principles, the session will guide participants through a structured process to surface misalignments and prioritize actionable strategies.

This session is especially valuable for teams of two or more from the same institution or system, as participants will have dedicated time to work across roles and leave with a shared set of priorities and next steps. Individual participants will be supported through structured activities and peer collaboration.

This workshop is designed for a mixed audience and balances strategic framing with practical application, giving participants tools they can use right away to advance CTE impact.

John A. Vasquez, Ph.D., M.H.S.A Bio
Aligning policy, practice, and pathways to drive workforce impact and student success.
johnav@umich.edu

Dr. John Vasquez serves as Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Senior Director of the Comprehensive Studies Program at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. With over two decades of experience across community colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and regional comprehensive public universities, his work focuses on aligning policy, practice, and systems to improve student success and workforce outcomes.

A nationally recognized leader in equity-minded institutional transformation, Dr. Vasquez specializes in redesigning advising, pathway structures, and student success strategies to better serve first-generation, low-income, and historically underserved students. His approach integrates data-informed decision-making with systems change frameworks to help institutions move beyond isolated initiatives toward coordinated, scalable impact.

Throughout his career, he has led large-scale efforts that strengthen retention, improve completion, and connect academic pathways to workforce opportunity. He regularly advises institutional and system-level leaders on aligning funding, policy, and practice to support measurable outcomes and long-term economic mobility.

From Industry to Instructor: Create Your Own Playbook to Empower Your Team of Industry-Experienced Teachers
Brian Rick &  JoAnna Collins
Cost: $175

Transitioning from industry to the classroom can be both exciting and challenging for CTE instructors—and the way institutions support this transition is critical to long-term success and retention. In this interactive preconference session, presenters will share research-informed insights and proven strategies for effectively onboarding and supporting industry-experienced educators. Participants will explore the unique needs of new CTE instructors, examine high-impact professional development approaches, and identify key milestones in the transition from industry expert to effective educator and leader. Through guided activities and a structured workbook, attendees will reflect on their current practices and develop a customized, actionable “playbook” to strengthen onboarding and retention efforts in their own programs. By the end of the session, participants will leave equipped with practical tools, strategies, and a clear plan to support CTE instructors from day one through their journey to instructional excellence.

JoAnna Bio
JoAnna Collins is an accomplished educator and healthcare professional with more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and Career and Technical Education, including over a decade in higher education. Having advanced through multiple stackable credentials from EMT to BSN and a Master’s in Education, she brings firsthand insight into career pathways and industry-to-education transitions. JoAnna has led the development of stackable credential programs and career pathways for students while also designing professional learning and resources for faculty and staff. A subject matter expert in workforce education, she has participated in national ACTE fellowships, secured grant funding for educational initiatives, and presented internationally. Her work focuses on strengthening CTE programs and expanding pathways that support student success and workforce development.

Brian’s Bio
Brian brings extensive experience across secondary, postsecondary, and university-level education, serving in both teaching and Career and Technical Education (CTE) leadership roles. Prior to entering education, he worked in the architecture and construction industry, bringing valuable industry perspective to CTE programs. His passion for education emerged while coaching high school students and has since grown into a focus on CTE program development, grant writing, and preparing new instructors for success in the classroom. Brian has contributed to university initiatives developing professional learning and instructional resources for CTE educators. He has served in leadership and fellowship roles in several state and national CTE organizations and is a recipient of multiple state and national CTE awards.

Trades2Trainer Educational Systems, Inc

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Exhibitor Registration

Custom Sponsorship Opportunities: Partner with Us in Innovation

If you’re interested in discussing how we can create a custom sponsorship opportunity that aligns with your vision for innovation, please contact us!

Sponsorship/exhibitor Contact:

Glenda Paxton at gpaxton@acteonline.org 

Hyatt Regency Crystal City
2799 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA
$269 – $289
Book here

Award Summary

The 2026 Catapult Award celebrates educational visionaries who are transforming postsecondary education for a rapidly evolving world. Through this award, ACTE honors individuals and teams who are redefining the future of Career and Technical Education (CTE) by making learning relevant, scalable, innovative, and aligned with real-world workforce needs.

This recognition is designed for educators, institutional leaders, researchers, and organizations that are systemically reshaping postsecondary education to better serve learners and strengthen workforce outcomes. If you are driving bold change, advancing innovation, or building impactful partnerships, this is your moment to shine.

Nominees should reflect the spirit of innovation and align with one or more of the ACTE 2026 Postsecondary CTE Summit themes:

• Emerging Technologies & Innovation – Preparing learners for a rapidly evolving workforce
• Strengthening Secondary–Postsecondary Pathways – Making alignment work for learners
• Policy, Funding & Systems Alignment – Connecting policy to practice
• Strengthening the Postsecondary CTE Workforce – Building teams that power student success

We encourage nominations that demonstrate measurable impact, scalable models, and strong alignment between education and workforce systems. Self-nominations are welcome.

Why You Should Apply

Applying for the Catapult Award is an opportunity to showcase the impactful work you’re doing and receive the recognition your program deserves. Here’s how this award can benefit you:

• Complementary Registrations: Receive three (3) complimentary registrations for the 2026 conference (over $1600 value)
• Free CatapultMasterclass:  Receive a CatapultMasterclass program for your entire team/department during spring 2027. Topics and speakers posted at CatapultMasterclass.com. ($10,000 value)
• Breakout Session: The winner will be invited to present their program’s work in a dedicated breakout session at the 2026 Conference to share insights and achievements with attendees.
• Recognition: An on-stage award presentation during the conference’s main session, acknowledging the winner in front of peers and industry leaders.
• Increased Visibility: Be featured in a dedicated article or profile in Technique’s Magazine and/or ACTE newsletter highlighting your impact and innovation. Winning this award positions your program as a leader in postsecondary CTE, enhancing your reputation and appeal to prospective funders and industry partners.
• Pay it Forward: Sharing your program’s successes on a national stage will reinforce your commitment to excellence and drive ongoing improvement within our field.

By applying, you’re not only setting your program apart but also helping to elevate the future of postsecondary CTE. We look forward to learning about the incredible work you’re doing!

Eligibility

Candidates for the Catapult Award must be active in the field of postsecondary education at the time of nomination. This includes educators, administrators, researchers, and professionals involved in private and public postsecondary settings to include technical schools, community colleges, universities, career centers, correctional institutions, and industry in both formal and informal CTE/adult education programs. This also includes individuals, institutions, educational nonprofits, districts, and community organizations. Nominees must have a proven track record of implementing scalable educational initiatives that focus on real-world skills and future workforce readiness.

Learn more about Catapult.