Fall 2026 Conference Sessions

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Location: College of the Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, Worcester, MA

Early bird registration ends on 10/5!

Early bird registration: $75 / person.
Non early bird: $85 / person.

Message from the Conference Co-Chairs

We invite you to join us for the 2026 Fall Conference on October 29, hosted by the Association of Catholic Admissions and Advancement Professionals of New England (ACAAP). The conference is packed with exciting highlights including:

Dynamic speakers
Keynote address by Steven F. Cheeseman, Ed.D., President/CEO of NCEA
An expanded “school swag” exchange
Professional mentoring
Networking opportunities and more

We trust that you will leave the conference with fresh ideas to help fuel your mission, renewed and new friendships which will extend for many years, and most of all, with a regenerated enthusiasm for our profession and our schools and the vital role we play in advancing the mission of our schools.

Kevin J. Altieri ’00, P’28, VP for Enrollment Management, Fairfield College Preparatory School | kaltieri@fairfieldprep.org
Taylor Sacco, Manager, Advantage Consulting, Finalsite | taylor.sacco@finalsite.com

Keynote Address

Anchored in Hope: Celebrating the Mission of Catholic Education

Steven F. Cheeseman, Ed.D. • President/CEO, National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

Christian hope is more than optimism or confidence that circumstances will improve. Our hope does not rest on favorable statistics or emerging opportunities; our hope rests in Christ, the One who remains with us, guides us and calls us forward. Staying anchored in that hope means keeping Christ at the center of all that we do.

At the same time, there are encouraging signs across Catholic education: enrollment growth in many communities, renewed spiritual interest among young people, expanding parental-choice opportunities, the promise of the new federal tax credit, and a growing commitment to serving students with diverse learning needs and supporting student wellness. These developments are signs that allow us to move forward with confidence, but they are not the foundation of that confidence. Christ is our foundation and the source of our hope.

This keynote will invite advancement and admissions professionals to celebrate these signs of hope while recognizing their essential vocation as storytellers, relationship-builders, bridge-builders and stewards of the mission. Anchored in Christ, we can extend the invitation of Catholic education to more families, broaden access and help ensure that this life-giving ministry flourishes for generations to come.

About Steven F. Cheeseman, Ed.D.

Steven F. Cheeseman, Ed.D., is the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) President/CEO. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Cheeseman served as superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT, since 2016. He has also served as the interim executive director of the Seton Collaborative in the same diocese. Prior to his tenure in Connecticut, Dr. Cheeseman was associate superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Rockville Center, NY, and a teacher/administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. He has also been an adjunct professor at St. Joseph College in Patchogue, NY, and from 2009 to the present has been an adjunct professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Education.

Holding NY State Certification as a school district administrator and a teacher, Dr. Cheeseman earned a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Professional Diploma before earning a Doctorate in Education Leadership & Technology from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. Dr. Cheeseman has received numerous education awards and recently received the Benemerenti Medal, which is a Pontifical honor. He and his wife, Danielle, have three adult children.

Conference Sessions & Workshops

10:00 a.m. — A Sessions & Workshops

A.1 • Room 320

Developing a 5-Step School Marketing Plan

Jim Healey, President, Peapod Design

A.2 • Room 328

Branding the Mission: Building a Catholic Identity That Inspires Families and Donors

Jay Boren, Headmaster, St. Benedict Classical Academy

A.3 • Room 401

Strategic Planning: From Vision to Action

Mike Reardon, Executive Director, Catholic Schools Foundation

A.4 • Room 402/403

Strategies for Cultivation, the Ask, and Closing

Tom McKenney, Vice President of Advancement, Emmanuel College

A.5 • Room 408/409

The Challenge of Leadership: You are the problem

James Hickey, Ph.D., Head of School, Austin Preparatory School

A.6 • Ballroom

Cultivating a Vibrant Catholic Culture Through Building a Mission-Aligned Enrollment Management Practice

Hadley Keefe, Assistant Head of School & Director of Enrollment Management, St. Benedict Classical Academy

10:45 a.m. — Break
Sponsored by Business Partners and Vendor Exhibition (Please visit them in the Ballroom)

11:00 a.m. — B Sessions & Workshops

B.1 • Room 320

Creating a Welcoming Digital Experience (Website Strategy)

Taylor Sacco, Manager, Advantage Consulting, Finalsite

B.2 • Room 328

Beyond the Funnel: Building a Culture of Belonging from Inquiry to Enrollment

Cathy Solomon, Chief Enrollment Officer, Ursuline Academy

B.3 • Room 401

Preparing for a Capital Campaign: Lessons Learned

Deb Marino, Chief Advancement Officer, St. John’s Preparatory School

B.4 • Room 402/403

Building a Comprehensive Annual Giving Program: Lessons from Bishop Feehan

Jessica K. Symonds, CFRE, Vice President of Advancement & Sue Kosar, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Bishop Feehan High School

B.5 • Room 408/409

Beyond the Thank-You Note: Building a Culture of Stewardship

Gina Rindfleisch, Advancement Director, Catholic Schools Foundation

B.6 • Ballroom

Fairfield Prep’s Intentional Approach to Student Engagement

Mike Barston (Associate Director of Admissions), Lauren Castagnola (Associate VP of Marketing & Communications), Colleen Hallisey (VP of Advancement), and Jenn Royal (Assistant Director of Family & Student Engagement), Fairfield College Preparatory School

12:00 p.m. — Reception & Networking

Reception and Networking Opportunities (Lounge)
Literature Exchange (Ballroom)
Business Partners and Vendor Exhibition (Please visit with them in the Ballroom)

12:30 p.m. — Lunch and Program (Hogan Ballroom)

1:15 p.m. — C Sessions & Workshops

C.1 • Room 320

Advancement 101: Starting the Year Off on the Right Foot

James J. Scholl, Assistant Vice President of Annual Giving and Communications, Campaign for Catholic Schools

C.2 • Room 328

AI for Mission, Marketing & Momentum

Laura Capobianco, M.Ed., Technology Coordinator, Immaculate Conception School

C.3 • Room 401

Your Facilities Matter: The Challenges are Real

Steven C. Habeeb, AIA, LEED AP (Founding Principal) & Kevin M. Provencher, AIA, LEED AP (President), Habeeb & Associates Architects

C.4 • Room 402/403

Planting the Seeds Today: Introducing Legacy Giving to Catholic School Communities

Lexie Kearley, Major & Planned Gifts Officer, Diocese of Manchester (NH)

C.5 • Room 408/409

Identity by Design – Branding for Mission-Driven Schools

Audra Keefe, Director of Marketing & Communications, Ursuline Academy

C.6 • Ballroom

Round Table Discussions

Led by ACAAP Board Members

Elementary Schools
Advancement & Alumni Engagement
Admissions
Communications & Marketing
Boards and Governance

Be sure to register you and your team soon! Spaces are limited!