Nick DeSanctis

Speaking at

• ALL Ohio Conference 2026

  Transforming the CTE Application Experience Through CRM Technology and Customer Service

  Wednesday, July 22 · 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM · Franklin

  Many career technical education schools struggle with application systems that don't reflect the professional, student-centered experience they provide. This session would share our school's journey from basic application that relied on Google Sheets to utilize, to a customer relationship management (CRM) system that transformed how they connect with prospective students and families. We'll share the honest and mostly unfiltered story of why we made the change, how we implemented a new system, and what we learned in our first year. We strived for a customer service mindset, creating multiple touchpoints with families throughout the application process through branded, personalized communications. Our goal wasn't just to collect applications- it was to identify students who genuinely wanted to attend our programs and had the family support to succeed. This presentation would offer practical insights into selecting and implementing an application system or CRM, designing communication workflows, measuring success, and addressing the inevitable challenges that arise. We'll share what worked, what didn't, and the adjustments we're making for next year.