2026 CACTE CareerTech Summit

Whether you're organizing an intimate one-day seminar or an expansive multi-day conference, the difference between a seamless event and a chaotic one often comes down to preparation. This workshop equips planners of all experience levels with the essential tools, strategies, and insider knowledge needed to execute a successful conference from start to finish.
Through practical guidance and real-world scenarios, you'll discover how to streamline logistics, manage timelines, coordinate vendors, and keep attendees engaged — no matter the scale of your event. More importantly, you'll learn how to anticipate and sidestep the common pitfalls that derail even the most well-intentioned conferences.
Walk away with a proven framework that brings clarity to the chaos, confidence to your planning process, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your event is built to run smoothly, efficiently, and professionally.

This session is designed for secondary CTE instructors and program coordinators who face challenges in student recruitment and retention, particularly within the Engineering and Technology career clusters. It is ideal for educators looking for "hands-on" ways to showcase their curriculum to middle and high school students who may have little to no prior exposure to IT. The content addresses the need for engaging, student-centered marketing and helps instructors create an inclusive environment that welcomes students from all backgrounds into technical pathways.
Recruiting students into IT pathways is often hindered by preconceived notions of "boring" code or isolated workstations. To combat this, our CTE campus hosts "EmPWR Day," a high-energy event where 8th–11th graders rotate through pathways. In the IT room, students don’t just listen—they escape.
In this session, attendees will step into the student’s shoes by participating in a condensed version of our 45-minute IT Escape Room. Participants will rotate through five stations covering Programming, Networking, Cybersecurity, and Career Exploration. You will learn how to design low-cost, high-impact interactive recruitment activities that demystify IT for diverse learners. We will discuss the logistics of EmPWR Day and how to scale this model for your school. Attendees will receive a "Digital Escape Kit" including station templates, clue ideas, and a recruitment event checklist to implement immediately.