It had been more than 1,100 days since the last in-person Finalsite University had taken place. A global pandemic had moved our favorite user conference to a virtual experience, but after a three-year break, Finalsite University 2023 was well worth the wait.

This year, FSU was held in sunny Orlando, a three-day, in-person experience designed to share, connect, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in education, as well as leverage Finalsite's full suite of products and services. 

The central theme of the conference was “the power of collaboration,” and it highlighted the importance of working together to create engaging and dynamic experiences, not only for Finalsite users, but also for their students, families, and school communities.

Together at last

After such a long hiatus, educators, administrators, and school marketing and communications professionals from schools and districts around the country (and the world!) were eager to reconnect in person and build on the relationships they had forged online.

During the course of the conference at the Caribe Royale Resort Orlando, attendees shared experiences and best practices, gaining insights and inspiration from each other's successes and challenges.

And being just a few miles down the road from Disney World, there were plenty of opportunities for some magical fun in the evenings.

Inspiring keynotes

Jon Moser, CEO and founder of Finalsite opened the conference, shared his vision for the company's future, and emphasized the importance of collaboration in fostering educational success and embracing the emergence of AI within schools.

Washoe County School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield kicked off day two and highlighted innovative strategies in public education. As a school leader overseeing more than 60 thousand students across 100+ schools in Northern Nevada, Dr. Enfield emphasized the need to create a culture of collaboration and support among educators, students, and families.

Brand expert Dr. Americus Reed II, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, wrapped up FSU by sharing his insights and excitement for marketing, branding, and building strong school communities through brand loyalty.

Collaborative workshops and breakout sessions

With more than 50 sessions in school marketing, communications, digital marketing, and more, attendees tackled common challenges, fostering collaboration and the development of innovative solutions.

“What really stood out to me about FSU was the variety of topics that were covered throughout the sessions,” said Jerica Manzi from the Carrollwood Day School. “Whether you were interested in social media, website design, or enrollment management, there was something for everyone.”

“But what really made this event stand out for me was the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other professionals in the industry. From educators to marketers, there was such a diverse range of attendees that made for some incredibly valuable conversations and connections.”

There were also great conversations during interactive demonstrations that showcased the latest features and benefits of Messages XR, Finalsite Enrollment, and Finalsite Advantage as clients took a behind-the-scenes look at Finalsite’s most popular services and products.

Hands-on training with Finalsite pros

One of the best parts about Finalsite University is the hands-on training attendees receive on some of the most popular modules, like Composer, Messages, Posts, and Portals.

Finalsite experts led hands-on training sessions, sharing their deep knowledge of the platform and its features. Participants learned how to master product features, improve their social strategy, and maximize the effectiveness of their online communications and marketing efforts.

Customized training sessions like “Designing for Impact by Crafting Effective Website Page Layouts” and “Advanced Forms: Turn your Basic Forms into a Masterpiece” allowed attendees to put their training into practice, building pages and revamping their social strategies in real-time alongside colleagues and Finalsite staff.

“Finalsite University has provided so many valuable sessions as well as hands-on workshop deep dives,” said Jodi Fiedler of Madison Metropolitan School District. "I can't wait to get back to the office and start making updates to our school websites!”

Stories of success

From the ups and downs of Tuxedo Park’s rebranding journey to hearing about the successes of a redesign from Westbury Union Free School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Tahira A. DuPree Chase, we learned from so many inspiring tales of collaboration, teamwork, and how Finalsite's products have made a real difference.

“It was encouraging, inspiring, and I left with tons of great ideas to bring back to my school,” shared Colin Wyenberg from Canterbury School of Florida. “I made friends, connections, and was reminded that we share our mission with amazing colleagues around the world.”

Key takeaway

There's nothing quite like connecting face-to-face with clients who inspire and amaze, and after a three-year break, Finalsite University 2023 was an event worth waiting for. If you couldn’t make it to Orlando, there’s still time to join us online for FSU Online, April 12-14, and experience some of our favorite sessions and speakers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jana is the Client Marketing Specialist with Finalsite, focused on sharing and celebrating client stories and their successes. She's spent nearly the last decade working within the field of education, specifically within independent schools working in the offices of admissions, development, and communications.