Success Education Colleges’ 2025 Professional Development Conference will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025!
Welcome to SEC’s 2025 Professional Development Conference
Welcome to Success Education Colleges’ 2025 Professional Development Conference (PDC)! This annual gathering is our opportunity to learn, grow, and strengthen our skills that make a difference in the lives of our students every single day.
At SEC, we know that “Our Students Are at Their Best When We’re at Our Best.” That is why we continue to invest in developing each of you—because your growth fuels our students’ success.
Earlier this year at our President’s Retreat, we introduced the SEED theme—Students Empowered Every Day for Success. That idea continues here at PDC, as we recognize that it is our Team Members who plant and cultivate those seeds through teaching, mentoring, and supporting. Every interaction—whether in the classroom, our clinical sites, or on campus—helps students take root and thrive.
This year’s conference will follow our proven format: inspiring general sessions combined with terrific learning labs, organized into four tracks—Leadership, Nursing Faculty, Compliance, and Faculty. You’ll have the chance to tailor the day to your role and learning goals, while hearing from presenters who will challenge and inspire us.
As you take part in today’s sessions, remember: the knowledge and energy you invest here become the seeds of success for the students we are privileged to serve.
Let’s make this PDC another step forward in growing together—for each other, and for the students whose futures we help cultivate.
2023 Highlights
2022 Highlights
2019 Highlights
2018 Highlights
PDC 2025 Schedule
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 7:15 am – 4:35 pm
Schedule Legend
7:15am – 8:15am Registration and Continental Breakfast
Check in, enjoy a light breakfast, and connect with colleagues as the day begins.
8:30am – 10:15am Opening General Session (Ballroom A, B, & C)
10:15am – 10:30am Break
10:30am – 11:20am Learning Lab Block #1
Shaping Excellence: A Conversation with India Tips of ABHES
Come meet the leader shaping the future of healthcare education accreditation in the United States. Join India Tips, Executive Director of ABHES, for an exclusive conversation about what accreditation really means—and why it matters. Gain insight into how ABHES standards are developed, how they impact our work at SEC, and how every team member plays a role in maintaining excellence. Bring your questions and curiosity to this rare opportunity to hear directly from our esteemed accreditor.
Health Care Education: Trends, Tech, and Tomorrow
The purpose of this session is to help nursing faculty develop skills / strategies that point students towards clinical as a function of student success. When students learn ‘clinically’ they learn with a purpose that helps with everything from reading comprehension to higher order thinking and even experience benefits related to emotional intelligence.
Learning Objectives
1. Critique clinical approaches to didactic teaching/learning.
2. Explore the formation of higher order thinking by creating learning strategies that are more inherently clinical focused.
3. Promote student success by pointing the learner towards the bedside.
Compliance Isn’t a Department—It’s a Culture
Compliance is more than policies and paperwork—it’s the foundation of everything we do here at Success Education Colleges. This session reframes compliance as a culture that protects students, empowers team members, and strengthens SEC as a whole. Discover why compliance is everyone’s responsibility and how it safeguards our mission: To educate students in short-term and professional programs for gainful employment and career advancement.
I Was That Student – Understanding the Lives You Change
From hardship to hope, Lisa Fuerst’s journey began as a North-West College student determined to change her life. Through resilience and perseverance, she transformed her circumstances and built a future that reflects the power of an education. In this powerful session, Lisa shares her story of transformation and reminds us of the profound ripple effect SEC can have—not only on individuals, but on families and communities as well. You’ll leave with a renewed perspective on why every student interaction matters and why the work we do at SEC is truly life-changing and important work.
Craft Your Code: A Workshop with Shaun Tomson
Join world champion surfer and leadership expert Shaun Tomson for an intimate, hands-on session designed to build on the inspiration from his keynote. This workshop offers the rare chance to work directly with Shaun as you explore how purpose, values, and resilience can shape your daily impact here at SEC.
Click with Caution: Cyber Safety for Everyone (Mandatory For Every Attendee)
One click can change everything. In this vital and mandatory session, you’ll gain the tools and awareness to stay one step ahead of digital threats and safeguard both yourself and SEC. Cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s essential. Every team member plays a role as a frontline defender, and even small, everyday actions can make the difference in protecting our students, our team members, and the entire SEC community.
*Mandatory for every Team Member to attend one-time
11:20am – 11:30am Break
11:30am – 12:25pm Learning Lab Block #2
Craft Your Code: A Workshop with Shaun Tomson
Join world champion surfer and leadership expert Shaun Tomson for an intimate, hands-on session designed to build on the inspiration from his keynote. This workshop offers the rare chance to work directly with Shaun as you explore how purpose, values, and resilience can shape your daily impact here at SEC.
Health Care Education: Trends, Tech, and Tomorrow
The purpose of this session is to help nursing faculty develop skills / strategies that point students towards clinical as a function of student success. When students learn ‘clinically’ they learn with a purpose that helps with everything from reading comprehension to higher order thinking and even experience benefits related to emotional intelligence.
Learning Objectives
1. Critique clinical approaches to didactic teaching/learning.
2. Explore the formation of higher order thinking by creating learning strategies that are more inherently clinical focused.
3. Promote student success by pointing the learner towards the bedside.
Method to the Madness: Navigating the Online Learning Environment
Adult learners often face challenges beyond the classroom that impact their success. This session explores practical strategies to identify barriers, apply targeted interventions, and build an inclusive online learning culture that promotes retention and student success.
Click with Caution: Cyber Safety for Everyone (Mandatory For Every Attendee)
One click can change everything. In this vital and mandatory session, you’ll gain the tools and awareness to stay one step ahead of digital threats and safeguard both yourself and SEC. Cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s essential. Every team member plays a role as a frontline defender, and even small, everyday actions can make the difference in protecting our students, our team members, and the entire SEC community.
*Mandatory for every Team Member to attend one-time
Compliance Isn’t a Department—It’s a Culture
Compliance is more than policies and paperwork—it’s the foundation of everything we do here at Success Education Colleges. This session reframes compliance as a culture that protects students, empowers team members, and strengthens SEC as a whole. Discover why compliance is everyone’s responsibility and how it safeguards our mission: To educate students in short-term and professional programs for gainful employment and career advancement.
Legacy of Leadership: Lessons from Marsha Fuerst’s Vision
SEC was built on the bold vision of our founder, Marsha Fuerst. This session honors her legacy, highlighting how her values continue to inspire the work we do today. You’ll walk away with a deeper sense of connection to the roots of SEC and your role in carrying that vision forward.
12:25pm – 12:35pm Break
12:35pm – 1:45pm Lunch & Midday Holiday Celebration (Ballroom A, B & C)
- Spotlights on Success Awards
- 2025 Pacesetter Awards
- Years of Service Awards
- State of SEC
- Fuerst Family Foundation
- 3 Minute Mingles
2:00pm – 2:45pm Learning Lab Block #3
Method to the Madness: Navigating the Online Learning Environment
Adult learners often face challenges beyond the classroom that impact their success. This session explores practical strategies to identify barriers, apply targeted interventions, and build an inclusive online learning culture that promotes retention and student success.
Health Care Education: Trends, Tech, and Tomorrow
The purpose of this session is to discuss the connection between the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) and incidence of medical errors in new nurses. The NCSBN noted that one impetus for creating the CJMM was the rate of medical errors involving new nurses. This study involved new nurses in one facility and the use of the CJMM to look for correlation between errors and success with next generation style NCLEX cases based on the CJMM.
Learning Objectives
1. Critique the use of CJMM in identifying new nurses who may be at risk for being involved in medical errors.
2. Explore strategies for nursing faculty to consider that would help future nurses improve safety in healthcare.
Growing People From Within: Career Mapping at SEC
The strongest organizations grow their own leaders. This session celebrates SEC’s commitment to promoting from within and gives you insight into how to chart your own career journey. Discover why investing in yourself fuels personal and professional growth, as well as SEC’s long-term success.
I Was That Student – Understanding the Lives You Change
From hardship to hope, Lisa Fuerst’s journey began as a North-West College student determined to change her life. Through resilience and perseverance, she transformed her circumstances and built a future that reflects the power of an education. In this powerful session, Lisa shares her story of transformation and reminds us of the profound ripple effect SEC can have—not only on individuals, but on families and communities as well. You’ll leave with a renewed perspective on why every student interaction matters and why the work we do at SEC is truly life-changing and important work.
Culture Carriers: How to Keep SEC’s Soul Alive
As SEC experiences quality growth, we remain totally committed to protecting SEC’s culture. This session explores how we preserve our identity, values, and spirit across every campus and team. Learn why being a “culture carrier” is essential for keeping SEC’s soul alive and how you can play a role in passing it forward.
Click with Caution: Cyber Safety for Everyone (Mandatory For Every Attendee)
One click can change everything. In this vital and mandatory session, you’ll gain the tools and awareness to stay one step ahead of digital threats and safeguard both yourself and SEC. Cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s essential. Every team member plays a role as a frontline defender, and even small, everyday actions can make the difference in protecting our students, our team members, and the entire SEC community.
*Mandatory for every Team Member to attend one-time
2:45pm – 3:15pm Cookies & Connections (Ballroom A, B, & C)
- Enjoy a sweet break with colleagues and take a moment to reflect at the Gratitude Walls
- Traditional SEC Raffles
3:15pm – 4:45pm Closing General Session (Ballroom A, B, & C)
- Campus of Distinction Awards
- First Circle Inductees
- SECret Santa
- Event Check-Out
○ A new QR code will be displayed at the conclusion of this session for all attendees to scan before departure
2025 PDC Presenters
Meet our esteemed presenters. Click on any of them to learn more!
(Updated often, please be sure to check back)
India Tips, Executive Director, ABHES
India Tips currently serves as the Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and all accreditation activities, including the review and implementation of Commission-directed actions. She serves as the liaison to state and federal regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, national and other accrediting agencies, and credentialing bodies in the health field.
Ms. Tips joined ABHES in November 1995. In her 25-year tenure, her experience spans the full spectrum of accreditation, membership services, and operations. She developed the educational content and curricula for the required training’s for initial and renewal applicants where she has been the lead presenter for nearly 15 years. She has participated in and supported efforts for more than five petitions for re-recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Tips also serves as the staff liaison to the Commission’s Standards Review Committee (SRC) charged to review all components of the Accreditation Manual to ensure its content is relevant, adequate, and predictive of successful qualitative outcomes. She has been instrumental in the management and successful execution of 16 conferences serving more than 400 attendees and exhibitors annually, and has performed hundreds of accreditation visits to institutions seeking initial and renewal ABHES accreditation.
Shaun Tomson, World Champion Surfer & Leadership Speaker
Shaun is a leadership and empowerment expert and lectures widely on the Code Method, a high-impact program that ignites the power of purpose to improve wellbeing, engagement and performance. He is a former World Surfing Champion, has been described as one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time and one of the most influential surfers of the century. During his professional career he won 19 major pro events and is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative surfers.
Shaun is the author of three #1 Amazon best-sellers: Surfer’s Code; The Code -The Power of “I Will”; and The Surfer and the Sage. As an entrepreneur he founded two market leading, international clothing brands – Instinct in the 80’s and Solitude, which he co-founded with his wife Carla, in the 90’s. He produced and co-wrote the award-winning documentary film Bustin’ down the Door. He has a Bachelors in Business Finance, a Master of Science in Leadership and is an inductee in the US, Jewish and South African Sports Halls of Fame.
Shaun has lectured across the world and inspired corporations like General Motors, Cisco, Price Waterhouse, Google, Disney, Patagonia and The Gap. He is a former board member and current ambassador for Surfrider Foundation and Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club, an ambassador for Boys to Men Mentoring, and a previous board member of Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. He lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife Carla and sixteen-year-old son Luke.
His mission is to show individuals how to activate their own personal Code to change mindstate to create a better and more purposeful life.
Nurse Tim Bristol, PHD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Internationally known educational consultant and nurse educator, Tim Bristol, is a faculty member at Walden University, consultant for the Haiti Nursing Foundation and FSIL nursing school, and owner of NurseTim, Inc. Dr. Bristol helps empower schools not only across the country, but also across the globe — at all levels of education and accreditation. He has led teams through initial program approval, interim reports, and reaccreditation as a faculty member, administrator, and consultant, and specializes in active learning for class, clinical, and lab environments. Schools and government organizations around the world consult with Dr. Bristol to integrate new standards, introduce curricular innovations, make education more accessible, and develop strategic plans. As a faculty development and curriculum design specialist, he is an expert in bringing the evidence-base of nursing, healthcare, and education to students and faculty in the states, and as far away as Haiti. Dr. Bristol also writes and contributes to numerous publications, and is known for his motto: “Today we will learn how to learn.”
Kelli Blocher, Accreditation & Compliance Expert
Kelli Blocher has been involved in private post-secondary education since 2007 and brings a wealth of unique experience—having served in both accreditation and compliance roles. She has worked as an Accreditation Specialist for a national accrediting agency and as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist on the school side in Corporate Regulatory Affairs.
Kelli spent nearly eight years with the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) before transitioning to the private sector, where she supported a college system with seventeen campuses. She later moved into consulting, drawing on her extensive regulatory background and knowledge. Having conducted more than 300 site visit evaluations, served as a liaison on the Programmatic Accreditation Committee for Medical Assisting, and participated in numerous commission meetings, Kelli is skilled at making complex compliance standards clear and actionable. Beyond her regulatory expertise, she combines comprehensive policy, procedure, and process assessments with personalized coaching to help institutions bridge compliance gaps effectively.
Kelli holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and a Master’s degree in Human Services from Liberty University.
Iraklis “Herc” Notis, Corporate Director of Information Systems, SEC
Iraklis “Herc” Notis serves as the Corporate Director of Information Systems at Success Education Colleges, where he oversees the technology infrastructure that supports all campuses and corporate operations. With a reputation for solving complex challenges and keeping systems running seamlessly, Herc has become the go-to resource for innovative IT solutions that empower both team members and students.
Bringing years of experience in information systems management, Herc specializes in building secure, reliable, and user-friendly technology environments. His leadership extends to areas including network security, data protection, and system optimization—ensuring SEC stays ahead of emerging threats in an increasingly digital world.
Passionate about making technology approachable, Herc is known for translating complex concepts into clear, practical strategies. In his session on Cybersecurity, he will share insights on how every team member can play a role in safeguarding data, preventing breaches, and creating a culture of digital safety across the organization.
Lisa Fuerst, Vice President, SEC
Lisa Fuerst is a shining example of how education can transform lives. A graduate of North-West College, she overcame personal hardships and pursued a career that changed her future long before she met her husband, Mitchell Fuerst. With determination and resilience, Lisa built a successful career in healthcare and later co-founded the Fuerst Family Foundation, dedicated to empowering students and strengthening communities. Today, as Vice President of Success Education Colleges, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership. Her journey, from student to executive, reflects the mission of SEC and reminds every team member of the profound impact education can have. Lisa’s story is deeply relatable to the students SEC serves and continues to inspire others to believe in their potential and pursue their dreams.
Location
Ontario Convention Center: 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764
Conference Map
