Schedule-at-a-Glance

CONVENTION AGENDA* (12 NYS CEUs offered)

Reminder: To receive credit you must be present in the session room for the full presentation. You will not receive credit if you arrive late and/or leave early.

MONDAY, AUGUST 19 (4 CEUs offered)

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions (2 CEUs each; choose 1)

  • Strategic Hiring: Finding and Attracting the Right Talent
    Speaker: Leili McMurrough
  • Our Work, Ourselves: A Workshop for Funeral Directors (A Care for the Caregiver Program)
    Speaker: Joanne Harpel

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. - Concurrent Session (1 CEU each; choose 1)

  • Children and Funerals: Considerations & Best Practices
    Speaker: Jennifer Wiles, National Alliance for Children’s Grief
  • The Many Faces of Fraud: Strategies for Fraud Detection and Prevention
    Speaker    : Chuck Gallagher

  • Succession Planning & Key Factors to Consider When Contemplating the Future of Your Funeral Home 
    Speaker: Melissa Drake-Messina, American Funeral Consultants (AFC)

12:15 - 12:45 p.m. - Buffet Lunch (advanced purchased ticket required)
For alternate dining options, click here.

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Keynote Presentation: Building Tattoo-Worthy Customer Relationships (1 CEU)
Speaker: Ken Schmidt

2:15 – 4:00 p.m. - Service of Healing & Remembrance and Annual Meeting

4:00 – 7:00 p.m. - Exhibit Preview and Silent Auction 
Hit the trade show floor and start catching up with friends both new and old!

7:00 - 10:00 p.m. - BBQ & Blues (advanced purchased ticket required)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 (4 CEUs offered)

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions (2 CEUs each; choose 1)

  • Student and Newly Licensed Embalmers Workshop
    Speaker: Dominick Astorino
  • Operating a Cremation Business Model
    Speaker: Glenn Gould
  • The AI Revolution: Unlocking the Future of Business
    Speaker: Chuck Gallagher
  • FTC Compliance: Understanding What Lies Ahead for Funeral Service
    Speaker    : Jennifer Graziano

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Exhibits Open & Strolling Brunch/Ice Cream Break
Compliments of PrePlan Funeral Trust!

11:00 a.m. - Funeral Home Business & Workforce Roundtable Discussion
Facilitated by Mark J. Nolan, Nolan Funeral Home, Inc.

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions (2 CEUs each; choose 1)

  • The Relevance of Restorative Art AND Assessment and Treatment of Gunshot Wounds & Motor Vehicle Accidents
    Speaker: Dominick Astorino
  • The Power of Grief Care and Education
    Speaker: Linda Findlay
  • NYS Cemetery & Crematory Law (2 Law CEUs; repeated Wednesday)
    Speaker: Cynthia T. Craig, Investigator 1, NYS Division of Cemeteries

6:00 – 10:00 p.m. - Annual Banquet (advanced purchased ticket required)
Please join us for an evening of dinning & dancing. This semi-formal event includes the official program with our Annual Raffle Drawing followed by lavish food stations and open bar, capping the night with dancing.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21 (4 CEUs offered) 

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. - General Session: The Modern Deathcare Consumer (1 CEU)
Speaker: Eric Layer

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. - General Session: The Right Way of Death (1 CEU)
Speaker: Eric Layer

10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. - General Session: NYS Cemetery & Crematory Law (2 Law CEUs) (repeated from Tuesday)
Speaker: Cynthia T. Craig, Investigator 1, NYS Division of Cemeteries

Looking for more details? Check out the Session Descriptions.

For Information on the Special Events, click here.

Reminder: To receive credit you must be present in the session room for the full presentation. You will not receive credit if you arrive late and/or leave early.

* Schedule as of July 11, 2024; subject to change