Monday, August 3, 2015
9:00AM—11:00AM (2 CEUs)
Striving For Excellence Convention Opening Ceremony
Presented By: Congresswoman Maxine Waters
California 43rd District
Sponsored By: The Chestnut Firm
As we celebrate this milestone, we will also celebrate the centennial (100 Year) celebrations of funeral service firms throughout our association. We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker is Congresswoman Maxine Waters, sponsored by The Chestnut Firm. Congresswoman Maxine Waters will give insight on ways to enhance our knowledge and skills. Maxine Waters will teach attendees how to be on the cutting edge, when tackling difficult and often controversial issues. She will encourage attendees to combine strong legislative and public policy acumen and high visibility with an unusual ability to do grassroots organizing.
11:30AM—1:00PM (1.5 CEUs)
Filling the Glass: Real World Tactics and Reality-Based Motivation for Increasing Productivity and Job Satisfaction
Presented By: Barry Maher
Barry Maher & Associates
In this high-energy, humor-rich presentation, Barry Maher offers the antidote to presentations that are simply “let’s all think happy thoughts and everything will be wonderful” fluff. It is chocked full of nuts and bolts content and straight-talk tactics you can apply immediately. Yet it’s real-world motivational, even inspirational. Perfect for the most cynical veteran and the most starry-eyed (or the most discouraged) novice.
2:00PM—3:00PM (1 CEU)
Funeral Home Owners & Managers Master Class
Sponsored By: Matthews International Funeral Home Products
Join the discussion as Matthews Funeral Home Products presents a rare opportunity to bring your business, financial and marketing questions to the Funeral Home Owners & Managers Master Class. This session features a round table candid discussion with personal to professional insights from funeral home owners and industry professionals Attend this session and position your firm to capitalize on new trends and align your current state of business with best practices, ideas and financial tactics. Join us for this unprecedented Best of the Best.
2:00PM—3:00PM (1 CEU)
New Member & Convention Orientation: Who is NFDMA, Inc?
Presented By: Carole Jones Banks
An overview of the membership benefits and educational requirements for new members. The New Members and Convention Orientation is one of the most important sessions of the convention. The main purpose is to integrate new members and convention attendees with seasoned members and attendees to help them understand the agenda and develop a common purpose in achieving the goals of the association and their funeral homes.
3:30PM—4:30PM (1 CEU)
Business Continuation Concepts
Presented By: Sonya Young
New York Life Insurance Company
The seminar will address solutions to the business owners problems, as well as solutions to the problems the deceased owners heirs may face, which include the need for 1) ongoing financial security after the loss of the deceased owners salary and benefits; 2) either retention of the business interest or a timely sale at an attractive price, and 3) prompt settlement of the deceased’s estate (including proper tax valuation of the business interest, if they plan to sell it).
3:30PM—4:30PM (1 CEU)
Funeral Procession Liability: A Growing Concern
Presented By: Attorney Christopher Chestnut
The Chestnut Firm
Funeral directors are aware that each funeral service carries a set of potential liabilities. While the threat of litigation can be greatly reduced through maintaining sufficient standards of care and professionalism. Attendees will attack the following areas: Negligent Planning of Funerals, Reliance on Customs and Reliance on Local Ordinances.
3:30PM—4:30PM (1 CEU)
Personal Finance Planning
for Small Business Owners & Employees
Presented By: Rana R. Fields
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Attendees will learn strategies to use that can help them feel more confident about reaching financial goals, tips on how aligning four key concepts – cash management, insurance, investing, and tax planning – can help bring dreams and goals more within reach and ways to identify and correct critical gaps in current financial plans.
11:00PM—12:00Midnight (1 CEU)
The President’s Round Table: Where Do We Go From Here?
Facilitated By: Jamye D. Jeter-Cameron, CFSP
An open discussion on best practices and enhancement of skill sets for funeral directors, morticians and embalmers.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
7:00AM—8:00AM (1 CEU)
Down In The Valley: A Funeral Director’s Guide To Handling Personal Grief & Depression
Presented By: Dr. Dorothy J. Thomas
Dr. Dorothy J. Thomas Consulting
Dr. Thomas is an expert in addictions and behavioral health, specializing in helping with grief and loss, depression and issues association with addiction. She will provide attendees, especially funeral directors and embalmers, with the necessary tools to help reclaim lives, families, relationships and self-worth. She will also help industry professionals understand the necessity of dealing with their own stress, depression and grief.
11:00AM—12:30PM (1.5 CEUs)
What Happened To The Employee I Hired?
Presented By: Dr. Adolph Brown, III
DocSpeaks
This address focuses on the sad fact that some employees become less appealing over time once hired. These employees presented with their "best foot forward" during the interview process, but have since ceased to move forward at all. This shift in gears is unacceptable as they were seen as an investment at the time of hire with anticipated return over time. These employees are now considered liabilities and this address will "fire them up" so the other type of firing does not take place. Employees will be inspired to learn the value of embracing the 7C's: Competence, Capability, Compatibility, Commitment, Character, Culture, & Compensation. Employees will be motivated to develop "Championship Habits" & implement these in their professional and personal lives .
12:45PM—5:00PM (1 CEU for both days)
(also offered on Wednesday)
Exhibit Hall Opening with Official Ribbon Cutting
Presented By: NFDMA, Inc.
Funeral Directors and Embalmers will discuss, identify and apply information that is ground breaking in the funeral industry. Members and guests of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association will visit vendors in the exhibit hall to discuss a variety of new and pioneering trends in funeral service. Vendors will discuss with funeral directors modern techniques that will enhance knowledge and develop growth within their businesses.
1:00PM—5:00PM (1 CEU for both days)
(also offered on Wednesday)
The International History Pavilion
From orchestrating ceremonies of dignity and pageantry to the history making role during the Civil Rights movement, the African American funeral director has shaped an industry deep in tradition and legacy. Members and guests will examine the journey of the African American Funeral Director from Antebellum slavery to civil rights movement. There will be conversations of reflections, remembrance and reminiscence about the “History and Tradition of the African American Funeral Director”.
4:00PM—5:00PM (1 CEU)
Protecting Your Firm: It Starts With You
Presented By: Attorney Kevin Kelley
The Kelley Firm
Attendees will be engulfed in a conversation about protecting funeral homes from liability issues. The class will deal with proper authorizations, disclaimers, waivers & releases. It will also deal with: hiring, leading, training and retraining.
4:00PM—5:30PM (1.5 CEUs)
Embalming Bariatric & Edema Cases—Part II
Presented By: Matt Smith
Mor-bid Store
Attendees will have an extensive experience of well-documented visuals and a strong drive to share knowledge. Matt Smith will give a compelling session on the subjects of embalming, difficult case restoration techniques and feature setting. Thomas Lynch, noted author, poet and funeral director says “Matt Smith is a true professional, an embalmer with great talent who combines technical proficiency and true compassion. He serves the living by caring for the dead.”
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
8:00AM—9:00AM (1 CEU)
Care At The End Of Life: Hospice 101
Learn how resourceful funeral homes around the country have formed positive working relationships with hospice and how you can build close, mutually beneficial relationships to make a difference for the families you serve. Gather practical ideas that will expand the level of care you provide and help your business as well.
8:00AM—9:00AM (1 CEU)
Technology & Innovation Integration: Effective Marketing Tools For A Successful Firm
Presented By: Jerry D. Redmond, Jr.
Redmond Designs
Attendees will discuss how to become more innovative and use more technology in their firms. Topics will include: an overview of Social Media and the value, process Work Flow Enhancements, Google Shared Doc, CMS the New Webmaster, keeping your site current and relevant, iPad Registry Books, Pre-Need Lead Generator, automated Thank You Cards for families via email/text/direct mail, Mobile Platform for your Funeral Home, Mobile Messaging system for firm, push notifications, Service Announcements via text, Surveys/ Evaluations, Funeral Home PASS & Funeral Home App Programs and eFunerals.
1:15PM—2:15PM (1 CEU)
Nine Years Under: Coming Of Age In An Inner City Funeral Home
Presented By: Sheri Booker
Nine Years Under offers attendees an unbelievable glimpse into the funeral industry in the backdrop of all our lives. This vibrant tour of a macabre world reveals the urban funeral culture and what to expect.
1:15PM—2:15PM (1 CEU)
Preparing A Case For International Travel
A collaborative, informative session on embalming, travel logistics and receiving remains in international countries when preparing a case for international shipping. This seminar will harness the power of years of service to provide deeper meaning and understanding about international forwarding and receiving of deceased human remains.
2:30PM—3:30PM (1 CEU)
Achieving Inner Peace By Becoming A Master Of Your Time
Presented By: Rahsaan Brown
Blue Nebula Consulting, Inc.
As funeral industry professionals, we have very busy schedules. Some weeks are hectic and full of meetings, appointments, deadlines and family commitments. We are constantly bombarded with information, people, and things that demeaned our attention. As a result, we often fail to accomplish the tasks that are most important to our professional and personal lives. In this session, I will be sharing a proven time management and goal setting system that many successful people have used for years. This system will help individuals like you to better manage your schedule, take control of your daily activities and achieve greater balance between your personal and work life. After attending this session, you will go from functioning in a chaotic and unproductive lifestyle to intentionally living every day in such a way that your daily activities are in perfect harmony with your core values. Come to this session and take the first steps to earning the right to inner peace. .
2:30PM—3:30PM (1 CEU)
Water Is For Washing: Waterless Embalming
Presented By: Kenneth C. Dupree, CFSP
Dupree Funeral Home
Mr. Dupree will outline the waterless protocol for three common post mortem conditions: Normal, Edemas and Jaundice. He will discuss the results and benefits of the waterless embalming protocol.