Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Introductions

SESSION: Maximizing Team Performance Through Accountability and Alignment

The foundation of every successful organization lies in the strength of its teams—and the leadership that guides them. In today’s fast-evolving work environment, it’s no longer enough to manage tasks and oversee workflows. Effective leaders must cultivate trust, nurture engagement, and create a culture where individuals feel seen, supported, and motivated to contribute their best. 

In this interactive and thought-provoking session, Danielle Burmeister will share a leadership framework rooted in empathy, accountability, and strategic alignment. Drawing from both her corporate leadership experience and her personal connection to service-driven professions, Danielle will explore what truly sets high-performing teams apart from the rest. A central theme of the presentation is how to measure and interpret employee satisfaction—not as a one-time survey result, but as an ongoing indicator of team health. 

Attendees will learn how to identify patterns in feedback, distinguish between symptoms and root causes, and translate employee sentiment into effective action. From small teams to cross-functional departments, attendees will be equipped with practical tools and leadership habits that make an immediate impact. Whether you're navigating generational shifts, managing hybrid teams, or simply aiming to elevate performance, you’ll gain fresh perspective and applicable techniques. Danielle’s presentation style combines clarity, warmth, and a deep respect for people-centered leadership. Her real-world examples and actionable insights make this session both inspiring and grounded in everyday leadership realities.

1. Learn how to assess employee satisfaction as a dynamic metric tied to long-term team performance.

2. Discover techniques for interpreting employee feedback and responding with meaningful, targeted actions.

3. Gain leadership strategies that foster accountability, collaboration, and sustained engagement. 4. Walk away with tools for cultivating a high-performing culture across teams of any size.

Session: Getting ROI Out of Aftercare at Your Funeral Home: Turning Compassion into Long-Term Value.

Aftercare has often been viewed as a soft service—something offered out of kindness, but not necessarily tied to business outcomes. However, when done strategically, Aftercare can deliver measurable return on investment (ROI) for funeral homes while strengthening your brand, building community trust, and creating ongoing engagement with the families you serve. This session will explore how to move beyond sympathy cards and into a meaningful, service-based Aftercare model that drives growth. We'll uncover how funeral homes across the country are using non-legal estate assistance, structured follow-up, and grief resource integration to generate stronger preneed leads, increase family satisfaction, and differentiate themselves in competitive markets. 

We’ll share real case studies, cost/benefit breakdowns, and examples of funeral homes that have used Aftercare to generate a return on investment. This session will also introduce frameworks for team implementation, staff roles, and how to shift from reactive follow-up to proactive service delivery that leaves a lasting impression. Attendees will walk away with:

● A clear understanding of what “ROI” means in the context of funeral aftercare 

● Benchmarks for success and what metrics to track (satisfaction, referrals, review ratings, repeat client rate)

1. Preneed Conversion & Retention – Learn how structured aftercare follow-up opens the door to future planning conversations with surviving family members and increases brand loyalty.

2. Operational Efficiency – Discover how integrating aftercare services reduces time-consuming family callbacks and post-service confusion, freeing up your staff to focus on high-impact work

3. Marketing & Reputation Building – Understand how families who feel supported after the service are more likely to leave 5-star reviews, refer others, and become vocal advocates for your firm in the community.

SESSION: The Silver Tsunami - The Coming Wave of Business Transitions.

This session will delve into the critical factors shaping the future of American small businesses as an unprecedented wave of ownership transition approaches.

1. The current state of American small business economy, providing valuable context on the challenges and opportunities for small businesses owners.

2. Attendees will gain an in-dept understanding of the 100% business loan landscape, including strategies for debt refinancing, real estate purchases, partner buy outs, and securing working capital

3. The session emphasizes the importance of crafting deals that create a win-win outcome for all parties ensuring smooth transitions that benefit both buyers and sellers while preserving the legacy of the business.

SESSION: The Funeral Finance Roadmap: Strategies to Fund What’s Next.

Access to capital is often the difference between maintaining the status quo and unlocking the next level of success for your funeral business. Whether you’re looking to expand, transition ownership, buy out a partner, or simply plan for long-term sustainability, the financing landscape can seem daunting without the right guidance. 

In this session, Will Bischoff—Senior VP of Strategic Markets at Homesteaders Life Company—demystifies the financing process for funeral professionals. Drawing on decades of experience and real-world industry knowledge, Will guides attendees through the most common scenarios where financing becomes a strategic lever and not just a fallback. 

The presentation will cover a broad spectrum of financing options, from traditional bank and SBA loans to alternative capital structures designed specifically for the funeral profession. Attendees will also learn how to assess their current business needs and match them with the right type of capital at the right time. Attendees will have a framework for evaluating potential partners, including critical questions to ask and red flags to avoid.

1. Financial options for funeral directors from traditional banks to alternative capital structures.

2. How to assess your current business needs.

3. Attendees will also get a framework for evaluating potential partners.

SESSION: Benefits From Funeral Car Innovation

Tom Cole and Nathan Hurst will discuss how funeral car innovation can have a positive impact on funeral homes. Funeral homes can benefit from innovations in funeral car design by creating more meaningful and healing experiences for the families they serve. These enhanced services not only provide comfort during a difficult time but also present new opportunities to grow revenue by offering unique, value-added options that set the funeral home apart.

Session:Marketing & AI

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