Selected Independent Funeral Homes Lets the Good Times Roll at 107th Annual Meeting in New Orleans

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – June 17, 2025 – The world’s leading independent funeral service professionals will gather in New Orleans, LA for Selected Independent Funeral Homes’ 107th Annual Meeting at The Ritz-Carlton on September 28 – October 1.

True to this year’s theme of “Let the Good Times Roll,” participants will have ample opportunities to network with colleagues, experience engaging educational sessions and obtain valuable continuing education credit. During the meeting, the Association will induct its newest Board Representatives and Officers, while recognizing the contributions of its outgoing Officers.

Keynote speaker Commander Kirk Lippold, USN (Ret.) will present “Leadership & Accountability When It Matters.” Commander Lippold was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole when it came under a fatal terrorist attack by al Qaeda in the port of Aden, Yemen, on October 12, 2000. Using his experience from this devastating terrorist attack as a backdrop, Commander Lippold conveys how the principle of integrity created a diverse and inclusive environment for leadership where his crew felt empowered with a sense of ownership, seizing the opportunity to be responsible for their ship, and not just their jobs.

The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, an award-winning employment brand, will present “A Culture of Excellence: Building Success from Within” during the General Session. They will share best practices on how to activate and sustain a culture where valued and empowered employees own the customer experience. Leaders ready to transform their organization will walk away with actionable ideas to elevate experiences and engage employees.

Many other dynamic speakers will share valuable insights at the Annual Meeting. View details of all speakers and sessions online. Additional highlights will include the following:

• Up to 10.0 hours of continuing education credit (1.0 CE Units) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and states requiring CE. (Approvals vary by state.)
• Recognition of Selected Membership Milestone anniversaries.
• Induction of Selected’s 2025-2026 Board Chair and President, 2025-2029 Board Directors and recognition of outgoing Officers.
• Recognition of the Selected Educational Trust’s Ambassador of the Year Awards.
• Opportunities to connect with Selected’s Preferred Partners both at their individual displays and during informational “Conversation Café” sessions.
• Several members-only sessions and activities for Selected members including luncheons for members of Selected’s Communities.
• Two days of exclusive Selected Study Groups events for Selected Study Groups participants.

“For more than 100 years, Selected has used our Annual Meeting as a catalyst for positive change and an incubator for innovation,” said Tom Antram, 2024-2025 Selected President. “The good times happen when we are together. I’m excited to Let the Good Times Roll as we gather in New Orleans this fall!”

Spots are filling quickly! Register and make your hotel reservations today.

About Selected Independent Funeral Homes:

For more than 100 years, Selected Independent Funeral Homes has been the leading association of independently owned death care providers. The Association connects leaders in funeral service by delivering innovative and pertinent resources, solutions and ongoing support to its international network. These leaders transform care as they aspire to the highest quality standards and best practices. As the capstone of Selected’s year, the Annual Meeting gives members and participants an opportunity to create the future of funeral service.

Program Announced for the CANA 107th Convention 

Registration is open now with special discounts for teams 

WHEELING, IL— This August, you’re invited to the Cremation Association of North America’s 107^th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, where innovative cremation professionals come together to share ideas, learn from experts, and explore the latest products and services from industry suppliers. Featuring a perfect blend of city excitement and desert serenity, the CANA Convention heads to Phoenix for a mid-year rejuvenation and the opportunity to mingle with the most forward-thinking owners and managers in the profession. Registration is open, so act now to claim your booth, sponsorship, or seat at the table and connect with cremation experts from across the profession. 

Innovative sessions are the core of every CANA Convention, and the 2025 program won’t disappoint. CANA presents experts that will help business leaders hone in on what gives our work meaning: the customer experience. 

In the midst of ongoing and seemingly incalculable changes in this industry, Joan Fox, President of Inspired Solutions, presents what it really takes to succeed with customers and grow your business: a change in mindset. In her keynote session, Are You Creating or Killing Customer Loyalty?, you will learn why customer satisfaction is an inadequate goal, how company culture and customer loyalty are connected, and develop strategies to measure customer loyalty to grow your business. 

Take a close look at Ethics in Cremation: A Colorado Case Study with Faith Haug, Program Director of Arapahoe Community College Mortuary Science Program, and explore a detailed analysis of the three pivotal Colorado cremation cases from 2015-2023 that exposed significant gaps in regulations. Faith will share how these cases directly influenced Colorado’s funeral service laws, how key groups collaborated to create new protective measures, and analyze how public response to these cases illustrates the importance of ethical cremation practices and maintaining public trust. 

Three experts take the stage to share Data-Driven Digital Marketing Fundamentals with advice to build your business. Mitch Smith, Vice President of Sales Operations of eFuneral, examines how and why trust is now built digitally and how to evolve to meet families where they are. Then, Scott Jensen, Co-owner of FirstCall Marketing, will define and explain the three steps that funeral homes owners can take to enable themselves to clearly understand if their marketing is working or not. Finally, Zack Moy, Co-founder/CTO of Afterword, will explore how technology can create exceptional funeral planning experiences and significantly streamline operations to promote productivity without sacrificing quality.  

Succession planning and driving enterprise value should always be in our minds as owners, managers, and key stakeholders in a business. That’s why Jake Johnson, President & CEO of Johnson Consulting, will show you how to Exit with Success: Succession Planning and Your Business with steps to be considered when developing your succession plan and communicating with frontline employees. 

In historic cemeteries, space is limited and options for full-body burials can be hard to find. But with cremation on the rise, there’s a growing opportunity to think more creatively, and sustainably, about the land we have. In her session on Historic Cemeteries Facing the Future, Regina Harrison, Director of Sales of Mount Auburn Cemetery, shares how her historic cemetery team developed innovative cremation options to meet a wide range of family needs and budgets and how you can think creatively with practical strategies for highlighting options for memorialization whether you’re managing historic grounds or guiding families through end-of-life choices. 

In 2022, CANA asked more than 3,000 consumers in the US and Canada about their attitudes, actions and behaviors around cremation. In 2025, with the team at Fortitude Research, CANA conducted a survey of funeral directors and arrangers to better understand how cremation is practiced in the arrangement room. In the closing session, Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America and Chance Parker, Chief Research Officer of Fortitude Research + Marketing, presents the Cremation Practitioner Benchmarking Study of practitioners’ currently held beliefs about cremation and cremation product offerings against consumer research. The session offers insights into current practice and provides strategies to address future challenges. 

What could be better than what’s happening on the CANA stage? It might be the backdrop! The Convention hotel is the Arizona Biltmore which offers seven relaxing pools, five appealing shops featuring hand-curated pieces, three unique dining experiences, two picturesque golf courses, and one award-winning spa and salon – plus two iconic bars where you can revel in a tequila sunrise. This year, the CANA Convention schedule is revamped to make the most of this unique resort experience, making time for the cool desert nights and mornings so you’ll enjoy all that Phoenix has to offer. You’re invited to explore, to discover, and to feel inspired by the colors, culture and the captivating energy of the Valley of the Sun. Make your reservation now at canarooms.com. 

CANA’s Annual Convention is the premier event for innovative cremation professionals. That’s why special discounts are available for full convention registration: buy one, get one $200 for funeral professionals from the same company. Teams of 3+ save even more! Plus, the schedule is redesigned to ensure you can explore the Valley of the Sun in the cool mornings and evenings and fully savor the networking and learning in the air-conditioned convention hall during the height of the day. 

Phoenix is the perfect desert oasis for catching rays and chasing dreams. That’s why the Funeral Service Foundation is offering five scholarships to encompass all the benefits of attendance at the 107^th Cremation Innovation Convention. With an award valued at up to $2,200, each scholarship winner will receive full event registration, plus three nights at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. Scholarships are open to anyone in funeral, cremation, and cemetery service who wants to invest in their future success as a cremation professional, including current students. The deadline to apply is May 29, 2025; scholarship winners will be notified mid-June to make their plans to join CANA in Phoenix this August. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit cremationassociation.org/CANAROI.  

Bring your family and enjoy the luxurious Arizona Biltmore, take time to experience the art, culture, food, action, history and beauty of the Phoenix and surrounding desert, and experience CANA’s 107^th Annual Convention. Register now for CANA’s Annual Convention: August 6-8, 2025 – and remember that special rates are available for teams to learn, grow, and implement strategies together. Visit cremationassociation.org/CANA25 to learn more.