CANA Members Elect Leaders at Annual Meeting

WHEELING, IL— In August 2025, members of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) attending the hybrid Annual Meeting at the 107^th Annual Cremation Convention in Phoenix re-elected one incumbent board member, elected two new directors, and passed the gavel to new CANA President Lindsey Ballard. Members also recognized the service of three individuals retiring from board service.  

CANA’s President for the 2025-2026 year is third-generation funeral director Lindsey Ballard, co-owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation with locations in Jordan, Prior Lake, and Shakopee, Minnesota. “Serving as CANA president means so much to me. It really is an honor to be a part of an organization that is so progressive and has strong values,” stated Ballard. “I’m very excited to be a president during the sesquicentennial of modern cremation. I know there will be several meaningful projects in the year ahead that will allow us to look back at our history and also see how things have changed over time. I also see this as an opportunity to look toward the future . . . where is cremation going? This is a very exciting time for cremation and CANA, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.” 

CANA’s membership elected two new members to the Board of Directors to lead the association in the coming years. 

Daniel “Dan” Applegate, President/CEO of The Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio, has worked in the cemetery and funeral profession for over 20 years and is past secretary/treasurer of the Ohio Cemetery Association. “I bring practical leadership experience and skills, a passion for innovation, and also a deep respect for the evolving needs of families and practitioners in an evolving field,” Applegate remarked. “CANA is leading the way in shaping the future of death care. I am proud to support and add to that forward-looking vision.” 

Katie La Bella, Director of Operations of St. Michael’s Cemetery and Crematory in East Elmhurst, New York, has over 20 years of experience across the funeral profession as a licensed funeral director, crematory manager, and in cemetery operations. “I am passionate about helping others and advancing the funeral and cremation industries. I am eager to bring my diverse experience, strong work ethic, and commitment to quality to the CANA Board,” La Bella said. “By advancing education and innovation, CANA can continue to empower professionals to meet the evolving needs of the families they serve while setting new standards for service, sustainability, and community engagement in the cremation industry.”  

Evans Baldwin, Vice President of Sales for Foundation Partners Group based in Winter Park, Florida, joins the CANA Board to complete the one-year term vacated by a prior board member. Baldwin has worked in funeral service for over 20 years including his leadership at Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, which has multiple locations across Florida. “I am proud to join the CANA Board to advocate for innovation, best practices, and educational opportunities within the cremation industry,” explained Baldwin. “My vision for CANA is to make it the most progressive industry association via education opportunities and driving innovation. I aim to help grow CANA’s membership base by offering valuable resources and ensuring that all members are equipped to adapt to evolving industry trends.”  

Stephen Bassett, Vice President of Cemetery Operations at Legacy Funeral Group based in Houston, Texas, was re-elected to serve a second term on the board. The Board of Directors elected Tim Koch, Owner of Metro First Call in St. Paul, Minnesota, to serve as an officer on the Executive Committee as Third Vice President, and Robbie Pape, Senior Vice President and Eastern Regional Partner of Carriage in Houston, Texas, as Treasurer. 

CANA’s Board of Directors is complete with: 

• Lindsey Ballard of Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Jordan, Minnesota, CANA President; 

• Denis Desrochers of Grégoire Desrochers in Victoriaville, Quebec, President Elect; 

• Sandra Walker of Pacific Northwest Cremation in Spokane, Washington, First Vice President; 

• William “Bill” Clark of Kootenay Enterprises Inc. in Trail, British Columbia, Second Vice President; 

• Timothy “Tim” Koch of Metro First Call in St. Paul, Minnesota, Third Vice President; 

• Robbie Pape of Carriage in Houston, Texas, CANA Treasurer;  

• Ryan Wiseman of Porter Funeral Homes in Kansas City, Kansas, Immediate Past President;  

• Judy Olson of National Guardian Life Insurance Company, CANA Supplier Liaison;  

• Daniel “Dan” Applegate of The Arlington Memorial Gardens; 

• Evans Baldwin of Foundation Partners Group;  

• Stephen “Steve” Bassett of Legacy Funeral Group; 

• Dirk Bearden of Service Corporation International;  

• John Goobeck of Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors;  

• Katie La Bella of St. Michael’s Cemetery and Crematory; 

• Jimmy Lucas of Lucas Funeral Homes; 

• C.R. Lyons of C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors; 

• Katie Sullivan Frideres of the Cremation Society of Illinois; 

• Lara M. Price of Pappas Grubbs Price PC, CANA General Counsel; 

• E. Gene Allen of Kerrville Funeral Home, Education Liaison; and, 

• Caressa Hughes of Service Corporation International, Technical Advisor – Government and Legal Affairs. 

The Membership recognized Past President Robert Hunsaker for his commitment to promoting CANA in the association’s ongoing mission of service to the profession. His leadership ensured CANA’s future success as a leader in the profession for years to come. The Membership also recognized Jason Widing of Foundation Partners Group for the completion of his term of service to the board of directors and Tim Borden of Borden Enterprises for his service as Treasurer. We are grateful for their service to our association and the profession.  

CANA thanks its Board of Directors and all those who serve on its Advisory Groups and as CANA Ambassadors for their dedication to CANA and funeral service. These leaders volunteer their time and talent to ensure continued recognition for CANA as the trusted authority and educator on all aspects of cremation. Find more information and learn how to get involved on CANA’s website: cremationassociation.org/BoardofDirectors 

About CANA 

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. 

We are already coming up on the third Tuesday of the month and that means it is time for another Cremation Association of North America (CANA) sponsored funeral professionals peer support online meeting.

This month CANA brings us Tony Russo who asks the question “How far is too far” in dealing with families?

Here’s what CANA says about tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, July 15) interactive online support meeting,  “As funeral professionals, we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for the families we serve–but where are the boundaries if we always go the extra mile? Tony Russo facilitates the July Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting to discuss the extra mile that takes us too far, and the moral quandary and compassion fatigue that might ensue.”

The CANA press release on this topic continues, “This peer support meeting provides a space to share experiences, explore internal conflicts, and gain insight from your peers on how they handle these deeply human dilemmas. Together, we’ll unpack questions like: When is it fair–or even ethical–to exceed expectations for one family but not another?”

To learn more about Peer Support or to learn how to sign up for Tuesday’s meeting click here.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 8 pm Eastern Time, 7 pm Central Time, and 5 pm Pacific Time.  It is expected to last one hour.

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Tomorrow night is June 17th and it is the 3rd Tuesday of the month so that brings us the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) sponsored online Peer Support meeting.

The monthly Peer Support meetings are for all funeral home, cemetery, crematory, and other Death Care workers.

According to information from CANA, tomorrow night’s Peer Support meeting will be led by Glenda Stansbury who will facilitate “a discussion for funeral professionals on managing through chaos”.

Again, according to the CANA information Ms. Stansbury is “. .  a professional educator,Marketing & Development Director of InSight Books,and Co-Founder and Dean of InSight Institute Certified Celebrant Program.  Glenda Stansbury is uniquely skilled in facilitating this peer support meeting on navigating uncertainty and finding resilience.”

The meeting is live and online through a Zoom link.  It will take place on Tuesday, June 17, at 8 pm Eastern Time, 7 pm Central Time, and 5 pm Pacific Time.

For more information and to learn how to participate please click here.

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CANA Releases 2025 Annual Cremation Statistics Report: Shows National Cremation Rate Growth Slowing

WHEELING, IL— The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) continues its commitment to providing accurate and comprehensive cremation statistics to the death care industry and consumers. With over 25 years of data collection from state and provincial vital statistics departments, CANA’s cremation statistics are widely regarded as the most reliable and current in the field. The latest reports for 2025 have been released, featuring final 2023 cremation data, newly released 2024 data, and projections to 2029 and 2034. 

CANA’s research shows that the national cremation rate has grown steadily and predictably for the last 50 years, indicating that neither the recession nor the pandemic have influenced the growth rate on a national level. After decades of rapid growth in the United States, CANA can confirm that the national growth rate is slowing after reaching 61.8% in 2024. It is a common statistical occurrence for the growth rate to slow once it hits 80%. 

SLOWER, BUT STEADY GROWTH IN CREMATION NATIONALLY  

CANA’s 2025 Annual Statistics Report shows that the annual cremation growth rate is slowing overall. This supports the association’s observation over the past few years that the US is entering a “deceleration” period of cremation. The US is 15 years behind Canada, where the cremation rate surpassed 76.7% in 2024.  

By 2033, CANA research predicts the cremation rate in all states will reach or exceed 50%, with the national rate surpassing 70%. In 2025, there are only six states where the cremation rate has not yet reached 50%; six states and four provinces have already surpassed 80%. After adding a new color to the popular “heat” maps of cremation rates to highlight the individual states and provinces with cremation rates above 80%, CANA has now retired the color that indicated states where the cremation rate had not reached 30%. 

“These cremation statistics can be applied to a range of business decisions, helping you to weigh your options in a number of ways,” said CANA President Ryan Wiseman, co-owner of Porter Funeral Homes in Kansas City, KS, and Lenexa, KS, and the Cremation Society of Kansas and Missouri, which has four locations around the Kansas City area. “I can speak from personal experience about the value and practical application for this information when you’re looking for help to guide the choices you make on behalf of your business. The CANA statistics were fundamental in helping us make the decision to open our Cremation Society location 20 years ago. Based on the data in CANA’s annual report, we were able to project what the future was to bring and estimate what families would be looking for when a loved one would die.” 

OTHER FORMS OF DISPOSITION 

CANA tracks data on all forms of disposition, including the newest forms of cremation – alkaline hydrolysis (AH, also known as water cremation) and natural organic reduction (NOR, also known as human composting). Practitioners, consumers and media outlets often ask about the effect of new forms of disposition on the cremation rate, but CANA’s estimated data shows that AH and NOR processes remain a negligible factor at this point. They account for 0.3% in states where the methods are practiced and 0.1% nationally. AH and NOR are not currently affecting the cremation rates at the state, provincial or national levels. 

ABOUT CANA RESEARCH 

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) publishes the Annual Cremation Statistics Report and other research to illuminate trends in the profession. This research is often used by the media to shape their articles and by CANA’s members to guide their future business plans. Derived from six data models, CANA publishes projections with accuracy, leaning conservative, to deliver reliable information to the leaders of the profession. 

In addition to the Annual Statistics Report, CANA will be conducting several other research projects to provide insights into cremation arrangement practices, modern cremation practices, and consumer awareness and preference for traditional and emerging disposition methods. The association remains committed to gathering accurate and comprehensive cremation statistics to serve the needs of the death care industry and consumers. 

CANA research is available exclusively for members of the association. For more information on CANA’s statistics, visit www.cremationassociation.org/IndustryStatistics. 

CANA Members can read the full report in The Cremationist or log in to www.cremationassociation.org/CremationistMagazine. 

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About CANA 

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. 

The percentage rate of cremation disposition for all deaths in the United States continues to rise, but the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says in a recent press release that that rate is “decelerating” in its growth.  It is, however, a common statistical occurrence for growth rates to slow once the percentage hits a certain level.

CANA’s press release makes this comment:

“CANA’s research shows that the national cremation rate has grown steadily and predictably for the last 50 years, indicating that neither the recession nor the pandemic have influenced the growth rate on a national level. After decades of rapid growth in the United States, CANA can confirm that the national growth rate is slowing after reaching 61.8% in 2024.” 

The organization of over 3,700 funeral home, cemetery, crematory, industry supplier, and consultant members says that their newly released 2024 data “supports the association’s observation over the past few years that the US is entering a  “deceleration” period of cremation.  (CANA also suggests that) The U.S. is 15 years behind Canada, where the cremation rate surpassed 76.7% in 2024.”

CANA also predicts that by 2033 the cremation rate in all states will reach or exceed 50% and that the United States national rate will surpass 70%.

Finally, CANA points out that the new disposition methods of alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction seem to be playing only a very small role in the overall picture as it pertains to the percentage of cremation dispositions.  The organization points out that presently those forms of disposition total only 0.3% of all dispositions in states where both methods are legally practiced.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  The CANA annual statistics are very valuable in a Death Care provider’s planning.  There were approximately 3.09 million U.S. deaths in 2024.  At least one source believes that there will be about 3.87 million U.S. deaths in 2040.  That’s about 780,000 more deaths annually than today.  What perecentage of those deaths are cremations, earth burials, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction makes a big difference to those in those businesses.

For instance if the cremation percentage rate rises it might mean that certain suppliers decide to enter the cremation manufacturing industry.  On the other hand, depending on whether the cremation rate gets to 70 or 80% might make a big difference to those in the casket industry.  The combination of decelerating rates of cremation percentages coupled with more deaths might give a leeway for casket industry unit status quo rather than lower numbers of units sold annually.

CANA has generally been “right on” with their predictions. . . . . Make sure that you brainstorm about what differing rates of cremation might mean to your business.

More news from the world of Death Care:

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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. 

Caring for the caregiver.  That’s something I learned a long time ago — if the caretaker is not cared for how can they expect to care for others?

That’s what I was reminded of when I looked at the topic for tomorrow night’s CANA (Cremation Association of North America) supported participatory “Peer Support Group” for Death Care professionals.

Here’s what the press release says about tomorrow night’s session:

“We live in a world where people want immediate results and‘quick fixes,’ andwe frequently deny ourselves the time and space to process our emotions fully.  A lot of people like the DIY approach, particularly individuals who help other people through the grief process. But when we’re dealing with our own deep loss, sometimes we’re the worst people to be able to care for ourselves.

 

Karen Kramer,intuitive facilitator & energy healer, author, speaker,and CEO of the Villa Vision Wellness & Retreat Center, facilitates the April Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting to talk about the times we attempt to work too quickly through feelings of grief  to fully process them, and to provide some ideasa bout what to do instead. Join the conversation at 8pm EDT/7pm CDT/5pm PDT on April 15, 2025, to share your own experience with grief and find relief.”

To learn more and register you can click here.

CANA Convention Registration IS open 

Experience true luxury at CANA’s 107^th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention this August 

WHEELING, IL— The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) heads to Phoenix, Arizona for the 107^th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention. Featuring a perfect blend of city excitement and desert serenity, the CANA Convention will provide 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. 

CANA’s Annual Convention is the premier event for innovative cremation professionals. Find the motivation to set creative strategies into motion, discover solutions that spark inspiration, and soak up new insights to fuel your business’s growth for years to come. This August 6-8, 2025, you are invited to connect with cremation leaders from across the profession, discover new products and services from more than 60 exhibitors, find inspiration while earning CE, and explore the Valley of the Sun! Special discounts are available for full convention registration: pairs save $200 on their registration and teams of three save $400!  

As a hardworking deathcare professional, you deserve the best during your time away from the job! The Convention hotel is the Arizona Biltmore, an opulent resort where historical meets contemporary, leisure meets adventure, and elegance meets play. The Biltmore 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. 

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.  

It’s CANA’s 107^th Annual Convention and it may be 107℉, but we think you’ll agree: being this hot has never been so cool! 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. 

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About CANA 

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. 

2025 CANA Symposium: Seek Success at Every Step

WHEELING, IL— CANA returned to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino to help business owners, managers, and employees achieve success at every step. From February 26-28, attendees explored strategic solutions in preneed, aftercare—and everything in between!

Attracting leaders from across funeral service, CANA events are known for providing opportunities for owners and managers from across the profession to gather fresh, practical ideas that make a difference in their businesses. The 2025 Symposium showcased sessions that inspired solutions and sparked conversations that carried over to networking, shared meals, and roundtables. Professionals from all business models, locales, experience levels, and call volumes were eager to tackle today’s challenges and share solutions, and industry suppliers are always part of the mix. Together, everyone exchanged innovative business ideas to find success.

Greg Grabowski, Partner at Hospice Advisors and an experienced leader with a proven record of results and revenue generation, kicked off the event with Bridging Hospice and Funeral Services: A Compassionate Continuum of Care. Each registrant received a free copy of his book Engaging the Heart of Hospice.

Following that, Danielle Burmeister, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Homesteaders Life Company, revealed key insights about why families who choose cremation decide to prearrange in her session Preneed Motivators: Cremation Edition. Next, a panel of experts from across the cremation preneed industry shared actionable insights for Cremation Preneed Success: Strategies, Insights, and Innovation in Sales and Marketing. Tyler Anderson, VP, Business Development at Precoa; William Bonacorda, President of Trust 100; Rob Goff, Regional Director, PreNeed Northwest, for United Heritage Life Insurance; and Joshua Rae, CEO of Golden Considerations helped attendees discover how to communicate the value of pre-planning.

Aftercare industry leaders continued the discussion on enhancing a relationship with families while driving business growth in an Aftercare Panel: Supporting Families and Growing Your Business with Greg Grabowski; Jon Lefrandt, Founder and CEO of Elevia; and Matthew Van Drimmelen, Founder of Full-Circle Aftercare. In Preneed Spotlight: Lessons and Ideas from Real-Life Success Stories, Lindsey Ballard, Owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, led attendees in an interactive and engaging session to showcase participants’ most effective preneed strategies, campaigns, and events.

Welton Hong, CEO & Founder of Ring Ring Marketing, provided actionable insights to grow preneed business in his session, Leveraging Technology to Grow Your Preneed Program. Finally, Wendy Russell Wiener, Managing Member of WRW Legal, PLLC, and Bill Williams, former President/CEO of Funeral Services, Inc., wrapped the event with The Great Debate: Trust vs Insurance. They gave attendees the tools they needed to determine what’s right for their business.

Thank you to Event Emcee Rob Heins and the many attendees and sponsors who chose to join us in Las Vegas! CANA’s advisory group members carefully choose presenters who have insight into new ideas and practical strategies that attendees can put to use right away to meet today’s needs.

What’s next? Be sure to save the dates for CANA’s 107th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention at the Arizona Biltmore on August 6-8, 2025. Next year, CANA returns to the Paris Las Vegas/Horseshoe for the Cremation Symposium on February 25-27, 2026. Reserve time for these events in your busy calendar and contact CANA to learn more: cremationassociation.org

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.

I have to admit the subject kind of crept up on me faster than I thought because I had wanted to do a full-blown article on the value of the Mentor/Mentee relationship prior to this notice. . . .But, like a lot of things in my life – it didn’t get done in time!!  —  Maybe I need a mentor in “time management”!!!!

I wanted the article done because of how much the mentors in my life have meant to me.  As you may know, my father died when I was a teenager and many people in my small hometown wanted to make sure that my life had the appropriate life examples in it to make a difference to me as I grew older.

Yes, I had a local funeral director mentor and a funeral director mentor from my internship. . . .but I also had teacher mentors, church and faith mentors, a banker mentor.. . . .and over time even mentors who gave me confidence to do other things.  In a nutshell, I’ve learned that mentors are incredibly valuable in one’s life.

That brings me to the real subject of this afternoon’s Funeral Director Daily edition.  The Cremation Association of America’s (CANA) Peer Support meeting for tomorrow night is about Mentors and how they can help you. . . .Don’t miss it.

You can participate via Zoom and to learn how to access the meeting you can click here.  The event is scheduled for tomorrow, February 18, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, 7:00 pm Central Time.

According to CANA’s information on tomorrow night’s meeting it will showcase how  “Mentors provide guidance and support to help the growth and development of their fellow professionals. Jeff Holcomb will bring his decades of commitment to the profession to talk about the power of peer support and mentorship. At Tuesday’s meeting, he’ll focus on the key role of a mentor in providing patience, compassion, and understanding in support of a mentee’s future.”

Related CANA News — CANA’s Cremation Symposium is just around the corner. . . Learn more about it here.

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