Veteran funeral industry analysts and consultants Alan Creedy and Danny Jefferson are bringing their “Experiential Learning” methods to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for two days in May.

Alan Creedy

This tour from May 12 thru 14 will allow participants, among other things to tour and learn from the experiences of two very different, but successful Death Care businesses.  During the time in Minneapolis particicipants will have the opportunity to learn from the experts at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Homes and from the Cremation Society of Minnesota.

Washburn-McReavy has been in the traditional funeral home and cemetery business as a family owned operation for 170 years.  They are known for innovation, excellence, and leadership in the profession.  Today’s Washburn-McReavy consists of 14 funeral homes and four cemeteries in the Greater Minneapolis market area.

Danny Jefferson

The Cremation Society of Minnesota took a bold step out of the traditional funeral home model in about 1980 and moved into what has became known as the direct cremation model.  The company continues to innovate and it is estimated that they now operate a business that does well over 5,000 cremations per year.

As Blue Ocean Tours says in their brochure. . . . “Two separate business models, two incredible successes”.

To learn more about this Blue Ocean Tour click here.

I’m excited about this tour and, for what it is worth, I’ve agreed to be part of the experience putting on a question and answer session with all participants at some time during the event.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  If you can make this tour I would highly suggest it.  I live in Minnesota and know the families of these operations — I know Kevin Waterston who was one of the innovators behind the Cremation Society of Minnesota brand and I have known three generations of the McReavy family.

In fact, my earliest position in funeral service was as a student at the Washburn-McReavy facilities.  Much of what I learned there was put into practice at my rural funeral home and those McReavy best practices were part of our success.

In fact, the man I’ll always call Mr. McReavy still holds great reverence in my life.  Here is a story that Funeral Director Daily published after learning of his death in December 2024.

Two Guys and a Question —  Alan Creedy and Danny Jefferson are probably best known today for their Death Care related podcast titled “Two Guys and a Question”.  

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