OGR’s PROGRESS 2025 Conference Sets New Standard for Innovation and Collaboration in Funeral Service

Indianapolis (May 14, 2025) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) proudly announces the resounding success of its signature event, PROGRESS, held May 6–8 at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California. This year’s conference marked a transformative milestone, uniting independent funeral professionals and suppliers from around the world under a bold new vision of innovation, adaptability, and forward momentum.

“PROGRESS is more than a name—it’s a call to action,” said Wendy King, CAE, CVA, Executive Director and CEO of OGR. “This year’s event embodied our commitment to advancing the profession and fostering a community dedicated to excellence.”

The 2025 gathering welcomed attendees from 13 states and six countries, creating a vibrant and diverse community focused on shared learning and progress. The conference offered optional excursions such as a wine tour of Temecula’s renowned vineyards, a guided visit to Forest Lawn Cemetery in Covina, a tour Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory, and a historical exploration of the Mission Inn Hotel’s famed catacombs. 

Educational programming began with the OGR Annual Business Meeting, setting the stage for two days of learning and networking. The opening keynote, “Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth,” offered insights into Disney’s customer service excellence and leadership strategies, providing attendees with actionable takeaways to enhance their own practices. The opening keynote, sponsored by Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, was followed by an interactive session on AI and ChatGPT with Dr. Rich Yeuh (University of California, Riverside). Education continued with “Fostering the Future: Industry-Education Partnerships Supporting Funeral Service Students and Staff,” featuring speakers Shivon Ozinga (Forest Lawn Cemetery) and Jolena Grande, CFSP, A.S., B.S., M.F.S., M.S., (Cypress College) to discuss the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and the funeral service industry. This session was sponsored generously by The Dodge Company.

The second day of PROGRESS began with “Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Funeral Service: Hiring, Retaining, Motivating, and Team Development for Business Growth,” a dynamic panel featuring Gregory McClary, CFSP (Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home), Larnique Mickens, MBA, CFSP, CCSP (Heritage Mortuary, Inc.), and Keysha Licea (Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory). The panelists explored innovative solutions for staffing challenges specific to independently owned funeral homes. They emphasized actionable strategies such as wellness programs, mentorship pathways, and purpose-driven job descriptions, all aimed at building compassionate, high-performing teams that support long-term growth.

A high-energy marketing session followed, titled “Future-Proof Your Funeral Home: Marketing for 2025 and Beyond,” broken into three distinct topics. Welton Hong (Ring Ring Marketing) demystified online marketing tactics for funeral homes, emphasizing the power of search optimization and pay-per-click advertising for at-needs, and social media for preneed. Ryan Thogmartin (DISRUPT Media) expanded on this by sharing proven techniques for creating engaging, effective content across digital platforms. Mary Barnett (Another Brilliant Idea) closed the session with a compelling presentation on using empathetic, AI-powered marketing tools to boost engagement and conversions without losing the human touch.

A highlight of the event was the Golden Circle Celebration Dinner, sponsored by Homesteaders Life Company, where OGR recognized individuals and firms that exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and compassion in funeral service. The celebration also marked the official induction of the 2025-2026 Board of Directors and included a record-breaking fundraiser for the OGR Foundation to provide scholarships for mortuary students to attend OGR programming such as PROGRESS and the Future Leaders Forum. 

The conference concluded with a session from Justin Zabor, CFSP, (The Zabor Funeral Home) titled “Funeral Arrangements to Die For.” This session focused on elevating the funeral arrangement conference, offering advanced communication and rapport-building techniques that foster trust and client satisfaction. Justin’s session served as a fitting finale to the event—grounding attendees in the human-centered mission of funeral service while empowering them with tools for measurable improvement.

OGR is grateful for the continued support and partnership with the sponsors of this year’s event, which include Access Financial Group, Air Essentials, Inc., ATTEND, Full-Circle Aftercare, Funeral Home Gifts, Garfield Refining, Homesteaders Life Company, Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, Nomis Publications, and The Dodge Company.

“This reimagined conference represents our shared commitment to growth, excellence, and continuous innovation,” said Kim Hunter, President of the OGR Board of Directors. “We are excited to build upon this momentum and continue shaping the future of funeral service.”

OGR is excited to announce that PROGRESS 2026 will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 5–7, 2026. The event promises to build on the success of 2025, offering new opportunities for connection, education, and advancement for funeral professionals across the world.

For more information about PROGRESS and the International Order of the Golden Rule, please visit www.ogr.org/PROGRESS.

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About the International Order of the Golden Rule

Since 1928, the International Order of the Golden Rule has been the leading professional association dedicated to promoting high ethical standards and outstanding service of independently owned funeral homes in the funeral and memorialization profession. OGR members represent the elite in the industry, consistently providing compassionate and personalized care to families in their time of need. OGR is headquartered in Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.

OGR’s Podcast Rebranded as Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast

Hosted by Funeral Service Leader, Justin Zabor, CFSP

INDIANAPOLIS (January 27, 2024) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is excited to announce the rebranding of its popular podcast as Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast, sponsored by The Dodge Company. This newly titled series continues to serve as a valuable resource for independent funeral home professionals, exploring the latest challenges, opportunities, and innovations in the profession.

Hosted by Justin Zabor, CFSP, OGR Board Member and owner of The Zabor Funeral Home in Parma, Ohio, the podcast delivers practical insights and expert advice. Each episode dives into topics such as:

• Keeping independent funeral homes independent
• Evaluating whether to invest in an on-site crematory
• Effective marketing strategies for funeral homes
• Humanizing the funeral service experience
• Insights for the next generation of funeral home owners
• And much more

“The rebrand of our podcast reflects OGR’s mission to connect independent funeral professionals with tools and information to support their success,” said Wendy King, CAE, CVA, Executive Director of OGR. “Through Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast, we aim to provide meaningful conversations, practical takeaways, and an ongoing sense of community for funeral home owners, staff, and future leaders.”

Listeners can expect in-depth interviews with industry experts, innovative thought leaders, and fellow independent funeral home professionals. With his approachable style and hands-on expertise, Zabor creates an engaging and informative platform tailored to the needs of OGR members and the wider funeral service community.

Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information or to listen to the latest episode, visit ogr.org/podcast.

A special thanks to The Dodge Company – the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of preparation room supplies, and an OGR Endorsed Supplier – for sponsoring this season of the podcast. Dodge supports OGR every year through a financial contribution toward the association’s educational programming as Dodge believes education is key to the future of our profession.

About the International Order of the Golden Rule

The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is an association of independently owned and operated funeral homes dedicated to ethical service to all. Founded in 1928, it is our mission to make independent funeral homes exceptional. We do this by building and supporting member interaction, information exchange and professional business development through a wide range of programs, services and resources. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.