New Orleans to Host Selected Independent Funeral Homes’ Annual Meeting

Former U.S. Navy Commander to keynote on “Pillars of Leadership”

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill – July 1, 2025 – Selected Independent Funeral Homes, the premier association of independently‑owned funeral professionals, announces its 107th Annual Meeting, set for September 28 – October 1, 2025, at The Ritz Carlton, New Orleans.

The Annual Meeting will unite leaders for four days of powerful connection, cutting‑edge sessions, and fresh perspective on the funeral profession. Attendees will experience actionable leadership tools, professional development, and can earn up to 10.0 continuing education credits.

The event’s keynote address will be given by Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, USN (ret.). Lippold and his crew saved the USS Cole from sinking when the ship was bombed by al Qaeda in a fatal terrorist attack at the port of Aden, Yemen, on October 12, 2000.

“Commander Lippold’s insights, drawn from his experience during a devastating incident, reveal how integrity fostered an empowered and inclusive leadership environment,” said Tom Antram, Selected President. “His ‘Pillars of Leadership’ offer essential business tenets, proving that personal accountability and ownership are vital for any successful team.”

The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, a celebrated employment brand, will also serve as a living case study on cultivating a culture of excellence at the meeting’s general session. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to glean best practices directly from the hotel’s renowned approach.

“Our colleagues and industry leaders will gain invaluable insights into The Ritz-Carlton’s renowned culture of excellence,” adds Antram. “This is a unique opportunity to learn actionable strategies for sustainable processes, how to cultivate employee and customer engagement, and understand the vital role of empowerment in delivering legendary service.”

Registration is open for in-person or virtual attendance at this year’s Annual Meeting. Members interested should visit the Annual Meeting page on the association’s website.

About Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Celebrating more than a century of service excellence, Selected Independent Funeral Homes advances the independent funeral profession through best‑in‑class education, peer connection, and innovative member solutions. Its Annual Meeting serves as the premier gathering to shape the future of funeral service. For more information, visit the website and follow the association on Facebook, “X”, and LinkedIn.

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.

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recently held their annual international convention and expo in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Here’s a link to the NFDA website where they recap all that happened.

If you don’t have time to read it all, here’s a little quote from NFDA’s first paragraph, “Participants engaged in cutting-edge education, world-class exhibits and unparalleled networking opportunities, all designed to help them thrive in a rapidly evolving profession. As the largest gathering of funeral professionals worldwide, this year’s convention once again set the standard for excellence and leadership in the funeral service industry.”

According to the NFDA input, total convention attendance was 5,159 which consisted of 3,504 participants and 2,015 exhibitor representatives.  Included in that total were 418 international attendees representing 34 countries or territories.  The exhibit hall contained about 87,500 square feet of exhibitor space which featured 364 exhibitors.

That’s the nuts and bolts nexus of the event and you can learn more from the provided link on all of the various programs that helped make New Orleans special for those of us that were fortunate enough to attend.

On to Chicago!!!  —  Next year, the 144th NFDA International Convention & Expo will take place October 26-29 in Chicago, Illinois.  Make sure to mark you calendar now and reserve the date!!

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Get Ready for New Orleans | FFFW 209

DISCLAIMER: None of the F’s in FFFW stand for “facts.” Enjoy the jokes and satire.

Y’all welcome to the 209th edition of the FFFW! As a reminder, the “FFFW” stands for “Friday Funeral Fast Wrap.” Whenever this whole thing started, we had a little logo of a “wrap” that we used in every issue. Then, I guess I got tired of it and just moved on. So, now our name doesn’t make much sense.

But- the Lakers don’t play in a city with ANY lakes- so maybe I’m in good company.

There’s your history lesson of the day. Let’s move on to the things that have stayed the same in this publication:
– GIFs
– Games
– Good News

Excited for NFDA New Orleans this year? We are! The biggest show of the year is only a few weeks away and we can’t wait to see you at #NFDA2024!

We’re in Booth 1852 this year. Stop by to see how MemoryShare has simplified livestreaming and is transforming the way funeral homes reach more families. (Or just come grab a pair of socks— we’ll have those too.)

See you in New Orleans!

A Funeral Director’s Quick Guide to New Orleans: The Dos and Don’ts

Welcome to New Orleans! It’s time for NFDA 2024, but before you hit the streets, let’s make sure you survive the Big Easy with these essential tips:

Do: Eat the Beignets

It’s fried dough covered in sugar. What’s not to love? Don’t wear black unless you want to look like you’ve been embalming with powdered sugar.

Don’t: Wander into Bourbon Street at Night

Sure, it’s iconic, but by 9 PM, it becomes a scene you’ll wish you could unsee. Stay safe. Stick to networking—preferably somewhere with fewer beads.

Do: Join a Second Line Parade

You’re here for the NFDA, but when you hear that brass band, jump in! Nothing says “I’m celebrating life” like dancing with strangers and pretending you know how to twirl a handkerchief.

Don’t: Ask for Salad

Seriously. You’re in New Orleans. Everything is fried, spicy, or served in a bowl the size of a casket. Just go with it.

Do: Visit the Cemeteries

Above-ground tombs? It’s like real estate for the dearly departed! Take notes for your next big funeral service idea.

Don’t: Try to Speak French

We know “Laissez les bon temps rouler” sounds fancy, but after a few attempts, you’ll sound like a tourist with a mouth full of gumbo.

Trivia

What is the most commonly played song at funerals in the United States?

(Click the correct answer, and you’ll get a video of a puppy. Click the wrong answer, and you’ll see someone hurting themselves.)

Answer Choices:

A) “Ave Maria”
B) “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
C) “Amazing Grace”

You Otter Be Proud

Here’s some good news going on in the profession.

1. Why is it important to have a funeral director?
2. Old Lick Cemetery in Roanoke cleaned, repaired with help of national expert
3. Fifth-generation funeral director Jeff Monreal helps families grieve, celebrate loved ones

Just over a month from now, from October 19 thru the 23rd, I’ll be in New Orleans attending the 2024 National Funeral Directors Association National Convention.  I procrastinated but still got registered under the “Early Bird” registration that saved me $150 right off the top.  . . . . I also reserved my hotel room right across the street from the convention center, so I’m almost all set.

I just need to decide on my flights and where I will take them from.  I live almost exactly – 2 hours to each via the interstate highway system – between Minneapolis and Fargo in central Minnesota.  Flights from Minneapolis come with more options but also more headaches in getting to/from the airport. . . From Fargo flights are less plentiful and always connect somewhere, but the automobile trip, and parking, to and from the airport is always hassle free.

If you are a full-time funeral director or funeral home owner I understand how hard it can be to get to the NFDA National Convention.  Between a work schedule, business operations work, and simply wanting to be there for families in your own community that might need your service, taking the time off to go and learn can be difficult. . . . . Quite frankly, I think I only made two NFDA National Conventions during my 33 years of funeral home ownership.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

I know how it is.  . I wanted to be there for the families in my community when they needed me.  However, in retrospect, I think I would have been a better funeral director to those families if I had taken some time for professional advancement such as one will get at NFDA.

Now, that, as my wife says, I carry my business in my laptop, I can be almost anywhere and get my work done.  It’s a long way from my 1980 work life start that I had when I was tethered to a land-line phone during my on-call hours.

This will be my 3rd NFDA Convention in the last three years — Baltimore, Las Vegas, and now New Orleans.  I’ve come to really learn from them and as I’ve gotten more experience in the profession.  I’ve got more and more friends to say hello to also.  NFDA provides me that opportunity and as I age I cherish the chance to see old friends more and more.

As a working funeral director and/or owner I know that it is difficult and expensive to attend.  However, if you do, I don’t think you will be disappointed.  I’ve written about how funeral service is changing and keeping up with the changes and trends may give you a leg up on the competition in your community.  I’ve been looking at the seminars that I’ll be attending and I have choices all the way from preparation room procedures to government policy making. . . so, I’m guessing that whatever you are interested in you will find.

A few hours on the Expo floor seeing all the new products and services available may give you some insight to which products and/or services could take your funeral home to the next level.  Who knows, you might have a discussion with a new supplier of some type of product that, if nothing else, gives you leverage in dealing with the product you are now using for better pricing or other terms.

And where else can you get a chance to visit with all of the preneed insurance companies and get an idea of how that company that you are using stacks up with the others as far as face value issue amount, growth rates, and commission stands. . . .Just maybe you might find a partner that is a better fit for your funeral home situation.

So, even if you have not done so yet.  Think about attending the NFDA National Convention in New Orleans next month.  The NFDA began way back in 1882 just as funeral homes were starting to get organized and it has safeguarded our profession for 142 years since.

If you want to look into attending you can start by clicking here.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”