Disposition Demystified: NFDA’s 2026 Virtual Conference Offers a Deep Dive Into Today’s Emerging Options

Earn up to six CE hours without leaving the funeral home.

Brookfield, Wis. – “I’ve heard about water cremation, but I don’t really know how it works.” “My loved one was a veteran. Is burial at sea possible?” “I want something greener.” “What exactly is natural organic reduction?” “I just want to make the right choice.” 

These are just a few of the real questions families are asking about disposition and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) will address them head-on during its 2026 virtual conference, “Disposition Demystified,” taking place February 17 and 18, 2026. 

This two-day, insight-rich online event will help funeral service professionals deepen their understanding of traditional, emerging and alternative disposition methods. As consumer expectations continue to shift, attendees will gain the clarity and confidence needed to educate families, navigate legal considerations and strengthen their service offerings. 

The virtual conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT each day. Participants will learn from experts who bring practical experience, legal insights and hands-on knowledge of today’s full spectrum of disposition options. 

“Disposition Demystified is designed for any funeral service professional who wants to stay informed, remain competitive and better serve today’s evolving consumers. This virtual format makes it easy and affordable to earn up to six CE hours without leaving your funeral home, while gaining practical knowledge about the rapidly changing disposition landscape,” said Laura Sear, NFDA Director of Education. 

Sessions Include: 

Day One – Tuesday, February 17

• “The Importance of Proper Paperwork” presented by Michael Nicodemus, vice president, cremation services, NFDA: An essential review of documentation practices that protect funeral homes from liability and ensure compliance with cremation and disposition requirements.
• “The U.S. Navy Burial at Sea Program” presented by Dr. Jennifer Lares, CFSP, founder, Mulling Mortician: A detailed look at eligibility, preparation guidelines and ceremonial elements of this meaningful veteran tribute, featuring video footage from an actual ceremony onboard.
• “Meeting Families Where They Are: Alkaline Hydrolysis in Practice” presented by Thomas Tierney, owner and funeral director, John F. Tierney Funeral Home: An accessible walkthrough of water cremation including the science, environmental benefits, common family questions and real-world insights from Connecticut’s first facility to offer it.

Day Two – Wednesday, February 18

• “Green Light on Green Funerals” presented by Darren Crouch, president, Passages International: Explore the growing demand for green alternatives and learn how funeral homes, cemeteries and cremation providers can meet consumer needs while expanding revenue opportunities. Crouch was recently named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list, recognizing 100 global leaders advancing meaningful climate action through innovation and business leadership.
• “Natural Organic Reduction 101” presented by Mandy Stafford, preplanning and partnerships manager, Return Home: A clear, science-based overview of natural organic reduction, including process details, environmental advantages and guidance on confidently discussing it with families.
• “Understanding the Legal Landscape of Alternative Disposition Methods” presented by Chris Farmer, general counsel, NFDA: A timely examination of the regulatory, statutory and compliance issues shaping both traditional and alternative disposition offerings in the U.S.

“Disposition Demystified” will include live discussions and Q&A opportunities with presenters and fellow attendees. The conference will be emceed by Gabe Schauf, a licensed funeral director, program director and instructor with the Milwaukee Area Technical College Mortuary Science Program, and host of the NFDA podcast “A Brush With Death.” 

Funeral service professionals appreciate the high-quality of NFDA’s virtual events. Said one attendee at the 2024 virtual conference, which focused on consumer trends, “This had the same energy, flash and excitement as the Convention. I didn’t think you could make me feel like I was at a national convention while on a webinar, but this was a grand slam!” 

Register Today 

Registration for “Disposition Demystified” is now open. Fees include presentations, handouts and up to six CE hours.

• First registrant from an NFDA-member firm: $285
• First registrant from a nonmember firm: $330
• Additional registrant from the same organization: $215
• Student (accredited mortuary science program): $55

Participants can register at NFDA.org/Virtual or by calling 262-789-1880. Registration closes at 12 p.m. CT on February 16, 2026. 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving more than 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org.

NFDA Expands Gold-Standard Arranger Training With Interactive Virtual Series

New interactive study group format builds on the success of NFDA’s Arranger Training to help funeral professionals better serve today’s families. 

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is expanding its popular Arranger Training program with a new virtual offering designed to meet the evolving needs of funeral professionals. The Arrangement Solutions Academy is a four-week, live instructor-led course that brings real-world solutions, peer learning and expert guidance to your screen. 

Participants will join a 90-minute Zoom session each week with a small cohort of colleagues and NFDA’s expert trainer Lanae Strovers, CFSP. This interactive series will help funeral directors make their business stand out while building relationships with families, conveying value through leadership and delivering memorial experiences that foster healing. 

The inaugural cohorts of the Arrangement Solutions Academy begin in July:

• Wednesday Morning Cohort: July 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. CT
• Thursday Evening Cohort: July 10, 17, 24, and 31, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. CT 

“Arranging a funeral or memorial service isn’t just about logistics; it’s about building a connection with a grieving family,” said Strovers. “This new virtual format for NFDA’s Arranger Training program gives us the chance to dig into the real challenges funeral directors face when working with families and share practical solutions that actually work. Whether you’re new to the profession or have been doing this for years, there’s something powerful about stepping back, hearing how others approach things, and picking up ideas you can use right away.” 

Whether attending virtually or in person, NFDA’s Arranger Training helps both new and seasoned professionals better connect with today’s families by equipping them with tools to:

• Understand family needs: Discover what truly matters to families based on NFDA’s exclusive consumer research.
• Speak their language: Learn how to communicate in ways that resonate and build trust.
• Ask the right questions: Guide meaningful conversations that lead to memorable services. 

NFDA’s Arranger Training offerings include:

• Arrangement Solutions Academy – Four 90-minute live Zoom sessions over four weeks
• Arrangement Skills Masterclass – A day-long, in-person experience with collaborative discussions
• Student Arranger Training Experience – A half-day interactive session tailored for mortuary science students 

No matter the format, every session includes access to NFDA’s highly regarded Arranger Training Workbook, filled with legal guidance, grief resources, communication tools, service design ideas and more. 

“NFDA’s Arranger Training is a must-do for any funeral professional,” said Gene Andrus, CFSP, CCO, of Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Clawson, Michigan. “The interactive training along with the workbook, that you get to keep, will assist you with the tools and ideas to continually build relationships with families and convey the value of what we do each and every day to celebrate life.” 

As the world’s leading funeral service association, NFDA has long been recognized for setting the standard in continuing education. From groundbreaking research to practical skills development, NFDA provides funeral professionals with the tools, insights and training they need to adapt and grow with confidence.

The launch of the Arrangement Solutions Academy is another example of how NFDA is innovating to meet the evolving needs of its members, anytime, anywhere. 

To register for the Arrangement Solutions Academy or any Arranger Training experience, visit NFDA.org/ArrangerTraining or call 800-228-6332 (262-789-1880). 

About NFDA

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org.

Finding Mentorship: Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in February

WHEELING, IL—Funeral service is a career of long, emotion-filled days and nights and never-ending challenges. Fortunately, it’s also a career filled with professionals who willingly share their experiences and can offer guidance for moving forward. On February 18, Funeral Professional Peer Support (FPPS) and the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) host a peer support meeting facilitated by Jeff Holcomb. The discussion will center around the valuable role of a mentor in helping funeral service employees to navigate the profession.

Jeff Holcomb is a New York State-licensed funeral director with over 44 years of experience in funeral service. In 2006, he founded Continuing Vision, which expanded to support a mentorship program in 2022 to honor the memory of his son Brian. Brian, a funeral director himself, often shared meaningful conversations with Jeff about their work and how to navigate the challenges of the profession. After Brian’s passing, Jeff created this program to keep their connection alive by mentoring and supporting the next generation of funeral professionals.

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.

Join Jeff to share your own experiences with mentorship and offer support to your colleagues. Connect with your fellow funeral professional peers on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT via Zoom link at cremationassociation.org/peersupport. No registration is required, simply follow the link to join.

About Funeral Professional Peer Support

Funeral Professional Peer Support Group is committed to providing support, healing, education and knowledge to funeral professionals. They promote wholeness and wellness by uniting funeral sector professionals through a Canada-wide network of regional organizations offering support, information and resources within their community.

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.

Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in October

WHEELING, IL— For many of us, October means changing leaves, crisp weather and crisper apples, and football… but it also means school (and sniffles) are back in session, fewer hours of sunshine, and a fast-approaching holiday season. It’s also a fine time to take a moment to chat about work, life, and finding a balance in funeral service. Join the virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT to share what’s on your mind this month and how we can care for ourselves and each other in the months to come.

Open to everyone across the funeral service, virtual peer support meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month. It’s a perfect space for funeral professionals to share their experiences and exchange advice and support on topics ranging from working with difficult bosses to dealing with the pressures at home. You’ll come away realizing you’re not alone and your stories are common across borders and job titles.

Inspired by pumpkin spiced everything, longer evenings, chilly weather, and candy snuck from the treat bowl, October is the perfect time to talk about taking the good with the bad and getting the support we need for the season ahead. Join the monthly peer support meeting.

This month, we will host an open forum for discussion on any topic. All are given space to share their stories, but, because respectful listening can also be beneficial, no one will be “called on” to contribute. Even if you don’t have a pressing issue to discuss, the meetings are a valuable place to offer support, too. You can find a community of peers and share your own experience as a means to assist others.

Connect with your fellow funeral professional peers on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT via Zoom link at cremationassociation.org/peersupport. No registration is required, simply follow the link to join.

About Funeral Professionals Peer Support

Funeral Professionals Peer Support Group is committed to providing support, healing, education and knowledge to funeral professionals. They promote wholeness and wellness by uniting funeral sector professionals through a Canada-wide network of regional organizations offering support, information and resources within their community.

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.