ICCFA Wraps Up 2024 Leadership Summit, Unveils Exciting Changes for 2025

STERLING, Va. (Nov. 6, 2024) – The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) recently concluded its 2024 Leadership Summit, held Oct. 15-17 at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. With 120 deathcare professionals in attendance, the summit provided hands-on learning, growth and networking opportunities.

Summit Highlights

The 2024 Leadership Summit featured transformative sessions designed to equip leaders with innovative insights and tools:

• Educational Excellence: Christie Pink of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center facilitated “A Culture of Excellence: Building Success from Within,” captivating attendees with strategies to elevate employee engagement and customer experience.
• Brave Leadership: Executive coach Kristi Mallory presented “Brave Leadership Through Boundaries and Beyond,” which focused on empathetic, resilient leadership.
• Advocacy and Legal Updates: The Government & Legal Affairs Committee shared critical updates on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the deathcare profession.

Networking and Social Events

Attendees enjoyed a range of networking events, including:

• A golf tournament at Brackenridge Park.
• A wine tasting featuring local selections from Becker Vineyards.
• An open discussion hosted by the Women in Leadership (WIL) Committee following the wine tasting, open to all attendees.
• A tour of Mission Park Funeral Chapels, Cemeteries, and Crematories offered insights into the historic and modern practices of San Antonio’s oldest family-owned cemetery.

Scholarship Winner Testimonial

The ICCFA Educational Foundation awarded scholarships to emerging leaders to attend the summit. Pierce Dempsey, a scholarship recipient from Leaf Cremation, shared his experience: 

“Attending the ICCFA Leadership Summit was a fantastic experience, packed with insights and real connections. Hearing from Christie Pink from The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center was especially inspiring—she had incredible insight into delivering top-notch service with organizational excellence. Beyond the presentations, the best part was probably the group discussions. Sitting down with other owners and leaders, we shared challenges and swapped solutions, learning directly from each other’s experiences. It was also a great chance to connect with others in the industry and build relationships that I know will be valuable going forward. Overall, it was time well spent with people who get what we do and want to make it better.”

DEAD Talks Returns to Las Vegas

ICCFA is excited to announce the return of DEAD Talks, the annual sales conference scheduled for Feb. 4-6, 2025, at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. DEAD Talks will feature:

• Keynote Speaker: Matthew Pollard, an internationally recognized consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur known for his expertise in rapid business growth. Founder of Rapid Growth LLC, Pollard has built five multimillion-dollar businesses and transformed over 3,500 small businesses. He is the bestselling author of The Introvert’s Edge and has been featured on FOX, NBC and top podcasts.
• Keynote Speaker: Arthur Sarkissian, an experienced Learning and Development professional and founder of Here and Now Consulting. Sarkissian brings over 12 years of global leadership experience with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and specializes in Convergence Executive Coaching. He helps senior leaders unlock team potential, manage stress triggers, and build high-performing teams. His keynote will offer insights into fostering resilient teams and driving organizational success.
• Latest Trends: Insights into recent innovations shaping the industry.
• Networking Opportunities: Connections with peers and industry experts.
• Actionable Takeaways: Practical strategies for immediate impact on sales and growth.

Announcing “The ICCFA Experience” – A New Approach for 2025

In April 2025, ICCFA will debut “The ICCFA Experience,” a reimagined Annual Convention & Expo, April 15-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Highlights include:

• Extended Expo Hours: More time to explore industry innovations.
• Educational Sessions in the Expo Hall: Interactive learning experiences on the expo floor.
• Keynote Speaker: Clint Pulver, a renowned speaker, author and workplace culture expert known for his motivational insights into employee retention and engagement. Known as “The Undercover Millennial,” Pulver has inspired audiences globally by helping leaders create workplaces where people stay not out of obligation but because they want to. His keynote will offer strategies to foster engagement, trust and a purpose-driven workplace.

Attendees can expect a revitalized event with fresh content and insights tailored to the deathcare profession.

Save the Date: 2025 Leadership Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee

The 2025 Leadership Summit is scheduled for Oct. 21-23 at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. The summit promises more transformative sessions, networking and professional development.

For more details on ICCFA’s upcoming events, visit https://iccfa.com/iccfa-events. ICCFA looks forward to welcoming attendees to DEAD Talks, The ICCFA Experience and the Leadership Summit in Knoxville.

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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization segments. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, supplier and related businesses worldwide.