• Trey Morgan, President & CEO — The Morgan Companies
• Michael Schimmel, CEO — Sympathy Brands

How are consumer motives, behaviors, and understandings changing how cemeteries evolve and adapt? Panelists will discuss the tools driving this shift: technology for the ground, technology for the gravestone, and technology for the sale, and how this innovation will change what cemeteries look like over the next 30 years.

• Ashlinn Goodman, Director of Cemetery Sales — SNL
• Jennifer Blakeley, Founder/Owner — Life's QR
• Mark Kittnar, Chief Operating and Information Officer — Sympathy Brands

This conversation takes a data-driven approach to explore what families value most, what gets in the way of planning, and how greater clarity, flexibility, and accessibility can strengthen both the family experience and the future of the profession. Based on recent research conducted by FDLIC and Passare, this fireside chat will reveal the study's most compelling findings and explore practical opportunities to better align what the profession provides with what today's families actually need.

• George Owens, Owner — Fortitude / Guidant
• Drew Seale, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer  — FDLIC

Discussing common complications for owner-operated and non-owner-operated relationships.

• Michael Schimmel, CEO — Sympathy Brands
• Anthony Kaniuk, — NFDA 

What does it take to build a successful cremation business without racing to the bottom on price? This session covers how to support successful cremation sales without competing purely on price.Topics include levels of service that meet families where they are; the reality behind cremation demand; and how funeral directors can demonstrate value and guide families toward meaningful service and memorial options for all price points.

• Carlton Maye, Jr., MBA, CFSP, CCO, General Partner — Serenity Funeral Home & Cremations, 2024-26 At-Large Representative, National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors
• Mandy Stafford, Preneed and National Partnership Manager — Return Home
• Philip Flores, Jr., Founder — Cremation by Water
• Jenni Bryant — Smith Funeral & Cremation Service (Maryville, TN) and Creamation by Grandview (Maryville, TN)

This session examines how technology is changing preneed service delivery, including GPL transparency and pricing sensitivity, closing the merchandise gap between cremation and burial sales, and marketing to both digital-native and traditional direct-mail consumers.

• Beau Jarrell, Owner — Fintra
• Cole Waybright, Vice President of Sales Operations — Homesteaders Life Company
• Lindsay Granson. COO — Heritage Family
• Lacey Serrago, Marketing Agency Director — Tribute Tech

Ingenuity and innovation from B2C and B2B. Explore innovative products addressing changing consumer behaviors in the funeral home and cemetery space through product, service, and packaging. Billy and The Sharks will discuss how to guide funeral home owners toward adopting these offerings,including follow-up support for consumer education. This session will top off with an AMA!

• Billy Eaton, Vice President, Strategic and National Accounts — Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
• Adelle Archer, Co-CEO & Co-Founder — Eterneva
• Justin Crowe, Founder/CEO — Parting Stone