Monday, July 29
8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Check in
9:00 a.m. Tee Times
TPC Sawgrass
Join us for the most prestigious golf outing in NFDA’s history at the 2024 Leadership Conference. Play the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass – home of The Players Championship. This is the same course that PGA tour pros play every March. As an added incentive, NFDA has negotiated over $250 worth of extras for each player. You won’t find another opportunity to play TPC Sawgrass with these bonuses.
Golf is sold out but you can
click here to join the waiting list.
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Badge Pick Up
Ponte Vedra West Lobby
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
PAC Tailgate (Invitation-only NFDA Member event)
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club West Lawn
Get ready to tailgate like a pro with hot dogs, sliders and prizes at this invitation-only event to help raise money for the NFDA PAC.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club West Lawn
Join us for cocktails, light appetizers and the opportunity to network with new and familiar faces.
Sponsored by: 
Tuesday, July 30
7:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Registration
Conference Center Lobby
7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Conference Center Lobby
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Ballroom
Douglas R. “Dutch” Nie, II, CFSP, CCO, NFDA Board President
NFDA Business
Ballroom
Meet the Candidates: 2024-2026 At-Large Representative Candidates
8:15 – 9:00 a.m.
Advocacy Session
Ballroom
An Update on the EPA and the Fate of Formaldehyde
Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, NFDA Senior Vice President, Advocacy
Get the latest news from NFDA’s lobbyist, Lesley Witter. She’ll give you the latest scoop on what’s going on with EPA, Formaldehyde and any other breaking news.
(1 CE hour)
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Break
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Keynote Speaker
Ballroom
Unstoppable Leadership
Alex Weber famed American Ninja Warrior, leadership and peak performance expert.
Unstoppable Leadership begins with your unwavering commitment to yourself, your vision, and everyone you touch. But with this immense hunger for success comes immense pressure, challenges, and internal adversity. Alex deep-dives on the actionable principles of what it takes to be an Unstoppable Leader. For yourself, and all those you lead.
Alex shares lessons and empowering stories from being one of the youngest coaches ever to win US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, setting achievement records, and winning championships in his very first season of coaching - as well as uncommon & incredible stories from Leaders in the world. Alex honestly and openly talks about the challenges we face as Leaders not only in our careers, but in our relationships and personal lives too. Alex shows you how to navigate the external obstacles, internal roadblocks, and interpersonal dynamics that come with peak Leadership - especially how to best handle difficult personalities. A leader is only as successful as the people you lead, and we need to create a shared vision, cultivate a true bond centered upon trust, and activate our members to take positive action with our unified goals.
There is not one archetype for a Leader, and we will identify, cultivate, and channel you to be your Unstoppable Leader. A leader that sets the tone for a culture of positivity, passion, and perseverance. This Keynote is perfect for Leaders of all experience-level who are ready to ignite a new season of achievement for themselves, and the people they lead!
Key Takeaways:
- How to build a meaningful bond with your teams, align goals to maximize performance, and cultivate further progress even in the most difficult of times.
- A nuanced approach for dealing with difficult personalities while creating an “Us” mentality.
- How to foster and sustain strong mental health as a Leader for consistent and long-lasting success.
- Calling upon personal lessons of being the youngest to win US Lacrosse Coach of the Year to being an Award-Winning Host & Competitor on American Ninja Warrior.
- Leaders leave on fire to be catalysts for peak achievement for themselves, and the people they lead!
(1 CE hour)
The first 200 participants will receive a complimentary copy of Alex's book, Fail Proof: Become the Unstoppable You.
Sponsored by: 
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Breakouts by Office
These are breakout discussion sessions for officers and state executive directors. During these facilitated sessions, participants from each state have the chance to discuss issues important to their position and their association. There are separate simultaneous sessions for presidents, presidents-elect, secretaries/treasurers, past presidents and state executive directors. Participation in each session is for those who are currently in or are transitioning into those roles.
- Presidents - Silver Sand Dollar 2
- Vice Presidents - Stockton A
- Secretaries/Treasurer - Lagoon 2
- Past Presidents - Stockton B
- State Executives - Lagoon 1
If none of these positions apply to you, you MAY still participate as a "trailblazer" and you may join the past presidents session.
(1.5 CE hours)
Wednesday, July 31
7:00 - 10:45 a.m.
Registration
Conference Center Lobby
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Conference Center Lobby
8:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Association Management Session
Ballroom
Empowering Success: Strengthening Governance & Volunteer Engagement in Your Organization
William Pawlucy, CAE, MPA, IOM, Founder and President of Association Options
Join us for a transformative workshop designed to elevate your organization's effectiveness through sound governance structures and strengthened volunteer relationships. Discover actionable strategies for building a robust governance framework that ensures organizational success at every level, while enhancing volunteer involvement to foster a collaborative and empowered community. This session will guide you through the essential elements of governance, from reviewing key documents to nurturing strong, supportive connections with your volunteers, setting the stage for a thriving organizational ecosystem.
(1.25 CE hours)
There will be 200 complimentary copies of William Pawlucy's book, The Essential Handbook for Nonprofit Leaders, distributed between his two association management sessions.
Sponsored by: 
9:15 - 10:00 a.m.
Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care for Funeral Directors
Ballroom
Kristina Rose, Director at Office for Victims of Crime, US Department of Justice
Vicarious trauma is an occupational challenge for funeral directors and other individuals working in the funeral services profession, due to their continuous exposure to victims of trauma and violence. Reactions to trauma exposure can include disruptions in thinking and changes in beliefs about one's sense of self, one's safety in the world, and the goodness and trustworthiness of others; as well as shifts in spiritual beliefs. Individuals may also exhibit symptoms that can have detrimental effects, both professionally and personally. This session will further define vicarious trauma, walk participants through OVC’s Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, and offer information about how to become a trauma-informed organization.
(1 CE hour)
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Foundational Spokesperson Training
Ballroom
Tracey Madigan, Director of the 15 Minutes Group
You're a leader in your field and you are respected as a subject matter expert. The public could benefit from understanding more about your firm and the funeral profession — and we want you to feel comfortable speaking on panels, podcasts and in media interviews. Former reporter and producer Tracey Madigan will show you how to seize more opportunities to be heard.
You will learn:
- What print, radio, and television journalists are looking for in an interview
- How to be informative on subjects that are sensitive
- How to craft compelling soundbites that are concise
- Body language and appearance best practices
- How to control an interview with bridging techniques and specific language
(1.25 CE hours)
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Voting for At-large NFDA 2024-26 Board of Directors Candidates
Ballroom
This is an open session; however, only designated state association representatives are eligible to vote.
1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Association Management (optional session)
Tarpon
Value Propositions to Member Engagement: Navigating the Essentials
William Pawlucy, CAE, MPA, IOM, Founder and President of Association Options
Dive deep into the essentials of crafting compelling value propositions and engaging members effectively in this focused workshop. This session provides a holistic toolkit for not only developing but also delivering a value proposition that resonates deeply with members, ensuring your organization's distinct presence in a competitive environment.
(1.5 CE hours)
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Leadership Luau Closing Party (optional ticketed event)
Surf Club Patio at Ponte Vedra
Join us for a Luau-themed extravaganza which includes dancers, a fire/knife thrower, a full dinner buffet, open bar, music, and an hour-long show.
We're bringing the "Aloha Spirit" to Ponte Vedra Beach. Tiki bars, Tiki huts, lei-greeters...we have it all!
Thursday, August 1
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Registration
Conference Center Lobby
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Conference Center Lobby
8:00 – 8:15 a.m.
Introduction
Ballroom
Douglas R. “Dutch” Nie, II, CFSP, CCO, NFDA Board President
8:15 – 9:00 a.m.
Legal Update
Ballroom
NFDA Legal and Advocacy Update
Chris Farmer, NFDA Legal Counsel
Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, NFDA Senior Vice President, Advocacy
Hear from NFDA's Legal Counsel, Chris Farmer on legal information and advocacy updates from NFDA's Lobbyist, Lesley Witter that impact you and the funeral profession.
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Break
9:15 – 10:45 a.m.
Workforce & Succession Planning Panel Discussion
Ballroom
Intentional Retention & Succession Planning
Panelists:
Carmalita March-Harris – March Funeral Homes
Leili McMurrough - Worsham College
Andrew Allman – Ohio Funeral Directors Association
Jake Johnson - Johnson Consulting Group
Moderator:
Chris Cruger - Foresight Companies
Recruiting and retaining funeral service staff and planning for the future to continue to be on everyone's mind. We'll tackle the issues and hear ideas from many perspectives. Questions will also be solicited in advance to cover topics that are of the greatest interest to participants.
(1.5 CE hours)
10:45 – 11 a.m.
Closing Remarks
Ballroom
Douglas R. “Dutch” Nie, II, CFSP, CCO, NFDA President
Earn up to 10 CEs at this year’s Leadership Conference. Use the MY NFDA app to scan for CE credits after each session.