Committees & Groups

The NFDA Advocacy Committee is responsible for analyzing federal legislative and regulatory issues and recommending policy positions that support and advance the interests of the association, funeral directors and funeral service to the NFDA Board of Directors.

As a member of the Advocacy Committee, you are expected to promote NFDA’s advocacy efforts as well as NFDA’s Political Action Committee (PAC).  Committee members are expected to offer their knowledge and expertise on NFDA’s legislative and regulatory priorities and concerns to the membership and to encourage members to contribute to the PAC and communicate with their federal legislators and regulators. 

Composition: The Advocacy Committee is comprised of the President, President-elect, Treasurer and at least ten (10) NFDA Individual Members

Purposes: The purposes of the Advocacy Committee are as follows:

• To monitor and review all legislative and regulatory actions of the government which impact in any respect funeral consumers, funeral service and/or NFDA Members.
• To recommend to the Board of Directors positions and appropriate actions for NFDA to pursue on legislative and regulatory issues for the betterment of funeral consumers, funeral service and/or NFDA Members.
• To coordinate funding for and contributions by the NFDA Political Action Committee.
• To monitor and implement strategic action plans for the Advocacy Program of NFDA.

Meetings: The committee meets annually in person or virtually as designated by the Chair. More often if necessary.

Appointment: Each member of the Advocacy Committee shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Lesley Witter, SVP, Advocacy

The Leadership Development Committee is comprised of the outgoing Immediate Past President, whose term on the Board of Directors just ended, and nine members drawn from: Individual Members, who serve staggered terms, with an understanding of the mission, vision, and values of NFDA.

Purposes: The purposes of the Leadership Development Committee are as follows:

• To identify and cultivate future leaders in cooperation with all other leadership groups at NFDA;
• To review candidate application forms and to interview candidates to determine and present a slate of qualified candidates for election to the Board of Directors;
• To recommend to the Board of Directors the adoption of campaign and elections rules and guidelines; and,
• To monitor candidate compliance with campaign and election rules and guidelines and to report any infractions to the Board of Directors.

Meetings: Meetings are held virtually, and work is conducted via email and phone.

Appointment: Committee members shall be appointed by the President each year and approved by the Board of Directors. The term of the Committee members, except for the outgoing Immediate Past President who shall serve a one-year term as the Chairperson, shall be for three years starting at the conclusion of the Annual Convention. The terms shall be staggered so that three new individual members are appointed each year.

NFDA Staff Contact: Kim Klotz, Sr. Business Systems Analyst

Enforces NFDA’s Code of Professional Conduct. Members are called on to serve as case investigators and arbitrators as needed.

Composition: The Professional Conduct Committee is comprised of at least six NFDA Individual Members, none of which shall be a member of the Board of Directors.

Purposes: The purposes of the Professional Conduct Committee shall be as follows:

• To investigate complaints against Firm Members, Individual Members, Retired Members and Student Members that allege violations of the NFDA Bylaws or the Code of Professional Conduct;
• To resolve the complaints in accordance with the enforcement procedures adopted by NFDA;
• To impose disciplinary measures against Members who are found in violation of the NFDA Bylaws or Code of Professional Conduct including, but not limited to, permanent or conditional termination of membership, suspension of membership, termination or suspension of specific membership benefits, probation with or without conditions, public or private reprimand, or such other measures as are appropriate; and,
• To recommend to the Board of Directors any appropriate modifications to the Code of Professional Conduct or the enforcement procedures.

Meetings: Business of this committee is conducted via email and online.

Appointment: Each member of the Professional Conduct Committee shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Chris Farmer, General Counsel

Oversees annual audit and audit findings by a contracted audit firm; responsible for reviewing internal control procedures; responsible for selecting the contracted audit firm.

Composition: The Audit Task Force is comprised of the NFDA At-Large Board members.

Purposes: Oversees annual audit process by a contracted firm. Reviews completed audit. Responsible for internal control procedures as well as selecting the contracted audit firm.

Meetings: Meets virtually or in-person as necessary.

Appointment: Each member of the Audit Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

This Work Group does not have open volunteer positions.

NFDA Staff Contact: Todd Etheridge, CPA, Controller

Reviews NFDA’s annual budget and proposes any changes necessary to ensure the association is maintaining its fiduciary responsibility to its membership.

Composition: Chaired by the NFDA Treasurer and includes the Board of Directors and NFDA members.

Purpose: Meets annually prior to the convention to review all areas of the NFDA budget and makes recommendations for changes to the proposed budget.

Meetings: Meets virtually or in-person as needed.

Appointment: Each member of the Budget Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Todd Etheridge, CPA, Controller

Reviews all proposals submitted through the annual Call for Presentations for NFDA's International Convention & Expo. Selects workshop topics and speakers to be offered at Convention. The Task Force meets virtually once per year to discuss proposals and make selections.

Composition: The Convention Education Task Force is comprised of 8 to 10 NFDA members, including at least two individuals from the state that is hosting the next NFDA Convention. Usually, the state association executive director and a current or former officer. The current NFDA President serves on the Task Force.

Purposes: Reviews the Call for Presentations for the NFDA's International Convention & Expo. Selects workshop topics and speakers to be offered at the NFDA International Convention & Expo.

Meetings: Meetings are held virtually – usually one meeting per year.

Appointment: Each member of the Convention Education Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Sara Moss, MS, CT, LFD, Associate Director of Education

Assists in the development, update and promotion of the NFDA brand.

Composition: The Marketing/Outreach Task Force Is comprised of NFDA members, vendors and staff who are experts in marketing and branding.

Purposes: Reviewing brand updates, providing expert feedback. Promoting NFDA and the NFDA brand.

Meetings: Meetings are held virtually as needed, and communications are handled via email.

Appointment: Each member of the Marketing/Outreach Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Stephanie Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer

Assists with the administration and promotion of the Pursuit of Excellence program; members are called upon to judge program entries.

Composition: The Pursuit of Excellence Task force is comprised of no more than 15 individuals. All members of the task force must be active participants in the Pursuit of Excellence Award Program; one member of the task force is a liaison from the Board of Directors. Task force members are not eligible for the Best of the Best Award of Richard Myers Pinnacle Award.

Purposes: Assist with the administration and promotion of the Pursuit of Excellence program. Participate in reviewing entries from award program participants and selecting Best of the Best Award and Richard Myers Pinnacle Award recipients.

Other Duties/Expectations:

• Periodically review award criteria and suggest enhancements and changes to reflect high standards for funeral home excellence.
• If attending NFDA International Convention & Expo, attend the All-Star Recognition Ceremony.
• If attending NFDA International Convention & Expo, help staff the Pursuit of Excellence booth to thank award recipients and promote the program to prospective participants.
• Suggest ideas to help enhance program experience for participants.

Meetings: Participate in 1-2 meetings via teleconference/Zoom per year and the review of entries meeting typically takes place at NFDA headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, in mid-August.

Appointment: Each member of the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Jessica Koth, Director of Public Relations

Assists with the development of strategies and tools designed to strengthen recruitment and retention in the funeral service workforce.

Composition: The Workforce Development Task Force is comprised of NFDA members who are committed to helping NFDA recruit more people into the funeral service profession and increase the number of mortuary school graduates who take and pass the national board exam.

Purposes: Members are an important source of information to NFDA and will help NFDA achieve the following goals:

1. Recruit more people into the funeral service profession, both first career and second/third career; provide practitioners with help/resources to do this.
2. Increase the number of mortuary school graduates who take and pass the NBE. Develop resources, including a possible NBE review course, to increase pass rates.

Meetings: Participate in virtual (zoom) meetings three times a year, or as needed. Participate in short surveys or other requests via email in between meetings.

Appointment: Each member of the Workforce Development Task Force shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Carmella Hansen, M.S.Ed, Director of Education

Disaster Response Workgroup Acts as a sounding board and a strategic planner with NFDA during a disaster. 

Composition: The Disaster Response Workgroup is comprised of board members, the CEO, staff and qualified members with mass fatality experience. 

Purposes: Provides assistance during mass fatality planning and estimates support that may be needed in “hot spots”. Continuous and regular discussion during the disaster by the Workgroup allows for fast and actionable decisions, and to be proactive in potential “hot spots”. May review communications or provide messaging suggestions for the funeral service community at large. 

Meetings: Meets virtually as needed.

Appointment: Each member of the Disaster Response Workgroup shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. 

This Workgroup does not have open volunteer positions and is activated as needed. 

NFDA Staff Contact: Lesley Witter, SVP Advocacy

The National Funeral Directors Association and its Global Advisory Group will help ensure bereaved families are served with excellence and compassion by professionalizing our Associates through certification programs, raising service and quality standards, fostering opportunities to exchange ideas and enrich cultural expertise, and fostering a commitment to ethical principles.

Composition: The Global Advisory Group is comprised of not more than 15 representatives from different parts of the world.

Purposes:

• Helping set standards in the NFDA International Certification program
• Discussing various trends in funeral service in each region and to ascertain whether new ideas could be implemented in other parts of the world
• Promoting NFDA membership and attendance at various worldwide funeral shows including the NFDA International Convention and Expo
• Finally for the Chair to present a yearly report to the NFDA Policy Board October meeting along with any recommended actions.

Meetings: The Global Advisory Group holds quarterly ZOOM meetings and meets in person at the NFDA International Convention and Expo, once a year.

Appointment: Each member of the Global Advisory Group shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

This Work group does not have open volunteer positions at this time.

NFDA Staff Contact: Anna Bernfeld, SVP, Membership

The Member Resource Workgroup may be asked to assist with reviewing new books or other resources, assist with contacting non-renewed members, provide feedback on a possible endorsement of a new service or product for members, participate in a focus group.

Composition: The Member Resource Workgroup is comprised of NFDA members.

Purposes: Workgroup members provide a sounding board to NFDA staff on member products and services and assist with membership.

Meetings: The Member Resource Workgroup handles most communication via email. There are no in-person meetings.

Appointment: Each member of the Member Resources Workgroup shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Anna Bernfeld, SVP Membership

Composition: The committee shall be comprised of a total of five members; four members selected from the Board of Directors, one of which shall be appointed chair by the President and the current NFDA CEO.

Purpose: Act as a liaison between the NFDA CEO and the NFDA BOD with varied responsibilities including but not limited to producing and conducting the evaluation of the Board and CEO, and organizational succession planning.

Meetings: Virtual or in person meetings prior to each Board meeting.

Appointment: Each member of the Headquarters Operation Workgroup shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

This Workgroup does not have open volunteer positions.

An advisory group for NFDA’s consumer education initiative, Remembering A Life. Members provide input on programs and events that educate families about the value of a funeral, the value of a funeral director and meaningful ways to remember loved ones.

Composition: The Remembering A Life Marketing/Outreach Committee is comprised of NFDA members who are committed to helping NFDA communicate the value of Remembering A Life resources and information through effective marketing and outreach efforts.

Members of this committee have strong marketing and outreach programs within their own firms, and have an understanding of the effective use of tools such as social media, direct mail, email, community outreach, etc.

Purposes: Members are an important source of information to the NFDA/Remembering A Life Communications department and will help NFDA/Remembering A Life achieve the following goals:

• Communicate with end-of-life professionals and consumers effectively and efficiently via preferred communications vehicles.
• Provide information and resources of benefit to end-of-life professionals and consumers.
• Communicate using language and messaging that resonates with end-of-life professionals and consumers.

Meetings: Participate in quarterly meetings via conference call. Participate in short surveys or other requests via email in between meetings

Appointment: Each member of the Remembering A Life Marketing/Outreach Workgroup shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Gail Marquardt, VP Consumer Engagement

NFDA spokespersons are called upon to speak on behalf of the association to media representatives and other audiences as needed.

Composition: The Spokesperson Team is comprised of members of the NFDA Board of Directors and approximately 15 other association members.

Purposes: NFDA and/or its public relations agency partners work with members of the Spokesperson Team to coordinate interviews with media representatives. NFDA and its agency will work to ensure Spokesperson Team members are as prepared as possible with background information and talking points to help them best represent NFDA and the profession.

Meetings: NFDA offers an annual in-person training for the Board of Directors and Spokesperson Team members who have been on the team two or fewer years; periodically the entire team will be invited to attend in-person refresher training.

Appointment: Each member of the Spokesperson Team Workgroup shall be appointed to a one (1) year term and is appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

NFDA Staff Contact: Jessica Koth, Director of Public Relations