For Immediate Release: May 4, 2018

Brookfield, Wis. – Passionate volunteers serving on boards, committees and work groups help strengthen state and national funeral service associations. Funeral professionals who want to enhance their leadership skills to make a positive difference in their associations and the profession should attend the 2018 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Leadership Conference, which will take place July 8-11 at the spectacular Omni Park Grove Inn in Asheville, N.C.

Making his return to the NFDA Leadership Conference is respected association management expert Bob Harris, who will speak on Board Roles and Goals: Development and Strategic Direction. Actor and entertainer Mark Lindquist, fresh off a lauded appearance at the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference, will bring his inspiring message to Leadership Conference attendees with his presentation Passion! 8 Steps to Reignite Yours.

Earlier this year, the Funeral Service Foundation launched its Youth & Funerals initiative to equip funeral service professionals with tools to navigate the deeply personal question, “Should my child attend the funeral?” During the Leadership Conference a panel of experts – Joe Primo, CEO of Good Grief; Brad Speaks, Funeral Service Foundation Trustee and President of Speaks Family Legacy Chapels; and Vicky Jay, CEO of the National Alliance for Grieving Children – will explore the topic of youth and funerals and how the funeral profession can better support families when a loved one has died.

The Leadership Conference wouldn’t be complete without the popular “Breakout by Office” discussions during which association officers and executives talk about challenges they face in their roles and share strategies for success. Attendees will also hear about proposed changes to the NFDA Bylaws that members will vote on during the association’s elections in August and about what it takes to serve on the NFDA Board of Directors.

During the Smokey Mountain Soiree, attendees will enjoy the best of what Asheville has to offer. With the Smokey Mountains serving as a spectacular backdrop, guests will savor regional cuisine from the Tar Heel State while listening to funky jazz music. Local artisans and craftspeople will showcase their distinctive creations – a perfect opportunity for attendees to purchase a one-of-a-kind souvenir to remember their time in North Carolina. (Optional event; ticket required.)

Before the Leadership Conference starts, attendees can join colleagues for a round of golf at the Grove Park Golf Course. This legendary 6,400-yard championship course has been played by PGA stars Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. This spectacular course features tree-lined fairways and extraordinary views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. (Optional event; registration required.)

In addition to valuable educational programs, attendees will have plenty of time to explore Asheville. NFDA is organizing tours and excursions for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday afternoon. Details will be posted to the Leadership Conference webpage, www.nfda.org/leadership, as soon as they are available.

Attendees can register for the Leadership Conference online at nfda.org/leadership or by calling NFDA at 800-228-6332.

Classic comfort meets modern convenience at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn. Celebrating more than 100 years of service excellence, the staff at this beautiful resort is ready and waiting to welcome you with unmatched Southern hospitality. NFDA has secured a limited number of rooms at The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., for a discounted rate of $284 plus tax. This rate includes the resort charge, which gives you the access to in-room high-speed internet access, entrance to the fitness center, and a guided history tour of The Omni Grove Park Inn. Attendees should visit the Leadership Conference web page, www.nfda.org/leadership, to make reservations. The deadline for making hotel reservations is June 4.

For complete details about the 2018 NFDA Leadership Conference, visit www.nfda.org/leadership or call 800-228-6332.

The Leadership Conference will immediately be followed by the NFDA Business Conference, taking place July 11-13 at the Omni Grove Park Inn. During this highly interactive conference, attendees will learn from top national authorities who will help them make sense of their funeral home’s financial picture. They will also discover how to interpret and analyze financial statements; manage cash flow and expenses; consider acquisitions; learn key exit planning strategies to enjoy a fulfilling retirement; and so much more. More information about the Business Conference can be found online at www.nfda.org/businessconference.

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.

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Contact: Jessica Koth, 262-814-1536, jkoth@nfda.org