For Immediate Release: December 2, 2024

Brookfield, Wis. – Registration is now open for the 2025 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Professional Women’s Conference, a premier event designed to empower female funeral service professionals. The conference will take place May 15-18, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. This intimate event, limited to 165 attendees, offers transformative educational sessions, invaluable networking opportunities and strategies tailored to the unique challenges women face in the funeral profession. The Funeral Service Foundation will offer 20 all-inclusive David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships to make this event even more accessible.

Designed by and for women, the conference aims to celebrate their vital contributions to funeral service while equipping them with tools for personal and professional growth. During this inspiring and uplifting conference, attendees will hear from exceptional speakers scovering a wide range of topics:

• Turning Setbacks into Comebacks: MINDSET OF CHAMPIONS presented by Dawn D. Tryba, MBA, CPMBC, CMC, PMP, coach and management consultant
• Balancing Grief, Family Dynamics and Financial Conversations in Funeral Service presented by NFDA Trainer and licensed funeral director Lanae Strovers 
• The Art of Self-Reflection: Harnessing the Power of YOU presented by Tina Paulus-Krause coach, visionary leader and catalyst
• Integrating AI in Human Resource Systems: Legal Considerations and Ongoing Training Strategies presented by Vice President, SESCO Management Consultants Jamie Hasty 
• Creative Applications: A New Approach for Mastering the Prep-Room and Beyond presented by Autumn Cooper, a sales representative with The Dodge Company
• From Awareness to Action: Advocacy for Impact presented by NFDA Senior Vice President, Advocacy Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE 
• And more! 

Engaging Discussions and Networking

Professional Women’s Conference attendees will kick off their time together with a Welcome Party that captures the spirit of the southwestern United States. While enjoying complimentary food and drink, guests will experience a fun-filled evening of lively conversation and building bonds with colleagues. The Welcome Party is generously sponsored by NGL. 

Professional Women’s Conference participants will also have the option of participating in a tour of Passages International headquarters and dinner. This unique "behind the scenes" tour will explore how Passages’ sustainable and eco-friendly funeral solutions products are made and the value they bring to grieving families, funeral homes and the planet. Tour participants will also have a chance to meet with members of Passages’ team while enjoying complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Following the tour, participants will enjoy dinner and continued networking at a well-known local New Mexican restaurant.

There are countless other opportunities to build relationships with fellow funeral service professionals during the Professional Women’s Conference. “This was an incredible experience,” said one 2024 Professional Women’s Conference participant. “I am so grateful that NFDA creates this space for women to connect and support one another. The atmosphere is unmatched to any other event I’ve ever been to.”

Another 2024 attendee noted, “Every woman in the funeral profession should seek the opportunity to attend a Professional Women’s Conference at least once.”

Scholarship Opportunities

Thanks to the generosity of the Baue Family, the Funeral Service Foundation is offering up to 20 David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships to funeral professionals and students to attend this year’s event. The scholarships cover registration and event fees, three-nights lodging, and up to $500 in travel reimbursement.

Applicants must be verifiably employed in funeral service or related occupations or be a student in good standing and currently attending classes at an ABSFE- or Canadian-accredited institution or program; NFDA membership is not required. Complete requirements and the application form are available online at FuneralServiceFoundation.org/Scholarship-Opportunities. Applications will be accepted from December 2, 2024, through January 15, 2025. 

“I will forever be grateful to the Funeral Service Foundation for the scholarship award and the opportunity to attend this amazing event, which will change the trajectory of my career,” said one 2024 scholarship recipient. “I truly left [the conference] feeling empowered and with a whole new network of colleagues.”

Inspiration Award

During the 2025 Professional Women’s Conference, the association will confer the third annual NFDA Inspiration Award. This award will recognize an exceptional individual who has made noteworthy professional contributions to funeral service or a related field. 

Nominations for the NFDA Inspiration Award will be accepted online from January 15 through February 16, 2025. The ideal nominee is an enterprising individual who consistently takes the initiative to elevate the funeral service profession. The nominee serves as a mentor to colleagues and their energy and independent spirit serve as an example to others. Their efforts have resulted in significant accomplishments at the local, national and/or international level.

Complete details are available at NFDA.org/InspirationAward. NFDA is grateful to NGL for sponsoring the Inspiration Award. 

Conference Registration Is Now Open

Registration for the 2025 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference is now open. Participants can save when they register by the early-bird deadline of February 14, 2025. Attendees must register for the 2025 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference by May 5, 2025. Registration is limited to just 165 participants.

NFDA has negotiated a generous discounted rate of $249 plus taxes and fees per night, and waived the resort fee, at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa. This luxury resort located just 30 minutes from the Albuquerque International Airport in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. Whether conference participants want to enjoy a scenic horseback ride, a round of golf at the on-site course, lounging by the pool or receiving a service at the Tamaya Mist Spa & Salon, this resort has it all. When dinnertime rolls around, guests have several onsite restaurants to choose from. 

In order to receive the exclusive NFDA rate at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, you need to register for the Professional Women’s Conference. Your registration confirmation email will contain a special link that can be used to book a hotel room. 

Participants can find complete details about the 2025 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference and register online at NFDA.org/PWC, or by calling 800-228-6332 (262-789-1880).

About NFDA

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