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About the Episode: The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago October 26th to the 29th. To get ready for the big event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you. In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers.
In this first episode we will hear from the innovation award finalists. The NFDA Innovation Award is sponsored this year by ASD and gives companies and organizations the opportunity to showcase their new product and service ideas designed to enhance the funeral profession and its function. The finalists this year are Afterword, Healing Path Cemetery, and Passare.
Click the logos to learn more about our finalists:
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About Effie from Afterword: Effie Anolik is co‑founder & CEO of Afterword, an AI‑driven platform that automates case management, family communications, and reminders so funeral homes can focus on care, not paperwork. After planning her dad’s funeral in August 2018, she set out to build the intelligent, user‑friendly solution she wished she’d had. Prior to Afterword, Effie worked at Shopify. She’s been featured in Fortune, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, and Business Insider, and has spoken at NFDA, WilbertEDU, and the FTC.
About Jason from Healing Path Cemetery: Jason Troyer, PhD is a grief and ritual expert and the co-founder of the Healing Path Cemetery System. He helps cemeteries and funeral homes promote the value of permanent placement, offer meaningful grief support, and generate new leads through innovative engagement strategies. Dr. Troyer has partnered with hundreds of funeral & cemetery professionals across North America, bringing a unique blend of psychological insight and practical tools. He holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and previously worked as a professor and therapist. Jason lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with his wife and three daughters.
About Josh from Passare: Josh McQueen is the Vice President of Marketing and Product at Directors Investment Group (the parent company of Funeral Directors Life, Passare, and Claimcheck), where he oversees marketing campaign efforts and new technology products, all while helping funeral homes be more innovative.