Convention Breakout Sessions

Wednesday, April 30

11:00am-11:50am
10 Books Every Funeral Home Should Have in Their Library (and why you should have a library)
Presented by Jessica Mourjouros of Healing Hearts Connection
1 Professional Practices CEU

If your funeral home doesn’t have a library yet, what are you waiting for? In this session, we’ll dive into the why’s and how’s of adding books to your funeral home, and how they can give your business a competitive edge. We’ll provide a list of book recommendations for all ages, along with some budget-friendly digital options to share with the people you serve.

11:00am-11:50am
What to Expect When You’re Inspected!
Presented by Carlena Weiland and Sarah Schmidt of MDH Mortuary Science Evaluation Team
1 Regulations & Ethics CEU

Why leave your Inspection to chance or surprise?  This session will introduce you to the Mortuary Science Evaluation team and explore the routine inspections conducted by the MN Dept. of Health.  Information will be presented to improve the understanding of the process, expectations, and the most common violations that occur. 

3:30pm-4:30pm
OSHA Training
Presented by Mark Arnold
1 OSHA Training/1 Body Prep or Regulations & Ethics CEU / 1 Transfer Care Specialist CEU

Thursday, May 1

1:00pm-1:50pm

AI in Funeral Service: Practical Ways to Boost Productivity, Creativity, and Profit

Presented by Mitchell McLean of Funeral Directors Life
1 Professional Practices CEU

Explore how AI can simplify your daily tasks and transform your funeral home. You'll discover real-world examples of AI tools that help your team save time, create personalized memorial experiences, and improve your marketing strategies. Learn straightforward methods for using AI to analyze financial data, streamline operations, and increase profitability. This session provides actionable insights to integrate AI effectively into your funeral service today

1:00pm-1:50pm
Disaster Planning
Presented by Federated Insurance
1 Professional Practices CEU

The cornerstone of every strong risk management plan is preparing for unexpected events, such as fires, severe weather, losses of key staff members, power outages, and more. Disaster Planning will focus on steps a business should take to help expedite recovery and resume serving customers as quickly as possible. This presentation covers operations, employees, key contacts, IT resources, finances, and more as essential considerations for a proper plan.

2:00pm-2:50pm
Funeral Service Regulations and Ethics:  A Crash Course on MN Stat 149A
Presented by Michael Sharkey of Sharkey Law and MFDA General Counsel
1 Regulations & Ethics CEU / 1 Transfer Care Specialist CEU

This session will review and analyze the most important aspects of MN Stat 149A (often called Minnesota’s “Funeral Rule”) that confront funeral directors in their everyday practice.  There will be a review of the regulatory aspects of 149A and a discussion of the new NOR rules. Further, Atty Sharkey will discuss transfer care specialists, their limited roles, and the portions of 149A that impact TCS work.  Finally, there will be a review of the most recent ethical issues confronting funeral directors as they practice their craft.

2:00pm-2:50pm
What We Have Learned From You about Funeral Service
Presented by Bruce Matza and Chad Weinstein, MFDA Leadership Academy Instructors
1 Professional Practices CEU

The needs and experiences of funeral directors have shaped the MFDA Leadership Academy curriculum.  The academy instructors share some of the lessons we have learned together.  This session will get people thinking, talking, laughing, and learning.

Topics Include:

• Some necessary conversations are hard. We now teach how to build moral courage to meet those moments of truth.
• Even the best of us make mistakes. We now teach how to turn mistakes into learning and stronger relationships.
  Some consumers only seem to care about price. We now teach Managing the Price-Conscious Consumer.
• Your profession is demanding. To support their commitment to holistic wellness, we now teach Ethical Wellness.
• The funeral director wears many hats. We now teach how to best communicate in those modes with Six Thinking Hats.

3:00pm-4:00pm – Elm Creek
OSHA Training
Presented by Mark Arnold
1 OSHA Training/1 Body Prep or Regulations & Ethics CEU / 1 Transfer Care Specialist CEU

View Keynote Speakers and Descriptions HERE

----->Back to Schedule page

----->Back to Convention page