ICCFA Announces Keynote Speakers For 2016 Annual Convention

Funeral Industry News Funeral Industry Press Releases September 23, 2015
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ICCFA Announces Keynote Speakers For 2016 Annual Convention

STERLING, VA (September 23, 2015) – A renowned chef, one of the best-selling authors of all time, a Fortune 500 communications consultant and the president of AARP will be the keynote speakers at the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association’s Annual Convention & Exposition, April 13-16, 2016, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Keynote speakers include:

KEN BLANCHARD, Co-author, The One Minute Manager and The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do, on “The Secret”: The Secret of great leaders is one that might baffle many. But basically, a great leader serves his/her followers. Through this program, you will discover and explore the five fundamental ways a manager leads through service: see the future, engage and develop others, reinvent continuously, value results and relationships, and embody values. In understanding these simple principles, you will benefit yourself, your organization and those that look to you for guidance.

 

JOHN BESH, Award-winning chef, entrepreneur and restaurateur, on “The Recipe for Success”: It’s been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated a 200-square-mile swath of the gulf coast, including one of America’s cultural jewel cities, New Orleans. The city has always been one of the most thrilling culinary epicenters in America (maybe even the world), but it took that serious storm to get much of the rest of the country to stop taking it for granted—thanks in part to tireless rebuilding efforts of a huge community, not least among them chef John Besh. Over the last decade, Besh has served as an unofficial culinary ambassador for the Crescent City, opening a diverse group of restaurants representing all facets of its gastronomic identity, publishing cookbooks that double as love letters to Louisiana, and starting some major charitable endeavors to preserve and support the foodways of the Louisiana bayou. In this session, Besh will discuss his journey from Louisiana native son to U.S. Marine to chef and entrepreneur. He’ll share what he thinks are some keys to success in the challenging and ruthless world of restaurateurs.

RYAN ESTIS, Fortune 500 company Communications Consultant, on “The Communication Revolution: Driving Growth Through Social Business”: The world of work is changing. In this session, Ryan Estis will explore the ongoing evolution in how we connect, communicate and collaborate to accomplish meaningful work. Global, economic, generational and technological changes have left us with new expectations about how work should happen. As a result, the traditional approach to workplace productivity and performance isn’t working. This keynote presentation examines how progressive companies are staying ahead of the competition and responding to these changes by making their business more social. Estis prepares participants to leverage the social revolution and get connected to compete in the new world of work.

JEANNINE ENGLISH, President of AARP, on “Health, Wealth & Self”: AARP believes that there are three tenets for positively growing older: health, wealth and self. These values can empower people to live independently and take control of their lives, including their end-of-life decisions. Jeannine English will discuss these ideas and tie them in with how they apply—and what AARP advocates—in regards to pre-need planning, palliative care, hospice and celebration of life.

The ICCFA Convention combines a mix of general sessions on cutting-edge management topics with a slate of breakout sessions on specific operational and sales issues. The three-day Expo offers your best opportunity of the year to meet face-to-face with supplier reps and examine the newest products and services available. Full program details will be announced this fall at www.iccfaconvention.com.

 

Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization profession. Its membership is composed of more than 9,100 rooftop locations and 18,000 professionals in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.