Get Certified by CANA at the Crematory Operations Program
Head to New Orleans to Network, Discover and Profit!
The Cremation Association of North America, in cooperation with Kates-Boylston Publications, will hold a Crematory Operations Certification Program on Dec. 6, 2016, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans.
Whether you’re a crematory operator, funeral director, funeral home owner, manager or a member of the office staff, this program has plenty just for you. Learn how to:
- Operate a cremator safely and effectively.
- Avoid lawsuits by enforcing rock-solid procedures.
- Evaluate third-party operators and minimize risk.
- Work with local agencies and regulators.
Thomas A. Parmalee, executive director of Kates-Boylston Publications, emphasizes that the program isn’t just for crematory operators and technicians. “It’s just as important for owners and managers to attend,” he said. “The increasing cremation rate poses business challenges for everyone, and knowing how to avoid lawsuits tied to improper crematory management is becoming more important by the day.”
The redesigned program includes input from multiple manufacturers and more information for owners, managers, funeral directors and operators. Speakers include:
Chris Farmer is the former general counsel of the Cremation Association of North America who in 2015 founded The Farmer Firm, a growing legal practice dedicated to serving funeral professionals. His practice provides a single source for legal advice, counsel and representation with intimate knowledge of the industry. It represents funeral service providers and suppliers in corporate matters, commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment, consumer litigation, and other matters.
Erin Whitaker is senior director, operations integration, for Foundation Partners Group, a funeral home consolidator based in Orlando, Florida, as well as a third-generation funeral director with Whitaker Funeral Home in Newberry, South Carolina, and a CANA board member. She previously worked as a project engineer for Eastman Kodak and as a financial and business consultant with The Foresight Companies.
Larry Stuart Jr. is a former board member of the Cremation Association of North America and also formerly served the association as its supplier liaison. He’s the president of Crematory Manufacturing & Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has seen firsthand how poor crematory maintenance and improper operation can devastate a firm. A graduate of Kent State University, he’s conducted crematory operator training classes throughout North America and has worked nonstop to promote the safety of cremation facilities and their employees.
Program Gets Top Marks
Listen to what your peers are saying about getting certified by the Cremation Association of North America …
“CANA continues to provide valuable and affordable educational programs to its membership and the death-care industry. With the increase in the number of cremations performed each year, and living in a constantly changing environment, a cremationist must remain knowledgeable, competitive, compliant, and most of all – professional. Attendance at a Crematory Operations Certification event is a must.”
– Dale Fiore, general manager of Evergreen Cemetery Association and Crematory in New Haven, Connecticut
“Attending the program offered by CANA ensures that you and your employees are instructed with the most up to date, relevant and understandable training available to those in the death-care industry today. CANA has certified thousands of operators and owners over the past 20 years. Why would you trust your operator certification to anyone else? The CANA COCP certification ensures the families you serve that you have the commitment to offer them the utmost care of their loved ones.”
– Mark Durbin, manager of Lexington Cemetery and Crematory Co. in Lexington, Kentucky
Save $100 on Registration
Pay just $495 when you sign up by Aug. 30. Once the early-bird deadline expires, registration costs $595.
When reserving a hotel room by phone, be sure to mention Code KBL and that you are with the Crematory Operations Certification Program to enjoy a special, $179 per night rate. You must book a room by Nov. 7 to enjoy the special rate.
You can extend your stay in New Orleans by signing up for the Cremation Strategies Conference, Dec. 7, as well as the Funeral Service Business Plan Conference, Dec. 8-9, both of which are also being held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
Learn more about all of Kates-Boylston’s events by visiting www.katesboylston.com/events or call the company’s Customer Service Department at 800-500-4585.
