Learn, Connect, Grow: 2019 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference

Brookfield, Wis. – Registration is open for the foremost gathering for women in funeral service: the National Funeral Directors Association’s Professional Women’s Conference. This intimate gathering, taking place April 12-14 in Annapolis, Md., is the perfect setting for funeral directors, educators, students and suppliers to generate new ideas, grow personally and professionally, and create lasting relationships with other professionals.

“I have been attending this conference for over 20 years,” said a funeral professional who attended last year’s conference. “Friendships and business relationships have been developed through the awesome networking. The energy from a group of women sharing their experiences is just amazing.”

Attendees can look forward to engaging conference sessions led by experts covering a wide range of topics:

• Saturday, April 13
  • General Session: Is It Sexual Harassment? presented by Jamie Hasty, vice president of SESCO
  • Celebrate the accomplishments of women who have earned Professional Women’s Conference scholarships from the Funeral Service Foundation during the complimentary recognition luncheon
  • General Session: A Place to Go: Why Ceremonies Matter presented by Linda Stuart, a life-cycle celebrant
  • General Session: Alleviating Disenfranchised Grief presented by Sara E. Murphy, PhD, CT, lecturer of thanatology
• Sunday, April 14
  • Concurrent Workshops – attendees choose the workshop they wish to attend:
    • Techniques for Edema and Long Bone Donation presented by Adam Rogalsky, The Dodge Company
    • How End-of-Life Doulas Are Changing the Face of Dying presented by Henry Fersko-Weiss, International End of Life Doula Association
  • Closing Session: Success Signals: Body Language in Business presented by Patti Wood

“I am so proud to be a woman professional in such an important field as this,” said another 2018 Professional Women’s Conference attendee. “I appreciate the opportunity to be able to network with other women in my field at a conference set aside especially for us. It is so uplifting to share stories, challenges and success and to encourage each other as we continue to serve in a field that is emotionally difficult at times.”

Attendees can save up to $50 when they register on or before March 15. Registration includes a Welcome Reception on April 12, presentations, handouts, and select refreshments and meals.

	On or before March 15	After March 15
First Registrant: NFDA member	$495	$545
First Registrant: Nonmember licensed funeral director	$645	$695
First Registrant: Non-funeral director	$495	$545
Second registrant from the same organization	$470	$520
Mortuary science student	$80	$90

The Funeral Service Foundation will award up to 10 Professional Women’s Conference scholarships that will cover registration and event fees, two nights of accommodations at Hotel Annapolis, and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. The Professional Women’s Conference scholarships are part of the Foundation ‘45 Awards, which are designed to transform the careers of funeral service professionals through scholarships, awards, resources and mission-focused outreach.

Funeral professionals can visit the Funeral Service Foundation website, www.funeralservicefoundation.org, for more information about the Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships and to apply. Applications are due February 17.

Located in the heart of Annapolis, within minutes of the Chesapeake Bay, the Hotel Annapolis offers convenient access to many of the capitol’s attractions. Whether attendees want to sip a latte while browsing the waterfront boutiques, explore historic sites on a guided tour or visit the U.S. Naval Academy, they’re sure to keep busy during their downtime.

NFDA has secured a limited number of rooms at the Hotel Annapolis for the discounted rate of $190 plus tax per night. Visit the NFDA website, www.nfda.org/pwc, for information about how to book a room; conference attendees must secure their rooms by March 15 to receive the special NFDA rates.

Complete details about the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference, including registration and hotel information, can be found on the NFDA website, www.nfda.org/pwc.

About NFDA – www.nfda.org

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.

About the Funeral Service Foundation – www.FuneralServiceFoundation.org

Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the profession’s philanthropic voice. As the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997, the Foundation receives operational support from NFDA and donors across the profession to help advance its mission to support funeral service in building meaningful relationships with the families and the communities it serves.