Breaking Barriers in Funeral Service: NFDA’s 2024 Professional Women’s Conference Set to Inspire and Connect 

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) will bring women and non-binary individuals together for the 2024 Professional Women’s Conference, April 28 through 30, 2024, at the DeSoto Hotel in picturesque Savannah, Georgia. During this conference attendees representing all facets of the funeral service profession will be empowered to not only sit at the table but lead at the table. Registration will open February 28, 2024.  

The Funeral Service Foundation will offer 20 all-inclusive David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships to make the profession’s premier event for women and non-binary professionals even more accessible. 

During this inspiring and uplifting conference, attendees will hear from exceptional speakers covering a wide range of topics: 

• Vera Stewart, host of Very Vera, a cooking show about Southern cuisine, will speak about entrepreneurship.
• NFDA Senior Vice President of Advocacy Lesley Witter will show attendees how to use their voice as a force for good that can create change.
• Attendees will learn about suicide risk within the death care profession from Dr. Sara Murphy. 
• Dr. Ruth Bedell will help attendees understand how they can be more assertive. 
• Funeral director Amy Cunningham will draw from her experiences serving families in the state of New York and share best practices for helping families plan meaningful green funeral and burial ceremonies. 
• An expert from The Dodge Company’s will help attendees refresh their prep room skills. 
• And more! 

Engaging Discussions and Networking 

Professional Women’s Conference attendees will kick off their time together with a Welcome Party that captures the spirit of Savannah. While enjoying complimentary food and drink, guests will experience a fun-filled evening of lively conversation and building bonds with colleagues.  

Beyond the Welcome Party, there are countless other opportunities to build relationships with fellow funeral service professionals during the Professional Women’s Conference. “These ladies were wonderful,” said one 2023 conference attendee. “They all touched on things that were very relatable and inspired me to really reflect on the topics afterward. I really felt like they were speaking directly to me.” 

Another 2023 attendee noted, “There were so many takeaways. I also liked opportunity to meet other women in our profession, connect with them and learn and be inspired by them.” 

Scholarship Opportunities 

The Funeral Service Foundation is offering up to 20 David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships to female and non-binary funeral professionals and students to attend this year’s event. The scholarships are all-inclusive and cover registration and event fees, a two-night stay at the DeSoto Hotel, and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. 

Applicants must be verifiably employed in funeral service or related occupations or be a student in good standing and currently attending classes at an ABSFE- or Canadian-accredited institution or program; NFDA membership is not required. Complete requirements and the application form will be online soon at www.funeralservicefoundation.org/scholarships. Applications will be accepted from January 2 through January 29, 2024. Applicants will be notified in late-February 2024. 

“I am so eternally and inexpressibly grateful to the Baue family for the scholarship fund,” said a previous Professional Women’s Conference scholarship recipient. “It would have been utterly unthinkable for me to attend the conference on my own dime, but it was a lovely and enriching experience that I hope to carry forward with me into professional practice.” 

Inspiration Award 

During the 2024 Professional Women’s Conference, the association will confer the second annual NFDA Inspiration Award. This award will recognize an exceptional female or non-binary individual who has made noteworthy professional contributions to funeral service or a related field.  

Nominations for the NFDA Inspiration Award will be accepted online from January 15 through February 16, 2024. The ideal nominee is an enterprising individual who consistently takes the initiative to elevate the funeral service profession. They serve as a mentor to colleagues. Their energy and independent spirit serve as an example to others. Their efforts result in significant accomplishments at the local, national and/or international level. 

Complete details are available at www.nfda.org/InspirationAward. NFDA is grateful to National Guardian Life Insurance Company for sponsoring the Inspiration Award.  

Conference Registration Opens February 28, 2024 

Registration for the 2024 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference opens February 28, 2024. Attendees can save when they register by the early-bird deadline of March 28, 2024. Attendees must register for the 2024 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference by April 19, 2024.  

The DeSoto Hotel reigns as “Savannah’s Favorite Hotel,” a beloved landmark that has played gracious hostess to presidents, local personalities and visitors since 1890. Treasured period details, including original crystal chandeliers and terracotta tiles, mix seamlessly with museum-worthy contemporary art, creating a thoughtful juxtaposition between history and modern-day style. NFDA has secured a limited number of rooms for a discounted rate of $229 plus tax per night. Upon registration for the conference, attendees will receive a confirmation email with an exclusive reservation link. Room reservations must be made by March 30, 2024. 

Complete details about the 2024 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference will be available soon at www.nfda.org/pwc, or by calling 800-228-6332 (262-789-1880). 

About NFDA 

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.