Work Smarter and Build Wealth With Kara Ludlum

Leaders Gather for CANA’s Cremation Symposium in Las Vegas this February 25-27, 2026

WHEELING, IL—We would do anything for the families and the communities we serve. So, how can we make sure we’ll be there for them in the future? Get your action plan in Las Vegas this February 25-27, 2026 with Kara Ludlum, CPA. Drawing on decades of personal and professional expertise, Kara will provide tips on how to help your business thrive and not just survive. During Cremation Association of North America’s 2026 Cremation Symposium she’ll take a look at how many funeral homes and cemeteries—once financially strong—are now struggling amid changing industry dynamics and persistent self-sacrificing culture.

As a second-generation funeral director, former funeral home owner, and certified public accountant, Kara Ludlum brings her unique combination of hands-on funeral service experience, financial expertise, and software innovation to this important session. Her presentation offers a practical roadmap to restore profitability and sustainability through strategies to improve cash flow, build wealth, and adapt to future demographic and economic shifts. You will learn actionable methods to manage inflation, leverage financing options, strengthen preneed programs, and move beyond burnout toward long-term financial health and business resilience.

“I grew up with parents who served in the funeral profession for over 50 years. Since 1991, I have also been providing accounting services to funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States. In the last 10 years, I have witnessed several clients who are beginning to have serious financial struggles,” shares Kara. “Why would a profession that is vital to their communities be struggling? The answer is very complex. We need to examine each of our points of service as well as our pricing for those services.” In Really Thriving or Just Surviving: How to Work Smarter and Build Wealth, Kara will identify business trends impacting funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories.

Gain practical insights on your business’s future planning at CANA’s 2026 Symposium:

Larry Stuart, Jr., of Raven Plume Consulting, delivers the keynote session, Beyond the Flame: How Today’s Trends Are Shaping Cremation’s Next 150 Years, reflecting on 150 years of cremation practice and exploring what the next 150 years could hold for our profession.

A panel of legal and regulatory experts consider the Legal and Ethical Strategies for Unclaimed Remains. Tim Koch of Metro First Call, Tanya Marsh of Wake Forest University School of Law, Lara Price of Pappas Grubbs Price, and Wendy Russell Wiener of WRW Legal, PLLC, discuss how to protect your organization while honoring those left in your care with unclaimed remains.

Experienced cemeterians from coast-to-coast will tackle Cremation’s Role in Cemetery Financial Sustainability. Dan Applegate of The Arlington Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, Steve Brown of Mount Auburn Cemetery, and Sandra Walker of Fairmount Memorial Association, will discuss trends in consumer attitudes toward cremation memorialization.

Armed with the latest stats on consumer preferences in disposition methods across different demographics, Tanya Marsh, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor at Wake Forest University School of Law, shares highlights from the 2025 Wake Forest Law School study in Tomorrow’s Consumers in Focus: Casket Burial Gains Ground Among Younger Adults.

The future is bright when it comes to AI and the efficiencies it can bring. A panel of experts take the stage to share practical capabilities, case studies—and some cautionary tales—about AI usage in death care. The AI Panel features Curtis Funk of Tukios, Lauren Pettine of WRW Legal, PLLC, and Kris Yee of Prelude.

Take steps to transform your hospice relationships into strategic partnerships generating measurable results. Lacy Robinson, Sr. Business Consultant at Johnson Consulting Group, shares strategies to help you authentically connect with and support hospice care team members and leave with actionable frameworks in Advanced Hospice Partnership Strategies.

Time to network is what makes a CANA event unique. In addition to the intimate atmosphere and meals, the crowd-favorite Roundtables session brings attendees face-to-face with session presenters – including Kara – and leaders from across funeral service in all business models, locales, experience levels, and call. Get a seat at the table as we tackle today’s challenges and share solutions.

Create an action plan to implement techniques that increase your business’s financial sustainability. Register CANA’s 2026 Cremation Symposium February 25-27, 2026, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino: cremationassociation.org/future.

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.