Leadership, Learning, and Looking Ahead: Highlights from CANA’s 2026 Cremation Symposium
More than 170 cremation professionals gathered in Las Vegas for future‑focused insights, practical strategies, and meaningful connection.
WHEELING, IL— Innovation, insight, and connection took center stage as the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) returned to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino for the 2026 Cremation Symposium. With more than 170 cremation innovators, owners, managers, and thought leaders in attendance, the Symposium delivered on its Future Focused promise—exploring today’s challenges while equipping professionals to succeed in what comes next.
CANA presented a program designed to spark ideas, generate solutions, and encourage meaningful dialogue. From shifting consumer preferences and cemetery sustainability to legal considerations, AI, financial performance, and strategic partnerships, the Symposium addressed the realities shaping the future of cremation and memorialization. Attendees heard directly from leaders who are navigating change and implementing forward-thinking strategies in real time.
“It was an outstanding Symposium,” said CANA President Lindsey Ballard, owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Minnesota. “The conversations were thoughtful, the content was highly practical, and the engagement from attendees made it clear how important these discussions are for our profession’s future. Events like this remind me why CANA’s community is so special.” Ballard added, “I’m already looking forward to continuing these conversations at the CANA Convention this summer, and I encourage everyone who couldn’t be in Las Vegas to join us.” Registration opens soon for CANA’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, taking place August 12–14, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In his keynote session, Beyond the Flame: How Today’s Trends Are Shaping Cremation’s Next 150 Years, Larry Stuart, Jr., Founder & Principal of Raven Plume Consulting and an internationally recognized expert in funeral service, reflected on 150 years of cremation practice and explored what the next 150 years could hold in our rapidly evolving profession.
A panel of legal and regulatory experts then took the stage to discuss the Legal and Ethical Strategies for Unclaimed Remains from CANA Legal Counsel Lara Price. Tim Koch, Owner of Metro First Call and former Mortician Investigator for the State of Minnesota of 20 years; Tanya Marsh, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor at Wake Forest University School of Law; and, Wendy Russell Wiener, Managing Member of WRW Legal, PLLC, discussed the hidden risks of unclaimed remains.
Cemetery experts tackled Cremation’s Role in Cemetery Financial Sustainability, moderated by Larry Stuart, Jr. Dan Applegate, President of The Arlington Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home; Steve Brown, Senior Director of Mount Auburn Cemetery; and, Sandra Walker, Chief Operating Officer of Fairmount Memorial Association, discussed trends in consumer attitudes toward cremation memorialization and shared success stories in revenue diversification.
In Tomorrow’s Consumers in Focus: Casket Burial Gains Ground Among Younger Adults, Tanya Marshhighlighted some of the big-picture results of the 2025 Wake Forest Law School study on consumer preferences in disposition methods, adding proactive strategies to understand and adapt to what the data says about the wide spectrum of respondent’s final wishes.
In Really Thriving or Just Surviving: How to Work Smarter and Build Wealth, Kara Ludlum, CPA and licensed funeral director, shared why once financially strong funeral homes and cemeteries are now struggling amid changing industry dynamics and a persistent self-sacrificing culture. She brought a practical roadmap to restore profitability and sustainability and move beyond burnout toward long-term financial health.
A panel of experts shared practical capabilities, case studies—and some cautionary tales—about AI usage in death care. The AI Panel features Curtis Funk, Founder of Tukios; Lauren Pettine, Senior Associate at WRW Legal, PLLC; and, Kris Yee, Co-Founder & CEO of Prelude.
Lacy Robinson, Sr. Business Consultant at Johnson Consulting Group, shared strategies to help attendees authentically connect with and support hospice care team members and leave with actionable frameworks in Advanced Hospice Partnership Strategies.
The experience concluded with a lively round of Roundtables, featuring open dialog in small groups between presenters and attendees.
Thank you to the many attendees and sponsors who chose to join us in Las Vegas! These generous companies helped make the 2026 Cremation Symposium a success: National Guardian Life (NGL), Implant Recycling, Dignity Memorial, Doric Products, First Financial Bank, FT North America, Bio-Response Solutions, Starmark, Nomis Publications, Resomation America, SinoSource International, Cairn Partners, Bailey Family Funeral Homes, and Metro First Call.
What’s next? Be sure to save the dates for CANA’s 108th Cremation Innovation Convention at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota from August 12-14, 2026. Scholarships are available from the Funeral Service Foundation to attend with free registration, free hotel stay, and up to $500 travel reimbursement – apply before April 30, 2026!
But you don’t have to wait to experience cutting-edge education from CANA. From management of people and finances in the back office, to the next level of service in the arrangement room, and confident operations in the crematory, CANA Education delivers the essential skills you and your team need to succeed. Learn more about the range of learning opportunities at cremationassociation.org/education
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.
