Flame and Water Cremation in Two Settings
Add a Unique Tour to the CANA Convention Experience this August
WHEELING, IL— Alkaline hydrolysis is also known as AH, flameless cremation, water cremation, green cremation, chemical cremation, and “the final spa treatment,” among other names. For consumers, each brings to mind a different experience, but what could it mean for your business? At the Cremation Association of North America’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, registrants can participate in a unique tour to help them picture what AH might look like for them. Register for the Convention and add a ticket for Flame and Water Cremation in Two Settings: A Tour of Two Businesses.
For a process that has only been in common death care practice since 1994, Minnesota has a surprisingly active history with alkaline hydrolysis. Mayo Clinic’s body donation department was one of the earliest adopters, and the state was one of the first to legalize the process for funeral homes in their communities. That’s why the CANA Convention has added a tour of two different businesses – Metro First Call, a third-party provider operating a Bio-Response Solutions unit in an industrial setting; and, Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, an independent funeral home offering in-house care to families via a Resomation America unit. Now you can celebrate this innovation and see it in practice.
“I look forward to sharing tips and lessons I’ve learned over the past six years since we implemented alkaline hydrolysis in my business,” said Lindsey Ballard, owner of Ballard-Sunder. “There is so much we learn from each other if we only start the conversation.” Lindsey will be joined by Metro First Call owner Tim Koch to bring and understanding of AH in practice in two different business models. These deathcare professionals will share their challenges and successes from best practices to helpful language for explaining the opportunity to families on this tour co-sponsored by Bio-Response Solutions and Resomation America.
This unique tour is exclusively available as an add-on ticket to any CANA Convention registration. Register today for access to all of these great sessions:
- Tom Anderson, President of Funeral Director Daily, examines Fads, Trends, Traditions… and the future of Death Care, reflecting on industry insights and real-world observations with perspective on which changes are fleeting and which are likely to leave a lasting impact.
- Drawing on two vastly different early-career experiences, Allison Craft, General Manager of Cremation Society Minnesota, and Allison Henz, Community Engagement Lead of Foundation Partners Group, explore how intentional mentorship directly impacts long-term success From Mortuary School to Service: Why Mentorship Matters.
- With ideas on how you can start Bridging the Gap: Synergizing End-of-Life Doulas with Funeral Directors and Crematories, Ashley Johnson, End-of-Life Doula, Loyal Hands LLC shares practical strategies for integrating doulas into funeral and cremation services.
- Two industry experts share the stage with updates, because Information is Power. First, Howard Sankel, President of Options for Ashes, addresses The Growing “What Can Be Done With Cremated Remains” Aftercare Market. Then, Sarah Tepe, President of Crowne Vault, assists in Creating a New Approach: A Unified Voice for Cemetery Placement After Cremation.
- What Does Gathering Look Like For You? Brent Patterson, Funeral Director at Primrose Funeral Service, and Glenda Stansbury, the Director of Training for Insight Books, bring a new perspective to the power of words as we paint the picture of gathering for our families.
- Honnalora Hubbard, Regional Sales for Coldspring USA, will show us how to change the conversation around Abandoned Urns: A Crisis in America, for a practical conversation tools to shift from transactions to legacies.
- Artificial intelligence is shaping how we write, organize, communicate, and serve families. With AI in Funeral Service: Ethics, Compassion, and Professional Judgment, Martha Thayer, Founder & President of Mortuary Training, explores the responsibilities that come with AI use in funeral service.
- Look backward and forward with this year’s research session, Learning from History: History of CANA Statistics. CANA Historian Jason Engler honors cremation’s transformation from a radical fringe experiment into the gold standard of deathcare.
Lacy Robinson leads a special pre-convention offering, CANA’s new Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS) training workshop. This one‑day certification is designed to help funeral home owners, managers, licensed funeral directors, preneed specialists, and outreach or family care staff build structured, respectful partnerships with hospice organizations. Registration is available separately from the Convention or as an add-on!
Are you looking for ways to discuss AH with your client families – or thinking about taking the plunge and adding it to your business? Join Lindsey Ballard and Tim Koch on a unique tour in Minneapolis this August. Register today for CANA’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention from August 12-14, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center: cremationassociation.org/CANA26
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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.
