Breaking Attendance Records: Cremation Association of North America’s 97th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina July 29-August 1, 2015
WHEELING, IL—In what turned out to be the best-attended cremation-focused convention ever, industry professionals enjoyed a wide range of valuable networking and educational opportunities as they attended the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) 97th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention. With over 300 participants—plus 90 individuals who were part of the pre-convention CANA Crematory Operations Certification Program™ presented with the Association of California Cremationists—this event featured business-building sessions, an inside look at body donation programs, current trends in cremation memorialization at cemeteries, and the environmental impact of cremation.
A Lively Exchange of Commerce and Ideas
A diverse range of 55 suppliers—from vault, casket, cremator, urn and keepsake manufacturers to vendors who provide banking, architectural, technology, and office services—made the CANA convention a unique opportunity for all involved. Exhibits were in the same room as the general sessions, insuring that attendees and exhibitors were able to spend plenty of time in conversation.
Informative, Inventive Workshops
The line up of impressive presentations included:
- No BS! How Strategic PR Can Transform Your Organization, Kathy Schaeffer
- Body Donation, Scott T. Barton, Bill Elliott, Lisa Moore, Garland Shreves, and Michael Thomas, moderated by Maggie McMillan
- Addressing Legal Issues, Lara Price
- Research to Quantify Mercury Emissions, Michael LuBrant, Sandra Myers, and Rebecca Place
- Cremation and the Environment, Panel Discussion moderated by Mark Matthews with Mohan Balagopalan, Archi dela Cruz, Derek K. Hollinshead, Luis Llorens, and Jeff Pickard
- The Answer is in the Numbers, Robert Boetticher, Jr.
- Affordable Marketing Solutions for Your Funeral Home, Lynn Elliott
- Succession Planning: Engaging the Next Generation, Bill McQueen
- We Have One Customer: It’s All About How to Partner with Hospice, Lacy Robinson
- The Memorial Idea, Jason Ryan Engler
- Cremation Memorialization in Cemeteries, Panel Discussion moderated by Robert Boetticher, Jr. with Dan Cable, JP Di Troia, Darin Drabing, and Craig Oprea
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About CANA
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
