WALL, N.J. – The Cremation Association of North America and Matthews Cremation Division in cooperation with Kates-Boylston Publications will hold a special, redesigned Crematory Operations Certification Conference on May 2, 2012, at the Marriott Hartford Downtown hotel in Hartford, Conn.
“This conference is not just for crematory operators and technicians; it’s just as important for owners and managers to attend,” said Thomas A. Parmalee, editorial director of Kates-Boylston Publications. “The increasing cremation rate poses business challenges for everyone, and knowing how to avoid lawsuits tied to improper crematory management and finding new ways to serve families better is becoming more important by the day.”
“Cremation litigation is at an all-time high, and the monetary settlements being paid out by funeral homes and crematories are reaching epic numbers,” said Mike Nicodemus, chairman of CANA’s Crematory Operations Certification program and one of the speakers at the conference. “The certification conference will give you an opportunity to hear from the most knowledgable experts in the cremation industry as to how you can avoid a lawsuit.”
The redesigned conference includes more information for owners, managers, funeral directors and operators. Nicodemus, who serves as an expert witness in cremation lawsuits throughout the country, teams up with Chris Farmer, general counsel of CANA, to help you avoid lawsuits and protect your firm. A section devoted to cremation startup and return on investment has also been added and is exclusive to this conference.
The Very Best Speakers on This Topic!
Speakers at the crematory certification program include:
Chris Farmer formerly served as a corporate counsel for Service Corporation International. He has handled investigations for employers throughout the United States. He has also managed a large international docket of state and federal funeral home and cemetery matters including professional liability, negligence, intentional acts, and deceptive trade practice claims. Farmer serves as the general counsel for CANA as well as the Texas Funeral Directors Association.
Get Certified
Michael Nicodemus is chairman of the Crematory Operations Certification Program and the manager of cremation operations at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes, which has 10 locations in Virginia. He has performed or assisted in cremating more than 5,000 decedents. He is a board member at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and is the author of the Cremation Operations Manual published by CANA and Kates-Boylston. He has been retained as an expert witness in numerous litigation cases throughout the United States.
Ron Salvatore is a certified crematory operator trainer and has been with Matthews Cremation Division for more than 20 years. He’s trained more than 2,000 crematory personnel in the proper operation and maintenance of cremation equipment. He also works closely with Matthews’ engineering department on new product development, environmental permitting and various environmental issues.
This special, redesigned program will include information on:
- Litigation
- Principles of combustion
- Cremation and the environment
- Incinerator design/criteria
- Basics of operation
- Instructional video
- Handling and exposure control
- How other countries approach cremation
- How to work with local officials to address zoning problems
- And much more!
Sign Up Now
Pay just $495 when you sign up by Feb. 29, 2012. Once the early-bird deadline expires, registration costs $595.
Learn more and register by visiting http://www.katesboylston.com/cremation or e-mail tparmalee@katesboylston.com for more information. You can also register by calling Kates-Boylston’s Customer Service Department at 800-500-4585.
Kates-Boylston Publications publishes American Funeral Director and American Cemetery magazines as well as Funeral Service Insider. The company has been helping funeral professionals succeed and serve since 1877. Visit http://www.katesboylston.com for more information.
