INDIANAPOLIS – The International Order of the Golden Rule brought together the next generation of independent funeral service professionals for the 2026 Future Leaders Forum, sponsored by Full-Circle Aftercare. Held August 23–25 at the George Irvin Green Funeral Home in Munhall, Pennsylvania, the annual event convened 14 emerging leaders, growing professionals, and second-career staff from independently owned funeral homes.
“The future of independent funeral service depends on what we do today to prepare the people who will lead it tomorrow,” said Peter Urban, Jr., president of OGR. “I attended not only as OGR president, but alongside an intern from our funeral home because I believe strongly in giving emerging professionals opportunities to learn, build relationships and see a future for themselves in independent funeral service. Watching these future leaders exchange ideas, ask questions and learn from one another reinforced why OGR must continue creating spaces like this for the next generation.”
The forum kicked off with a visit to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS) followed by an evening of networking. Key sessions included:
- Organ Recovery Insights: TJ Roser from the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) guided a discussion on organ donation considerations for families, funeral directors, physicians, and recovery specialists.
- Leadership Panel: Facilitated by Jessica MacMillan, OGR Meetings and Events Manager, an expert panel of independent funeral home owners and an aftercare business owner offered candid insights into career advancement, leadership realities, and firm ownership.
- Design Your Own Funeral Home Workshop: Attendees collaborated to build a prospective business from scratch, addressing market selection, facility layout, physical property design, and staffing strategies.
“Future Leaders Forum transformed my approach towards serving families as a funeral director,” said Virginia Araoz, an attendee from C.C. Van Emburgh, Inc. “Rob taught us the essential hard business skills in business valuation and purchasing; meanwhile Matt challenged us to reimagine our funeral home spaces and services. It was the perfect balance of innovation to empower me professionally moving forward.”
OGR extended its appreciation to host venue George Irvin Green Funeral Home, Presenting Sponsor Full-Circle Aftercare, and supporting sponsors Bogati, The Bancorp, Impression Vault, Johnson Consulting Group, and Passages International.
The Forum reflects OGR’s year-round mission to support rising professionals through education, committee involvement, and networking. Details regarding the 2027 Future Leaders Forum will be announced soon. To learn more about OGR’s emerging leader programming, visit OGR.org/future-leaders.
About the International Order of the Golden RuleFounded in 1928, OGR is an association of independently owned and operated funeral homes dedicated to operational excellence, ethical service, and the Golden Rule. Learn more at www.ogr.org.
