Educational Sessions

Wednesday, May 25

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

OSHA Training

Mark Arnold, OSHA Trainer 1 Body Prep or Regulations & Ethics CEU/1 OSHA CEU

9:15 – 10:50 a.m.

Keynote: The Champion’s Code

Ross Bernstein 1 Professional Practices CEU

SPONSORED BY BROWN-WILBERT

11:00 – 11:50 a.m.

5 Keys to Cremation Success

Mike Nicodemus, of the National Funeral Directors Association 1 Professional Practices CEU

With more than 50% of families nationally choosing cremation as their method of disposition it can no longer be “Business as Usual” when serving those families. The funeral director, along with the entire staff, should be aware of what it takes to serve those families properly. This 1-hour program will point out the 5 key factors that are needed to help you succeed in the world of cremation and why your families would choose you over your competitor. Good customer service isn’t the only reason when it comes down to whether a family will decide to use you or the funeral home down the street. What other factors help a family decide who handles their loved one at the time of death? Are you the cremation expert in your area or do you just go through the motions because it’s just a cremation family? This program will show you what it takes to help single you out as the “go to” funeral home when it comes to cremation.

Thinking It Through – Autopsy

Lincoln Plain, Dodge Representative, Eastern North Dakota & Minnesota

1 Body Prep CEU

THINKING THROUGH IT takes you step by step through an embalming of an autopsy case where embalming was delayed for several weeks. It covers the proper procedures that should be taken starting with your pre-embalming analysis, treatment of problem areas, injection along with suggested chemical solution mixtures and reconstruction of the deceased after embalming has been completed. The presentation covers several tips that will help the embalmer maximize preservation and viewability of the deceased.

12:00 – 1:20 p.m.

Lunch / Business Meeting / Officer Installation / 50 Year License Awards

SPONSORED BY MFDA SERVICE CORP

1:30 – 2:20 p.m.

MFDA Panel: “Building a Bridge of Care to Serve Families”

MFDA Panel 1 Professional Practices CEU

2:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Open with Cash Bar & Appetizers

1 General CEU

(Must complete entire Treasure Bingo card and submit to registration desk to receive credit by 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.)

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Party Your Heart Out! Social

A benefit for Healing Hearts Connection Open to attendees, exhibitors, and paid guests.

SPONSORED BY WASHBURN-MCREAVY, FUNERAL DIRECTORS LIFE, PASSARE, WIESER COMPANY, AND MAS COMMUNICATIONS

Thursday, May 26

8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Exhibit Hall Open

with Breakfast (Treasure Bingo drawing at 10:15 a.m.)

10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

Offering the Gift of a Final Goodbye

Martha Thayer, Emeritus Professor of Mortuary Science at Arapahoe Community College, and Teaching Specialist at the University of MN Program of Mortuary Science 1 Professional Practices CEU

This presentation will identify ways to discuss and present final viewing options for families including: Identify why people don’t view. Present talking points to overcome common objections. Review viewing options. Discuss benefits to the family and the funeral home. Preparing for an identification viewing or embalming.

Firefighter Line of Duty and Non-Line of Duty Deaths

Dale Specken and Jay Wood of the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation 1 Professional Practices CEU

This session will have what the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation is and what we can do to assist in if it is a firefighter death. We will discuss: • Who is the Minnesota Fire service

Foundation? • How the foundation can assist the family with planning the fire elements of the funeral? • How the foundation can be involved in the planning and elements the day of funeral. • Ceremony and protocols book. • How we can assist with movement of the body and honors to the fallen. • Equipment that we can bring to assist in the funeral. • That the Minnesota Fire Service

Foundation will not come in and take over any aspects of the planning.

Thursday, May 26

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lunch / Service of Remembrance

SPONSORED BY MFDA SERVICE CORP

12:30 – 1:20 p.m.

Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent: Challenges Facing Funeral Service Employers, and Solutions for Effectively Meeting Workforce Demands

Michael LuBrant, Director of the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, mortuary science staff, and program students 1 Professional Practices CEU

Topics to be discussed: Profile of students pursuing mortuary science education today. What are students looking for in - and from - work. How to connect and network with students and recent graduates. Ideas for retaining key employees. Approaches to addressing conflict in the workplace. Recommendations for proactive recruiting strategies.

Embalming Infants & Children: One of the Most Difficult Parts of the Job

Lincoln Plain, Dodge Representative, Eastern North Dakota & Minnesota 1 Body Prep CEU

Without reservation, it can be said that most funeral service practitioners will agree that caring for infants and children is truly one of the most challenging duties as a funeral professional. Lincoln Plain will teach techniques for treating infants and children with a positive outcome and application of cosmetics to help create a good memory picture, their ultimate goal. 1:30 – 2:20 p.m.

“They don’t need to see that.” How to Talk about Kids at Funerals

Jessica Moujouros, Executive Director of Healing Hearts Connection 1 Professional Practices CEU

In this session, we’ll learn why children should be present at funerals, and how to explain this to grieving adults. We’ll talk about ways children can participate in funerals, and how to help adults prepare children for visitations and funerals. We will reserve time for audience participation. There will also be free cookies and beer...ok, I’m kidding about the cookies and beer.

1:30 – 3:20 p.m.

(must stay in breakout to receive 2 CEUs)

Business and Funeral Service Ethics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Michael Sharkey, Shareholder/Chair of the Mortuary Practice Law Group at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A., and MFDA General Counsel 2 Regulations & Ethics CEUs (must stay in breakout to receive 2 CEUs, partial credit will not be given)

This two-hour long presentation will be taught by Socratic Method in which the audience attendees drive the conversation, discussion, and debate with Mr. Sharkey serving as a facilitator. Sharkey will present a framework and basis for both general business ethics and use the NFDA’s model Ethics Code to set up a manner by which we can discuss the subject matter. He will present various funeral service ethical fact patterns, every one of which comes from his personal experience and practice as a mortuary law attorney, for discussion. The goal is to have a truly interactive back and forth not just with Sharkey as the presenter but among the participants as well. 2:30 – 3:20 p.m.

Cyber Security

Matthew Specht, Account Executive at Federated Insurance 1 Professional Practices CEU

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about a security breach or incident involving the loss of sensitive data to hackers. We will discuss several layers of risk management that will help reduce a business’s exposure, as well as coverage options available to transfer this risk to an insurance carrier. Cyber-crime is the fastest growing and most dynamic exposure in business today. We’ll address strategies to minimize that risk.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

OSHA Training

Mark Arnold, OSHA Trainer 1 Body Prep or Regulations & Ethics CEU/1 OSHA CEU