“Mastermind: Elevating Your Funeral Service Business to New Heights” has now been approved for continuing education credit in both New Jersey and Maryland, giving deathcare professionals another great reason to attend this one-of-a-kind event.
Taking place Sept. 24, 2026, at the Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia, Mastermind brings together some of the most respected experts in funeral service, marketing, consumer behavior, preneed, customer experience, technology and business growth.
Practical Strategies
The experts speaking at Mastermind will cover a variety of topics. Walk away knowing how to:
- Identify key customer touchpoints to increase engagement and trust.
- Recognize critical moments in the family journey and create meaningful connections that build loyalty and trust.
- Leverage consumer insights and emerging data trends to refine services.
- Adapt offerings to meet the evolving preferences of multiple generations making end-of-life decisions.
- Turn exceptional service into a powerful reputation advantage in your market.
- Expand visibility through modern digital marketing strategies, including social media, search optimization and targeted advertising.
- Leverage the power of AI to streamline processes and provide more value to families.
- Apply lessons from pastoral care to improve the relationship your funeral home has with clergy members.
Amazing Teachers
The Mastermind faculty includes:
Chris Cruger, the CEO of Foresight, a premier consulting firm specializing in the funeral and cemetery profession, will deliver a presentation titled “Succession Is Not Just a TV Show—It’s Preserving Your Legacy.”
Welton Hong, founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing and the secret weapon behind some of the deathcare profession’s highest volume firms, will deliver a presentation titled “What Will and Will Not Work in 2026 For Getting More Cases.”
Terri Bordenkircher, regional director at Homesteaders, will deliver a presentation titled “Understanding Consumer Motivations: Key Findings from Homesteaders’ Preneed Motivators Report,” which will highlight the behaviors of individuals who choose to prearrange and how they move through the decision-making process.
Rev. Christopher Monturo, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York and has served as pastor of Sacred Heart–Our Lady of Pompeii Parish in Dobbs Ferry, New York since July 1, 2019, will share insights from working with Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel and planning and/or attending high-profile funerals, in a presentation titled “Lessons on Grief, Ritual, and Collaboration from a Priest Who Knows the Profession.”
Emilli Milstead, manager of continuous improvement at Carriage Services, who will deliver a presentation titled “1% Better Every Day: Small Improvements That Create Lasting Change.” Her session will focus on how the mindset of becoming just 1% better every day can strengthen operations, improve team culture and elevate the experience families receive.
Plus, a bonus panel of experts will cap off the day with a robust discussion highlighting how new technological tools are reshaping the profession.
The event is also approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for 6 CEUs – and applications seeking credit have been submitted to Ohio, Pennsylvania and numerous other states.
If you’re looking to earn continuing education while investing in the future of your business, Mastermind is an event you won’t want to miss.
Visit MastermindFuneral.com to view the agenda, meet the speakers and reserve your seat today.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Mastermind would not be possible without our generous sponsors, including our exclusive Diamond Sponsor, Foresight; our Platinum sponsors, Homesteaders Life Company and OneRoom, and our Gold sponsors, Carriage Services, Ring Ring Marketing, Nomis Publications, ASD – Answering Service for Directors and Cremation Air.
