July 2018

Page A36 JULY 2018 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A C remation Association of North America Cremation Innovation Convention Fort Lauderdale, Florida • July 25-27, 2018 TUESDAY, JULY 24 8:00am-5:00pm CANA Board Meeting WEDNESDAY, JULY 25 8:00am-4:00pm CANA COCPTM (pre-convention seminar) 2:00pm-4:30pm Exhibitor Set-Up/ Registration Open 4:00pm-5:00pm Family Reception 5:00pm-7:00pm Opening Cocktail Reception THURSDAY, JULY 26 7:00am-6:30pm Convention Registration and Exhibit Hall Open 7:00am-7:45am Convention Breakfast/Exhibits 7:45am-8:00am Convention Welcome— Opening Ceremonies 8:00am-9:00am Session 1 • Jason Engler CANA Centennial Celebration 9:00am-10:00am Session 2 • Joe Weigel Marketing 101 Boot Camp 9:00am-11:00am Family Bingo (breakfast with convention attendees) 10:00am-10:30am Coffee Break/Exhibits 10:30am-12:00pm Session 3 • Current Trends in Cremation Regulation 12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch/Exhibits 12:30pm-1:00pm Membership Meeting/In Memoriam 1:00pm-1:30pm 2018/2019 Board Meeting 1:30pm-3:00pm Session 4 • Cremation Fundamentals Panel 3:00pm-3:30pm Coffee Break/Exhibits 3:30pm-4:30pm Session 5 • Local Innovation: Selling Across Multiple Brands 4:30pm-6:30pm Cocktail Reception FRIDAY, JULY 27 7:30am-12:00pm Convention Registration/ Exhibit Hall Open 7:00am-7:30am Supplier Meeting 7:30am-8:30am Convention Breakfast/Exhibits 8:30am-9:30am Session 6 • Bob Boetticher, Jr. Cremation GPS 9:30am-10:00am Coffee Break / Exhibits 10:00am-11:00am Session 7 • John Bolton Beyond the Niche 11:00am-12:00pm Session 8 • Lori Salberg Customer Experience 101 12:00pm-5:00pm Exhibitor Teardown 3:00pm-7:00pm 100th Celebration Party Session 1 • All Things Cremation: Past, Present, and Future Jason Engler, CANA Historian Join Jason as he shares the many ways our Association is at the forefront of all things cremation. Experience the transformation of CANA over the past 100 years, from a fledgling organization with 11 charter members to deathcare’s largest cremation-focused organization. Discover your own connections to the past and future as you see how CANA membership has been indispensable in the advancement of best practices in operations and memorialization since cremation’s mod- ern revival in the U.S. Session 2 • Marketing Boot Camp 101: You Must Start with the Basics Joe Weigel, Weigel Strategic Marketing Acquire the core skills you need as a marketer—whether you are a novice or in need of a quick refresher. You’ll learn how to properly use marketing to improve your firm’s overall competitiveness and increase revenues, receive a solid grounding in the tools, tech- niques and approaches used in a plan, and be provided with a template to generate your own marketing plan. Session 3 • Current Trends in Cremation Regulation Jennifer Kandt, Nevada; Charles Perine, Alabama; Sandy Mahon, Saskatchewan CANA recently updated its Model Cremation Law, although for the first time ever, the law was updated in re- sponse to trends in state and provincial laws and regula- tion. Several states and provinces are leading in interest- ing areas including licensure of crematory operators, alkaline hydrolysis, body donation and more. This panel will explore trends in cremation regulation that may be coming to your neighborhood soon. Session 4 • Cremation Fundamentals Anne O’Reilly, ASD; TBD, IAOPCC; Jennifer Head, CANA The cremation fundamentals panel focuses on bringing you three short presentations on topics related to foundational business practices. This year we’ll talk about customer service training, owning pet crematories, and using competen- cies for employee development and recruitment. Session 5 • Local Innovation: Selling Across Multiple Brands in a High Cremation Market John McQueen, Founda- tion Partners Group; Richard Baldwin, Baldwin Brothers Memorial Care Services, Inc. There are both risks and re- wards associated with brand segmentation, especially in avoiding self-cannibal- ization. John and Richard both do this successfully in the high cremation state of Florida. They’ll share their journeys with you, and explore brand differen- tiation and brand marketing, as well as what John refers to as the “Kia Effect.” Session 6 • Cremation GPS Bob Boetticher, Jr, SCI Learn how to put the power of CANA statistics and your own business to work for you. Use Cremation GPS to navigate towards success with an increasing cremation rate and consumer trends. G = Gather Information; P = Process; S = Strategy (Execute). Session 7 • Beyond the Niche: Creating an Effective Cremation Development Strategy John Bolton, Blackstone Cemetery Development We are all aware of the impact crema- tion is having on our business. We all know how the market is changing; the question is “Are we changing at the same pace as our clients?” John will lead us past the “If we build it, they will come” philosophy and break down the ins and outs of developing a true cremation strategy for our cemeteries, including inventory and product mix, marketing strategies and how cremation fits into your overall approach to effectively meeting the needs of today’s non- traditional cremation consumer. Session 8 • Customer Experience 101: How to De- velop a Customer Experience (CX) Strategy Lori Salberg, Johnson Consulting Group Cremation consumers reject ritual and tradition and expect a unique and personalized experience. The industry has seen an influx of products and services that aim to create that experience. But Customer Experience is defined as how custom- ers perceive their interactions with your company. Leading companies understand that how an or- ganization delivers for customers is as important as what it delivers. That’s why Customer Experience is the next frontier for companies hoping to maintain a competitive edge. So how do you develop a Customer Experience strategy? CONTINUING EDUCATION In addition to continuing education (CE) hours from the CANA COCP, up to 9 hours of CE will be available for participating in the Cremation Innovation Convention. Due to varying state continuing education regulations, not all sessions will be approved for CE credits. Contact your state regarding CE approval for the Convention. GoCAN A.org/register www.GoC NA.org/register 100th Celebration Party Friday, July 27 • 3:00 - 7:00 PM Bring the family and join CANA beach-side as we celebrate the close of our 100th Convention. We’ll eat, drink, and be merry, enjoying the beautiful sunset with friends old and new. A great time to kick back and relax as you finish pool time and get ready for a night out. The lure of the salty ocean air calls for industry professionals to gather in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for CANA’s 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention. The CANA Convention will be held July 25–27, 2018 at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. With a wide range of valuable networking and educational opportunities, the event will feature sessions that examine the last 100 years of CANA conventions and growth in cremation, evaluate where businesses are today, and focus on the next 100 years by providing strategic and practical information for long-term success. CANA COCP™ Wednesday, July 25 • 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. CANA’s Crematory Operations Certification Program™ (COCP™) features content designed by industry experts to strengthen your success. The program is approved for up to 8 CE hours by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and numerous states and provinces. This program meets the requirements of most states requiring crematory operator certification. Exhibits and Sessions Together in One Room CANA’s convention includes a diverse range of suppliers—from vault, casket, cremator, urn and keepsake manufacturers to vendors who provide banking, architectural, technology, and office services—making this a unique opportunity for all involved. The exhibits are in the same room as the general sessions to facilitate information sharing and feature innovative products and services for all participants.