Agenda
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2020 Leadership Agenda

All times listed are Central Standard Time.

Monday, August 3

8:45 – 9 a.m.

Welcome
R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President

9 – 9:45 a.m. State & National Relations Forum
R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President
 

9:45 – 10 a.m.

Break

10 – 10:45 a.m.

Breakouts by Office
Discuss topics related to your specific role on the board while sharing ideas that are important to your association's success.

10:45 - 11 a.m.

Break

11 - 11:45

Breakouts by Office Continued

11:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Wrap Up
R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President

12 - 12:30 p.m. 

Take Your NFDA Leadership Commitment to the Next Level
Wondering what it takes to serve on the NFDA Board of Directors? Join us for this brief, informal presentation and open Q&A session. 

(This is an optional non-CE session only for those interested in serving on the NFDA Board of Directors.)

Tuesday, August 4

8:45 – 9 a.m.

Morning Coffee Break
Brief welcome by R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President

9 - 10:15 a.m. Directions in Disruption:  Trends Shaping the Association Landscape

Lowell Aplebaum, Vista Cova

10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Why I Walked 444 Miles to Make a Memory

Andra Watkins, Author & Speaker

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. Conversation Cafes
 
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

COVID-19 Panel Discussion

Panel discussion moderated by Lowell Aplebaum, Vista Cova.

Gary Burr, CFSP, Immediate Past President, Ohio Funeral Directors Association
Melissa Sullivan, Executive Director, Ohio Funeral Directors Association
Timothy J. Schramm , CFSP, Owner/CEO, Howe-Peterson Funeral Homes, Dearborn, MI
William Villanova, President, Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, New York, NY
Robert Goff, CFSP, Executive Director, Washington State Funeral Directors Association
Phil Douma, Executive Director, Michigan Funeral Directors Association

1 - 1:15 p.m. Closing Remarks

R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President

Wednesday, August 5

8:45 – 9 a.m.

Morning Coffee Break
Brief welcome by R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President

9 - 10 a.m. Governance Excellence: A Self Assessment
Lowell Aplebaum, Vista Cova
 
10 - 10:15 a.m.  Break
10:15 - 11:30 a.m. Change Redefined: Turn Uncertainty Into Competitive Advantage
Meridith Elliott Powell, Business Growth, Sales & Leadership Expert
 
 11:30 a.m. Closing Remarks
R. Bryant Hightower, NFDA President
11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Lunch & Learn Bonus Session
Welton Hong, Ring Ring Marketing


Continuing Education: This conference will provide licensed funeral directors/embalmers CE hours and will be approved by APFSP and most state licensing boards. CE hours vary by state. It is the individual participant's responsibility before registering for any NFDA course or event to verify that it is currently approved for CE in the state/province in which the individual is licensed.

Cancellations for Leadership Conference registration must be received in writing and faxed or postmarked on or before July 24, 2020 to receive a full refund. Cancellations received after July 24, 2020 and before August 2, 2020 will receive a refund of the registration fee minus a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations received on or after August 2, 2020 and no-shows will not receive a refund. Telephone requests must be followed up in writing.

NFDA reserves the right to cancel the program due to circumstances beyond its control. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of a program, registrants will have the option to either receive a full registration refund or transfer registration to the same program at a future date. NFDA’s liability for any cancellation is limited to a refund of the registration fee and shall not extend to any other claims, including, but not limited to, travel expenses, cancellation fees, lost wages, inconvenience and other related costs. Cancellation policies vary by event.