April 10-13, 2024
Tampa Marriott Water Street & Tampa Convention Center
Tampa, FL

2024 ICCFA Annual Convention & Expo begins in:

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The ICCFA Returns to Tampa!

This year, the ICCFA’s flagship event docks in Tampa Bay! Join thousands of other deathcare professionals for this one-of-a-kind event. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge with world-class keynotes and in-depth educational breakouts, check out the latest and greatest goods and services in our exhibit hall, or connect with your colleagues from across the globe, then you won’t want to miss this event.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

This is the ICCFA’s biggest event of the year, so take advantage of our early bird rates and register now! Your registration will provide you access to all of our exciting keynote speakers, amazing exhibit hall, hours of educational sessions, and tons of receptions and networking opportunities. There are few opportunities as good as this one to gather with deathcare professionals from all over the world while learning and laughing in Tampa!

Registration Rates

Online registration closes Wednesday, April 3 at 11:59 PM EST

Registration Type Regular Rates
ICCFA Cemetery, Crematory & Funeral Home Member $835
ICCFA Supplier Member $1,005
Cemetery, Crematory & Funeral Home Non-member $1,105
Supplier Non-member $1,325
Guest/Spouse $405

Schedule of Events

REGISTRATION OPEN 12:00 – 5:00 PM
*Exhibitors only*

  • 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
    FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
  • 12:30 – 1:30 PM
    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

REGISTRATION OPEN 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

  • 8:30 – 10:30 AM 
    PLPA COMMITTEE MEETING
  • 9:00  – 10:00 AM  
    CCSC COMMITEE MEETING
  • 9:00  – 11:00 AM 
    SALES AND MARKETING COMMITEE MEETING
  • 10:00 – 11:00 AM  
    VETERANS COMMITEE MEETING
  • 10:00 – 11:00 AM  
    IMSA BUSINESS MEETING  
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM  
    JFDA BUSINESS MEETING
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
    MEMBERSHIP COMMITEE MEETING  
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
    WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP COMMITEE MEETING
  • 12:00 – 1:00 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Cemetery Consumer Service Consumers Council Panel Discussion
      Tom Daly CCE, CHS Consulting Group/Cemetery Helpful Solutions
    • Cremation: It’s Not About the Price
      Angelique Simpson, Matthews International
    • Exploring the Lost Art of Embalming
      Shun Newbern CFSP, Metropolitan Mortuary
  • 1:30 – 2:30 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Cemetery Development in the 21st Century: Queen of Peace Cemetery
      Zachary Rasmussen, Tribute Design Systems, LLC
    • Communicating with Ease: Building Trust Through Authentic Dialogue
      Tiffanie Kellog
      Session Sponsored by Batesville
    • Creating a World-class Customer Experience
      Vincent Roberge, Johnson Consulting Group
      Session Sponsored by Batesville
    • Ways to Support Families in Helping Children Cope with Death
      Ellen Sabin, Watering Can Press
      Session Sponsored by Continental Computer 
  • 3:00 – 4:00 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Unlocking the Future: Surprising Discoveries from Consumer Insights
      George Owens, SoCal Approach
      Session Sponsored by Batesville
    • Digital Marketing is not Rocket Science…but it is Scientific
      Troy Brake, Vertin Funeral Homes
      Session Sponsored by Batesville
    • Dealing with Conflict
      Ron Clyde, Directors Investment Group
    • Say Farewell, Their Way: The Case for Celebrants
      Jennifer Muldowney, Muldowney Memorials
  • 2:00 – 4:00 PM  
    ICCFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING  
  • 4:15 – 7:15 PM  
    EXPO HALL GRAND OPENING & RECEPTION

REGISTRATION OPEN 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM 

  • 8:30 – 10:00 AM 
    MORNING WELCOME COFFEE
  • 9:00 – 10:30 AM  
    ICCFA ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
  • 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM 
    EXPO HALL OPEN (WITH BRUNCH)
  • 2:30 – 3:30 PM 
    KEYNOTE – Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being
    Shawn Achor
    Sponsored by Service Corporation International
    Until now, we’ve been taught that to be successful, we must better ourselves and rise above others. The pursuit of fulfilling our potential has been individual and isolated. Research now clearly shows that this self-focused approach to achievement puts a cap on our happiness and success. It is only by pursuing potential in an interconnected way that we are able to achieve the heights of our potential in business and education. Only by making others better as we grow, can we see what we are truly capable of.  Based on Shawn’s research, new findings using Big Data revealing the ripple effect of our actions, and his work in 50 countries, he outlines a five-stage strategy for achieving interconnected success and how to apply them to your work and home life for greater energy, productivity, and success.
    Shawn Achor is the NYTimes bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. Shawn is one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success and has worked with over a third of the Fortune 100 companies, and with places like the NFL, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Treasury. Not to mention that his TED Talk is one of the most popular of all time with over 16 million views.

  • 3:30 – 5:00 PM  
    EXPO HALL OPEN (WITH RECEPTION)
  • 4:30 –5:00 PM  
    NEW BOARD ORIENTATION  
  • 6:00 – 10:00 PM 
    PRESIDENT’S BANQUET
    Please join fellow attendees and exhibitors for dinner, drinks, and a show at this year’s President’s Banquet. Featuring comedian Josh Blue, we have moved this staple of the Annual Convention earlier in the week, so no one has to miss out! The evening begins with a reception followed by the annual Celebration of Remembrance and dinner. An additional highlight of the evening will be the induction of Fred Lappin, CCE, into the ICCFA Hall of Fame. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated unselfish service and outstanding contributions to the ICCFA, the deathcare profession, and the public. We will also recognize the 2023 KIP Award winners and at the conclusion of the evening, the ICCFA Presidential transfer will take place as Robbie Pape, CCFE, ends her term and welcomes Lee Longino as ICCFA’s incoming President. Attendees are encouraged to dress in resort casual evening wear for this event.

REGISTRATION OPEN 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

  • 8:00 – 9:00 AM
    PRAYER BREAKFAST
  • 8:30 – 10:00 AM
    MORNING WELCOME COFFEE
  • 9:00 – 10:00 AM
    KEYNOTE – Ignite Moments! How to Become a ‘Customer Company’
    Brian Solis
    Sponsored by Carriage Services
    What does ‘great’ look like to today’s customer? How has their digital lifestyle or relationships with industry-leading brands changed their standards for what great customer engagement and services look like? As ‘the godfather of CX’ and the author of one of the most transformative books on CX innovation, Brian will talk about what it means to become a ‘customer company’ in an evolving hybrid world, one where digital and AI are blurring the lines between physical and online experiences. It all starts by purposefully becoming a ‘customer company’, putting people at the heart of the business. In this exciting and captivating keynote, Brian will transform traditional customer touch points into ‘ignite moments.’ He’ll demonstrate how ignite moments deliver personalization, ‘warmth’, and connected experiences that people love, remember, and share.
    Brian Solis is a world-renowned digital anthropologist and futurist who has been called “one of the greatest digital analysts of our time.” Forbes called him “one of the more creative and brilliant business minds of our time.” He is also an award-winning author and global keynote speaker on disruptive trends and technologies and their impact on businesses, markets, and societies.

  • 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    EXPO HALL OPEN (WITH BRUNCH)
  • 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
    PAST PRESIDENTS LUNCH
  • 1:00 PM – 12:00 AM
    EXHIBIT TEARDOWN
  • 1:00 – 2:00 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Embalming the Autopsy Case:  Techniques That Work
      Shun Newbern CFSP, Metropolitan Mortuary
    • Preserving Celebrations in a Cremation-Centric World
      Moderator: Kent Robertson, Foundation Partners Group
      Panelists: Barbara Kemmis, CANA; Mark J. Krause, Foundation Partners Group; Cole Waybright, Foundation Partners Group; Joe Sharps, Musgrove Mortuary at West-Lawn
      Session Sponsored by Biondan North America Inc.
    • Digital Marketing: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
      Welton Hong, Ring Ring Marketing
      Session Sponsored by The Foresight Companies
    • Navigating the Future of Deathcare: The Power of Mentorship in our Changing Workplace
      Lisa Baue, Your Funeral Coach
  • 2:30 – 3:30 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Honoring Lives Online: Weaving Digital Legacies into the Fabric of Funeral Planning
      Robyn Sechler, GoodTrust
    • The Science of Leading People
      Aaron Butler, Domani Preneed
    • Plan For Success and Succession in Your Business
      Jake Johnson, Johnson Consulting Group
    • AI Tools that Save Time and Enhance Funeral Services
      Curtis Funk, Tukios
    • Live Mock Trial Session: “A Simple Cremation Mistake” (2:30 – 4:30 pm)
      Don Ferfoilia, Jr. and Poul Lemasters, Esq., ICCFA
      Session Sponsored by Coldspring
  • 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Establish Your Funeral Home as the Resource Your Community Needs
      Brianne Niedermyer, Homesteaders Life Company
    • The Power of First-Party Data: Your Website is Worth More Than You Think
      Matt Powell, Tribute Technology
    • A Star Forever
      Ana Palencia, Señoriales Corporación
    • Women In Leadership: Become the Leader You Would Follow
      Robbie Pape, CCFE, Carriage Services
  • 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    ORG BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 
  • 5:00 – 6:00 PM
    EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION RECEPTION

REGISTRATION OPEN 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

  • 8:00 – 9:30 AM
    MORNING WELCOME COFFEE
  • 8:30  – 9:30 AM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Developing A Pet Program
      Andrew Parsell, Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium
    • The Death-Positive Pipeline: A Modern Take on an Ancient Profession
      Christa Ovenell, Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning
    • Viking Funerals and Star Trek – Dare to be Different
      Joe E Pray, Pray Funeral Home, Inc. 
    • Immediate Solutions to Solving the Sales Puzzle
      Jorge Vara II, Fairmount Memorial Association
  • 10:00 – 11:00 AM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Pet Loss Pointers: How Small Gestures Can Create Comfort & Enhance Brand Loyalty
      Andy Lopez, SoCal Approach
    • Blocked, Burned out, Blasé: How to Engage Your Staff to Become Creative and Enthusiastic Professionals
      Glenda Stansbury, INSIGHT BOOKS; Brent Patterson, Tribute Memorial Care Southwest
    • Adding Natural Burial to Your Funeral or Cemetery Business
      Emily Miller, Green Burial Council
    • Tech and Tears: How Grieving is Transformed by Technology
      Mandy Benoualid, Keeper Memorials
  • 11:30 AM– 12:30 PM
    EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

    • Recruiting, Developing and Retaining an Engaged Workforce
      Karen Sheean, Everstory Partners
    • A Snapshot Into Your Consumer: Attitudes and Behaviors That Define Your Future Business Model
      Chris Cruger, The Foresight Companies
    • The Invisible Force – How Organizational Culture Impacts People and Profit
      Gary O’Sullivan CCFE, Gary O’Sullivan Company
    • Decades of Green Burial, What We Did Right
      Ed Bixby, Global Green Burial Alliance; Elizabeth Fournier, Cornerstone Funeral Service
  • 1:00 – 3:00 PM
    • Legal and Legislative Luncheon
      Poul Lemasters, Esq., ICCFA
      Sponsored by Cypress Lawn


Download the 2024 Schedule of Events below!

Please note: this schedule is subject to change. 

Keynote Speaker: Shawn Achor

Sponsored by Service Corporation International

Shawn Achor, bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential to give one of our convention keynotes. Shawn is one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success and has worked with over a third of the Fortune 100 companies, and with places like the NFL, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Treasury. Not to mention that his TED talk is one of the most popular of all time with over 16 million views.

Click here to listen to what Shawn has to say about his keynote presentation!

Keynote Speaker: Brian Solis

Sponsored by Carriage Services

Brian Solis is a world-renowned digital anthropologist and futurist. He is also an award-winning author and global keynote speaker. Brian’s research, advisory and presentations humanize disruptive trends and technologies and their impact businesses, markets, and societies. He not only helps audiences understand what’s happening and why, he explains complex subject in a way that everyone can understand. He then visualizes future opportunities and inspires people to take leading roles in defining the future they want to see.

Click here to listen to what Brian has to say about his keynote presentation!

2024 ICCFA Board of Directors Elections

Electing new board members to serve the association is one of the active responsibilities of membership, and we are privileged to have a talented slate of members who want to actively participate in the future of ICCFA. In accordance with the ICCFA Bylaws, six (6) Regular members shall be elected to serve a term of three (3) years and one (1) Professional/Supplier member shall be elected to serve a term of two (2) years.

Online voting will take place on the AssociationVoting.com secure voting platform. The primary contact for all active ICCFA Regular members will receive an email on Thursday, March 7, indicating their voting eligibility, which will be followed by an email from AssociationVoting.com that will contain their voting credentials and the link to the voting platform. Voting will remain open until the 2024 ICCFA Member of Members, which is taking place at the 2024 ICCFA Annual Convention & Expo held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL on Thursday, April 11 at 12 pm EST.

Hotel Accommodations

The ICCFA’s rooming blocks at the Tampa Marriott Water Street, JW Water Street, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place/House Tampa Downtown are now closed. Please find a list of hotels near the Tampa Convention Center below:

  • Hilton Tampa Downtown
    .8 miles away from the Tampa Convention Center, approximately a 10 minute walk
    211 North Tampa Street
    Tampa, FL 33602
  • ROOST Tampa
    .6 miles away from the Tampa Convention Center, approximately a 14 minute walk
    1050 Water Street
    Tampa, FL 33602
  • The Westin Tampa Waterside
    .3 miles away from the Tampa Convention Center, approximately a 6 minute walk
    725 South Harbour Island Boulevard
    Tampa, FL 33602

Beware of scammers! The ICCFA does not utilize any outside organizations to provide services like hotel bookings.

ICCFA’s Hall of Fame Award and Lasting Impact Award

Hall of Fame Inductee: Fred Lappin, CCE

The ICCFA’s most prestigious award is entry into our Hall of Fame. Since its creation in 1965, it has been awarded to only 37 individuals. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated unselfish service and outstanding contributions to the ICCFA, to the cemetery, funeral, cremation, and memorialization profession, and, ultimately, to the public. Fred Lappin, CCE, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the President’s Banquet on April 11 at the 2024 ICCFA Annual Convention and Exposition in Tampa, Florida.

Lappin began serving as a volunteer with the ICCFA in 2001 as a member of the Sales and Marketing Committee. His subsequent positions have included multiple terms on the Board of Directors, including three Vice President appointments. He was a co-chair for both the Fall Leadership and Sales & Marketing Conferences and has served on a variety of committees, including the Mission Statement, Strategic Planning, Future Directions, Service Bureau, and more. Lappin has also been selected to serve on numerous Executive Committees and, most notably, was elected ICCFA President for 2014-15. Additionally, he was an original Trustee/Board member of the ICCFA Educational Foundation and was integrally involved with the inclusion of The Jewish Funeral Directors of America, Inc. (JFDA), as well as expanding the relationship between the ICCFA and the Latin American Association of Cemeteries and Funeral Services (ALPAR) by attending their events in Panama, Guatemala, and Spain.

Lasting Impact Award Recipient: Jim Price, CCFE, CCrE

The Lasting Impact Awards were created by the ICCFA Educational Foundation to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to furthering professional development and lifelong learning in the funeral, cemetery and cremation profession. Next year’s Lasting Impact Award will be presented to Jim Price, CCFE, CCrE during the Educational Foundation Reception on Friday, April 12, beginning at 5:00 PM.

Price, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations for Johnson Consulting Group, has made it his mission to give back to the future of the deathcare profession. From 2015 to 2023, he took on the role of President and Chairman of the ICCFA Educational Foundation. Under his leadership, the Foundation experienced incredible growth in donations received, scholarships awarded, and impactful initiatives established. Price’s commitment to service remains unwavering as he continues to serve as a Trustee for the ICCFA Educational Foundation, along with his membership in both the Government & Legal Affairs Committee and Veterans Committee. Additionally, he was inducted into the ICCFA Hall of Fame in 2022.

Exhibit in Tampa in 2024!

Exhibiting at our Annual Convention & Exposition is a one-of-a-kind experience. With an event that draws from every corner of the deathcare profession, our sprawling exhibit hall is a cornerstone of the convention as our attendees look forward to seeing the latest products and services from suppliers each year. The expansive exhibit hall is your place to shine and you’ll be able to connect and network with potential clients and customers from across the globe, many with final purchasing authority. There is a booth type and location for businesses of all sizes.

Click here for more information about exhibiting. 

Exhibiting Schedule

  • 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    • Set up/move in
  • 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    • Set up
  • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Booth Inspections
  • 4:15 PM – 7:15 PM
    • Exhibiting
  • 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
    • Exhibiting
  • 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    • Exhibiting
  • 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    • Exhibiting
  • 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Tear down/move out

President’s Banquet Entertainment: Comedian Josh Blue

Thanks to the generosity of Service Corporation International (SCI), the ICCFA is pleased to announce that comedian Josh Blue will perform at the President’s Banquet on the evening of Thursday, April 11!

After his groundbreaking win on Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In the same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth hour special, Broccoli, at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO. In 2021, following his 3rd place finish on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Josh Blue hit the road with his “As NOT Seen on TV” Tour. Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS!

Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information about sponsorships, email Meetings Manager Lindsy Gundrum at lindsy@iccfa.com.

Click here to download the 2024 Annual Convention Sponsorship Prospectus.

Photos from past Annual Conventions