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CFDA's 2026 Annual Convention, Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future, has been approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice to offer 4 Continuing Education (CE) credits.
121st Annual Convention Education Sessions
Katey Houston Presents
Opening Keynote: The Dirt on NOR (Natural Organic Reduction)
Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) will be legal in California in 2027, but families are already seeking it out. In this session, Katey Houston, Director of Family Care at Return Home—the world’s largest NOR facility—takes you inside the process with an in-depth look at the science of transformation, from microbial activity to final soil. Learn how to explain NOR confidently, address misconceptions, and prepare your funeral home to meet growing demand before the law takes effect.
Sherrie Dunlevy Presents
Exhaustion, Burnout and Stress- Oh My! - Self Care Strategies for the Funeral Professional
If you find yourself feeling exhausted, stressed and close to burnout, this session is for you! Join Sherrie Dunlevy as she discusses the causes of these stressors and the consequences your business faces because of a stressed out workforce. She also offers self care strategies that you can use on the job and in your personal life in order to move you toward a better work/life balance
Dr. Carl Wigren Presents
Inside the Autopsy Room: What Funeral Directors Should Know (And Have Always Wanted to Ask)
In this engaging session, Dr. Carl Wigren will walk participants through the autopsy process step by step, from the external examination to the internal examination, including toxicology, photography, and documentation. Along the way, he will explain what is preserved, what may be removed, and how the body is reconstructed for viewing. Dr. Wigren will also address some of the most common misconceptions. The goal is to provide funeral directors with clear, practical knowledge they can use to better serve families.
Ben Schmidt Presents
Closing Keynote: Embalming for Lay People: Helping Families Understand the “Why” and “How”
Families often have questions—and sometimes hesitations—about embalming. This program is designed to equip Funeral Professionals with the language, analogies, and scientific explanations needed to talk about embalming in a way that is clear, compassionate, and relatable. The presentation draws on my decades of experience as an embalmer, educator, and scientist, as well as current research on grief and viewing, including the neurological and molecular pathways involved in grief resolution.