9:00 a.m.  Golf Outing Registration

10:00 a.m. Shot Gun Start

Bucks Run Golf Club

Bucks Run Golf Club

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

MFDA Annual Meeting (Members Only)

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Presented by: Chris Farmer

CHRIS FARMER is General Counsel for the National Funeral Directors Association, the world's leading and largest funeral service association, and founder of The Farmer Firm in Houston, Texas. He has been serving funeral service for over 20 years. 

Presented by: Martha Thayer & Duane Hills

MARTHA THAYER is a presenter, trainer, and online curriculum designer whose work is grounded in longstanding professional practice. She is the founder of Mortuary Training, where she and her team develop modern, practice-focused learning programs for funeral service professionals and organizations nationwide. 
Martha received Emeritus status from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado, after teaching and serving as Chair of the Mortuary Science Department for over 25 years. In 1999, she pioneered the first fully accredited online mortuary science curriculum in the United States, establishing her as an early leader in distance education for funeral service professionals.

DUANE HILLS began his 44-year career following his graduation from Simmons School of Mortuary Science in 1978. A lifelong lover of American History, Duane considers it fate he would find himself named as President of Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home in Washington, DC – the funeral home of the Presidents, and has served in this role for a decade.

In his first book, “One Block West of The White House,” Duane merges his love of American History and his passion for funeral service by way of immersive story telling beginning in 1850 in Washington City, as it was known in that era.

2:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

GRAND OPENING OF EXPOSITION HALL

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

MFDA Party

With Music from 13 Crooks

Sponsored by Brutsche Concrete Products & Central MI Crematory* **  and Santeiu Vaults Inc.*

Presented by: Stephen Kemp

"OSHA & Medical Waste Training"

Stephen R. Kemp, CFSP is owner of Kemp Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Southfield, Michigan. He was formerly an Instructor at Wayne State’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and the University of Tennessee and was also a senior research Associate at the Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute.  He has presented many Research articles for the NFDA, NFDMA and other associations.  He also participated on a panel on Terrorism and Infectious disease agent treatment

Presented by: Nathan Shaw

NATHAN SHAW is a sales representative in Michigan for The Dodge Company since 2023. In 2007 Nathan became a licensed funeral director and embalmer and worked for 17 years at James H. Cole Home for Funerals as a senior embalmer.  Nathan is also an Adjunct Professor at Wayne State University in Chemistry in the Department of Mortuary Science.

Presented by: David Randolph Smith

DAVID RANDOLPH SMITH is a respected Nashville Tennessee personal injury lawyer with decades of experience.  Mr. Smith served as plaintiffs’ counsel in the Tri-State Crematory class action litigation against Georgia Farm Bureau and represented class members who also received and additional settlements.

12:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

LUNCH served from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

EXHIBIT HALL OPEN

Presented by: Ben Parker

"Mortuary Science Rules"

BEN PARKER is the Commercial Licensing Division Director at Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Over the past 13 years, he’s worked as an investigator, manager, and now director, giving him a unique perspective on how licensing impacts businesses across the state. 

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Honors Recognition Ceremony

Monday, May 11, 2026

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

7:00 am – 2:00 pm

• March 6, 2026 - Exhibit and Sponsorship Contracts due
• April 20, 2026- Hotel room block special rate ends

• CE Credits
• Electrical outlet included (must bring your own extension cord/power strip)
• Three (3) Full Convention Registrations
• Draped Backwall & Sidewall (Burgundy/Black)
• Carpeting
• Listing in 2026 Convention Materials
• Security

*For each additional booth purchased you will receive 1 additional convention registration badge.

*Separate from this Lease, you can rent tables, chairs and other items for your booth from Art Craft Display, or you may bring your own tables, chairs, etc. for your booth. Information will be sent after Booth Lease is confirmed.

• Booth = 3 badges (each additional booth purchased includes 1 additional badge)
• 1 Vehicle = 5 Badges
• 2 Vehicles = 8 Badges
• 3 Vehicles = 10 Badges
• 4 Vehicles = 12 Badges