Michigan Funeral Directors

2024_UPDATED_event_logo

Funeral Directors from across Michigan will convene in Port Huron at the Blue Water Convention Center and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on June 3-5, 2024, for the Michigan Funeral Directors Association’s Annual Convention. 

Please join us for the MFDA Golf Outing on Monday, June 3, 2024 at Solitude Links Golf Course and exhibitors are welcome to participate.

Check out the information below for more event details.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Don’t forget to bring your enhanced Driver’s License or your Passport, if you plan to visit Canada!!!

For more information on the Port Huron area, visit the Blue Water Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Online attendee registration closed--you can register on site!

Registration Fees

Type Before May 27, 2024 Onsite/After May 27, 2024
MFDA Member $200 $250
Non-Member    $350 $400
MFDA Retiree/Spouse $100 $150
MFDA Past President $0 $0
Non-Licensed Spouse/Staff $100 $150
MFDA Student/Resident Trainee $25 $25
777 Club Member/Spouse  $0 $0
Golf Outing $150 $150

 

Registration

Online attendee registration closed--you can register on site!

Register for MFDA’s 146th Annual Convention to be held June 3-5, 2024, at the Blue Water Conference Center and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Port Huron. Those who register prior to May 27 will receive $50 special discount.

Convention Registration includes: All educational programming, the exhibition, Service of Remembrance, Honors Reception and the MFDA Party.

 

Hotel Details

Host Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Port Huron

800 Harker St., Port Huron, MI 48060

Group Rate $129

2024 Hotel

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is completely sold out. So, please contact the Holiday Inn & Suites Port Huron at 810-662-3400 and use the Group Code MFDA to make your reservations.


Alternate Hotel

Holiday Inn & Suites Port Huron 
2021 Water St., Port Huron, MI 48060

Group rate $130

To Register Online:

  • Reserve your room by clicking HERE
  • Enter the group code MFDA and complete your reservation.

To Register Via Phone:

  • Call the reservation department at 810-662-3400 and use the same group code MFDA.

Room Block Available Until May 16, 2024

2024 MFDA Convention Schedule of Events

Monday, June 3, 2024

Solitude Links Golf Course
5810 Flinchbaugh Road 
Kimball, MI 48074

8:00 am Registration
9:00 am Shotgun Start
Lunch on the turn
Golf is $150 per person or $600 for a foursome

Solitude Golf Course

 

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024

8:00 a.m.  Registration & Team Photo's

9:00 a.m. Shot Gun Start

Golf Outing at Solitude Links Golf Course

Lunch on the Turn

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024
7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Exhibitor Move-In-Lake Huron Hall
8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. REGISTRATION OPEN

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Workshop

Wally Hooker

Presented by: Wally Hooker

"The Final Touch"

Wallace P. (Wally) Hooker, CFSP, MBIE, is the owner/funeral director/embalmer of Family & Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, IN. Wally does a significant amount of trade embalming from his funeral home. He is routinely called on by other professionals, for technical consultation, to assist with their problem cases. He is a featured writer, ‘Embalming 101’ in Nomis Publication’s Funeral Home & Cemetery News.

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Workshop/Luncheon
Chris Farmer

Presented by: Chris Farmer

"FTC Compliance and the Future of the Rule"

Chris Farmer is General Counsel for the National Funeral directors Association and founder of The Farmer Firm in Houston, Texas. He has been serving funeral service for 20 years. Chris provides counsel on business matters, regulatory matters, buying and selling, litigation, employment law, and any other legal matters the funeral profession faces.

Box lunch provided.

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Service of Remembrance

3:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

GRAND OPENING OF EXPOSITION HALL

6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

WSU Reception

 

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. REGISTRATION
8:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Workshop
Mark Harrison

Presented by: Mark Harrison
via Zoom

"OSHA & Medical Waste Training"

Mark Harrison is the president of Certified Safety Training, the exclusive safety and compliance provider to NFDA. Mark has extensive experience in online education and digital training and has launched successful online safety and compliance services in the death care industry.

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Michigan Mortuary Science Foundation Meeting

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

EXPOSITION HALL OPEN

12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Past Presidents Luncheon (Invitation Only)
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Workshop
Antonio Green

Presented by: Antonio Green

"Understanding the Millennial Mindset"

Antonio Green is a fourth-generation funeral director at his family’s firm James H. Cole Home for Funerals.  Antonio has been a licensed mortician for over 15 years.  In 2021, Antonio took on the task of becoming a published author. His book "Talk to Me -Understanding the Millennial Mindset" was written to help people better understand the Millennial generation, specifically small business owners.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker Presentation
Chandler Cassi

Presented by: Cassi Chandler

"Building the Human for Tomorrow"

Cassi Chandler was the FBI’s first African American Special Agent Assistant Director, as well as the bureau’s first female national spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs. In more than 23 years with the FBI, Cassi directed investigations into the white collar crimes, terrorism, cybercrimes, and foreign intelligence activities, while also evolving its healthcare fraud and domestic terrorism intelligence program.

Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Honors Recognition Ceremony

6:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

MFDA Party

Sponsored by Brutsche Concrete Products, C & J Financial and Santeiu Vaults

Exhibit/Sponsor Registration

Exhibitor & Sponsor Details

  • Booth size: 8' Wide x 10' Deep
  • Booth Fees: $830

MFDA will raffle off one (1) free booth space for the 2024 convention to be held in Port Huron.  Only Michigan Funeral Supply Sales Association (MFSSA) members exhibiting are eligible to participate in the raffle.   

EXHIBIT HOURS

MOVE IN  

Monday, June 3, 2024

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

7:00 am – 2:30 pm

SHOW HOURS  
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 3:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

 

REMINDERS

DEADLINES
  • March 29, 2024 - Exhibit and Sponsorship Contracts due
  • May 2, 2024- Hotel room block special rate ends
BOOTH LEASE* INCLUDES
  • One 6ft table and two chairs (Black table linen is included)
  • Electrical outlet included (must bring your own extension cord/power strip)
  • Three (3) Full Convention Registrations
  • Draped Backwall & Sidewall
  • Carpeting
  • Listing in 2024 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 STAFF Exhibit & Vehicle Rates include the following number of Badges:
  • 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

 

Please contact Sandy West at swest@mfda.org for Exhibitor or Sponsor registration information.

 

2024 Service of Remembrance

Service of Remembrance 2024

2024 Honoree Achievements in Funeral Service

To ensure that everyone deserving of recognition at this year’s Honors Recognition Ceremony is included, please take a few minutes to review the list below. If you or someone you know is not listed, but should be, please contact Megan Rosenbery at the MFDA Office at mrosenbery@mfda.org or at 1-888-955-6332 as soon as possible.

25 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1999)

Todd Ager, CFSP

Rayme R. LaBean
Jason B. Barclay Jeffrey A. Lamparski, CFSP
Jeffrey Bell Todd M. Luchies
Patricia M. Bucchare Michael Kelly Martin
Amelia Buhay William M. Oaks
Matthew W. Buresh Traci Palmateer
D. Chad Esch Jerry Pennock
Larry Ferguson Arin Rudd
Bruce Feuerstein Robert K. Stroo
Donald E. Hanson Todd Turowski
Timothy Harris  
Daniel Jansen  
Lorrie A. Johnson  
Robert D. Johnson  
Stephanie Kehrer  
James E. Koops  
Christopher E. Korkoian  
   
40 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1984)
Thomas Basel Michael J. Raudio
Keith Bildner Jeffrey C. Rupp
Paula Coleman  Robert D. Schwarzkoff
Kelly J. Dawson Louis B. Smith
Stevan M. Garrett Samuel A. Smith
Gregory B. Hackman Charles T. Stallard
Karen G. Hardy Kenneth C. Throop
John D. Kaatz Doug Walls
Terry Kaufman June R. Williams, CPC, CFSP
John W. Kendrick William H. Wint
Sherry A. Marshall, CFSP  
Ross C. Meyering  
50 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1974)
James K. Allred James D. Crawford
Stephen Baron Mark E. Kendall
Richard E. Bowerman Bruce E. Lindke
David C. Brown, CFSP Raymond C. Lope
Kim A. Cederberg scott Meyersieck, CPC, CFSP, COO
Paul S. Connell Bob W. Nelson
Gregory T. Connelly David Techner
Randall F. Cook Monty S. Wulff
60 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1964)
70 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1954)
E.G. Buresh, Jr. Donald J. Crawford
Douglas W. Clark  
Terence B. Desmond, CFSP 75 YEAR LICENSEES
(Received License in 1949)
Donna Dodds Hamm, CFSP

Richard P. McLaughlin, CFSP

David J. Klaassen Joseph Eugene Pray
John F. Kuiper, Sr., CFSP  
James M. Lamb  
John K. Stroo  

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Platinum

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Federated Insurance**
Brutsche Concrete Products* NGL
C&J Financial Santeiu Vaults*

 

Gold

Austin's Funeral Coach Service* Physicians Mutual
funeralOne Precoa
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions* Preferred Removal Services Inc.* **
NFDA Prudent Investor Advisors, LLC

 

Silver
American Coach Sales* Hilton Funeral Supply* **
Cincinnati Equitable Life Ins. Company Inch Memorials*
D.E. Hodges Company* Private Label/Drink the Message
Express Funeral Funding Ross A. Corio Funeral Service Professionals* **
Genesee Valley Vault*  

 

Bronze
Batesville Casket* Precious Memories*
Exclusive Transportation* Public Funeral Car Service* **
Farm Bureau Insurance-Michael Smith Agency LLC Silvey's Metro Removal Service* **
FT North America Six Feet Over
Homesteaders Life Company**  


*Indicates MFSSA Member
**Indicates MFDA Supplier Member