2014 Fall Conference: A New Century of Service Begins

The 101st anniversary CFSA Fall Conference & Trade Show in Indianapolis last month was a smashing success! With nearly 300 attendees over the two-day conference, we almost matched last year’s huge attendance numbers drawn by the Centennial Celebration festivities.

“Another successful Fall Conference.  It was high energy and high impact!!  Great programs, valuable information and a chance to interact with suppliers and customers.  CFSA is 101 years strong and still continues to help its members meet the challenges of the death care industry.”
  – Tina Houck, Schuylkill Haven Casket Co.

Kim Ryan, President of Batesville Casket Company, was the keynote speaker and drew a crowd as she highlighted industry trends and forecasts for the next 20 years. Ryan Thogmartin, CEO and Founder of ConnectingDirectors.com, presented a forward-looking assessment of how Social Media is impacting the funeral supply industry, and a special breakout session of panelists shared credit-management best practices. Tom Fretwell of Freeman Metal Products was awarded the 2014 CFSA Lifetime Recognition Award during the conference (see article on page 3).

Seventeen CFSA past presidents were in attendance (see photo above), new officers and board members for 2014-15 were elected and installed, and the exhibit hall was packed with networking customers and prospects doing business with one another. And in a first for CFSA, we held a wildly successful “Under 40 After Party” late one evening that, inevitably, was crashed by over-40 types!