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Previous Seminars
The 2006 Mortuary Management/Funeral Monitor Seminar
March 26-28, 2006
Circus Reno-MGM Grand Resort & Conference Center
Reno, NV
Photos from the seminar appear below. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo.
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| Seminar attendees |
Bill Miller |
Ron Hast |
Bob Killingsworth |
Featuring:
- DEVELOPING COURAGE TO REINVENT OURSELVES
With everything from facilities we offer, even if it means abandoning the existing property and re-investing in totally different facilities — and if so, what should that be? What would it look like? Where should it be located?
- TRANSITIONING INTO EVENT PLANNERS
On a professional level of competence commensurate with wedding arrangers who coordinate a wide range of meaningful ceremonies. What must those events entail?
- EVALUATING OUR HABITS WITH EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS
How can we enhance our services and attract the personnel to make it happen.
- TRANSITIONING PRICING METHODS
So that we can truly function as professionals and not merchants: to give credibility to what we do and eliminate any potential for merchandise pressure on consumers.
- INTRODUCTION OF ELEGANT FULL SERVICE SIMPLICITY CONCEPT BUILDING WITH CREMATORY
- OPEN FORUM FOR ALL ATTENDEES
Open attendee discussion regarding death care and services (the most frequently requested repeat event).
Competing With National Wholesalers &
Audience-Generated Funerals
May 15-17, 2005
Reno, Nevada
Silver Legacy Resort
Featuring:
- BILL JAEHNIG
President, Preferred Funeral Choices / Associate, Universal Casket Company / Costco Supplier
COMPETING WITH NATIONAL WHOLESALERS OFFERING FUNERAL MERCHANDISE
Developing programs with tie-ins to funeral service providers.
- DOUG MEYER
Death Care Attorney
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO LEGAL CONCERNS
Packaging and other methods of merchandising.
- RON HAST
Publisher / Funeral Director / Host
AUDIENCE-GENERATED FUNERALS
Well-received as alternative to traditional services. Not to be confused with celebrant officiants.
- DOUG MEYER, SUSAN SIMON, RON HAST
OPEN FORUM FOR ALL ATTENDEES
Open attendee discussion regarding death care and services (the most frequently requested repeat event).
Honest Evaluation Of Our Future:
Thrive, Exist Or Die
September 24-26, 2004
Photos from the seminar appear below. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo.
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| Seminar attendees |
Michael Wick |
Joshua Slocum |
Troy Shockley |
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American-style caskets
built in China |
Fernwood's mortuary,
built in an unconventional
architectural style |
Ice sculpture at the head
of the buffet |
Ferry from San Francisco
to Tiburon passes
Alcatraz |
Featuring:
- RON HAST
Abbott & Hast Publications
COMPONENTS TO MONITOR: FACILITIES, GROWTH, INCOME, PROFIT AND TRENDS
- MICHAEL WICK
Productivity, Inc. - Tampa, Florida
PET DEATH CARE: PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MORE
- JOSHUA SLOCUM
Funeral Consumers Alliance - Burlington, Vermont
THE ELEPHANT IN THE PARLOR: THE BAD, THE GOOD AND THE FUTURE OF FUNERAL SERVICE
- TROY SHOCKLEY
Greenville Casket Company - Greenville, South Carolina
AMERICAN-STYLE CASKETS FROM CHINA: CONSEQUENCES AND CONCERNS
- FIELD TRIP: FOREVER FERNWOOD IN MILL VALLEY
Unconventional Mortuary, 31-Acre Forest Green Burial
- OPEN FORUM FOR ALL ATTENDEES
Learning From Others’
Proven Outstanding Achievement
December 6-8, 2002
Photos from the seminar appear below. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo.
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Tyler Cassity
presents to the group |
Ron Hast
presents to the group |
Sue Simon, Willard Phipps,
Michael Tod Good
and Kathy Phipps |
John Horan &
John McDonough |
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| Crab feast for everyone! |
Ron Hast & Steve Palmer
holding a crab |
Ron Hast's
1962 Cadillac Limousine |
Tiburon's coastline |
Featuring:
- JOHN HORAN
Funeral director operating seven locations in Denver, Colorado, details his experience and visions presently and into the future.
- TYLER CASSITY
Recognized in the national public media and subject of an HBO feature for masterful accomplishment in the restoration of the famed Hollywood Cemetery (Hollywood Forever), and his vision to bring traditional death care and the celebration of life out of the dark ages. His philosophies and innovations are impressive.
- RON HAST
For well over 30 years, as supplier, funeral service provider and publisher, Ron has kept track of outstanding funeral and death care providers who have raised their visibility and clientele far beyond the achievements of their competition. Most of these concepts and efforts can be as effective today as they were when proven years ago. Over 30 examples presented and detailed — hoping to inspire our participants to go beyond the typical levels of service and also, becoming outstanding.
- TYLER CASSITY, RON HAST, JOHN HORAN & SUSAN SIMON (Funeral Monitor)
Join all participants in a round table discussion. Responses from past seminar attendees always request more time for open, unrestricted dialogue. This informal occasion is intended to provide ample time and attention to the thoughts, ideas and questions of all participants. Seeds of wisdom may be planted in dynamic minds and become the beginning of great advances in death care and funeral service.
The Independent Advantage:
Making It Work For You
May 13-15, 2001
Photos from the seminar appear below. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo.
Featuring:
- RON HAST
LESSONS FROM JESSICA MITFORD’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
Created and orchestrated by family and friends. No funeral director involved. Cost more than three times the American national average for a funeral with body present. (Ron was only funeral director present and invited).
- LESSONS FROM JAPAN WHERE CREMATION IS THE NORM
Funeral costs average more than three times in the U.S.A. in U.S. dollars, with cremation. Caskets are simple and utilitarian. Learn why. Ron was twice guest of volume funeral providers, where ceremonies, food and services are unique.
- HANK NELLY
PAST PRESIDENT OF PROVIDENT SERVICES INC., HOUSTON, TEXAS —
NOW PRESIDENT OF FIELDWOOD FINANCIAL IN HOUSTON
Hank presented the forces and achievements of consolidators, present status in death care, and speculates about the future of consolidators and independent firms. This detailed presentation is not consolidator bashing, but offered to better understand the dynamics of independents and consolidators in death care.
- RICHARD CALLAHAN
ARE YOUR FILES AN ASSET OR LIABILITY AND DEFENSIBLE IN COURT?
Dick is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, former independent owner and consolidator executive. He has been employed in over 100 cases as expert witness in funeral service related litigation. Participants learned about liability exposure and limits of insurance policies.
- RON HAST
ROUTINE, FILL-IN-THE-BLANK FUNERALS AND OUR FUTURE
Seminar participants studied together ways and means to personalize ceremonial events and the environment commitment that few are making.
- HANK NELLY
FINANCING FOR EXPANSION AND ACQUISITION
Hank's many years as Past President of Provident Services Inc., which specialized in financing for independent funeral providers, and now founding President of his own Fieldwood Financial, confirms him as expert in the field of specialty loan protocol. Bring your questions, intentions, goals, and ideas to receive his qualified advice on funeral service financing.
Building Strength,
Profit And Client Satisfaction
March 28-30, 1999
Featuring:
- CRAIG VOGEL
EVERY FUNERAL PROVIDER MUST EMBRACE PRENEED, OR…
Vice President of Keystone Group Holdings in charge of preneed programs, Craig has an impressive background in the establishment and management of various funeral service preneed programs.
- DR. VANDERLYNE PINE
THE MANY DIMENSIONS OF RETIREMENT PLANNING
Since 1970, Dr. Vanderlyn Pine has provided consulting services to the funeral profession - and effectively assisted hundreds of clients in planning, expansion, acquisitions, and retirement structure.
- JOHN HORAN
COMPETING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
John Horan has developed and expanded his funeral service holdings in Denver, Colorado while competing with Catholic Diocese that provides mortuary and cemetery services to the greater Denver region. Any person who anticipates the likely possibility that competition may occur from Catholic sponsored cemetery/mortuary combinations will gain from first hand experiences and sound advice.
- RON HAST
CREATING, PRESENTING AND DIRECTING SECULAR FUNERALS
Publisher and executive editor of Mortuary Management and Funeral Monitor, and licensed funeral director, Ron discussed issues regarding secular funerals. The ability to present carefully preorganized alternatives to the routine funeral will provide true options of choice.
Also featured were:
- SUBJECTS OF CONCERN:
All participants brought up specific questions and concerns, which were addressed and discussed.
A full session of this seminar assured ideas and answers from colleagues and experienced leaders in funeral service.
- EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT:
A variety of table-top exhibits were presented to all participants by various funeral service suppliers.
- HOSTED COCKTAIL PARTY:
As evening arrived, cocktail and hors’d’oeurves were served while exhibits remained open.
Some of the seminar attendees (from left to right)
John Cabot, Enoch Glascock, Latasha Company, Ron Hast, Alan Severson, Nick Jones, Rafael Jose
Kirt Hill, Tina Hill, Bill Forsberg, Kevin Waterston, Jay Kleczka
Managing Your Way To Success
November 2-4, 1997
Featuring:
- ERNIE HEFFNER
THE EXCEPTIONAL FIRM:
WHAT IT PROVIDES, AND EMPOWERING OTHERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
With Ernie's leadership, 18 firms in communities surrounding the traditional market of York, Pennsylvania, consolidated. The resulting bold changes in tradition and sensible ideas have attracted the attention of funeral service colleagues nationwide. Seminar participants learned the strategies and techniques that make a difference. Ernie explained why he eliminated casket display rooms.
- TINA HILL
WHY SHOULD A FAMILY SELECT YOUR FIRM INSTEAD OF YOUR COMPETITOR?
Community relations, along with attractive facilities and services, appeal to client families. Tina is effective in bringing attention and business to Miller-Jones Mortuaries in the retirement community of Hemet, California. Her methods and enthusiasm improved participants outlook and business prospects.
- ENOCH GLASCOCK
TELEPHONE INQUIRIES: TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The proof is in the results. Enoch has rapidly built high case volume and places priority on telephone technique to attract client families. Seminar participants learned how he does it.
- RON HAST
BUYING AND SELLING FUNERAL HOMES WITH NO MONEY DOWN
Ron has bought and sold funeral homes with no money down and shared details confirming that this procedure can yield the best advantage for both buyer and seller — and perhaps provide special opportunity for devoted employees and worthy family successors.
COMPETING WITH THIRD PARTY CASKET MERCHANTS
Careful evaluation of the price and cost of services, merchandise, and package offerings provides client families with clear choices and a clear picture of value received from your funeral home.
- QUINN EAGAN
SECURING FUTURE INDEPENDENCE WITH SENSIBLE PRENEED PROGRAMS
A long-term provider of Preneed Funeral Programs, headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana, supporting independent funeral directors and consolidators. Quinn explained the basics of preneed to help determine potential value in your market. There are only 100 cents in a paid preneed dollar. Learn how dollars apply.
Building A Competitive Edge
In Funeral Service
February 2-4, 1997
Featuring:
- DAVID DALY
President of Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery in Seattle, Washington, Dave has faced major increases in the request for cremation and responded with creative changes in providing funeral services and merchandise. Newly designed, state-of-the-art facilities have enhanced choices, resulting in distinct personalized tributes — a bold move to augment routine traditions. His ideas, concepts, facts and figures are enlightening!
- GEORGE FOLEY JR.
Executive Vice President of The York Group, Inc., George places caskets and other choices in perspective when funeral merchandise is offered to client families. A veteran leader who has stayed in touch with trends and changes, George’s insight and position in funeral service brings solid advice and counsel to those who plan on a successful funeral service career.
- RON HAST
Independent funeral director and publisher of Mortuary Management magazine and Funeral Monitor newsletter, Ron highlights a number of outstanding funeral directors, present and past, and shares their philosophies and specific achievements. Seminar participants learned how certain funeral directors gained a significant advantage over their competition, and why.
- DOUG MEYER
A seasoned corporate and now private attorney specializing in all phases of funeral home legal management, Doug focuses on the presentation, sale, and purposes of caskets in providing death care and funeral services. Issues raised by casket stores were addressed.
- FRANK SESSIONS
President of the Sessions Group, Inc., Frank explained proven methods to increase service and sales revenue through management, staff leadership and training.
- SUBJECTS OF INTEREST
All participants may bring specific questions and concerns, which were addressed and discussed. A full session of this seminar assures ideas and answers from colleagues and seasoned leaders in funeral service.
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