146th OFDA Convention & Exhibition & Year-Round Education
The submission deadline is September 1, 2025.
OFDA invites you to share your expertise for the 2025–2026 education cycle. Proposals will be considered for the 146th Annual Convention & Exhibition, as well as additional in-person workshops, live webinars, and on-demand educational content throughout the year.
146th OFDA Annual Convention & Exhibition
April 28–30, 2026
Hilton Columbus at Easton
3900 Chagrin Dr., Columbus, OH 43219
OFDA Convention Fast Facts:
• Audiences are typically composed of funeral professionals, OFDA members and industry partners (vendors, consultants, etc.) • Audience size for learning lab/break-out sessions can range from 30-200 • Audience size for keynote sessions can range from 200-350 • Pro-bono speakers are appreciated. OFDA provides opportunities for speaker visibility via conference marketing materials: pre-convention brochure, convention website, digital communications, and post-conference re-caps
*Click here to learn more about the OFDA Annual Convention & Exhibition!
We welcome practical presentations that encourage connection, innovation, and shared purpose in funeral service. Ideal sessions inspire professional growth, support community engagement, and reflect values of unity, compassion, and collaboration.
Suggested Topics & Themes:
• Business & Operations: Revenue strategies, planning, ownership • Cremation Trends: Arrangements, merchandise, personalization • Embalming & Restorative Art: Technical skills, advanced cases • Funeral Law & Ethics: Right of Disposition, compliance, preneed ethics, family dynamics • Grief & Community Support: Traumatic loss, teen grief, outreach • Team Culture & HR: Mentorship, retention, leadership • Marketing & Communication: Digital tools, branding, client relations • Diversity & Inclusion: Culturally competent, inclusive practices • Wellness & Resilience: Burnout, compassion fatigue, mental health • Sustainability & Modern Memorialization: Green burial, eco-conscious offerings, and modern cremation memorial alternatives
Together, we can create programming that elevates the profession and reinforces the power of working in concert—not in competition!
Continuing Education Note:
*Ohio licensees are required to complete 18 CE hours every two years, including the mandatory required topics outlined below:
• 2 hours Rules and Law (Pertaining to the practice of funeral director, embalming and cremation; current state regulations, compliance issues, or updates to the Ohio Revised or Administrative Code ; includes but not limited to topics such as FTC, ADA, Veterans Affairs, OSHA, etc.) • 1 hour: Preneed Ethics Principles (ethical principles specifically related to preneed funeral contracts, transparency with consumers, consumer protection) • 1 hour: Ethics (Covers broader ethical responsibilities in funeral service, including staff conduct, professional integrity, family interactions, and decision-making frameworks) • 14 hours (maximum) in General Content (May include technical training, business operations, grief support, embalming, cremation, and other professional development topics.)
*Click here to review Ohio Revised Code for Funeral Directors & Embalmers
Submission Guidelines:
• Submit proposals online only (no paper/email submissions) • Incomplete submissions will not be considered. • You may submit up to three proposals. • Sessions must be educational – no sales pitches
Proposal Form Instructions:
1. Presenter details and program content will be used for selection, CE applications, and marketing. Please ensure all submissions are clear, thorough, and accurate. 2. Be sure to include learning objectives, a detailed outline, and complete presenter credentials. 3. Clearly identify if your session meets CE categories: Rules & Law, Preneed Ethics, or General Ethics. We request these categories be a minimum of 60 minutes. 4. Complete the following sections in full or upload the appropriate documents at the end of this form. The upload utility will appear on the 'Thank You' screen after you submit your form.
Please provide all requested information for equal consideration.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
Presenter Information First Name Last Name Job Title Company Name Professional Designation(s) Address City State Zip Business Phone Mobile Phone Email address Website URL
Co-Presenter Information (If Applicable) First Name Last Name Job Title Company Name Professional Designation(s) Address City State Zip Business Phone Mobile Phone Email address Website URL
Program Information Please complete the information OR upload your documents at the end of the form. Should you choose to upload a document, please make such notation in the appropriate field.
Note: the Upload Utility is located at the end of the Call For Presentation form on the 'Thank You' screen and will prompt you at that time to upload your information and photograph.
Program Title Program Subject/Sub Does Program meet any of the following mandatory topics? Please indicate yes or no below for each box:
Ethics choose one Yes No Pre-Need choose one Yes No Rules and Law choose one Yes No
If so, please indicate the number of minutes per mandatory topic included (Minimum of 30 min; in 30 min increments).
Total Program Length (Minimum of 60 min; in 30 min increments)
What makes your presentation unique to other programs on this subject matter?
Provide brief description of key learning objectives/takeaways (bullet point list recommended).
Provide a summary/description of benefit to funeral industry.
Provide Program Outline. Note: not summary/description completed above.
Presenter Qualifications/Credentials
Presenter bio/credentials:
A brief description of background, presentation experience, and qualifications are required below, or please upload files at the end:
Recent presentations given:
Honorarium/expense reimbursement requests. If none, please enter N/A**
Co-Presenter Qualifications/Credentials (If Applicable) Presenter bio/credentials:
A brief description of background, presentation experience, and qualifications are required below, or please upload files at the end:
Recent presentations given
Honorarium/expense reimbursement. If none, please enter N/A.
**Disclaimer: OFDA has a limited budget for speaker compensation, including honoraria, travel, and lodging. In lieu of full compensation, OFDA offers promotional recognition of your affiliated company through event marketing and communications. We value your expertise and appreciate your contribution to the ongoing education of Ohio’s funeral service professionals.
