Funeral Directors from across Michigan will convene in Mount Pleasant at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on May 12-14, 2025, for the Michigan Funeral Directors Association’s Annual Convention.
Please join us for the MFDA Golf Outing on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Bucks Run Golf Club in Mt. Pleasant, MI, exhibitors are welcome to participate.
Check out the information below for more event details. We look forward to seeing you soon!
For more information on the Mount Pleasant area, visit the Meet Mt. Pleasant website.
Registration Fees
Type | Before May 6, 2025 | Onsite/After May 6, 2025 |
MFDA Member | $200 | $250 |
Non-Member | $350 | $400 |
MFDA Retiree/Spouse | $100 | $125 |
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 | $200 | $200 |
Registration
Online registration will open February 1, 2025!
Register for MFDA’s 147th Annual Convention to be held May 12-14, 2025, at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI. Those who register prior to May 6 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
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858
Group Rate $149
To Register Online:
- Reserve your room by clicking HERE
- Select “Book Now” and then change the “Promo Code” to “Group Code” by selecting the drop-down arrow.
- Enter the group code MFDA051125 and complete your reservation.
- Make sure to select the conference dates in May 2025 to get accurate information.
To Register Via Phone:
- Call the reservation department at 1-877-232-4532 and use the same group code MFDA051125.
Room Block Available Until April 4, 2025
2025 MFDA Convention Schedule of Events
Monday, May 12, 2025
Bucks Run Golf Club
1559 S Chippewa Rd, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
9:00 am Registration
10:00 am Shotgun Start
Lunch on the turn
Golf is $200 per person or $800 for a foursome
Bucks Run Golf Club, Michigan’s premier golfing destination, sits on 290 acres of luscious bent-grass in scenic Mt. Pleasant, MI. The award-winning golf course features 18 holes spread across natural wetlands, wooded areas, river frontage, and picturesque lakes. The course is abundant with beautifully sculpted tee boxes and fairways, while the sand bunkers and rough prove to be both challenging and fair.
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025 | |
9:00 a.m. Golf Outing Registration 10:00 a.m. Shot Gun Start |
Bucks Run Golf Club Bucks Run Golf Club |
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025 | |
7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Move-In |
7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | REGISTRATION OPEN |
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Annual Meeting |
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Service of Remembrance |
11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Workshop/Luncheon |
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Presented by: Kelly Koerner "Supporting Grieving Children & Teens" Kelly Koerner, MA, LPC serves as the Program Director of Ele's Place-Capital Region. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Kelly also has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Adler University in Chicago, Il. As the longest continuously serving employee of Ele’s Place, she has proudly held a number of positions within the organization, including Bereavement Coordinator, Program Volunteer Coordinator and Associate Program Director. Prior to working at Ele’s Place, Kelly worked for a non-profit organization in Chicago supporting children and teens in foster care. |
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1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker | |
Presented by: Coach Mark Dantonio Mark Dantonio, Michigan State University’s Hall of Fame football Coach. Coach Dantonio was the Head Football Coach at Michigan State University from 2007 to 2019, presiding over the most successful era in the program’s history. He led the Michigan State Spartans to three Big Ten Conference championships and eight victories over archrival Michigan in 13 years. |
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2:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
GRAND OPENING OF EXPOSITION HALL |
6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. |
WSU Reception |
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025 | |
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | REGISTRATION OPEN |
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Workshop | |
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 |
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10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | Workshop - EDRS |
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Workshop |
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Presented by: Mark Klingenberger "Better Communication with Families" Mark Klingenberger began his career in 1988 when he joined Hillenbrand Industries with Forethought. He worked managing Premier Preneed for D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Homes for 6 years before he joined Wilbert in 2005. There he held several roles including the Vice President of Sales & Marketing. He is currently managing Sales & Marketing for Brutsche Concrete. |
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12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Past Presidents Luncheon (Invitation Only) |
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | EXPOSITION HALL OPEN |
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | MMSF Meeting |
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Workshop | |
Presented by: Dominick Astorino "Defending the Truth: Embalming, Media & Bias" Dominick J. Astorino is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the states of Michigan and Illinois and has taught in the mortuary science department at Wayne State University for the last 10 years. He is frequently invited to present lectures on embalming and restorative art across the United States and Canada as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Most recently, he is the author of the new restorative art textbook entitled Postmortem Restorative Art: Principles, Methods, and Applications. Workshop Sponsored by Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions |
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5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Honors Recognition Ceremony |
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |
MFDA Party With Music from Frog and The Beeftones |
Exhibit/Sponsor Registration
Exhibitor & Sponsor Details
- Booth size: 9' Wide x 12' Deep
- Includes complimentary electrical
- Booth Fees: $800
EXHIBIT HOURS
MOVE IN | |
Monday, May 12, 2025 Tuesday, May 13, 2025 |
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm 7:00 am – 2:00 pm |
SHOW HOURS | |
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 2:15 pm - 6:00 pm |
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 12:30 am - 3:30 pm |
REMINDERS
DEADLINES |
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BOOTH LEASE* INCLUDES |
*For each additional booth purchased you will receive 1 additional convention registration badge. |
BOOTH STAFF | Exhibit & Vehicle Rates include the following number of Badges:
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Please contact Sandy West at swest@mfda.org for Exhibitor or Sponsor registration information.
2025 Service of Remembrance
2025 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 Sandy West at the MFDA Office at swest@mfda.org or at 1-888-955-6332 as soon as possible.
25 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 2000) |
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Regina Burns-Goldsberry | Robert J. Gilbert, CFSP, CPC, CMFP |
Caren L. Crawford | Michael S. Kolb, CFSP |
Jeremy P. Davis | Brian S. Merkle |
Thomas F. Erickson | Adrianna N. Schnell |
Justin G. Garber | Mary Ellen Wasik-Corio |
40 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 1985) |
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Daniel J. Cook | Michael O'Laughlin |
Frederic DeGraaf | Kevin K. Pike |
Suanne M. Guarnieri | David D. Rosier |
Stephen R. Kemp, CFSP | Dale A. Schmidt |
Thomas P. Klein | Paul C.Sterenberg |
Geoffrey Larsen | Daniel Vredeveld |
Loren L. Lumley | Kenneth W. Wolffis |
John P. Murphy | Firyal Yono |
Ronald J. Novak | Randall S. Young |
50 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 1975) |
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Allen Avram | James L. Rea |
Joseph L. Barden | Robert G. Rock |
Lee A. Bobcean | Kathy Rudy-Novak |
Christopher Buhay | Ross M. Schimmel |
Jeffrey A. Caskey | Nancy K. Travis |
Paul E. Kubacki | Gail A. Washington, CFSP |
O.H. Pye, III | Thomas E. Zerbel, CFSP |
60 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 1965) |
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Dennis Brown | Harold E. Labadie |
William H. Fuller Jr. | John W. Mitchell Sr. |
Lee F. Hohner | James A. Walsh |
70 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 1955) |
75 YEAR LICENSEES (Received License in 1950) |
Daniel Garrett | |
Geraldine G. Griffin | |
Leonard Stark |
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Platinum |
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Gold |
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Silver | |
Express Funeral Funding | |
Bronze | |
Chicago Cremation Supplies | |
*Indicates MFSSA Member
**Indicates MFDA Supplier Member