General Education
Jump to a Specific Session:- Opening Session and Keynote Address
- General Session
- Membership Business and Association Update
- Futures Session: Interactive Conversations on Technology, Trust & Care
Opening Session
Thursday, September 38:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
(in-person and virtual livestream)
This traditional kick-off to the Annual Meeting includes Remembering Our Colleagues and the Keynote Address.
Remembering Our Colleagues
Each year at the Annual Meeting, we take time to honor and remember the members of our community we have lost since we last gathered. This meaningful tradition offers a moment of reflection and remembrance, as we celebrate the lives and legacies of our colleagues together.
Keynote Address
Survival Starts the Story. Resilience Builds the Rest.
Every person and every organization will face a moment that changes everything. What we do next is what defines us. For Rebekah Gregory, that moment came in 2013 at the Boston Marathon finish line. Standing less than three feet from the explosion, her body became a human shield protecting her five-year-old son. The blast cost her leg and began a recovery that has included 76 surgeries.
But survival was only the beginning. In this powerful and deeply human keynote, Rebekah shares what she has learned through lived experience and more than a decade of research about navigating adversity, rebuilding when life changes without warning, and choosing resilience when the path forward feels uncertain. With honesty, perspective, and her signature humor, Rebekah brings audiences inside defining moments of her journey, including the moment she looked the remaining bomber in the eye in federal court and told him she was not his victim.
She reminds us that while we cannot control every hardship we face, we can choose how we move forward. Survival may start the story, but resilience is what builds the rest.
Meet Rebekah Gregory
Rebekah Gregory is not just a survivor; she's a beacon of strength, resilience, and unwavering courage. A renowned inspirational speaker, Rebekah captivates audiences with her powerful story of triumph over tragedy.
As an advocate for trauma survivors, Rebekah has dedicated her life to spreading a message of hope and empowerment. Her dynamic speaking engagements blend raw authenticity with a touch of humor, leaving audiences moved, motivated, and ready to face their own challenges head-on. Rebekah's story is not just about overcoming adversity; it's about finding strength in vulnerability, turning pain into purpose, and embracing the extraordinary potential within us all. Whether on stage or in her bestselling book, Taking My Life Back: My Story of Faith, Determination, and Surviving the Boston Marathon Bombing, Rebekah Gregory continues to impact lives, proving that in the face of adversity, we have the power to redefine our future.
General Session
Emotional Intelligence for Extraordinary Teams: Creating the Optimal Workplace
Thursday, September 33:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
(In-person and virtual livestream)
A Culture of Excellence: Building Success from Within
Emotional Intelligence affects how we manage our emotions, navigate relationships, and achieve positive results. For today’s workforce, emotions are now the biggest factor in employee experience, organizational culture, and team performance. Teams want to feel valued, and they want to work for leaders and companies that truly care about their well-being. Emotions drive performance every day. Positive results in the workplace are determined by how your employees navigate change and uncertainty, including how they impact others on the team.
In this interactive keynote program, Steve Gutzler will provide breakthrough techniques and strategies to create positive influence, high-performing teams, and proven results that will boost your bottom line.
Recent research has made it clear that increasing your emotional currency and emotional intelligence skill set is the single most important driver of an engaged, results-driven, and highly agile workforce.
Key points in this program:
- Self-awareness for better influence and communication among team members
- A deeper understanding of the science behind emotions: what the brain does under pressure, including specific tools and strategies to manage stressful situations
- Building empathy by being sensitive to the underlying emotional exchange
- How to use connected language to improve persuasion skills, impacting outcomes and profitability
- How to win the hearts and minds of your people
Thank you to the sponsor Tribute Technology.
Meet Steve Gutzler
Steve Gutzler, President of Leadership Quest, is a distinguished expert in Human-Centered Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. With extensive experience working alongside some of the world’s most recognized global brands, Steve has delivered hundreds of transformative keynote presentations and leadership development programs that inspire profound personal and professional growth. Specializing in Emotional Intelligence competencies such as self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills — Steve is celebrated for his ability to customize keynote programs that not only inform but also ignite action. His authentic, motivational approach resonates deeply with audiences, empowering them to unlock their full potential both personally and professionally.
With over 25 years of coaching and training experience, Steve has worked with top-performing professionals and teams from Fortune 500 companies and leading organizations. His prestigious client list includes household names like Spotify, Seattle Seahawks, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, Smart Choice Agents, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the FBI National Academy, The Ritz-Carlton, and Facebook.
Membership Business and Association Update
Saturday, September 59:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
(in-person and virtual livestream)
Gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of funeral service. 2026-2027 Board Chair David Moore of Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapels, IA and President J. Sheridan Lee of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, NC will share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping the profession, offering forward-looking strategies to help independent funeral homes navigate professional changes.
Highlights of this session include:
- Outgoing Officers’ Recognition
- Installation of Incoming Board Members and Officers
- Incoming Officers' Addresses: 2026-2027 Board Chair David Moore of Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapels, IA and President J. Sheridan Lee of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, NC will share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping the profession, offering forward-looking strategies to help independent funeral homes navigate professional changes.
- Membership Milestones recognition: Celebrate the legacy of Selected's 50-, 75- and 100-year members with a special tribute.
- Members also will hear from Selected's Executive Director and CEO Rob Paterkiewicz, on the status of the association.
David Moore, J. Sheridan Lee and Rob Paterkiewicz
Futures Session: Interactive Conversations on Technology, Trust & Care
Saturday, September 510:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(in-person and virtual livestream)
The Futures Session returns with a new dynamic, interactive format designed to move beyond inspiration and into action!
Selected member David Larkin of Larkin Mortuary, UT, along with leaders Rachel Drew of Cadence and Curtis Funk of Tukios, will explore how artificial intelligence, evolving consumer expectations, and human-centered design are reshaping the future of funeral service. Technology is transforming how funeral homes connect with their communities from automating daily operations and managing after-hours calls to preparing for a future where families rely on personal AI agents to choose providers. At the same time, new insights into grief, stress, and decision-making are challenging firms to rethink how they deliver support—focusing not only on more touchpoints, but on better-designed experiences that reduce overwhelm and build trust.
New this year! Each presentation will conclude with a thought-provoking question, giving attendees the opportunity to engage in small-group discussions and share perspectives with peers. You won’t just hear about what’s next, you’ll explore how to apply it in your own firm.
David Larkin, Rachel Drew and Curtis Funk