2026 Annual Convention and Expo
April 26-28, 2026
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
777 W. Cherokee St.
Catoosa, OK 74015
The room rate is $139.00/night plus tax. OKFDA encourages you to stay under our room block, because it helps OKFDA reach contractual obligations with the hotel. Reserving your room under OKFDA’s Room Block is one way you can help OKFDA! Once you are registered you will be emailed the link for the Hotel Room Block.
🎯 Get Ready to Toss, Compete, and Conquer! 🎯
Think you’ve got the best aim in town? Grab your partner and join us for an epic Cornhole Tournament! Fun, friendly competition, and bragging rights are on the line—do you have what it takes to be the champion? 🌽🏆
Sign up now and let the bags fly!
Agenda
Sunday, April 26, 2026 |
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| TIME | Number of CEUs | PROGRAM | SPEAKER | LOCATION |
| 8:00 a.m. | Pipe and Drape Setup | Sequoyah Ballroom | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | Golf Tournament-Shotgun Start |
Cherokee Hills Golf Course |
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| 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Exhibit Hall Set Up |
Sequoyah Ballroom |
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| 4:00 p.m. | 1-CEU |
Ethics & Regulatory Outlook 2026 |
Marty Ludlum |
Deer Room |
| 5:00 p.m. |
1-CEU |
Ethical Challenges in 2026 |
Marty Ludlum |
Deer Room |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Campfire Social |
Sponsored by Zuker Group Consulting |
Sky Room |
|
| 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
Opening Party-OKFDA Cornhole Tournament |
Sponsored by Federated Insurance |
Sky Room |
|
| Monday, April 27, 2026 | ||||
| 7:00 a.m. | Registration | Convention Registration | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | 2-CEU |
The Relevance of Restorative Art |
Dominick Astrino | Deer Room |
| 10:00 a.m. | OKFDA Memorial Service | Celebrant Glenda Stansbury | Deer Room | |
| 11:00 a.m. | 1-CEU | OKFDA Annual Business Meeting & Election of Officers 25/50 Year Pin Award Ceremony |
OKFDA Board Members | Deer Room |
| 12:00 noon | Lunch On Your Own | |||
| 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
1-CEU |
Trade Show Exhibits |
OK Funeral Supply Sales Club | Sequoyah Ballroom |
| 4:00 p.m. | 1-CEU | Air Force Mortuary Affairs History & Operations | Tracey Bacon | Deer Room |
| 5:00 p.m. | 1-CEU | Natural Organic Reduction | Earthfuneral | Deer Room |
| 6:30 p.m. | Campfire Social | Sponsored by Zuker Group Consulting | Sky Room | |
| 7:00 PM | President's Banquet | Sponsored by Homesteaders | Sky Room | |
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Tuesday, April 28, 2026 |
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| 7:30 a.m. |
Registration |
Convention Registration | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | 1-CEU | Retirement & Fiduciary Responsibilities | Harold Grubbs | Deer Room |
| 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | 1-CEU | Trade Show Exhibits | OK Funeral Supply Sales Club | Sequoyah Ballroom |
| 11:00 a.m. | 1-CEU | TBD | Homesteaders Life | Deer Room |
| 12:00 noon |
Past President's Luncheon |
Bear Room | ||
| 12:00 noon | 1-CEU |
Funeral Services: Loss Exposure & Risk Management |
Riley Smith-Federated Insurance | Deer Room |
Attendee Registration
Join us for three days of education, networking, and industry connection as we head outdoors for an experience designed to help you sharpen your skills, explore new ideas, and recharge with fellow funeral professionals from across Oklahoma. Just like a successful hunt, this Convention & Expo is all about preparation, strategy, and discovering the best tools to help you succeed.
Early Bird Registration is available through April 3, 2026, so don’t wait — lock in your spot and save before the trail gets crowded.
Why you won’t want to miss it:
* Educational sessions focused on strengthening your practice
* An Expo Hall filled with trusted vendors and innovative solutions
* Opportunities to reconnect, share stories, and build camaraderie
* A setting designed to inspire, refresh, and refocus
* The Installation of OKFDA President John Decker, celebrating a special and historic moment for our Association. John proudly becomes the third member of the Lanman family to serve as President, continuing a remarkable legacy begun by his grandmother, our first Lady President, Irene Lanman, and carried forward by his cousin, our second Lady President, Kacey Ferguson.Whether you’re scouting new ideas, tracking industry trends, or simply enjoying the fellowship of colleagues, the 123rd Convention & Expo promises to be well worth the trip.
📍 Register today at OKFDA.com or by clicking the link below and secure your place at this year’s gathering.
We look forward to seeing you around the campfire in 2026!
Speakers
Tracey Bacon
TRACEY R. BACON, Mortuary Affairs Specialist
Ms. Tracey R. Bacon is a Mortuary Affairs Specialist with , Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO), Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. AFMAO is a Field Operating Agency under Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force. AFMAO has global responsibility for all Air Force mortuary matters for current and past conflicts, operates the nation's sole port mortuary and provides global contingency mortuary response teams in support of Air Force and combatant command requirements.
Ms. Bacon attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL. Ms. Bacon graduated in March of 2007 with an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Cameron University in Lawton, OK. Ms. Bacon served her apprenticeship with Justen Family Funeral homes in McHenry, Round Lake and Wonder Lake, IL. She has also worked in Florida. She has been licensed since 2007 and her most recent position is as a Mortician with AFMAO since August of 2023.
Ms. Bacon served in the U.S. Army. She retired as an E8 in September of 2017. Her last duty station prior to retirement was Fort Sill, OK where she served as a First Sergeant. Prior to joining AFMAO, Ms. Bacon worked for Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home in Lawton, OK. She is licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in Oklahoma and Illinois.
Dominick Astrino
Dominick J. Astorino holds degrees in cellular biology, mortuary science, and forensic medicine; he is on faculty at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and Wayne State University in Detroit, where he teaches courses in embalming, restorative art, and pathology.
His work in the field of restorative art and embalming is highlighted by publications as well as frequent invitations to present lectures across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Dominick believes in the power of education and the global value that viewing the dead offers to society. Because of this core belief he has worked to improve the standards of care not just in the United States but also in places such as Kenya, Trinidad, Hong Kong, and South Africa. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Michigan and Illinois, has sat on the restorative art curriculum review committee for the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and offers expert witness testimony in legal proceedings related to mortuary science.
Dominick is fully committed to elevating educational standards and fostering a deeper understanding of restorative art, especially as it correlates to embalming and forensic medicine. He is the author of the textbook Postmortem Restorative Art: Principles, Methods & Applications, which has been described as a seminal work in the field of mortuary science. This textbook reflects over 20 years of research and practical experience aiming to provide an accessible yet thorough examination of restorative art.
Harold Grubbs
President of Financial Management, Inc®., Harold has specialized in strategic financial planning for over 28 years, advising individual and corporate clients about their financial goals. He has concentrated in financial planning, asset allocation and portfolio management, retirement planning, estate planning, risk management design and analysis. He emphasizes personalized service and enjoys helping clients make informed decisions based on proven academic research.
Harold entered the financial services industry in 1982. Prior to 1982, he was a manager and marketing specialist with a Fortune 100 company. Harold joined FMI in 1986. Previously, he was vice president of a regional financial services firm, and from 1986 to 1993 was a managing executive for one of the nation’s largest financial services firms.
He has past associations with four Broker Dealers– Equity Capital Corporation (1993-1995), Royal Alliance Associates (1989-1993), HFG Investment Group, LLC (2002-2003), and The Leaders Group, Inc. (1997-2002; 2003-2004). Harold is a member of the board of directors of Earth Science Laboratories, Inc., a privately-held company located in Bella Vista, Arkansas (1992-present). He was a manager and investment advisor for an affiliated registered investment advisory firm, Pinnacle Asset Management, LLC (2000-2005). Harold was formerly president of Financial Planning Resources, Inc. (1982-2001), which merged with Financial Management, Inc.® in 2001. He is a Registered Financial Consultant. Harold is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst ® in association with the Center for Fiduciary Studies in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition, he is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, and the Investment Management Consultants Association. Harold attended the University of Southern Mississippi, Millsaps College, and Mississippi College.
Marty Ludlum
Professor Marty Ludlum teaches business law at the University of Central Oklahoma and is a licensed attorney. He has made numerous presentations on the funeral industry at state and national conventions and had articles in national and state funeral magazines. Professor Ludlum has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in economics, a Master’s degree in communication and a Juris Doctor, all from the University of Oklahoma. Professor Ludlum is the Education Director for Osiris Funeral Home Software.
Riley Smith
Riley Smith is an Account Executive in the Association Risk Management Services department of Federated Insurance. Riley is responsible for managing Federated’s association and buying group partners in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Riley earned his Bachelor’s degree at Baylor University, graduating in 2021. He joined Federated that same year, starting in June, where he was a successful marketing representative in Austin, Texas. Riley earned the trust of hundreds of business owners in the areas of safety, risk, and business management; focusing on value, service, and relationships.
Riley now resides in Fort Worth area with his wife, Cailin, and newborn son, Wesley. Riley is an avid college sports fan and enjoys a round of golf when he’s not working.
Exhibitors
Charting the Trail: Honoring Tradition, Exploring Innovation
The Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association is excited to invite you to join us for our 123rd Annual Convention and Expo, taking place April 26-28, 2026, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, OK This year, we’re gathering like-minded professionals at basecamp for a few days of connection, discovery, and forward momentum.
Your company has long been a trusted partner in the funeral service profession, consistently providing tools, services, and innovations that help funeral directors across Oklahoma navigate an ever-changing landscape. We are grateful for your continued commitment to strengthening our profession.
The OKFDA Annual Convention and Expo offers an ideal setting to set up camp and showcase your latest advancements, share ideas around the fire, and connect with industry professionals from across the state. From exploring new technologies to forging strong partnerships, this event serves as a well-traveled trail for growth, collaboration, and shared success.
This year’s convention promises to be a milestone moment as we welcome professionals and industry leaders together and proudly install our President-Elect, John Decker of Helena, Oklahoma. Our outdoor-inspired theme, Charting the Trail: Honoring Tradition, Exploring Innovation, celebrates the balance between time-honored practices and bold new paths forward. We encourage exhibitors to decorate their booths with a rustic, outdoor, or lodge-style flair that brings the theme to life.
To kick things off, John will host an Opening Night Campfire Social, featuring a cornhole tournament, live DJ, and hearty hors d'oeuvres — a relaxed and lively way to unwind, network, and enjoy time with fellow attendees after a full day on the trail.
Beyond the exhibit hall, we encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities to connect with fellow exhibitors and funeral directors throughout the convention. Whether swapping stories, sharing successes, or building new relationships, the OKFDA Convention provides the perfect setting to strengthen your presence within Oklahoma’s funeral service community.
Thank you for being an essential part of the 123rd Annual Convention and Expo. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to a rewarding and successful partnership. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with details and access to the hotel room block.
We’ll see you on the trail this April.
Sincerely,
Dustin B. Pierce
Executive Director
Automobile Vendors
Entrance Door is 88 inches wide by 108 inches tall.
Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles, boats or other motor craft shall not be located indoors except as follows:
Batteries are disconnected.
Fuel in fuel tanks does not exceed one-quarter tank or 5 gallons (19 L) (whichever is least).
Fuel tanks and fill openings are closed and sealed to prevent tampering.
Vehicles, boats or other motor craft equipment are not fueled or defueled within the building.
None at this time.
2026 Convention Sponsors
Legacy Trophy Convention Sponsor |
Big Buck Convention Sponsors |
Turkey Track Convention Sponsors |
Trailblazer Convention Sponsors |
| Sharp Shooter Convention Sponsors |

