STERLING, Va. (August 24, 2026) – The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) will bring deathcare leaders from across the country together for the 2026 ICCFA Leadership Summit, October 20–22 at The DeSoto in Savannah, Georgia.
Designed for leaders navigating a rapidly evolving profession, this year’s Summit will combine timely education, practical learning and meaningful networking, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, emerging technology and the importance of maintaining the human connection at the heart of serving families.
“Education is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of our profession,” said ICCFA President John Bolton, CCE, CCrE, CSE, CXE. “The Leadership Summit gives professionals the opportunity to explore the issues shaping their businesses today, learn from experts and one another, and return home with practical ideas they can put to work. This year’s conversations around AI are especially important because our challenge is not simply to adopt new technology, but to understand how to use it thoughtfully while preserving the personal service families depend on.”
A centerpiece of the 2026 educational program will be a series of sessions led by leadership futurist, author and AI strategist Caleb Gardner, co-founder and managing partner of 18 Coffees and a faculty affiliate in Loyola University Chicago’s Lab for Applied AI. Gardner will lead “Human-Centered AI Strategy: Putting AI to Work Without Losing the Personal Touch,” examining where AI can support deathcare operations and where the relationship with families should remain firmly in human hands.
Gardner will also lead “AI in Practice: Free Your Team for Work That Matters,” a hands-on session featuring practical workflows designed to help funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories reduce administrative work and routine communications while allowing staff to devote more time and attention to the families they serve.
The Summit will further explore the changing relationship between technology and grief during “When AI Keeps Us Connected: The Promise and Perils of Digital Afterlife.” The moderated panel discussion will examine AI-powered digital avatars and the emotional, ethical, legal and technological questions surrounding grief, consent, privacy, ownership and the responsible use of a deceased person’s digital identity.
Additional programming will include the Irwin W. Shipper Legislative Session, featuring a timely government and legal update on federal and state developments affecting the deathcare profession. Attendees will be invited to bring questions and share challenges from their own states and regions as part of the discussion.
“The Leadership Summit reflects what ICCFA is all about: bringing the deathcare profession together to learn, connect and prepare for what comes next,” said ICCFA Executive Director Nadira Baddeliyanage. “Leadership today requires both a clear understanding of emerging opportunities and a strong commitment to the people and communities we serve. By creating space for thoughtful conversations around technology, ethics, regulation, innovation and the future of deathcare, ICCFA is helping members lead with greater confidence and purpose.”
Beyond the classroom, attendees will have multiple opportunities to build relationships while experiencing Savannah. The Summit begins Tuesday, October 20, with the annual ICCFA Golf Tournament at The Club at Savannah Harbor, a former host course of the PGA TOUR Champions’ Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf Championship. Set along the Savannah and Back Rivers, the course offers attendees a memorable Low Country setting to connect with colleagues while enjoying an afternoon of golf. An alternative afternoon experience at the American Prohibition Museum will feature a hands-on cocktail class, hors d’oeuvres, networking and a guided museum tour, followed that evening by the Summit Welcome Reception.
The event will be headquartered at The DeSoto, a downtown Savannah hotel located in the heart of the city. Blending Savannah’s rich history and timeless character with refined Southern style and hospitality, The DeSoto will provide a fitting setting for three days of learning, conversation and connection. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience more of the city through an evening Ghost & Gravestones Trolley Tour following Wednesday’s educational programming.
Early bird registration is available now through September 25, 2026. Online registration closes October 14, 2026. To learn more and register for the 2026 ICCFA Fall Leadership Summit, visit iccfa.com/fall.
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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 rooftop members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.
