The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is now accepting speaker proposals for its 2027 educational programming and is seeking engaging experts who can provide practical, relevant education that helps independently owned funeral homes thrive.
OGR invites funeral service professionals, business leaders, consultants, educators, and innovative thinkers to share their expertise through educational sessions designed to help funeral professionals strengthen their businesses, develop their teams and better serve families.
Selected presenters may be invited to participate in one or more of OGR's educational offerings, including:
- PROGRESS, OGR's signature annual conference
- OGR's live virtual education series
- Future Leaders Forum, designed for emerging professionals and non-owner leaders
- Prerecorded educational content for OGR's online learning platform
OGR is seeking educational sessions that provide actionable strategies, real-world examples and practical resources attendees can immediately apply within their businesses. The organization welcomes a variety of presentation formats, including interactive workshops, panel discussions, facilitated roundtables, case studies and concise prerecorded learning sessions.
Suggested topic areas include:
- Business growth and profitability
- Leadership and workforce development
- Recruitment, retention and workplace culture
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technology
- Marketing and community engagement
- Succession planning and business continuity
- Evolving consumer preferences and customer experience
- Revenue diversification
- Professional development for future leaders
- Stress management and emotional wellness
All proposals must be educational in nature and may not promote products, services or companies. Speaker proposals will be reviewed based on educational value, relevance to OGR members, presenter experience, audience fit and overall program needs. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee selection.
"At OGR, we're committed to providing education that helps independent funeral homes navigate today's challenges while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities," said Wendy King, CAE, CVA, Executive Director of OGR. "We're looking for presenters who can share practical insights, proven strategies and fresh perspectives that attendees can take home and immediately put into practice."
Individuals interested in presenting are encouraged to submit a proposal for consideration.
Speaker proposals are due August 31, 2026.
To learn more and submit a proposal, click here.