These information exchanges are your chance to swap experiences, materials and best practices that advance funeral homes to the next level of success. OGR offers North America, West Coast, East Coast and Global Study Groups. Members may participate in on or more of the study groups simultaneously. 

"When I bought my second location, those study groups and OGR overall were invaluable because they coached me on what it would be like to have a second location and how to make it through that transition, both the challenges and the positives....It’s a resource and a network of funeral directors.

"When COVID came along, a bunch of us were texting each other different ideas....We brainstorm and support each other and come up with some really creative ideas."

Charles Castiglia
Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home
Hamburg & West Seneca, NY

Each regionally based study group will meet in-person at least once a year to explore ways to fulfill increasingly diverse requests for services, achieve profit goals, and attract new customers.

Using a combination of discussion methods, internal and external expertise, and industry data, the Study Groups work toward a list of achievable actions that participants can implement at your business. Participants are invited to send topics you’d like the group to discuss and bring materials with you that you that wish to share with the group (financial disclosures not required). 

Study Group participants will act as your consultants by offering their opinions, experiences and insights. If you’re looking to exchange information and learn successful strategies from colleagues that can help advance your funeral home to the next level, then joining a Study Group is right for you!

Participation in a Study Group is free of charge. All you pay for is your travel and meal expenses.


2023 STUDY GROUP SESSIONS

EAST COAST STUDY GROUP
March 26-28 - Pace, Florida
Facilitated by Chase Lewis, Lewis Funeral Home, Pace, FL

Schedule:
Saturday, March 25
6:00 pm (Optional) - Seafood Boil Dinner
Sunday, March 26
1:00 pm - (Optional) Group Axe Throwing Activity ($35 per person)
5:00 pm - Meet & Greet at Pace Chapel (4777 West Spencer Field Road)
6:00 pm - Dinner at McGuire’s Irish Pub Pensacola (600 E. Gregory Street, Pensacola)
Monday, March 27
8:00 am – 4:30 pm - Study Group meets at Pace Chapel
6:00 pm - Group Dinner (Location TBD)
Tuesday, March 28
8:00 am – 12:00 pm - Study Group meets at Pace Chapel

The closest airport to the funeral home is Pensacola International Airport (PNS). Mobile, AL (MOB) and Fort Walton (VPS) are other options with longer drives to the funeral home.  The following hotels are a 10-15 drive from the Pensacola Airport. The funeral home is a 20-minute drive from either hotel. 

Register below to attend the March 26-28 Study Group. For more information, contact Chase Lewis ([email protected] or 850-232-7616).

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NORTH AMERICA STUDY GROUP
Date/Location TBD
Facilitated by George Darte, George Darte Funeral Chapel, Ontario, Canada
Contact George Darte ([email protected])

WEST COAST STUDY GROUP
Date/Location TBD

Facilitated by Chris Miller at Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory, Corona, CA
Contact Chris Miller ([email protected] or 951-505-6101)

GLOBAL STUDY GROUP
Date/Location TBD
Facilitated by Raffy Jose, Arlington Memorial Chapels, Manilla, Philippines; and George Darte, George Darte Funeral Chapel, Ontario, Canada
Contact Raffy Jose ([email protected]) or George Darte ([email protected] 

 

For more information about the Study Group program, contact OGR Executive Director Wendy King at [email protected] or 512-334-5502 ext. 140.