All senior management executives involved in or interested in preneed life insurance should attend this one-of-a-kind networking and educational meeting.
Highlights
Community Engagement Opportunity to Help Second Harvest Foodbank
The program features a thought-provoking keynote presentation, preneed case studies, preneed industry research, marketplace and product updates, and open discussion with peers in the business. Gain insight and practical ideas on:
Adapting in Real Time: Lessons from Improvisation, Change, and Uncertainty
Consumer end-of-life preferences in the U.S. and Canada
The future of funerals and preneed insurance
Insights on preneed insurance from carrier executives and funeral directors
What your actuary wishes you knew
Leading change through transformation
The latest LIMRA/LIC preneed sales data
Here is what past attendees said of the LIC Preneed Forum:
“I like the fact that the attendance is generally limited to C level employees. This adds a unique dimension and candor that normally can't be found at other gatherings.”
“It is a good opportunity to collaborate with others in the business about the business. If you are in preneed…you should attend. I represent one of the insurance companies and it was good to have my competitors participating.”
Andy Eninger and John Loos are master facilitators, performers and writers who love to help organizations flourish by building skills in collaboration, storytelling and ideation. Between them, they have 50+ years of experience connecting to audiences. Their clients include Deloitte, Facebook, MetLife, The Second City, Verizon, Merck, Dropbox, Whirlpool and many, many, many more.
The Pinquelton Group wants to help you move your team forward. From professional doubters to rebellious game-changers. From lone wolves to quick and joyful collaborators. From death-by-data junkies to Spielbergian storytellers.
Will Bischoff is Chief Sales Officer for Homesteaders Life Company. He is responsible for working with distribution partners and funeral home owners to implement preneed strategies for long-term success. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2015, Bischoff served as the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Forethought Financial Group and Operations Controller and Vice President of Corporate Development for Keystone Group Holdings. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Spring Hill College and his MBA in corporate finance from University of Tampa, John H. Sykes College of Business. In 2022, Bischoff was appointed as a trustee for the Funeral Service Foundation.
Lisa Elliott is a Lead Change Management Consultant with TruStage, where shepartners leaders on enterprise transformation, organizational effectiveness, and employee adoption. She specializes in helping TruStage align leadership, culture, and engagement to achieve business goals. Lisa is passionate about developing change capability, equipping TruStageleaders to navigate complexity, and helping teams thrive through change.
Matt Gunderson is a 4th generation owner/operator at Gunderson. He grew up on the west side of Madison and has been deeply embedded in the funeral industry and surrounding communities his entire life. He is following in the footsteps of his great-grandparents, grandpa and father, Pete. Matt is passionate about philanthropy and giving back to the community. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachel, daughter, Emma, and of course, Elmer, the funeral home's therapy dog.
Travis Harrelson is a Partner Growth and Development Manager with TruStage, where he works with funeral homes, preneed organizations, credit unions, and industry partners to expand access to planning solutions that help families prepare for the future. His focus includes developing new distribution strategies, building strategic partnerships, and advancing innovative approaches to preneed and end-of-life planning. Travis is passionate about sharing insights, challenging conventional thinking, and shaping the future of the preneed profession.
Vice President, Product Management, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
Joe Kenny, FSA, MAAA, is Vice President, Product Management at Physicians Mutual Insurance Company in Omaha, NE, which he joined in November 2024. In this role, he is accountable for pricing, product development and product management for all Life and Health products, including Medicare Supplement, Dental, Life and Preneed. Prior to joining Physicians Mutual, Joe spent 17 years at Mutual of Omaha and 17 years at Allstate Financial, primarily focused on developing and managing individual life and annuity products.
Heather Kiteley is a respected and seasoned leader in Canada's funeral sector. A second generation licensed Funeral Director, for over 30 years, Heather is passionate about consumer protection, governance, and helping Canadians plan for end of life with confidence. She holds both Funeral Director and Insurance licences, along with an MBA from McMaster University. As President and CEO of GFD of Canada, Heather works closely with industry associations, regulators, and government stakeholders to advance best practices and strengthen consumer protections while supporting sustainable growth and member success nationwide.
Scott Kundinger has been part of the Cress Funeral Home family for more than 27 years and currently serves as Director of Operations. Over the years, he has built his career around serving families, supporting employees, and developing strong leaders and teams. He takes great pride in the relationships he has developed and the opportunity to make a positive difference in the funeral service profession.
In 2019, Park Lawn Corporation acquired Cress Funeral Home, creating new opportunities for growth and expanded leadership responsibilities. Since then, Scott has had the opportunity to help oversee and support operations across four states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. He enjoys working alongside different teams, sharing ideas, developing people, and helping build an organization that continues to grow while maintaining its commitment to the families and communities it serves.
Executive Director, Life Insurers Council, LIMRA and LOMA
Dean Lambert is Executive Director of the Life Insurers Council (LIC), a networking forum where senior-level life insurance executives exchange information and practical solutions to shared challenges. The LIC is part of LIMRA/LOMA, a global leader in life insurance research and education. Lambert’s path to the insurance sector included working in broadcasting and co-founding a marketing communications firm that grew into a leader in serving the marketing and PR needs of funeral homes across America. In 1998 he began a 25-year career with Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in prearranged funeral funding. He joined the LIC after retiring as Homesteaders’ marketing and communications officer in 2023.
Fernand LeBlanc is President of the Preplanning Solutions business for TruStage. A seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in the Preneed and life insurance industry, Fernand joined TruStage through an acquisition in 2021. His responsibilities include P&L accountabilities for the U.S. and Canadian businesses, along with setting and executing the long-term strategy to drive Preneed growth across North America. Fernand is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, the U.S. Society of Actuaries and is an advisory board member of the LIC. Originally from Canada, Fernand currently resides in Woodstock, Georgia with his wife and two teenage children.
Licensed Pre-Planner, (Parklawn) Westminster Funeral & Reception Centre
Lucy Lo Porto-Di Maria is a licensed funeral director with 25 years of credentials and 15 years of experience in life insurance and mutual funds. After pausing her early career to raise her family, Lucy always had a dream to work alongside her father at the Westminster Cemetery where he was employed.
That lifelong dream came true when the cemetery finally built its on-site funeral home. Now proudly working side-by-side with her father, Lucy specializes in pre-planning services. Combining her financial and funeral backgrounds, she is dedicated to helping people plan ahead, believing it is the greatest gift of comfort you can leave your family.
Vice President, Consumer Engagement, National Funeral Directors Association
Gail Marquardt is Vice President of Consumer Engagement for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where she leads the association’s Communications and Marketing division and oversees Remembering A Life, NFDA’s consumer education initiative. She develops strategies that strengthen member engagement, promote NFDA’s programs and services, and support funeral professionals through advocacy, education, resources, and community. Through Remembering A Life, Gail advances public awareness of the value of meaningful funerals, the essential role of funeral directors, and the importance of honoring and remembering loved ones in ways that foster healing and connection.
Diane Moniz-Alves is the General Manager for the Hamilton Region with Arbor Memorial, bringing more than 25 years of experience as a licensed Funeral Director. Throughout her career, Diane has built a reputation as a compassionate and dedicated leader, committed to supporting families, developing people, and fostering high-performing teams.
With a leadership style grounded in empathy, professionalism, and care, Diane works closely with Chapel Managers and staff, providing mentorship, guidance, and operational support while maintaining the highest standards of service. Passionate about helping people navigate some of life’s most difficult moments, she is equally committed to developing strong teams and creating a positive, collaborative workplace.
Diane’s dedication to both people and service continues to make a meaningful impact across the communities she serves.
Syed Raza, FSA, MAAA, is the founder of Actuarial 360 Solutions, an independent actuarial consulting practice serving small life insurers, preneed carriers, and fraternal benefit societies. He serves as Appointed Actuary for Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company and is qualified to act as appointed actuary in all 50 states. Syed brings more than 18 years of life insurance experience, including roles at Transamerica, Ernst & Young, Actuarial Resources Corporation, and MetLife, with expertise in valuation, reserving, pricing, and regulatory compliance. He is the author of The Independent Actuary and publishes MyActuary Weekly, a newsletter for the actuarial community.
Director of Operations, Life Insurers Council, LIMRA and LOMA
Audrey Wittenburg, ACS, FLMI, is Director of Operations for the Life Insurers Council of LIMRA and LOMA, where she facilitates and manages networking and educational value for senior executives from small-to-midsize insurance companies and others involved in the final expense and preneed business. She works closely with members and researchers to produce the annual LIMRA/LIC Preneed Survey Report.
President & CEO of Loyal Christian Benefit Association
Starting his professional career in Manufacturing and Engineering, Brian Young has served in a multitude of leadership roles focused on quality and service. With a passion for cultivating growth, Brian serves as a Worship Pastor, School Board President, and, in his most important role, a father of three and husband to his wife, Suzanne.
Believing volunteerism and public service are strong footholds to strengthen our communities, Brian works with various organizations in lobbying local, state, and federal policies to further both private and non-profit positive influence in our communities.
With a passion for serving others and growing organizations, Brian brings a unique and broad experience level to LCBA.
The TruStage Events Team will showcase the Lighthouse, TruStage’s LEED Gold–certified, sustainable, and inclusive workplace designed to foster collaboration and community engagement.
LIC is ecstatic to address the topic of change, adaptation, and innovation through the experiences of acclaimed sketch and improv comedy duo Andy Eninger and John Loos. Eninger and Loos have founded the Pinquelton Group, which has helped Fortune 500 companies and other organizations apply the techniques of ideation, collaboration and storytelling to address challenges and uncertainty in business. Oh, this is going to be FUN!
Speakers: John Loos and Andy Eninger, Pinquelton Group
Speakers: Will Bischoff, Sr. Vice President, Strategic Markets, Homesteaders Life Company; Joe Kenny, VP, Product Management, Physicians Mutual; Brian Young, FLMI, President and CEO, LCBA Life
Facilitator: Travis Harrelson, Business Development Manager, TruStage
A plain-English session for the whole leadership team on the things that most often surprise preneed executives: why reserves aren't an expense (they're timing), why single-premium sales and 3-pay conversions quietly consume capital, and what it takes to price and manage a book so business mix and persistency don't dictate profitability. We'll close with a simple annual process for setting and checking growth rates so you're not revisiting them every year. Built as a conversation, bring your questions and your war stories.
Before you change the business, you must change the map.
The greatest obstacle to reinvention may not be the market, technology, or competition. It may be the mental maps that keep organizations anchored to what worked in the past. This session challenges leaders to recognize what they may be missing and helps organizations see, embrace, and sustain a different future.
Participants will learn to:
Identify the mental maps and assumptions that may limit their ability to recognize emerging shifts in consumer expectations, industry trends, and business opportunities.
Apply practical strategies for moving beyond familiar practices and building readiness for change.
Develop leadership approaches that sustain reinvention by reinforcing new ways of thinking beyond the initial enthusiasm or implementation.
Speaker: Lisa Elliott, Lead Change Management Consultant, TruStage
Speakers:Fernand LeBlanc, President, Preplanning Solutions, TruStage; Dean Lambert, Executive Director, LIC; Audrey Wittenburg, Director of Operations, LIC
12:00 p.m.
LIC Preneed Forum Adjourns
Registration
Earlybird Registration (until October 15, 2026):
LIC Members: $1,070
LOMA/LIMRA Members: $1,170
Nonmembers: $1,370
After October 15, 2026:
LIC Members: $1,270
LOMA/LIMRA Members: $1,370
Nonmembers: $1,570
Group Discount (insurance companies and fraternals only): After the first paid registration, additional registrations from your company are 50% off using the promo code GRP50.
The American Fraternal Alliance is sponsoring $100 off registration for its fraternal leaders: register at the AFA Website (www.fraternalalliance.org/lic-education).
Sponsorships Get extra visibility at the meeting by being a sponsor! Sponsorship includes one registration. Click here to reserve your sponsorship.
Cancellation Policy All cancellations must be received in writing - please submit your request to customer.service@limra.com. Cancellations received before October 15, 2026 will be refunded, less a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received from October 15 to October 29, 2026 will be refunded, less a $375 processing and administrative fee. No refunds will be issued after October 29, 2026.
The room block ended October 12, but rooms may become available. Contact jmcglamry@loma.org or lic@loma.org if you want to be on the waitlist for a room in the LIC block.
Recommended Hotel SpringHill Suites by Marriott Madison 4601 Frey St Madison, WI 53705
Reservations Start Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 End Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Getting There TruStage is about a 25-minute drive from Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), 1.5 hours from Milkwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), and 2 hours from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
