PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BRI MULVANEY, President, MFDA Hello from Butte, Montana! It’s hard to believe we’ve swiftly approached Montana’s beautiful “two-week” fall season! Summer is always short but sweet. The 2025 MFDA Convention and Trade Show in Billings was a tremendous success thanks to the strong participation of our members and the generous support of our sponsors. I want to recognize our new MFDA Trust partner, USAlliance, for their enthusiasm and efficiency in rolling out the new trust. I will be checking in with members to ensure the transition is smooth and that resources meet your needs. Two key themes emerged from the convention and the NFDA Leadership Conference in Napa Valley, California: alternative forms of disposition and employee retention. Families are increasingly inquiring about alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction. In a breakout session with other state association presidents, I learned several states have rushed to legalize these disposition alternatives — but without rules, regulations or licensing requirements. This has created fear and some chaos for each of these states’ professionally licensed disposition providers. The “cart before the horse” approach raises real concerns for Montana as we prepare for the future in legalizing more forms of disposition. That’s why MFDA’s top priority is active participation in shaping the language for rulemaking on emerging forms of disposition, ensuring both the integrity of our profession and the protection of the families we serve. An emerging challenge for our business is workforce retention. At the convention, our keynote speaker, Leili McMurrough, highlighted the demographic shift of the workforce and the necessity to bridge generational differences and build loyalty — a message echoed at the NFDA To Thrive, We Must Adapt 4 | Directors Digest
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