2026 NFDA Leadership Conference Report By Chris Holt, 2026-2028 At-Large Representative, NFDA Board of Directors It was a hot, humid and busy week in Louisville, Kentucky, where I had the privilege to attend the NFDA’s 2026 Leadership Conference with MFDA Executive Director Terri James and MFDA President Rick Walter. It was a stimulating and exciting adventure, to say the least. The conference was well attended by leaders of our profession throughout the country. We gathered to learn, network and hear from a variety of speakers on policy, leadership roles, governance, workforce development and family legacies. We had the opportunity to hear from full-time NFDA Lobbyist Leslie Witter on federal policies affecting funeral service and the process for achieving our legislative goals. We also heard from NFDA General Counsel Chris Farmer on a variety of legal issues, and enjoyed a moving and heartfelt closing session about family and the legacies we keep. But the conference wasn’t just for education; we also gathered to elect two at-large representative candidates to the NFDA Board of Directors, with me included in the pool of four. Having served the Montana Funeral Directors Association in various capacities for many years, I was asked to run for a seat on the NFDA Board. It was a daunting prospect, but with support from many individuals, I took a leap of faith and went for it. The lead-up to the election in Kentucky involved months of speaking engagements, articles, interviews, podcasts and good old-fashioned networking. To be honest, I didn’t think I had much of a chance of being elected, given that I was coming from a small association in Montana. But the success we have had as an association and with our state board inspired me to run anyway, and to my great surprise, the effort paid off! I was elected by my peers to serve on the NFDA Board of Directors as a 2026-2028 at-large representative. I want to thank everyone who supported me in this endeavor, and I will proudly serve this role to the best of my ability. To close out the conference, we had the opportunity to visit Churchill Downs for food, refreshments and networking. We were able to view the track from various sky boxes, which was a very enjoyable experience. Thank you again for the opportunity to represent Montana at the NFDA. Take care and God bless. MFDA’s Christopher Holt Elected to NFDA Board of Directors Christopher Holt has been elected to serve as an at-large representative on the NFDA Board of Directors. Maureen E. Krienen, a fourth-generation funeral director with Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home in Wilmington, Delaware, was also elected. Holt and Krienen will begin their two-year terms of service immediately following the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo, taking place Oct. 25-28 in Charlotte, North Carolina. An active leader within the Montana Funeral Directors Association, Holt has served as district governor, secretary, president and most recently as the state’s representative to NFDA. “I am enthusiastic about providing members with all the tools and resources they need to be successful,” Holt said in his campaign statement. “Having worked from the ground up, I realize how details matter, communication matters, teamwork matters and sharing what works helps us all become a stronger association.” For more information about the election and new representatives, visit nfda.org/elections. 16 | MONTANA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
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