West Des Moines, Iowa — As funeral service faces rapid shifts in consumer expectations, technology, financing and ownership, Homesteaders Life Company is bringing together many of the profession's leading voices to help funeral home owners prepare for what's next. 

Homesteaders will host its annual Thrive Executive Summit October 7-8 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in Florida. The two-day event will bring together industry leaders to explore business strategy to strengthen performance and confidently navigate industry change, while connecting with colleagues and enjoying luxury beachfront accommodations.

This year's agenda features nationally recognized speakers, industry experts and peer networking in an intimate setting designed for meaningful conversations around topics like pricing and profitability, succession planning, artificial intelligence, business financing and developing high-performing teams.

“Funeral service is entering one of the most significant periods of transformation our profession has experienced,” said Courtney Gould Miller, Chief Growth Officer at Homesteaders. “Consumer expectations are evolving, AI and technology adoption is accelerating, ownership models are changing and operators are under more pressure than ever to grow profitable, resilient businesses. Thrive was built for leaders who don't want to simply react to change – they want to lead it. Every session is designed to provide practical strategies owners can take home and implement right away.”

Johnson Consulting Group joins Thrive this year as the event's title sponsor. “Funeral professionals are facing increasingly complex decisions about growth, succession and long-term business strategy,” said Jake Johnson, President and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group. “Thrive brings together experts to help leaders in the profession navigate those decisions with confidence. We're proud to partner with Homesteaders to create an event that delivers meaningful insights and actionable strategies attendees can take back to their businesses.”

Matthew Mitchell, CEO of Bâton Global and professor of International Business and Strategy at Drake University, will deliver the keynote presentation. Additional speakers include Johnson, Teresa Carlson of The Bancorp and marketing expert Glenn Gould.

The Thrive Executive Summit will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, a luxury oceanfront resort nestled along 13 miles of Atlantic coastline and recognized for its exceptional hospitality and inspiring setting. Early bird registration is available for $695, with regular registration increasing to $795 beginning September 1. 

Registration is now open at homesteaderslife.com/thrive-2026.

Homesteaders Life Company, a mutual company owned by its policy holders, is a national leader providing products and services to help people design a better farewell. Visit homesteaderslife.com to learn more.