Past Webinars

Please allow MBNA staff two to three days after the webinar took place to edit and upload the webinar into this archive. If the webinar you are requesting has not been uploaded here, please email us!

2025:

  • WinMBNA: Secrets of Public Speaking

    • Do you live in fear of public speaking? Is public speaking something you already do but are looking to improve? Kelley’s presentation will give you tried and tested secrets to getting past fear, being able to speak with confidence, and engaging an audience of one or many. She will discuss business presentations, conversational speaking, and on-the-spot “elevator pitches” where being able to handle an impromptu encounter may help you grow your business, network, and relationships.

    • Kelley Hughes is a legal professional with 40+ years of experience who is an active member of the National Association for Legal Support Professionals and Toastmasters International. As a member of Toastmasters, she has developed excellent public speaking and leadership skills. Kelley is a dynamic and engaging speaker who has presented at national conferences on various legal topics and professional development, using her expertise to provide informative and impactful presentations. Kelley has a passion for sharing her knowledge to help others achieve their goals both personally and professionally.

  • AI in Action: Boosting Monument Operations with Smart Tools
    • Join MBNA President Nathan Lange, owner of Northland Monument, for an insightful webinar on how AI is changing the game for small and mid-sized monument businesses. From streamlining workflows to enhancing customer communications, discover how AI tools can save time, reduce errors, and increase your bottom line. Whether you’re just curious or already experimenting with AI, this session will give you practical, real-world strategies tailored to the monument industry.
  • Navigating Tariffs & Industry Uncertainty: MBNA Panel

    • Tariff changes are creating new challenges for our industry—and MBNA is here to support you with education, resource sharing, and peer connections. We’ll discuss the latest tariff updates with key changes and deadlines, how companies are communicating price shifts to their customers, and practical strategies for mitigating risk. 

      Panelists will include:

      • Lenin Kailasammani, Owner of Salem Stones
      • Steve Kohn, Adams Granite – MBNA Manufacturer/Wholesaler Division President
      • Nathan Lange, Northland Monument – MBNA President
    • This webinar took place on May 1, so all information and tariff changes referenced have occured before that date.
  • WinMBNA: Selling with Sensitivity
    • Join us for an exclusive webinar featuring seasoned sales trainer and deathcare industry expert, Liza Altenburg, as she delves into the unique challenges and opportunities of selling in a highly emotional industry.

      In this webinar, Liza will share insights from her book, Selling with Sensitivity, and provide practical strategies for creating a sales approach for monuments that is both effective and empathetic. She will address key topics such as:

      • Understanding customer expectations around timeframes, pricing, and options
      • Building confidence in sales conversations, regardless of experience level
      • Overcoming industry-specific objections with trust and transparency
      • Navigating gender-based challenges in sales and establishing expert authority
      • Leveraging virtual sales while maintaining a personal connection

      Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the industry, this webinar will equip you with the tools to enhance your sales approach, build stronger client relationships, and navigate these sensitive interactions with confidence.

  • Flaming Hot Granite

    • Get ready to turn up the heat! Join Troy “The Torch” Caldwell for a webinar that will show you how to transform scrap granite into stunning, sellable works of art.

      With over two decades of experience, Troy has been creating one-of-a-kind memorials and commemorative pieces using simple tools—including, yes, a torch. In this session, you’ll get a front-row seat to his techniques, learn the basics of the process, and explore the tools that make it all possible. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at training footage from the School of Hard Rocks and the 2025 Monument Industry Show that was held in Cleveland.

  • Estate Planning for Business Owners

    • Join Will Creech and David Solis of First Citizens Bank for this estate planning webinar. Free to MBNA members as a benefit of membership.

      Is your monument business prepared for the future? Join our webinar to discover essential estate planning strategies tailored for business owners like you. Learn how to ensure a smooth transition—whether passing your business to family, selling to employees, or preparing for an external sale. Gain insights on maximizing business value, protecting assets, and planning for the unexpected. A well-structured plan not only secures your financial future but also reassures employees and customers, preserving the legacy you’ve built. Don’t leave your business’s future to chance—register now!

  • WinMBNA: Market Share
    • Alison Raymer, CM joined WinMBNA and discussed how to empower your business decisions with data-driven insights! Unlock the secrets of marketing dynamics in Alison Raymer’s comprehensive webinar on calculating market share. In this course, you will learn the fundamental concepts of market share, including its importance in strategic planning and decision-making. Through hands-on exercises, interactive links, and valuable handouts, you will be equipped with the skills to assess your market share position. This webinar is designed for monument industry professionals who want to better understand their competitive landscape.

2024:

  • WinMBNA: Informed Discussion – How “DIY” Culture Has Affected the Monument Industry
    • Join our online discussion around the impact of “DIY” funeral services, at-home death care, and online memorial designs on the monument industry. Each registrant received a booklet in advance with questions, articles, and information on the subject.This was an open discussion of thoughts, views, and opinions!
  • WinMBNA: Vision Board
    • The WinMBNA webinar was made to help you think about your vision for the new year. Lisa Troost, president and owner of Peter Troost Monument Company shared tips for setting and keeping goals. Participants then shared their own professional vision boards for 2024.
  • How to Navigate the New MBNA Website
    • Need help navigating the new MBNA website? Don’t fret! Join our Communications Coordinator for a helpful walkthrough explaining where everything is located. It shows the main pages of the website as well as the updated member portal.
  • How to Design in Front of Your Customers 2.0
    • Heather Sturgill, CM, AICA, and Adam Longstreth, AICA, roleplayed as a customer and memorial designer. Adam, as the designer, asked Heather questions about the deceased and, from her answers, designed a monument right in front of her. During the process, Heather provided feedback for changing or improving the design, so the end result was a tribute that told the deceased’s story.
  • How to Hold Virtual Design Meetings with Clients
    • MBNA joined Matthew Andrews of Quincy Memorials in an interactive session where he shared tips for hosting a successful virtual sales meeting. He provided useful tips on meeting preparation, managing meeting technology, utilizing sales resources, navigating and concluding the client meeting, and strategies for following up after the meeting’s conclusion.
  • Benefits 101: How to Save $ Without Switching Processors
    • Join MBNA as we learn how our affinity partner, Merchant Advocate, can save our members money! Hear from our MBNA dedicated representative, Howard Goldstein, to see how they can enhance your payment processing system. 72% of businesses are overcharged for their credit card processing. MBNA partner Merchant Advocate can help optimize your business’s payment system for increased profitability without switching processors.
  • MBNA Copyright Issues Webinar
    • Join us for an educational webinar on the copyright issues in the monument industry. This webinar will include speakers Kevin Tharp and Jackie Flint from Riley Bennett Egloff LLP. They will be discussing the following topics:
      • What copyright law is
      • How copyright law can protect monument designs
      • How copyright infringement is determined
      • The consequences of copyright infringement
  • Benefits 101: Certified Safety Training
    • Join MBNA for a presentation by our affinity partner Certified Safety Training (CST). They will be discussing their OSHA Training Program that ensures your employees are aware of and follow OSHA guidelines. By being an MBNA member, you gain a 10% discount on their program price. CST works shoulder-to-shoulder with you to make your workplace safer, save you money, and avoid potential OSHA and FTC fines. Their goal is to ensure you comply with federal and state safety and environmental regulations without dealing with unnecessary paperwork and stress.
  • MBNA Social Savvy Marketing with AI
    • Do you want to learn how to manage your social media accounts by being able to “fix it and forget it?” Join MBNA for a webinar presented by Honnalora Hubbard, the Regional Sales Manager, of Coldspring USA for tips and tricks to leverage Canva and AI to manage your social media content. Posting content on social media looks time consuming. However, you can use AI and other tools to automate the process. This webinar will take you from socially curious to socially savvy. Market and grow your monument business smarter, not harder. With a little bit of a time, and a willingness to learn, you can utilize some free tools to make a big impact in marketing your business.
  • WinMBNA: Financial Management
    • Join WinMBNA and Angie Fitz of Schiciano, Johnston & Bialek, LLC, for a webinar on financial management. This webinar is sponsored by Modern Stonesville. 
    • We will be discussing the following concepts:
      • Why financial management and organization is important
      • How to avoid common mistakes of retail monument firms
      • Best practice/habits to record correctly
      • How to help your accountant provide the best services
      • Tips and tricks to remember when using Quick Books
  • The Importance of Integrated Personal and Business Planning
    • Join Will Creech and David Solis of First Citizens Bank for this succession planning webinar, focusing on the importance of considering financial goals for both you and your business.
  • WinMBNA: Introduction to Etching
    • Join WinMBNA for a webinar discussing the art of etching. Whether you are interested in getting into the craft or want to better understand the process to better serve your customers, come learn some tips from Julia Gustafson, artist and granite etcher! This webinar was sponsored by Memorial Designer.

View all our webinars on our YouTube Channel!

2024 MBUniversity Education Recordings

The recordings from MBUniversity San Diego are available on-demand for members who did not attend in-person. Recordings are available to purchase by session for $150 per session or a package of all 7 hours of recorded content for $499. After ordering an email will be sent with your YouTube access links.

Order all session recordings!

Or order individual sessions:

*These sessions are included in the full recordings package but not available for individual sales:

  • Finding the Best Management Software for Your Business
  • How to Design Right in Front of Your Customer
    Adam Longstreth, Longstreth Memorials Heather Sturgill, CM Sears Monument Company’s Beckley, West Virginia