Mentoring in Motion: Sharing Knowledge, Building the Monument Profession

Shipping costs can add up, but an overlooked MBNA member benefit could help. Host Mike Johns talks with Heather Sturgill of Sears Monument Company, Jake Tiller of Granite Sales and Supply and Russ Sweetman of Gallagher Affinity about freight savings and practical shipping support. Heather shares how she saved roughly $400 on a pallet of sand, while Jake describes lower UPS shipping costs. The conversation covers account setup, access to multiple carriers, shipping paperwork and logistics assistance, with no shipment volume requirements. Listen for a reminder to explore your member benefits and prepare before your next shipment. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and guest welcomes(00:01:26) - Heather's urgent sand shipment and shipping costs(00:03:15) - How the freight discount program was discovered(00:05:22) - Overview of the MBNA freight program with Russ(00:08:21) - Vetted carriers and handling sensitive monument shipments(00:11:28) - Why the program is underused and awareness gaps(00:13:25) - MBNA leadership and member communication improvements(00:14:40) - Setup process and recouping membership dues(00:17:49) - UPS shipping savings experience(00:19:26) - Setting up accounts before urgent needs arise(00:22:09) - Contact info and account management frequency(00:24:19) - Final endorsements for using the program(00:28:41) - Closing remarks and show announcements

Granite may look solid and predictable, but every quarry tells a different story. In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Brandon Archer, Chief Revenue Officer of Dakota Granite, about how granite color, pattern and grade are shaped by nature. Archer explains Dakota Granite’s grading system, the long process of developing a new quarry, the introduction of Dakota Green, and why samples do not always show the full range of a stone. They also discuss helping families choose granite for lettering, artwork and design, plus future opportunities for mixed materials, multiple colors and cremation memorials with confidence. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Welcome(00:00:54) - Brandon's NFL to Granite Industry Journey(00:03:09) - What Gives Granite Its Color and Pattern(00:07:06) - Waste, Byproducts and Sustainability(00:09:25) - Understanding Granite Grading Systems(00:12:53) - Introducing Dakota Grain Granite(00:14:11) - Opening a New Quarry: Process and Testing(00:18:52) - Monument vs Commercial Stone Requirements(00:19:46) - Telling the Story of Stone to Families(00:21:48) - Managing Expectations: Samples vs Finished Monument(00:24:17) - Setting Realistic Client Expectations on Variation(00:26:55) - Helping Families Choose Without Overwhelming Detail(00:28:54) - Future Trends in Granite Memorial Design(00:30:33) - Domestic vs Imported Granite Quality Concerns(00:32:37) - Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

What do Jimmy Buffett, maritime history and memorialization have in common? Discover the connections as Monument Matters host Mike Johns welcomes Karen Poth, executive director of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf in Mobile, Alabama.Explore the museum's immersive exhibits, including Son of a Son of a Sailor, a permanent exhibition celebrating Buffett's remarkable life, adventures and Gulf Coast roots. Learn how the museum brings personal stories to life and discover the maritime history that shaped Mobile.Get a preview of the museum that will host MBNA's closing reception during the 2027 Monument Industry Show, February 25-28. Chapters (00:00:05) - Introduction and Guest Welcome(00:01:22) - Overview of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf(00:03:35) - Jimmy Buffett's Mobile Roots and Family Maritime History(00:05:45) - Jimmy Buffett's Adventures and Life(00:07:38) - Building the Son of a Son of a Sailor Exhibit(00:09:19) - Curating a Full Life: Challenges and Highlights(00:11:45) - Balancing Public Figure and Personal Story(00:13:26) - Permanent Exhibit and Future Growth(00:15:16) - Beyond Buffett: Other Museum Exhibits(00:17:47) - Personal Reflections and Closing Thoughts(00:18:53) - Sign-off and Podcast Wrap-up

Selling a memorial isn’t like selling almost anything else. Families may arrive grieving, uncertain and unfamiliar with the process, making empathy and careful listening essential. Joey Cashmore-Johnson of North Chicago Memorials joins Michael Johns to share her approach to creating meaningful retail experiences, reading customer signals, navigating difficult conversations and collaborating with families. The conversation also explores cemetery regulations, communication between sales and production teams, and the danger of becoming too comfortable with “the way we’ve always done it.” Joey explains why MBNA’s new Sales Module offers valuable perspective for newcomers, experienced professionals and even employees who never work directly in sales. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters(00:01:18) - What Makes Monument Sales So Different?(00:02:40) - Retail Experience(00:04:26) - Adaptive Selling: Death and Family(00:09:57) - Grief Counselor: A Salesperson(00:10:45) - Sales Module: Cemetery Regulations(00:13:06) - The Importance of Compassion in Memorials(00:15:57) - When a monument is designed, does the family have a say?(00:20:35) - The Future of Monument Design: What Can This Course Still Challenge You(00:22:13) - How the Sales Training Module Benefits(00:25:07) - A Taste of the Veterinary Diploma(00:26:06) - Monument Matters: Sales Training Module

More than 22 million urns are estimated to remain in homes across the United States, often without a plan for permanent placement. In this episode of Monument Matters, Honnalora Hubbard and Garrett Wilson of Coldspring discuss the first National Cremation Placement Day on October 17 and what it could mean for monument professionals and the families they serve. They explore the emotional importance of permanent memorialization, the conversations families may be postponing and ways monument builders can become trusted educators in their communities. They also share practical resources businesses can use to participate and begin building a year-round conversation about cremation memorialization. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters(00:02:00) - October 17th: National Cremation Placement Day(00:05:57) - Cremated urns in funeral homes: Should they be(00:12:54) - Cremation as a means of honoring a loved one(00:14:02) - Cremation Placement Day(00:21:10) - Cremation and the Heroes(00:24:16) - National Cremation Placement Day(00:27:19) - National Cremation Placement Day(00:30:17) - Cremation Training and National Cremation Placement Day(00:36:20) - Honolulu Community Comes together to Save the Cemetery(00:37:11) - Monument Matters

Some of the most valuable education in the monument profession happens when someone simply asks a question. In this episode of Monument Matters, Roger and Debbie Aholt of Washington Monument Company join Brent Dillinger and Eli Karkowski of Loess Hills Memorials to share how a chance conversation at MBUniversity grew into a two-day, hands-on mentoring experience. They discuss shop processes, cemetery installation, craftsmanship, equipment and lessons that cannot always be learned from a manual or video. Just as importantly, they explore why experienced professionals benefit from teaching, why newcomers should keep asking questions and how relationships strengthen the monument profession. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters(00:01:32) - Brent and His Family start Monument Up Memorials(00:03:35) - MRMBNA Alumni Meeting at Fort Worth(00:08:13) - Exploring the Washington Monument Company(00:10:35) - Bob and Debbie Bell visit their shop(00:13:07) - Mamba Texturing Webinar(00:17:06) - The Cemetery Visits(00:20:08) - Demonstrations at the Cultural Exchange(00:21:34) - MBA Board on MENTORATION(00:26:33) - MMBNA Corporate Mentor(00:30:16) - MBCNA Mentee Experience(00:33:13) - Money It Matters

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses approach research, communication, design and daily operations, but monument builders need guidance tailored to their work. In this episode, host Mike Johns speaks with Mike Lannen of Eternity about treating AI as a trained assistant rather than a replacement for employees. They discuss data privacy, fact-checking, customer-facing limitations, proposal development, design mock-ups and choosing the right AI tool for each task. Lannen also previews MBNA’s four-part AI Bootcamp, which will give monument builders practical, live demonstrations designed for users at every experience level, from beginners to professionals already experimenting with AI in their businesses. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters(00:01:13) - What's the Need for More AI Training Series?(00:02:15) - Is AI Good or Evil?(00:10:17) - Should Businesses Use AI in Monument & Memorial Business?(00:14:06) - Should You Sign Up for AI Boot Camp?(00:18:14) - At Tech Boot Camp, Volunteers Complete a Task Live(00:20:19) - The AI Bootcamp(00:22:38) - Is Claude the Best Content Planning Tool? vs. ChatGPT(00:24:48) - A.I. In the Elevator(00:25:49) - Monument Matters

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Jill Kampa, president of Sunburst Memorials, and Dylan Gertken, director of operations, about the company’s move from its 108-year-old facility into a new headquarters and production facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The conversation explores how Sunburst approached growth, Lean Manufacturing, employee ownership, workflow redesign, safety, technology and culture. Jill and Dylan also share practical lessons for other monument shops, including why process and people should come before equipment investments and why innovation can strengthen, rather than replace, the craftsmanship at the heart of memorialization. Chapters (00:00:00) - Monument Matters(00:01:27) - Sunburst Memorial's Move Into New Headquarters and Production Facility(00:03:53) - How Big Is Sunburst Memorials?(00:05:03) - Building a new plant in Minnesota(00:07:18) - What Lean Manufacturing Looks Like in a Monument Shop(00:12:48) - Questions about redundancy in the monument industry(00:14:42) - Sunburst Industries: 100% Employee Owned(00:18:17) - What feedback from employees has had the biggest impact on the final facility(00:22:26) - The New Granite Plant's new facility(00:24:18) - Exploring a Production Expansion with Lean(00:28:00) - Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing(00:29:59) - Monument Matters

In this episode of Monument Matters, Mike Johns talks with Jed A. Hendrickson, CM, FAICA, about the fundamentals of meaningful monument design. Their conversation explores lettering, proportion, balance, white space, technology and the new Monument Builders Academy Design course, created to help teams improve design awareness across the company. Chapters (00:00:00) - Monument Matters(00:01:31) - A Question for Jed Rosen(00:02:21) - The American Institute of Commemorative Art(00:05:00) - The Typography Errors of Memorials(00:08:08) - The Design Module of the Monument Builders Academy(00:11:13) - The Design Process Improvement Module(00:14:57) - The Importance of Creativity in Design(00:18:09) - The Art of Monument Design(00:20:19) - The Design Modal(00:23:53) - Monument Matters

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Matthew McCluney of USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park about one of Mobile’s most memorable destinations for attendees of MBNA’s 2027 Monument Industry Show. McCluney explains how the USS Alabama escaped the scrapyard, became a permanent memorial, and continues to be preserved as both a historic artifact and a place of remembrance. The conversation explores visitor access, restoration decisions, personal artifacts, park memorials and the importance of creating spaces where people can pause, reflect and honor service. It’s a timely invitation to experience Mobile’s history beyond the show floor together. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters(00:01:29) - The USS Alabama(00:03:48) - The USS Alabama: A National Monument(00:06:08) - Cofferdam(00:07:25) - The USS Alabama(00:09:18) - How Much of the USS Alabama Is Open to Visitors(00:12:58) - The USS Alabama(00:16:35) - USS Alabama(00:18:11) - The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park(00:19:55) - Seems Like a Place of Remembrance: USS Alabama(00:22:18) - Monument Matters