MBNA Monument Matters

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...

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 f...

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...

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, ceme...

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, prop...

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, sa...

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) -...

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....

In this special crossover episode of Monument Matters and We Rock, Mike Johns, Tony Watson and Austin Keese explore how education, networking and association involvement continue to shape the monument industry. The discussion highlights the evolving value of Monument Builders of North America, the role of regional associations, mentorship, workforce development and the importance of sharing knowle...

In this special takeover episode of Monument Matters, the leadership team of WinMBNA shares personal stories, career lessons, and insights into the future of the monument industry. Cristine Bouwkamp, Courtney Swart, Abbey Metcalf, and Ryan Worthington discuss mentorship, networking, women in leadership, and the importance of creating supportive spaces for professional growth. The conversation also...

Lettering is often treated as a secondary step in monument design—but should it be? In this episode, Brandon Billester of the Monument Lettering Center joins the conversation to explore the evolution of typography in the monument industry, from hand-drawn craftsmanship to today’s standardized digital fonts. He explains how new font technologies are reintroducing customization, creativity, and arti...

What does it take to turn a life story into a lasting memorial? In this episode, the team at Harrison Monument share how they worked with Salem Stone to transform a young man’s passion for motocross into a dynamic, deeply personal tribute that received the MBNA’s 2026 Excellence in Design Award. From early design concepts to supplier collaboration and technical challenges like laser etching and ma...

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Troy Caldwell about the launch of Monument Builders Academy, MBNA’s new online education platform for monument professionals. Designed to support onboarding, team development, and industry knowledge, the Academy provides training that companies can deliver directly to staff at their desks. The conversation explores why structured educ...

New MBNA President Sean Longstreth, CM, AICA shares how growing up in a fifth-generation monument business shaped his passion for memorialization. In this conversation with host Mike Johns, he reflects on craftsmanship, the value of MBNA membership, and why personal outreach and collaboration are essential to strengthening the monument industry. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters (00:00:49) -...

Despite rising cremation rates, many families still want a permanent place to remember their loved ones. In this episode of Monument Matters, Mike Johns and Cristine Bouwkamp explore burial trends, green burial, and why meaningful memorialization remains essential for grief, remembrance, and connection across generations. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters (00:02:03) - Cremation and Burial: Wh...

Dr. Tanya Marsh joins Monument Matters to unpack what consumer research really reveals about cremation, burial and emerging options like green burial and human composting. The data challenges assumptions and highlights a key opportunity: education, flexibility and creative memorialization may matter more than industry narratives suggest. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters (00:01:35) - Why are...

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Monument Matters, Ross Oglesby of Keystone Memorials and Dan Weeres of Coldspring discuss how CNC technology is reshaping the monument industry. They share real-world experiences—from early machine failures to five-axis sculpture work—and explain how digital modeling improves accuracy, safety and customer expectations. While CNC machines excel at stock removal and precisi...

Are memorialists artists or tradespeople—or both? In this Monument Matters episode, Danielle Lehman and Steve “Kaz” Kaczmarski explore how design fundamentals, mentorship, and evolving tools shape meaningful memorials. The conversation highlights craftsmanship, lifelong learning, and the responsibility of creating lasting public art. Chapters (00:00:05) - Monument Matters (00:01:31) - Memorialist...

In this episode of Monument Matters , we explore how MBNA members can take control of credit card processing costs without changing providers or disrupting daily operations. Host Mike Johns is joined by Merchant Advocate’s Howard Goldstein and MBNA member Ryan Worthington, who shares her firsthand experience using the service. The conversation breaks down why processing statements are so hard to u...

In this episode of Monument Matters , host Mike Johns, Jr., CM, AICA, is joined by Michael S. George and Sarah Scott of AMJ Insurance to discuss the real-world risks monument builders face—and how the right insurance coverage can protect both businesses and employees. The episode introduces MBNA’s new affinity partnership with AMJ Insurance that provides members with exclusive access to tailored i...

In this episode of Monument Matters , host Mike Johns speaks with military researcher Bill Beigel , founder of World War II Research, Inc. , about how monument builders can ensure accuracy and depth in veterans memorials. Beigel shares how professional research can uncover forgotten heroes, correct misspelled names, and add meaningful personal stories to each engraved name. The conversation explor...

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns speaks with Mark Harrison, president of Certified Safety Training (CST), about the real-world safety risks inside monument shops and how OSHA compliance goes far beyond checking boxes. From silica exposure and air-quality testing to lifting hazards, respirator programs, and recordkeeping, Mark breaks down what every monument builder needs to kno...

In this episode of Monument Matters , host Mike Johns talks with Mike Lannen , digital strategist and founder of Eternity , about how artificial intelligence is reshaping monument businesses. From sales and marketing to customer service and design, AI can streamline repetitive tasks and free up time for what matters most—serving families. Lannen shares practical, affordable ways small shops can st...

In this episode of Monument Matters , host Mike Johns welcomes grief expert Dr. Jason Troyer to explore the cultural shifts reshaping memorialization. Troyer shares his concept of the “Four Horsemen of the Cemetery Apocalypse” — mobility, death denial, loss of religious ritual, and rising cremation — and how these trends impact monument builders. Together, they discuss ways to rebuild trust, conne...

This episode of Monument Matters offers monument builders a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park. Beyond its role as a place of remembrance, the park provides powerful lessons in vision, community collaboration, and the lasting impact of memorialization. Listeners will gain insight into how large-scale memorial projects overcome challenges, engage local support...