National Office: 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Suite 570

Omega World Center Decatur, Georgia 30035

Tel: 1.800.434-0958 Fax: 404.286.6573 Email: info@nfdma.com

Hours of Operation: 9 am – 5 pm  click here for driving directions

Sharon L. Seay, CMP is the Executive Director and has been in charge of the day to day operations of the national office since 1996. Ms. Seay’s most important responsibility is to advise and consult the national president on issues affecting membership and funeral service. With years of experience in a number of professional arenas, Ms. Seay also directs all meetings, conventions and related events for the association. She is the first full-time female executive hired by the Board of Directors to oversee the association. She is also the first to serve as Executive Director of a professional Funeral Service Association. Outside of her work with NFD&MA she serves on a number of professional boards and advisory committees for the funeral industry as well as the hospitality industry, such as national association boards and convention and visitors bureaus. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Seay’s most important responsibility is to advise and consult the national president on issues affecting membership and funeral service. With years of experience in a number of professional arenas, Ms. Seay also directs all meetings, conventions and related events for the association. She is the first full-time female executive hired by the Board of Directors to oversee the association. She is also the first to serve as Executive Director of a professional Funeral Service Association. Outside of her work with NFD&MA she serves on a number of professional boards and advisory committees for the funeral industry as well as the hospitality industry, such as national association boards and convention and visitors bureaus. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Salfu Sapateh is the Accountant/Bookkeeper. He initially came on board as a Conventions Coordinator, in 2000, and became Bookkeeper in 2002. He oversees the financial services for the association working in conjunction with the national treasurer. Sal is a native of West Africa and speaks several languages. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, in Camden, New Jersey where he earned a BS degree in Accounting. He is also the Night Manager and Chief Night Auditor for the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ella M. Young joined the NFD&MA staff in May 1995 where she was hired as the assistance to the Executive Director and Office Administration. In 2008 she was promoted to the Meeting and Convention Planner for the Association. In her new role she will assist the Executive Director with overseeing and managing the meetings and conventions department for the association. She has over 15 years of experience in administration and office management. Ms. Young is attending college with a major in Business Administration. She is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2011.

Chantelle D. Jones, Atlanta native, serves as the Office Administrator and Assistant to the Executive Director. Chantelle started as Convention Coordinator in 2007 in Philadelphia as she brings over thirteen (13 years) of church leadership and education, meetings/ convention planning and funeral service/cemetery planning. She has worked for some of Atlanta’s prominent businessmen and women in meeting planning. She has also worked with several funeral firms and cemeteries throughout the greater metro Atlanta and Decatur areas. Chantelle is very active in her church where she serves as pastoral aide and the Director of the Children’s and Youth Development Ministries. She is a graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Crystal K. Amos serves as the Trade Show /New Business Development Manager.  Crystal Amos joined the NFD&MA in May 2005 as the Convention and Meeting Planner. Her professional background is in hotel convention services. She transferred from the Meetings and Conventions department and became the new Trade Show/ New Business Development Manager in January 2005. Crystal along with the Meeting Planner and Executive Director manages the overall Trade Show component for the annual national convention and exposition. Crystal is also responsible for developing new business for the annual trade show by soliciting companies that have a common interest in funeral service and products. She is a graduate of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama with a degree in Business Administration. She is a former employee of the Hilton Hotel, Atlanta.

Brenda Shelton is a Convention Coordinator. She works with the association each year, overseeing the pre registrations. Brenda has been with the association since 1998. She is a business owner in Chattanooga where she owns and operates a Private Pedicure Salon and Spa. She holds an Associate’s degree in Cosmetology from Chattanooga State Community College.

Franchesca Brown is a Convention Coordinator. Her role is to manage the on site convention office. She has been with the association since 1997. Franchesca has an extensive background in executive administration and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Garfield Haynes is the General Counsel for the association and is also a Licensed Funeral Director. He has been with the association as the attorney for a number of years.