West Des Moines, Iowa — Homesteaders Senior VP-Planning and Development Kim Medici Shelquist has joined the Funeral Service Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Shelquist began her three-year term last month during the National Funeral Directors Association’s International Convention and Expo in Philadelphia.

“It is such an honor to serve as a Foundation trustee,” Shelquist said. “Their work is a great complement to Homesteaders’ efforts to promote the value of funeral service, and I look forward to helping other funeral professionals communicate the benefits of proactive, open and honest end-of-life conversations.”

Twenty-one men and women from across the funeral profession serve on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, including 13 licensed funeral directors. Board members volunteer their time and talents to advance the Foundation’s mission to support funeral service in building meaningful relationships with the families and communities it serves.

“Homesteaders continues to be supportive of the Foundation and its mission, pledging long-term financial resources and taking an active leadership role,” observed Homesteaders Chairman, President and CEO Steve Lang. “I am confident Kim’s expertise in strategic planning, marketing and caregiver collaboration will be an asset to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. I look forward to seeing her leverage her wealth of experience to continue to support the funeral profession.”

Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2009, Shelquist worked as Director of Business Development and Communications for Hospice of Central Iowa. She is the fourth Homesteaders executive to serve on the Foundation Board and was preceded by Lang, Homesteaders COO Steve Shaffer and former Chairman, President and CEO Graham Cook.

Celebrating its 110th year of business in 2016, Homesteaders Life Company is a national leader providing life insurance products and services to promote and support the funding of advance funeral planning and end-of-life expenses. Visit homesteaderslife.com to learn more.