Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. Welcomes New Members To Executive Management And Field Service Teams
BROADVIEW, IL, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 ? Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. has announced the addition of two members to its executive management team as well as two appointments to its field service organization. The announcement coincides with Wilbert?s continuing growth and versatility as North America?s leading provider of burial vaults and cremation-related products and services.
Mr. Michael Bogacki has been hired as Wilbert?s chief financial offer. He holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago?s Booth School of Business and a B.S. degree in accounting from DePaul University. He is also a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.
His professional background includes positions as controller for Farley Industries, a $3.7 billion diversified manufacturer whose primary holding was Fruit of the Loom, Inc.; Chief Financial Officer, Portfolio Companies (comprised of both public and privately held organizations) of The Blackstone Group, (a private equity and financial advisory firm headquartered in NY); and, most recently, vice president of mergers and acquisitions for Intertek Consumer Goods North America in Oak Brook, Illinois. Mr. Bogacki brings significant experience in reporting and board communication, compliance and internal control, metrics, turnaround, lean manufacturing, business analysis and problem-solving.
In addition, Ms. Judy Rossom has been welcomed as Wilbert?s new chief accounting officer. Ms. Rossom holds an M.B.A. degree in managerial finance with distinction from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree in accounting, magna cum laude, from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. She is a certified public accountant and a certified treasury professional with the Association of Financial Professionals, among whom she was recognized as having been one of the Top 300 Financial Professionals from 2005?2008.
With extensive treasury and planning experience, she most recently served as treasurer and secretary for Wilbert Plastic Services. Ms. Rossom brings experience in the areas of due diligence and the integration of mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Scott Billingsley has been named Wilbert?s new business development manager for the Eastern region. A seasoned funeral professional, Mr. Billingsley had served Batesville Casket Company in various sales, sales management and marketing roles, including 13 years cultivating international business opportunities. He brings a deep understanding of global product and market requirements. Most recently, he has been involved in funeral-service information technology including applications such as virtual tributes and video memorials.
Mr. Mark Lackey, who joined Wilbert in late 2008 as business development manager for the Eastern region, has been named business development manager for the Southern region. Mr. Lackey has developed rich expertise in funeral-product training and merchandising during more than 20 years of working with funeral homes throughout the South.
?We?re pleased to announce these strategic appointments to our executive leadership and field services teams,? said Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. President Tony Colson. ?These moves will accelerate Wilbert?s North American market leadership and add to the momentum our business consistently demonstrates. Now more than ever, Wilbert is positioned to deliver innovative solutions that allow our licensees to become even better-run businesses and, as a result, even better partners to the funeral homes they serve.?
Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. is the leading single-source supplier of burial vaults and cremation-related products and services to North American funeral homes. From its offices in Broadview, the company licenses the right to manufacture burial vaults under the Wilbert trademark to a network of more than 250 licensees, sub-licensees and distributors throughout the U.S. and Canada.
