LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL. — January 31, 2022— Selected Independent Funeral Homes has named Kyle W. Trimble of Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home in Jefferson City, MO as the 2022 recipient of the NextGen Professional of the Year Award.
“I am truly honored, grateful and blessed to receive this award,” said Kyle after the award celebration. “The knowledge, experiences and friendships I have gained while attending Selected events has helped me to better serve my families and the community.”
As owner of Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, Kyle has made an exceptionally positive impact on his firm and community. In 2021, Kyle successfully navigated the succession process and became the owner of his family’s firm.
After licensure as a Missouri Funeral Director and Embalmer, Kyle immersed himself in all aspects of the firm. Over the years, he has redesigned, remodeled and redecorated physical spaces, and updated the firm’s website and business processes. He oversaw the construction of a new funeral home in Westphalia, MO, as well as design/construction of a new addition to the Jefferson City facility to add an onsite crematory, which includes a large family hospitality area.
Community has always been a passion for Kyle. Early in his career he served a family in which the next-of-kin were all adolescents. Finding no local bereavement care for teenagers, he co-founded a support group called H.U.G.S. (“Helping Us Gather Support”) to provide professional counseling and support services for this age group. Kyle obtained full funding for this new organization through the local United Way agency.
For his efforts creating the H.U.G.S. program, Kyle received the “Heart of a Hero” award from the American Red Cross. This is only one of Kyle’s many community service endeavors. “The level of compassion that Kyle shows goes above and beyond,” said Jason Ambler, Detective with the Jefferson City Missouri Police Department. “Kyle’s dedication to not only his profession but his family and community are appreciated and noticed by all.”
He has been an active member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association, serving on its Legislative Committee and as a District Director. Under a new restructuring of the Association’s organization, he was elected a member of its Board of Directors in June 2021.
“Kyle has been a vital part of the Association since he first became licensed . . . and became one of the youngest ever Board of Director members in 2015, serving continuously since then,” said Donald C. Otto, Jr., Executive Director of the Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association. “His dedication was most evident this past year during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic where, in addition to continuing to serve his families even under the ever-changing restrictions, he volunteered to obtain and distribute PPE to funeral homes throughout the state, allowing them to also continue to help others.”
Kyle has been an active member of Selected. He has participated in several Annual Meetings, Group Roundtables, Spring Management Summits and NextGen Seminars. He is a graduate of the Selected Leadership Academy (JoHoFives, 2013-2015 Class) and a member of the Windy G Selected Study Group since 2017.
Selected Independent Funeral Homes created NextGen to develop young funeral professionals as well as assist those new to the profession. The NextGen Seminar, held annually, offers educational and networking sessions for participants. Further information on Selected Independent Funeral Homes can be found at www.selectedfuneralhomes.org.
About Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Selected Independent Funeral Homes (www.selectedfuneralhomes.org) delivers innovative and pertinent resources, solutions and ongoing support necessary for enduring excellence to its international network of independently owned death-care providers who aspire to be the very best in their profession. Members of Selected operate according to specific standards and best practices to provide the public with reliable, high-quality funeral services and funeral-related information.
