Selected Independent Funeral Homes Connects Leaders at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago
CHICAGO, Ill. — October 25, 2023 — Nearly 250 members and guests of Selected Independent Funeral Homes gathered at the JW Marriott Chicago and virtually for the 2023 Annual Meeting held October 10–13. The association’s premier event connected leaders from throughout the U.S. and Canada and provided numerous education opportunities.
The meeting included a variety of presentations that focused on key topics including leadership, HR laws, attracting and retaining staff, growing a business through acquisition, website marketing and crisis communication. In addition, several member exchange sessions provided opportunities to engage in open conversation on topics currently impacting member firms.
With emerging trends in technology, consumer attitudes and behaviors, and evolving business models on the horizon, everyone wants to know what the future holds for funeral service. Anticipation was high as Selected concluded the Annual Meeting with the Futures Session. Featured speakers included Chris Cruger of The Foresight Companies, Dan Sharp of Tribute Technology, Marty Strohofer of Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, Courtney Gould Miller of MKJ Marketing and Paul St. Pierre of St. Pierre Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Selected members have access on the association’s meeting archive webpage to recordings of most educational sessions.
Participants also had several opportunities to interact with more than 40 of Selected’s Preferred Partners.
Selected’s new Board Officers were inducted during the meeting. Eric Trimble of Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory will serve as President, and John Kepner of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home will serve as Board Chair. New Board members J. Sheridan Lee of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home and David H. Moore of Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapels also were inducted into their leadership roles.
In addition, the following 12 firms were recognized for 50 years of continuous membership:
- Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory – Huntsville, Ark.
- Paul L. Gravenor Home for Funerals – Ephrata, Pa.
- Gunderson Funeral Home – Madison, Wis.
- Hadley Funeral Home – Windsor, Mo.
- Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes – Kingsport, Tenn.
- McCaw Funeral Service, Ltd – Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada
- Messinger Mortuaries Cemeteries Crematories – Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Mueller’s Funeral Home – Kennewick, Wash.
- Neal Funeral Home – Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
- Leroy Rader Funeral Home – Longview, Texas
- Saddleback Chapel – Tustin, Calif.
- Scobee-Combs-Bowden Funeral Home & Crematory – Boynton Beach, Fla.
The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., September 25–28, 2024. For more information on Selected’s meetings, programs, becoming a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes or to locate a member, visit selectedfuneralhomes.org or call 800-323-4219.
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About Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Selected Independent Funeral Homes 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 service and funeral-related information.
