OGR Receives ISAE STAR Award for Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast Rebrand
INDIANAPOLIS (July 7, 2026) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) has been honored with a 2026 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) STAR Award in the Golden Shoestring category for its successful rebrand of Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast.
The Golden Shoestring Award recognizes associations that achieve exceptional results while working with a budget of less than $5,000. OGR’s Rest Assured podcast rebrand was completed with a budget of $0, relying entirely on the creativity, expertise, and dedication of its staff and volunteer contributors.
Originally launched as a member communication tool, the podcast was strategically reimagined to better reflect OGR’s mission, expand its reach, and strengthen its connection with independent funeral professionals. The refreshed brand, visual identity, and content strategy transformed Rest Assured into a trusted platform for thought leadership, professional development, and meaningful conversations within the funeral profession.
“Receiving the ISAE STAR Award is an incredible honor and a testament to what can be accomplished through strategic thinking, creativity, and a deep commitment to serving our profession,” said Justin Zabor, CFSP, Host of Rest Assured and President-Elect of OGR. “The success of Rest Assured demonstrates that impactful storytelling and professional engagement don’t require a large budget—just a clear vision, authentic voices, and a dedication to advancing the funeral profession.”
Since the rebrand, Rest Assured has experienced significant growth and impact. Peak monthly listenership increased by 125.5%, growing from 51 listeners to 115 in a single month, while total downloads surpassed 1,000, including 785 downloads in 2025 alone. The podcast also secured advertisers and sponsored episodes for the first time, creating a new revenue stream and engagement opportunity for OGR and its supplier partners.
Episodes of Rest Assured feature practical business insights, leadership development, emerging trends, and real-world perspectives from independent funeral home owners, suppliers, and subject-matter experts. The podcast serves as an educational resource designed to support funeral professionals at every stage of their careers while reinforcing OGR’s commitment to professionalism, community, and continuous improvement. Episodes can be found on Apple/Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
The ISAE STAR Awards recognize excellence and innovation among association professionals throughout Indiana, celebrating programs and initiatives that demonstrate creativity, measurable impact, and effective stewardship of resources.
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About the International Order of the Golden Rule
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is an association of independently owned and operated funeral homes dedicated to ethical service to all. Founded in 1928, it is our mission to make independent funeral homes exceptional. We do this by building and supporting member interaction, information exchange and professional business development through a wide range of programs, services and resources. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.
About the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE)
Founded in 1960, ISAE provides Indiana’s leading educational and networking events designed specifically for the needs of association professionals. Our members share their professional leadership and wide variety of skill sets with many outstanding associations in Indiana. The associations our members work at serve many types of professions, industries, societies, and social organizations. Collectively, they represent hundreds of thousands of members throughout the state, country, and world. ISAE is managed by Raybourn Group International, an accredited association management company (AMC) that has led associations with integrity and innovation since 1988.
