ICCFA Celebrates Next-Gen Deathcare Innovators
The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association has officially announced the recipients of its 2026 40 Under 40 Award. This initiative recognizes emerging leaders who are driving meaningful change and setting new standards across deathcare. Selected from a competitive pool of peer, supervisor, and colleague nominations, this year’s honorees reflect a dynamic generation advancing the industry through leadership, professional achievement, community service, and fresh ideas. Every nominee underwent evaluation across four key benchmarks: professional achievement, leadership, community involvement, and innovation.
“The 2026 40 Under 40 honorees demonstrate the talent, vision and commitment that will continue to strengthen our profession for years to come,” said Nadira Baddeliyanage, Executive Director of ICCFA. “What stands out about this group is not only what they have already accomplished early in their careers, but the ways they are leading others, serving their communities and finding new approaches to better serve families. ICCFA is proud to recognize their contributions and support them as they continue to grow as leaders.”
Scholarships, Media Coverage, and Future Recognition
To directly support their ongoing professional development, each awardee receives a $500 scholarship from the ICCFA Educational Foundation. These funds apply toward registration for the upcoming 2026 ICCFA Fall Leadership Summit, scheduled for October 20–22 in Savannah, Georgia.
“Supporting the next generation of leaders is central to the Educational Foundation’s mission,” said Gino Merendino, President of the ICCFA Educational Foundation. “These 40 professionals have already shown tremendous initiative and dedication to the families, organizations and communities they serve. We are pleased to provide each honoree with a scholarship to the Fall Leadership Summit and an opportunity to continue learning, building relationships and developing as leaders within our profession.”
Beyond the summit, the 2026 class will be spotlighted in a future issue of ICCFA’s Memento Mori magazine and celebrated in person during the 2027 ICCFA Experience, taking place April 14–16 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.
“The 40 Under 40 Awards give us an opportunity not only to celebrate what these professionals have accomplished, but also to invest in what comes next,” Baddeliyanage added. “We look forward to seeing the impact this group will continue to make throughout their careers.”
For additional information regarding the ICCFA 40 Under 40 Award program, nomination guidelines, and eligibility requirements, please visit iccfa.com/awards.
The 2026 Award Recipients
The complete class of 2026 honorees includes Ofelia Alarcon (Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum), Nicholas Allan (Celebrate Life Co.), Elijah Bragg (Heritage Funeral Home – Fairmount Memorial Association), Alison Brettnacher (Baue Funeral Homes), Jordan Buckner (Security National Funeral Homes and Cemeteries), Bailey Byrd (Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation), Charles Eickhof (Eickhof Columbaria Inc.), Brock Elkins (Ronk Funeral Home), Bennett Forbes (Daniels Family Funeral & Cremation – Wyoming Chapel), Annie Fuller (Memorial Park Funeral Home), Evelin Gonzalez (SCI), Caitlyn Hauke (Life Forest), Eve Heavner (Baue Funeral Homes/Park Lawn Corp), Annalisa Heppner (North Burial Ground), Ryan Hughes (Hughes Family Tribute Center), Megan Humphries (Everstory Partners), Alexandria Johnson (Trinity Memorial Gardens), Justin Keiper (Cantelmi Long Funeral Homes), Rebecca Lange (Mountain View Funeral Home – NorthStar Memorial Group), Lou Maldonado (City of Hobbs), Todd Manuel (Trinity Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums), Jorge Mendoza (Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes), Jenyce Murai (Mililani Memorial Park), Andrea Nadler (Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum), Brittany Neunuebel (Baue Funeral Homes and St. Charles Memorial Gardens), Autumn Petrowske (Dignity Memorial), Matthew Pinero (NSMG/ San Jacinto Funeral Home & Cemetery), Jessie Puga (Restland Funeral Home), Milka Ramos Catalan (Señoriales Corporación de Servicio Guatemala), Geoff Richter (Everstory Partners), Sheyla Roca Calderón (Señoriales Corporación de Servicio Mexico), Sergio Rodríguez Reyes (Señoriales Corporación de Servicio Guatemala), Madison Ross (South Park Funeral Home – NorthStar Memorial Group), Madison Schwartz (Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home), Kemberly Soria (Gethsemane and St. Mary’s Cemeteries), Lindsey Stuffle (Hendersonville Memory Gardens, Funeral Home & Cremation Center), Alejandra Suarez Urbina (Señoriales Corporación de Servicio Mexico), Monica Vazquez (Funeraria San Juan – Carriage Services), Damon Wenig (Homesteaders Life Company), and Marc Yearsley (Ensure-A-Seal).
