DEERFIELD, ILL. —January 27, 2015— Selected Independent Funeral Homes has named Jason Goldstein of Linwood, N.J., the 2015 recipient of its NextGen Professional of the Year Award. Goldstein was given the special honor at a ceremony on opening night of the group’s annual seminar, taking place January 25-29 at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Recipients are presented a physical award and reimbursed for the meeting registration. The award is designed to highlight career achievements, community/organization involvement and awards/achievements of funeral professionals under the age of 50.
Goldstein is the fifth recipient of the award, and is honored for his true passion and dedication to the profession, his firm, and the community as noted by supporting letters of recommendation in his application package. Goldstein is fourth generation funeral director and the Vice President of Roth-Goldsteins’ Memorial Chapel in Atlantic City, NJ. He is actively involved in a multitude of organizations and causes including the York Children’s Foundation and the Alcove Center for Grieving Children and Their Families. He has served on the Board of Directors at Seashore Gardens Living Center, an independent not-for-profit senior living community for several years and was elected and installed as the youngest Chairman of the Board in January 2014. Jason and his wife, Jessica, were the first recipients of the Young Leadership Award for dedication and commitment to the Jewish community. The Goldstein’s live in Linwood, N.J., along with their two sons, Samuel and Luke. In addition to his many accomplishments, Jason coaches his son’s hockey teams in his spare time.
“It is an honor to be recognized as the NextGen Professional of the Year. I am grateful for all the wonderful colleagues and friends who along with my wife, Jessica, nominated me for this award,” said Goldstein. This achievement truly reflects my commitment to community and the Funeral Service Industry. The NextGen Award is meant to exemplify the accomplishments of a Funeral Director who has gone beyond their call of duty. I feel that being a Funeral Director is not my job, but rather it’s my passion.”
Selected Independent Funeral Homes created its NextGen program to promote young funeral professionals as well as acknowledge those new to the profession. The four-day NextGen Seminar, held annually, offers educational and networking sessions for its attendees.
The NextGen Professional of the Year Award is one of several programs of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, a worldwide professional association of independent, locally-owned funeral homes founded in 1917. Applicants are eligible for the award if they are an active employee of a Selected member firm (domestic or international) and under the age of 50 by the annual deadline. By creating the program, Selected hopes to recognize and encourage the next generation of professionals in the funeral industry.
In addition to the networking and educational opportunities available at its annual seminar, NextGen members may serve on the NextGen Advisory Group to help plan the meeting and provide input on other opportunities. Further information on Selected Independent Funeral Homes and NextGen can be found on its website at www.selectedfuneralhomes.org.
About Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians, Selected Independent Funeral Homes (www.selectedfuneralhomes.org) is the world’s oldest and largest association of independently owned funeral homes. Members of the association are expected to operate according to specific standards and best practices in order to provide the public th reliable, high-quality funeral services and funeral-related information.
