Overland Park, KS – Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. (“WFSI” or “Wilbert”) is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the licensed territory of Norwalk-Wilbert Vault Company, LLC, (“Norwalk Vault” or the “Company”), based in Oakville, Connecticut. Norwalk Vault has fifteen locations and/or distributors providing services throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
Founded in 1926, Norwalk Vault was acquired in 2007 by Mark Bates, current President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. After working in private equity, Bates acquired Norwalk Vault and has grown the business organically and through acquisition over the past thirteen years while assembling a strong team of individuals to assist him. He has served on the WFSI Board of Directors for four years and is a former president of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA). He has also served on various boards for cemeteries and other funeral service groups.
Following the closing of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to close later this month, Bates will join the Wilbert team in Overland Park, Kansas as Chief Operating Officer. Craig Neal, current Norwalk Vault Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of Vice President of the New England Region for WFSI.
“We are very pleased to welcome Norwalk Vault into Wilbert and Mark Bates to our team,” stated Dennis Welzenbach, President of Wilbert, “Mark brings an extensive background in business operations to the Wilbert organization and we look forward to his assistance in our continued growth and diversification. We expect that all current employees will be joining WFSI, ensuring a smooth transition with a highly experienced team. We welcome them all to our Company Store group.”
For more information, call (913) 345-2120.
