LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. April 7, 2025 — Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected), the world’s leading association of forward-thinking funeral professionals with a shared vision of advancing independent funeral service, announces the election of new Board Officers. Barbara Risher-Welch, owner of Risher Mortuary & Cremation Service in Montebello, California, will serve as President and Christopher Waite, owner of Waite Funeral Homes in Medina, Ohio, will serve as Board Chair.
New Officers
Risher Mortuary & Cremation Service has been an active member since joining Selected in 2016. Barbara Risher-Welch says, “Joining Selected has been the best move our family owned business has ever made. Since the beginning, I have been even more impressed with the members and staff who make up this association. Working together with Christopher and our other dedicated and talented Board members, it is our strong commitment to lead Selected into the future, carrying on the legacy, distinction, and quality we’ve been known for since 1917.”
Christopher Waite’s firm, Waite Funeral Homes, was invited into Selected membership in 2013. “I am truly honored to step into the role of Board Chair for Selected Independent Funeral Homes,” Waite shares. “Reflecting on my time as a member, I am deeply grateful for the personal and professional growth I have experienced because of my involvement in Selected. I look forward to collaborating with Barbara, our exceptional Board members, and Selected’s talented staff as we work together to lead our association into a bright and promising future.”
New Directors
Additionally, the Selected Board Director Appointment Committee has chosen Todd Bozell, president and owner of Bozell Funeral Homes in Lapel, Indiana, and Megan Comer, president and owner of Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in Escondido, California, as incoming Board Directors.
With a passion for keeping independent firms independent, Todd Bozell reflects “I could not be more honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Selected. I am excited to work with the entire team at Selected, and I will do my best to represent the membership and promote Selected to the next generation of independent funeral homes.”
Megan Comer is involved in several funeral service organizations and causes on a national and state level. “I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as a Board Director for Selected, an organization that holds a special place in my heart,” she shares. “My late father was a proud member of this Board, and it is both a privilege and a personal responsibility to carry on his legacy of service, compassion, and leadership.”
Risher Welch, Waite, Bozell and Comer will begin their leadership terms at the 2025 Selected Annual Meeting, September 28 – October 1, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding professionals into Selected’s leadership,” remarks Rob Paterkiewicz, Selected’s Executive Director & CEO. “Their collective experience, dedication, and leadership will help guide our organization with strength and sensibility as we continue to support our members and advance the profession. We look forward to their valuable insights and contributions in shaping the future of Selected and independent funeral service”
The current Selected Board of Directors includes President Tom Antram, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Board Chair John Keohane, Quincy, Massachusetts; Barbara Risher-Welch, Montebello, California; Christopher Waite, Medina, Ohio; J. Sheridan Lee, Garner, North Carolina; David Moore, Mason City, Iowa; Brad Pingel, Pampa, Texas; and Daniel Kochapski, Windsor, Connecticut.
About Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Selected Independent Funeral Homes provides innovative resources, solutions, and ongoing support to a global network of independently-owned death care providers. Committed to excellence, our members adhere to rigorous standards and best practices, ensuring reliable, high-quality service and funeral-related information for the public. For more information about Selected’s programs, communities, and membership, or to locate a member, visit www.selectedfuneralhomes.org or call 800-323-4219.
