STERLING, Va. (Oct. 25, 2024) – The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) Educational Foundation is proud to nominate Jay D. Dodds for the 2025 Lasting Impact Award. Mr. Dodds’ exemplary leadership, decades of service to the funeral and cemetery profession, and tireless commitment to serving families with compassion and integrity make him a distinguished candidate for this prestigious honor.
With more than 40 years of experience in the funeral and cemetery profession, Jay Dodds has held pivotal roles in shaping the profession’s future. Currently serving as chief strategy officer of Park Lawn Corp. (PLC), Mr. Dodds has been a driving force behind some of the country’s most successful funeral service organizations. His leadership at PLC and in prior roles has given him extensive experience managing funeral and cemetery businesses in the U.S. and Canada.
A licensed funeral director and embalmer in Texas and New Mexico and a certified cremation operator, Mr. Dodds has been at the forefront of setting standards for funeral service operations. As the founder, former president, and chief operating officer of Signature Group, Jay introduced innovative business practices that improved operations and maintained the compassionate care essential to the profession.
“Beyond his business acumen, Mr. Dodds has been a dedicated advocate for the funeral profession. His service includes leadership roles such as past president of the ICCFA, trustee emeritus for both the Funeral Service Foundation and the Educational Foundation, and a Pierce Mortuary Colleges board member. Through these roles, Jay has significantly contributed to advocating for best practices and ensuring the future growth of the profession through education,” said Gino Merendino, president of the ICCFA Educational Foundation.
Jay’s leadership during his two terms as ICCFA president, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifies his commitment to the profession. He endorsed the creation of a Disaster Management Committee, a multidisciplinary team that tackled travel concerns, committal services, and employee safety during the pandemic. His leadership ensured that funeral service providers could continue to serve families with dignity and respect while establishing safety standards that would have a lasting impact on the profession.
Under his guidance, the ICCFA continued its operations and expanded its outreach, providing invaluable legislative guidance, professional resources, and numerous online educational opportunities. His efforts were instrumental in growing the association’s membership to more than 10,000 members, a remarkable achievement during such challenging times.
In nominating Jay D. Dodds for the Lasting Impact Award, the ICCFA Educational Foundation recognizes a career of excellence, compassion, and leadership. His tireless efforts have shaped the profession, and his mentorship has paved the way for future professional leaders. Jay Dodds truly deserves this award.
The ICCFA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity, established to make education accessible to future leaders in the deathcare profession and thereby raise the standards of professionalism within the industry. To learn more about the work of the Foundation and upcoming educational opportunities, please visit iccfa.com/educational-foundation.
Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization segments. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, supplier and related businesses worldwide.
