STERLING, Va. (May 18, 2026) – John Bolton, CCE, CCrE, CSE, CXE, has officially assumed the role of President of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) following the 2026 ICCFA Experience, held April 29–May 1 in Fort Worth, Texas. A nationally respected leader with more than 38 years of experience in the deathcare profession, Bolton brings a forward-thinking approach centered on education, collaboration, and growth across all areas of the profession.
Bolton currently serves as Vice President of Operations for Development at Park Lawn Corporation, where he oversees strategic initiatives aimed at driving organizational growth and operational innovation. Before joining Park Lawn, he served as President of Blackstone Cemetery Development, helping guide the expansion of more than 1,200 cremation-related projects nationwide. Throughout his career, Bolton has earned recognition for his strategic leadership, expertise in customer experience and sales strategy, and forward-thinking perspective on the evolving deathcare profession.
A longtime leader and volunteer within the ICCFA, Bolton has played a significant role in advancing educational programming and member engagement throughout the association. He previously served as ICCFA Vice President of Education, Dean of the College of Hospitality and Customer Experience at ICCFA University, Chairman of the ICCFA Sales and Marketing Committee, co-chair of the 2022 ICCFA Annual Convention & Exposition, and President of the Cemetery Association of Tennessee. He also helped lead the evolution of ICCFA’s flagship annual convention and exposition into the reimagined ICCFA Experience format launched in 2025.
“As our profession continues to evolve, ICCFA has an incredible opportunity to lead important conversations about innovation, education, and the future of service,” said Bolton. “I want to continue building an association that challenges the status quo, expands opportunities for professionals across every segment of deathcare, and helps elevate the value of what we do every day. There is tremendous momentum within ICCFA right now, and I’m excited to help grow that momentum even further.”
Bolton’s presidency will focus heavily on expanding educational opportunities, strengthening member engagement, and increasing awareness of ICCFA within broader audiences both inside and outside the profession. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, strategic growth, and creating meaningful experiences that equip professionals to better serve families and communities.
“John brings an exceptional combination of vision, experience, and passion to this role,” said ICCFA Executive Director Nadira Baddeliyanage. “He understands where the profession has been, but more importantly, he understands where it’s headed. John has consistently pushed ICCFA to think bigger, innovate boldly, and create stronger opportunities for our members. I’m excited to work alongside him as we continue building on the exciting energy of the past several years.”
As President, Bolton will work closely with ICCFA leadership, volunteers, and members to continue strengthening the association’s role as a leading voice for the global deathcare profession.
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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.
