Digital Dialogue Series

Wally Hooker, President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, discusses the roots of his passion for embalming, his greatest challenges when working with families and how he's overcome those challenges, his advice for other funeral directors and those young professionals just getting out of mortuary school, as well as his take on the changes we've recently seen in the profession and how we can best move forward post COVID-19. We enjoyed getting to know such an influential and accomplished funeral director who has enjoyed an illustrious career in numerous leadership roles. 

Larnique will talk about as an Air Force Veteran how she moved to the funeral profession, and how she uses Tik Tok and Facebook (1500 followers) to promote her business and engage and educate the community about funerals.

In the spirit of The Changing Consumer, Liesel focuses on discussing ways to combat both “compassion fatigue” and “change fatigue” in our profession. Entering the 2020s with all the change we’ve experienced globally, both big and small, how do we ensure our employees aren’t overwhelmed by it all? Liesel also discusses the nuances of working with families in grief and how we can practice a more empathetic approach to our interactions with them. Her encouragement in lifelong relationship building, highlighting her own philosophy and approach, is an inspiring message to all of us, particularly in the funeral profession.

As we continue our conversation about The Changing Consumer, we enjoy a discussion with Justin Zabor thinking “out of the box” regarding ways our profession can better serve families. Justin will talk about the modern cremation consumer, how he integrated catering into his business, and other exciting innovations. We learn about his softer approach when working with families to honor their loved ones, believing the little things make a big difference. As Zig Ziggler put it, “they don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Justin highlights his approach to showing families how much he cares and moving the profession forward with that mindset.

In this week’s OGR podcast, we’ll talk with Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America. Barbara will delve into the latest insights and trends in the world of cremation. She’ll share the results of CANA’s recent survey that addresses both human and pet cremations and cremation merchandising. So, whether you're a funeral director, a crematory operator, or simply someone interested in learning more about cremation, tune in for an informative and engaging conversation.

As consumer preferences and needs change, so do the demands placed on funeral homes. Add to that an increased challenge to hire and retain staff and you have a recipe for burnout. Wendy King, Executive Director of the Order of the Golden Rule, shares why it is more important than ever for funeral professionals to take time to learn, grow and connect with others in their field. 

Being raised in a home “that was Army-Army-Army everything” built a strong foundation of respect within Jim Rudolph for veterans and the service they give their country. He used that knowledge and calling to establish the nation’s first veteran-specific funeral home, Veterans Funeral Care in Clearwater, Florida. Later, he expanded their mission, launching the Veterans Funeral Care Provider Network, a group of more than 160 funeral homes across 34 states dedicated to putting in the work to properly serve those who served us.

From a focus on veterans to storytelling and even discounts on credit card service charges, Charles has worked to develop his edge in a number of different areas. But he says no matter what yours is – you have to be passionate about it, and always remember why you’re in the funeral profession.

Kelley works for LifeSource, the Donate Life affiliate serving the Upper Midwest of the United States in all aspects of organ, eye and tissue donation. She served as a funeral director for a decade before moving to LifeSource, bringing with her a unique perspective from her time in the funeral profession… but also a pair of personal stories that connect her to the important work of organ and tissue donation.

Joe E. Pray is one of four Joes you may find around Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, Michigan. They may have strikingly similar names in this family operation, but they pride themselves on the unique, customized service they offer the families who come through their doors.