Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

Kates-Boylston hosts the   Advances in Funeral Innovations   conference Nov. 12-13 in Houston. Over the course of two days, attendees will hear about some emerging trends and best practices for running their operations. Click here for complete show notes. 

In this episode, we speak with University of Cincinnati professor of social work Jennifer Wright-Berryman, a seasoned mental health and suicide prevention researcher with a long-standing commitment to improving understanding of the death-care experience for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. During her extensive research, she discovered a scarcity of resources and support specifically directed tow...

Welcome to the latest edition of ICYMI from Funeral Service Insider. As always, we are here to keep you informed about the latest happenings and trends within the funeral industry. Here's what we have on deck this week: A Big "What If?' : In case you missed the last podcast, we spoke with Tyler Anderson of Precoa about treating your website like you treat your funeral home. Bought not Closed:  Whe...

Accounting for shifting consumer preferences is a challenge many funeral home owners face daily. Tyler Anderson of Precoa discusses approaches for accommodating these shifts. Click here for complete show notes. 

Succession Gone Wrong?  We dive into the saga of Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion, Kansas, now transitioning to Yazel-Megli Funeral Homes. Despite an initially smooth handover, Ty Zeiner's recent decision to  re-enter the industry  calls the deal into question. Young Newlyweds, Big Dreams  Meet Sean and Anne Devlin, two newlyweds who are turning an  iconic restaurant  in Bennington, Vermont, into a f...

Welton Hong of Ring-Ring marketing discusses some of the fundamental (and free) things funeral home owners can do before spending money on digital marketing.  Hong will present at the in-person Advances in Funeral Service Innovations conference Nov. 12-13 in Houston, hosted by Kates-Boylston hosts the. Over the course of two days, attendees will hear about some of the emerging trends and best prac...

In this episode Jennifer Floyd, the managing director of the funeral home at San Antonio College talks about the challenges that come with running a business with students. Click here for full show notes.

This week, we'll dive into two significant acquisitions. Foundation Partners has acquired Cake, an end-of-life planning website, while Batesville has picked up Halcyon Death Care Management Solutions. We'll also touch on some news out of Las Vegas involving a stolen casket and update you on the resumption of mass burials on Hart Island in New York. Plus, a heartwarming story about Alan Harrell Jr....

In this episode we discuss the closure of a funeral home in Canada, the state-enforced shutdown of one in Indiana, and the challenges facing small rural funeral homes. We also take a look at the implications of NOR in Maine and a New York Funeral home that settled a state suit. We also share some of the other things available on Kates-Boylston.com .  Click here for full show notes.

In this episode, we speak with five respected funeral professionals providing insights into what to do when considering a career in funeral service. They share the importance of gaining hands-on experience, clarifying goals, and dispelling misconceptions. Click here for full show notes.

Our weekly look at news from around the funeral industry. Marketing Summit Registration How To Transform Your Business with Software Registration Understanding What the Illinois Memorial Fingerprint Suit Means to You   Minnesota Cemetery Ban   First Black, Woman-Owned Funeral Home in Jefferson Davis Parish Opens   Utah Municipal Cemetery Considers Conservation Section   First Nation Group to Open...

In this episode, we speak with Shawn'te Harvell, the 69th president of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. Discussing his meteoric rise in the funeral service industry, Harvell shares insights on the changing landscape of funeral service, the effect of having younger generations in leadership roles, and the importance of relationships and mentorships. Click here for complete...

In this episode, we take a look at a class action suit over collecting fingerprints, run down some of the new rules Colorado has enacted to protect consumers against body part traffickers, SCI's continued renovation projects, and back-to-school haircuts courtesy of the local funeral director. Class Action Suit Click here for all the other ICYMI stories of the week.

In this episode, we run down the implications of this week's earnings calls and their implications. SCI's numbers weren't off the chart, but their new preneed plan is worth hearing. Carriage Services delivered another beat and revealed its success was in cremation.  Although lots of states have legalized NOR, Nevada is just the third state where it's possible now that Earth Funeral has opened up s...

This week we speak with Sanchez Burns Turner on what it took to prepare for the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association centennial celebration and his hopes for the future. Burns Turner has been working in the national office for most of his professional career and recently was elevated to National Office Lead in addition to his responsibilities as convention organizer. As part of the...

In this week's roundup, we bring you updates on Matthews' dividend payout, a unique funeral band in Singapore, and recent incidents in Iowa. We'll also share the latest appointments and recognitions from around the funeral service profession. Join us as we dive into these fascinating stories and get a glimpse into the ever-evolving landscape of funeral service. Stay tuned for more insightful conte...

In this episode, we review the licensure discussions in the U.S. and UK, consider some recent acquisitions, and talk about some promotions and appointments from around the industry.  Links to the stories are below: UK Funeral Director Bump U.S. Regulation Commentary Anderson Appointed NGL Pomotions Caldwell Parrish M&A Mohawk Valley Sale

In this week's episode we speak with Christa Ovenell about her journey from a non-teaching administrator to a funeral director and death doula. Click here for complete show notes.

This episode of "In Case You Missed It," covers a range of topics, including a partnership announcement between Global Atlantic Financial Group and Service Corporation International, and a new program from Legacy. We also touch on the implications of a gas company decision to stop serving a Pennsylvania funeral home and announce new webinar archive. Welton Hong Google Webinar Global Atlantic Deal...

Click here for complete show notes.

Click here for the complete show notes.  Story Links:  Delaware's Death Certificate Practice Challenged New Decomposition Discovery Washington Splits the Difference on Unclaimed Remains Billion-Dollar Matthews Suit

Park Lawn has set the record and meeting date for its special meeting of shareholders. This meeting is convened to consider the proposed going private transaction. Under the terms of the transaction, Viridian Acquisition of Homesteaders Life Company and Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc., will acquire all outstanding common shares of Park Lawn at a price of $26.50 per Share. The Special Me...

Faith Haug, who runs the mortuary science program at Arapahoe Community College in the Littleton, Colorado, transformed the curriculum by incorporating modern practices and a broader understanding of death care.  Click here for full show notes.

As your trusted source for funeral service news and updates, we wanted to share the links to the stories we covered in this episode of In Case You Missed It. - LGBTQIA+ Funeral website launches  - Closure and succession  - Performance Tracker X Customer Service Trends & Insight Report Award - 'Chop Shop' Series Announced - Funeral Home Evicts County Full Show Notes: https://www.kates-boylston.com/...

In this week's episode, Tony Russo covers some headline-making news in funeral service. From the acquisition of Parklawn by Homesteaders Life Company and Birch Hill Equity Partners Management to the regulatory changes in New York and Pennsylvania, Tony delves into the implications for funeral homes and crematories. He also touches on the noteworthy story of funeral director Stephen Corpe, a candid...