Leading Executives in Funeral Homes
Thomas L. Ryan
Chairman, President & CEO, Service Corporation International (Dignity Memorial)
Chairman, President & CEO of North America’s largest funeral and cemetery operator; under his leadership SCI continues active M&A and shareholder returns, including a dividend increase on February 20, 2025.
Website | Press/Media | LinkedIn (company)
Carlos R. Quezada
Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Carriage Services, Inc.
Named CEO in June 2023 after rising through sales and operations; leading a refreshed strategy and leadership team at one of the top U.S. consolidators.
Jennifer W. Hay
Chief Executive Officer, Park Lawn Corporation
Elevated to CEO in 2025; steering cross‑border growth across 17 U.S. states and Canada and leading PLC’s next phase of acquisitions and integration.
W. Mark Hamilton
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, NorthStar Memorial Group
Long‑tenured leader focused on culture and growth at a major private owner of funeral homes and cemeteries across the U.S.
Lilly H. Donohue
President & Chief Executive Officer, Everstory Partners (formerly StoneMor)
CEO leading the company’s rebrand and digital transformation, including systemwide digitization of cemetery contracts and mapping in 2024–2025.
John D. Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Foundation Partners Group
Appointed CEO in January 2025 to guide one of the nation’s largest funeral home platforms through its next chapter of growth and modernization.
Chris Trainor
Chief Executive Officer, Batesville Services, LLC
Named CEO when LongRange Capital acquired Batesville in 2023; longtime brand leader in caskets, cremation products and funeral technology solutions.
Steve Shaffer
President, CEO & Board Chair, Homesteaders Life Company
Heads one of the top preneed insurers serving funeral homes; as President/CEO & Board Chair, drives strategy, innovation and industry philanthropy.
Kris Seale
Chairman, President & CEO, Directors Investment Group (Funeral Directors Life, Passare)
Leads the parent of FDLIC and Passare; a multi‑decade executive championing preneed, at‑need and software solutions widely used by funeral homes.
Warren J. “Ren” Newcomer, Jr.
Founder, Owner & President, Newcomer Funeral Service Group
Fourth‑generation owner who expanded Newcomer’s low‑cost, high‑service model across multiple states; continues to lead acquisitions and organic growth.
Darin B. Drabing
President & Chief Executive Officer, Forest Lawn Memorial‑Parks & Mortuaries (Southern California)
CEO of one of the nation’s most recognized funeral/cemetery brands, stewarding investment in facilities, experience and community heritage.
John Horan
Founder & Owner, Horan & McConaty (Denver, CO)
Fifth‑generation funeral professional; acquired and built Denver’s leading independent firm while launching community initiatives and locations across the metro.
Jason Burlage
Chief Executive Officer, Vertin
CEO leading one of the Midwest’s largest privately held funeral home groups; accelerated expansion with recent acquisitions in PA and MN.
Greg Rollings
Founder & Chairman (former President & CEO), Rollings Funeral Service
Founder who has grown a privately owned, multi‑state network by offering a seller‑friendly, family‑values alternative to large corporations.
Robert A. Gordon, Jr.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Cypress Lawn Cemetery Association (San Francisco Bay Area)
President & CEO since 2017; led a period of record growth, acquisitions and arboretum accreditation while elevating service and heritage programming.
Gary M. Freytag
President & Chief Executive Officer, Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum / Spring Grove Funeral Homes (Cincinnati)
Respected nonprofit CEO and past ICCFA president; known for innovative cemetery development and integrated funeral‑cemetery service model.
Zillah Byng‑Thorne
Chief Executive Officer, Dignity Funerals (UK)
Brought in to lead the turnaround of one of the UK’s largest funeral providers after its 2024 take‑private, focusing on deleveraging and service standards.
Craig Greenseid
Chief Executive Officer, Tribute Technology
Appointed CEO in May 2025 to scale North America’s leading websites/obituary and software platform used by thousands of funeral homes and cemeteries.
Will Andrews
President, U.S. (Funeral & Cemetery Operations), Anthem Partners
U.S. President growing a fast‑rising owner/operator of funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States and Canada.
Jake Johnson
President & Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Consulting Group
CEO of a leading M&A, valuations, accounting and performance firm for funeral homes and cemeteries; frequent industry speaker on succession and growth.
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