Renae Shay

Who I Am

I was born and raised in Iowa along the Mississippi River. After graduating high school, I moved to the Des Moines area where I live with my husband, Chris. We have a combined family with four adult children and three fur babies. We have a daughter who is a special education teacher, a son who is a diesel mechanic, a son who works in the cellular tower industry and a daughter who is in grad school at the University of Iowa. (Go HAWKS!) We enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, watching football and entertaining at our home. I love reading, cooking and watching anything crime related.

During my time at Homesteaders, I have the honor of meeting many great people and learning new things. I have learned skills from some of the best! I’ve received the Positive Attitude Award, Commitment Award and I’ve been named the Regional Account Executive of the Year twice along with many other recognitions. Several years ago, I became a Certified Preplanning Consultant through the National Funeral Directors Association.

Why I Joined Homesteaders

I first joined Homesteaders in customer service in 2004 and became an account executive in 2010. I admired the company’s reputation for the concern and care it shows to customers and employees alike, as well as its strong values and solid history of success. I wanted to be part of a company where I felt I could grow and make a difference.

Like many, I was unfamiliar with preneed and its important role in funeral service prior to joining Homesteaders. Today, because I see how families benefit from prearranging, I have an unwavering belief in the value of this option for my funeral home customers and the families they serve. I believe in what I do, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What I Do

I enjoy helping my funeral home customers plan and implement programs to grow their business. I am a self-appointed cheerleader and coach – I love seeing others succeed! I spend a lot of time listening and understanding how my customers define success then draw upon my ongoing training and the excellent tools we develop at Homesteaders to help them achieve their goals for success.

I feel I’m a personal representation of Homesteaders’ commitment to the success of our funeral home customers and to promoting the value of funeral service. I know preneed inside and out. I’m well versed in regulations and requirements in the states I represent. I make myself available to answer questions and assist in any way I can. The care and compassion of funeral directors and their staff is inspiring. What they do, paired with what Homesteaders offers, is so beneficial to the families they serve.