Renae Shay

Who I Am

I am an Iowa native, raised in a small town on the Mississippi River. After high school, I moved to West Des Moines. I studied at Upper Iowa University, where my major was psychology. Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in the insurance industry. I joined the Homesteaders Customer Service department in 2004 and became an Account Executive in January 2010. I live in the Des Moines area with my husband, Chris. We have four adult children, three fur babies and several grand puppies who keep us busy. Our family is active in supporting autism research and awareness.

Why I Joined Homesteaders

I joined with Homesteaders because of the company’s reputation for the concern and the care it shows to customers and employees alike; its strong values and a solid history of success. I wanted to be part of a company where I felt I could grow and make a difference. Like many people, before I joined Homesteaders I was unfamiliar with preneed and its important role in funeral service. 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 truly believe in what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else.

What I Do

I enjoy helping my funeral home customers plan and implement programs that grow their business. I am a self-appointed cheerleader and coach – I love seeing them 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 that I’m a personal representation of Homesteaders’ commitment to the success of our funeral home customers and to promoting the value of funeral service.