Our sales team.

As a licensed funeral director and preneed counselor, I understand the challenges funeral professionals face each day. Some days are extremely difficult while others are extremely rewarding. However, we face each day with enthusiasm and a passion to serve our families when called upon. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College and earned my associates degree in funeral service arts and sciences from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. I’ve been involved in several professional programs, including the National Funeral Directors Association’s Professional Women’s Conference and Meet the Mentors, in addition to serving on the Funeral Service Foundation’s Scholarship Review Committee. Prior to joining Homesteaders as an account executive, I was a Homesteaders Leaders Conference qualifier. In 2023, I was recognized as a Homesteaders Rising Star — an award that recognizes an employee who demonstrates eagerness to learn, commitment to Homesteaders and engagement with the company and peers. I live in Lykens, Pa., and enjoy spending time with my husband, John, my son, Garrett, and our four-legged boy, Koda. I’m a skydiver and a daredevil — which includes jumping off the Stratosphere in Las Vegas — and I also enjoy traveling.

I joined Homesteaders because I recognized the company as a premier leader in preneed funding and a valuable asset in providing marketing resources, technical support and training to funeral home owners and writing agents. I am proud to offer my expertise to our funeral home customers so they can leverage these opportunities to succeed. My experience as a funeral director and preneed consultant provides valuable insight for me to help funeral home business owners grow their business through an active preneed program. I provide innovative solutions to everyday challenges. I enjoy working side by side with funeral professionals to promote the value of funeral services to families and provide the tools to offer families the benefits of secure preneed funding.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Glenville State College before spending 17 years in sales positions. I joined Homesteaders in 2010, and in 2022, I received the Account Executive of the Year award at Homesteaders. I live in Huntington, W.Va., with my wife, Stacie, and our daughter, Emmalyn. Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering at Huntington City Mission.

When I joined Homesteaders, I accomplished my career-long goal of joining a company that truly values its employees and encourages individual development. I continually learn more about my customers, their goals and the communities they serve. I’m proud to represent Homesteaders! I enjoy listening to my customers share their challenges and opportunities. It helps me understand where they’ve come from and where they want to take their business. Years of experience identifying and accomplishing my customers’ business goals combined with Homesteaders training and support allow me to work with my funeral home customers to build success plans that work. I also enjoy presenting new technology offerings to reach more families in their service area.

My background is in business, beginning when I earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Toledo. I have called Toledo, Ohio, my home for more than 40 years. When I’m not working, I enjoy gardening — I’m a member of the Ohio Master Gardeners — and landscaping, as well as spending time with my children, Kristen, Anderson and Quinn, and my grandchildren.

I started at Homesteaders in 1997 because I know funeral directors are some of the finest people in the world. Working with them every day to help them reach their goals is very rewarding. I enjoy the family atmosphere and how Homesteaders cares has for its employees. The support I’ve received from my colleagues at Homesteaders has been incredible. During my career, I’ve been honored with numerous sales awards, including the Graham J. Cook Account Executive of the Year Award and the Daniel M. Voecks Award for highest annual volume. As an account executive, I help funeral homes educate their client families on the importance of advance funeral planning. I also work in partnership with funeral homes to increase understanding of the value of full funeral service. I firmly believe in preplanning as a way to build relationships with client families and provide a solid future for funeral homes — and I love having the number one preneed company behind me!

I am a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Stevens College in Omaha, Neb., with a degree in marketing. Most of my career has been in the health insurance industry with companies such as Wellmark BCBS of IA and Principal Financial Group. Additionally, I hold the certificate of Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC). I was named the Account Executive of the Year in my region in 2022, and I’ve been given the honor of being Account Executive of the Month many times at Homesteaders.

As a participant in Homesteaders continuing education classes for many years, I had come to know many in the Homesteaders “family,” including the funeral directors we serve. The classes helped me understand the importance of preneed, not just from the funeral director’s perspective but also from the perspective of the families they serve. Homesteaders has a long-standing reputation for being stellar in values and a leader in the preneed market. As a Home Office senior account executive, I get the honor of working with many states in the northeast part of the country. I see myself as a support system but also as a “coach” who takes the time to learn your challenges and goals so I can help you develop your business and achieve your goals. You can count on me to be there whether you need help completing an application or want to put together a marketing plan to increase community awareness. I look forward to getting to know you, learning about your business and creating strategies that will make our partnership a success. I will take my decade-long knowledge with Homesteaders and customize it to meet your needs in the ever-changing funeral world. I want you to be the best of the best in your field.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Darlington, Wis., and have lived in Iowa since moving here when I was 12. I began my career at Homesteaders as a customer service representative, and I became part of the Home Office Account Executive team in 2019. My professional experience includes many years in the insurance business during which I have developed my knowledge and skills to help customers succeed. I’m part of a large family that includes four brothers, nine nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews, as well as my son Tate. In addition to spending time with family, I enjoy fishing, board games and card games. I love shooting pool and have even been able to play in Las Vegas for teams, doubles and individual competitions.

I joined Homesteaders when one of my friends referred me, and I was impressed by the history of the company and how happy its employees are. Homesteaders is a caring environment; it feels like we are family. I have a vast knowledge of insurance and have been working in the insurance world since 2005. I leverage my upbeat attitude and experience in customer service to help funeral home customers achieve success. My compassion and empathy allow me to work alongside funeral professionals to develop business plans to help you meet your goals. I enjoy building relationships and helping build the preneed programs agents and funeral homes would like.

I graduated from Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2005 and received my LOMA’s Associate, Customer Service™ (ACS®) designation in 2022. For nine years, I worked in retail sales and sales management. Then for four years, I worked as a home and automobile insurance sales associate at Mercer before starting my career at Homesteaders. I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and have three older siblings. In my spare time, I enjoy golfing and snowboarding. I have been snowboarding since high school and love visiting Colorado for snowboarding trips.

A colleague already working at Homesteaders introduced me to the Customer Service Team at Homesteaders, where I spent four years working and learning a lot about our products and processes. The service team was a great transition from familiarizing myself with the company to my current Account Executive role. With my sales and customer service background, I am equipped to help our agents communicate the value of Homesteaders’ products. I take pride in Homesteaders’ service, assisting with a loved one’s final farewell, and I’m excited to use my knowledge and experience to help you!

Prior to joining Homesteaders, I worked in life insurance and banking my entire career, which helped me establish a strong understanding of solutions that help businesses grow. While I became an Account Executive in 2019, I spent more than five years prior as a customer service representative at Homesteaders. As an Account Executive, I’ve received multiple sales achievement awards. I live in Adel, Iowa, and enjoy spending time with friends and family, which includes my wife, Tracy, three children and three grandchildren. I also enjoy camping, watching sports and playing tennis and bags.

I joined Homesteaders because of its history and outstanding reputation in the funeral profession and the preneed field. The family-oriented culture here is unmatched. I enjoy building relationships with my funeral home customers and working alongside them to create customized success plans that match the strengths of their firms and the needs of their communities. Using my experience on the customer service team, I educate clients about Homesteaders’ resources and how to implement them effectively.

Prior to joining Homesteaders in January 2014, I worked as an internal marketing representative for American Equity. In that position, I assisted agents in growing their business by marketing to potential and existing customers and by serving as a vital resource for them while they worked in the field. Prior to that position, I was a real estate agent for nine years in Des Moines, Iowa. My focus in that role was on building lasting relationships with my customers and helping them find their dream homes. I live in Norman, Okla., with my dogs, Boomer and Barney. In my spare time, I enjoy playing cards with friends. I also enjoy golfing — which is the most frustrating thing I have ever done, but I still love it!

I joined Homesteaders because wanted to be part of a company where the work was valued, challenging and fast-paced, and Homesteaders was the perfect fit for me. Homesteaders has a very family-friendly environment. It provides the opportunity to share my 15+ years of relationship-building experience with our firms so you can do what you do best: Taking care of your client families’ needs. As an account executive, I reach out to firms each day to see how I can help find solutions and provide support for success. I have a passion for customer service, and I look forward to helping you reach and exceed your goals. I’m happy to help any time by listening to — and acting on — your business needs.

I was born and raised in Indiana, and I earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. I also hold an Indiana insurance license. Prior to joining Homesteaders, I spent 15 years managing a preneed marketing company. In that role, I helped funeral home owners and managers design plans and solutions to grow their preneed and at-need business. My wife and I live in Zionsville, Ind., and we have two children. Most often, we can be found watching their sporting events or Indiana Hoosiers sports. I also direct and coordinate a “Share the Warmth” coat and blanket drive in partnership with the Caring Center of Boone County in addition to other fundraisers for our church and community.

I joined the Homesteaders family because of our unwavering commitment to innovation and promoting the value of funeral service, the dedication of the leadership team and the passion throughout the company for our funeral home partners, agents and policyholders. I share Homesteaders’ dedication to funeral professionals and the families they serve who count on us for secure preneed funding. Every day I put my education, experience and Homesteaders’ resources to work, helping our funeral home customers plan and execute marketing strategies with a focus on growth, consistency and long-term success. I have a strong desire to build relationships with my customers — listening to their needs and working closely with them to uncover their unique opportunities and challenges. I have recruited, interviewed and managed high-performing preneed agents. I have educated families at kitchen tables. Using my marketing background and decades of experience in the profession, I help customers create and implement comprehensive, customized success plans that match the strengths of their funeral home and the needs of their communities.

I joined the U.S. Army immediately after high school and served three years as a radio operator in Fort Collins, Colo., and Camp Carroll, Korea. In 1994, I was named the Washington National Guard Soldier of the Year. After my tour, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a bachelor’s degree in business. I live in Mount Horeb, Wis., with my wife Janet, and I’m a proud grandfather of five. My hobbies include ice fishing and snowboarding in the winter and lake activities in the summer.

I joined Homesteaders in 2001 after moving home when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. When she passed in 2004, the funeral home helped us hold a wonderful celebration of life, which was hugely impactful for me. I truly understood the value of preplanning, and it became something I really believed in. What my funeral home customers do is important, and I believe what I do has value to them and the families they serve. I know from both personal experience and working with customers that advance funeral planning is important to the future of funeral service. Capturing the buying habits of today’s consumer is something every funeral home should strive for. Consumers may find they need it at different times and for different reasons, but once they learn it is available, they are glad they did! I love introducing my funeral home customers to new ideas and helping make their dreams a reality. Going through the experience from beginning to end and learning from my customers over the years has helped me and my funeral home customers succeed.

My journey in funeral service began when I was 19, and it’s been a passion of mine ever since. I am a proud graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, and I hold a bachelor’s degree in business management. Before joining Homesteaders, I held almost every role in funeral service. These roles have given me a solid grasp of funeral home operations and marketing. I live in Island Lake, Ill., with my husband, Dave, who is a funeral director and embalmer. We have two dogs, a Quaker Parrot named Prudence, and we look forward to welcoming another rescue dog soon. In my community, I volunteer with Valley of the Kings, a big cat rescue, and Live Like Roo, an organization that supports animals with cancer. On top of that, I ride with the Krewe of Cleopatra during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I’m a Chicago Cubs and Indianapolis Colts fan, and I’m working on completing my Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) membership.

Homesteaders has been serving families for more than 110 years. When deciding to step away from the day-to-day operations of a funeral home, I knew I wanted to work with a professional and highly regarded company. I appreciate Homesteaders’ commitment to the funeral profession and the opportunities it gives me to be innovative. With more than 20 years in funeral service, I bring a wealth of experience to my role. I understand what it’s like to wake up to early morning calls and support families during their most difficult times with compassion. I love working with funeral homes who are looking to try something different. It excites me when a funeral home owner wants to find new ways to reach their communities, whether through events or out-of-the-box ideas. My experience helps me find creative ways to meet the needs of the funeral professionals I serve.

I graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2002, where I majored in marketing and human services. My husband Rodney and I have two great boys, Karter and Jensen, and we live in Eagle, Neb. The boys keep us very busy with the sports they play (tennis, basketball, soccer and golf), but we love to travel, attend concerts, golf and fish at our place in Minnesota. I’ve earned numerous awards during my time at Homesteaders, including the Sales Achievement Award for 13 years, the PartnerPoints Service Award for nine years, Account Executive of the Year in 2010 and 2021, among several others. Most recently, I received the Territory Management Award in 2023.

Homesteaders is such a reputable company, and I was pleased when the opportunity opened up for me with the company. It is a pleasure to work with the great people at Homesteaders and all my wonderful funeral home customers. They provide a career that keeps me challenged and offers great rewards. I have always wanted to help people and working with customers to support community awareness of planning ahead is a great way to do that. I know that we are helping families through their most difficult times. I take pride in the commitment Homesteaders makes to preserving the value of funeral service. I believe I am able to help customers grow their business through the strong community outreach and marketing programs. Homesteaders has the products, tools and resources to help me provide a total-value package to the funeral homes in my service area.

My career in the funeral profession began as a teenager when I began working at a funeral home in my hometown. I earned a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from Xavier University. After college, I started in a preneed cemetery sales position before transitioning into preneed funeral insurance two years later. I have lived in Los Angeles, Calif., since 1992, and I am both a licensed funeral director and a licensed life insurance agent in California. In my free time, I show American Quarter Horses.

I am proud to be part of a company that offers the best preneed funeral program in the profession. Homesteaders’ strong commitment to serving both funeral home customers and consumers shine through in its outstanding reputation. As someone who has worked in preneed since 1987, I have valuable experience and knowledge to offer funeral homes of all sizes, not only to set up their preneed programs but to help grow them. My background and training in the funeral profession allow me to understand what my customers need to be successful, and I work hard to support each of them and earn their business.

I earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and I worked as a licensing and compensation specialist at Homesteaders prior to joining the Account Executive team. My prior experience also includes managing sales and marketing projects and training sales representatives. In my time with Homesteaders, I’ve earned multiple awards, including the Region of the Year Award, Rising Star Award, Territory Development Award, Positive Attitude Award and several Sales Achievement Awards. I live in Urbandale, Iowa, with my husband Chris. We have two grown children — Morgan, who resides in Chicago, and Madilyn, who is attends the University of Iowa. Go Hawks! I enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s sitting by the pool or on a lake or taking walks in the evenings. I love to decorate and take on home projects as well as entertain family and friends.

I joined Homesteaders because it provides a supportive, family-like atmosphere, in which I know I am making a difference. Here, I know I am part of a team and am valued for my contributions. I have been able to use my skills to deliver results and take on new challenges. I love visiting with people and growing our relationship, whether it is a prospect or a customer I have had for 10 years. Seeing them grow their preneed programs with my help and guidance is extremely rewarding. I help Homesteaders’ funeral home customers achieve their goals by providing the resources and ongoing support they need. By listening to customers’ needs and finding solutions for them, I am able to create and build strong relationships. It’s very rewarding to work with customers to develop ways to grow their business.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 2010. I’ve been working in the funeral profession since 2014, when I started as a funeral service consultant with Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions. In January 2022, I shifted my focus to preneed as a regional relationship manager with Preneed Funeral Programs. I live in West Des Moines, Iowa, but I love to travel. My hobbies include spending time with loved ones, reading, pottery and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.

Given my background, joining Homesteaders felt like a natural progression for me. I’m looking forward to building new relationships while expanding on my prior experience and relationships within the funeral profession. With more than a decade of experience in funeral service, I am passionate about helping funeral homes educate and support their community members about the benefits of preplanning. My goal is to ensure every life is honored in the most meaningful way possible. I aim to help tailor solutions for funeral homes to best meet each family’s needs.

I received my bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Ohio University in 2007. After that, I worked for Batesville Casket Company for more than 15 years as an Account Executive in the Charlotte area. I live in Charlotte, North Carolina, with my husband, Tim. We are active volunteers and members of our community board. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, and watching sports with Tim. We also love to escape to our family lake house in northern Indiana.

I wanted to join Homesteaders because they’re a leader in the funeral profession. After spending more than 15 years in the profession, I’m thrilled to continue my growth — both professionally and personally — with Homesteaders. I look forward to continuing my relationships with customers and building new ones. I will be able to work with funeral professionals from a fresh perspective while capitalizing on my experience in funeral homes. I care deeply for the funeral profession and those who work to help families and loved ones through difficult times. I look forward to using my experience to make a positive impact at Homesteaders. I want to continue to push myself to be successful so my customers, their families, and Homesteaders benefit.

I’ve spent more than 25 years in the funeral profession, with a strong focus on helping families and supporting funeral homes. Most of those years were in preneed, and I also worked for several years in casket sales. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and am a Certified Preplanning Consultant. Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband, Greg, and son, Garrett. I also enjoy watercolor painting, working out and traveling.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand the reputation Homesteaders has built — one of integrity, service and steady support for the funeral profession and for families. I wanted to be part of a company that offers not only outstanding products but also meaningful strategies that help funeral homes succeed. I’m excited to reconnect with the many people I know in this profession and to build new relationships based on our shared passion for serving families. I look forward to helping funeral professionals grow their preneed programs and reach more people with impactful, personalized solutions.

For more than 14 years, I have worked in the funeral profession focusing on preneed sales, aftercare and marketing in Weatherford, Texas. In previous roles, I spoke regularly with families about the advantages of advance funeral planning and how it provides a sense of comfort for their loved ones knowing plans are already in place. I also attended the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services for funeral directing. Outside of work, I serve on the worship team at my church and enjoy going on cruises with my family — my husband, Travis, and our two kids, Madison and Caden. I am also very involved in my community, from the local Chamber of Commerce to volunteering with Parker County Committee on Aging and several other nonprofits.

I believe in Homesteaders and what it represents as a preplanning company. I love connecting with others in the funeral profession and sharing skills I’ve acquired throughout my career. I look forward to meeting with funeral home owners and helping them develop strategies to grow their businesses. If I had a dream job in the funeral profession, this is it!

My professional background includes experience in banking, annuities and life insurance. I joined Homesteaders as a customer service representative in 2015 and became an account executive for the Home Office region in 2018. I live in Winterset, Iowa, with my husband Trent and my two boys. My son Jaxson has shown an interest in the funeral profession and even attended a day of the Iowa Funeral Director Convention with me. Our family loves to kayak; we can be found on the water almost every other weekend in the summer! My friends call me a plant lady as I have almost 40 varieties of plants throughout my house, not including the landscaping in our yard.

Homesteaders is a very family-oriented company and allows me the flexibility I need to make my children a priority. The teams I have worked with at Homesteaders have always been supportive and listen to my opinions. Working hand-in-hand with funeral professionals — helping you grow your business and be successful — allows me to feel like I’m making a difference. My job is rewarding, and I can honestly say I love it! Having been with Homesteaders for almost a decade, I feel there is not a question I can’t answer. The funeral homes I work with would be the first to say I’m always available. I love the funeral professionals I work with. I have met many wonderful people who are amazing at their jobs. I’m committed to earning their trust through transparency, top-quality service and exceptional resources to help their business succeed. Because I have personally experienced the benefits of advance funeral planning, I have a strong desire to help funeral professionals share this important service with the families they serve.

I’m an experienced business development professional with a strong track record of helping my customers grow their business and operate more efficiently. I graduated from Washington & Lee University and received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps. I have spent most of my career in sales leadership roles. I reside in Powder Springs, Ga., with my wife Carla. I enjoy golfing and spending time with our four adult children: Shane, Elly, Owen, Liam and his fiancé, Paige.

I joined Homesteaders because of the company’s outstanding reputation. My dad’s second career after retirement was running the cemetery for the Catholic Diocese in Roanoke, Va., and he loved it. I feel like I am following in my father’s footsteps. I enjoy knowing Homesteaders is focused on our funeral home customers and the families they support and serve. I have interacted with corporate and association customers for more than 30 years. Everyone is different and has different goals. My goal has always been to help them succeed and grow their business and personal portfolio. Throughout my career, I have focused on providing exceptional customer service to each customer. I enjoy seeing the Southeast up close and personal and meeting the different cultures and personalities that have dedicated their lives to the service of families at their most difficult times.

I’ve been around the funeral profession for most of my life, including living above a funeral home until I was five years old. My grandfather was a funeral director, and my dad worked in the funeral profession for 45 years. I have spent most of my own career working in the profession. It is my privilege to not only work with funeral professionals, but also to call many of them my friends. I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes my fiancée, Susan, two sons, Paul and Robert and two grandchildren. I like to be outdoors (especially in the mountains), golf and travel. It's also important to me to give back to communities by helping people who are less fortunate.

Homesteaders is known to be a leader in funding for advance funeral plans. It's an innovative, reputable company, and it brings a high level of opportunity for personal growth. I enjoy developing and building even stronger relationships with the funeral professionals I serve. I help funeral professionals experience the benefits of preneed for their businesses and share the importance of planning ahead with their families. Through my background in the funeral profession, I’ve seen how advance funeral planning can take the pressure off of families and allow them to focus on what really matters at the time of need. Helping funeral directors provide this important service to their families is very rewarding to me.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., and I am an active member of the Tennessee Sales Supply Club. I served as vice president for the club in 2019 before serving as president in 2020 and 2021. For more than 30 years, my wife Jennifer and I have called Hendersonville, Tenn., home. We have three children — Lauren, Ben and Claire — and four grandkids with one on the way! I am an avid golfer and enjoy investing, gardening and lawn care.

I joined Homesteaders because it is the best company in preneed funding. As a seasoned professional in the funeral space, I understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in this profession, and I take pride in knowing I’m helping families with advance funeral plans, minimizing their financial and emotional burden at the time of loss. I have more than 25 years of sales account management experience, with most of those years spent in the funeral profession. During my time at Homesteaders, I have been named Regional Account Executive of the Year three times, and in 2012, I received the Rising Star award — which recognizes an employee who demonstrates eagerness to learn, commitment to Homesteaders and engagement with the company and peers. It is my job to listen to my customers and truly understand their goals, so we can work together to develop solutions to help them reach or exceed those goals. Using my 30+ years of customer facing sales experience, I pride myself on providing an excellent vendor experience, helping funeral homes discover that Homesteaders is a great partner and delivering the most efficient and effective solutions for customers.

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.

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. 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 earned a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in marketing, and I am a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Pa. I enjoy spending time with my wife, Beth, and our three kids — Alexis, Ron and Ashley — as well as golfing and spending time outdoors. When I joined Homesteaders in 2008, I loved that I would be helping our customers design a better farewell for families. It’s very rewarding to be able to assist funeral home customers in achieving their goals and being successful.

My priority as an account executive is to help funeral home owners and preneed counselors share the importance of advance funeral planning. I strongly believe prearranging a funeral is the greatest gift a person can give their loved ones while ensuring their final wishes are met. I have been fortunate to work with great people in the funeral profession over the course of my time with Homesteaders. I look forward to continuing to build lifelong relationships and helping funeral homes grow their footprints in the communities they serve.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern California and now live in Wheatland, Calif. I began at Homesteaders in 2003 and have received many awards in the years since. My proudest accomplishments include the Highest Company Volume Award, Account Executive of the Year and the Commitment Award — a particularly meaningful honor because it’s voted on by my peers. When I’m not serving our Homesteaders customers, I enjoy camping, kayaking and spending time with friends and family.

I’ve always enjoyed working in B2B sales. At Homesteaders, I find fulfillment in knowing the work I do positively impacts families going through the toughest times in their lives. I enjoy helping people reach their goals and exploring new opportunities, whether it is to have a healthier business long term or to have a successful career they can be proud of. I’m here to be a partner in our customers’ success. I have more than 20 years of experience working with some of the best funeral homes and counselors in the industry. Using the top-quality resources, ongoing training and support Homesteaders provides, I help funeral home customers exceed their goals for their business. I also keep my eyes open for new ways of effectively bringing a better farewell to more families in every funeral home we serve.

I was born and raised in Parkersburg, W.Va., and knew from an early age that I wanted to be involved in funeral service. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by great funeral homes and funeral directors who took me under their wings, teaching me the ins and outs of funeral service. After attending Ohio Valley University, I attended The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where I received my degree in funeral service. I went on to work 12 years as a licensed funeral director/embalmer for funeral homes in West Virginia before joining Homesteaders in 2007.

Joining Homesteaders was an easy choice for me because I sold Homesteaders while working as a funeral director. Homesteaders made my life easier through their commitment to my funeral home and their outstanding customer service. Being able to share that message from a personal experience with my funeral home customers and prospective customers has been an honor. I know firsthand the day-to-day struggles of this profession but also the many rewards it can bring. It is my privilege to help our funeral home customers succeed.

I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in organizational leadership and supervision, and I joined Homesteaders in 2021. I had spent the last 11 years focused on business development within the funeral profession, but I have almost 20 years of sales experience, as well. My family and I currently live in Ann Arbor, Mich.

I truly enjoy the funeral profession and working with funeral home owners each day as they serve families during their most challenging times. Homesteaders has the products, tools and innovation for funeral providers to achieve overall success, and I'm proud to partner with funeral professionals to develop and improve their preneed programs. In my role as Regional Director of Business Development, I work with affiliated marketing organizations to develop customized solutions for funeral providers and expand the company's footprint throughout the country.

Because I grew up in my family’s funeral home, funeral service has always been a big part of my life. My dad is a mortician, and my mom is the office manager of their firm. I joined Homesteaders after graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. Prior to joining the training and development team, I worked as a marketing data coordinator and a senior account executive. I enjoy spending time with my husband Bruce, our children Beckham, Blake and Brynli and the rest of my family. I also serve on the Logan Magnolia School Board and enjoy biking, traveling, baking, cooking and volunteering in my community.

My ties to the funeral service industry made Homesteaders an appealing choice. My dad recommended that I pursue a career at Homesteaders, knowing the company has a strong reputation as a leader in preneed funding. Working at Homesteaders gives me the opportunity to use my background and expertise in a team-oriented environment.

I've been in the Training field for over 30 years, specializing in coaching leaders and managers to develop their employees to be the best version of themselves. I bring a practical, empathetic approach to helping participants build lasting relationships.

I earned a bachelor’s degree from Emportia State University, where I majored in marketing and management. After learning about the company and its products in 2001 and attending the Leaders Conference in 2003, I became a Homesteaders account executive in 2004, and became the regional director of the West Region in 2010. Prior to that, I spent 10 years as a preneed agent, working with families to arrange their funerals. I serve on the Sales & Marketing Committee for the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA), and I have received the Graham J. Cook Account Executive of the Year award twice in my time with Homesteaders. I live in Wichita Falls, Texas, with my wife, Angie. We have been married for more than 30 years and have three grown children and four grandchildren. I am an active member of our Heritage Church family, and I raise and show Arabian Horses in my free time.

One of the things that first attracted me to Homesteaders was the culture. It has such a “family” feeling to me. In my 20 years with Homesteaders, it is the account executives, the funeral homes and the agents I work with that really bring me enjoyment. I love to help others be successful, and I’ve learned a lot from them as well. I work with an incredible team of account executives, and together, we have helped many of our customers achieve their goals. My role as a preneed agent set the stage for me, and I believe it has given me valuable experience to help others. I enjoy passing along things I’ve learned over the years as well as continue to learn from customers and my team.

I have worked in the insurance industry for more than 20 years, and I am a Fellow in the Life Management Institute (FMLI), a distinction earned from the Life Office Management Association. After 12 years in the health insurance field, I joined Homesteaders in 2002 as a customer service representative before becoming Homesteaders’ first Home Office-based account executive in 2009. I’m also a Certified Preplanning Consultant and was named Account Executive of the Year in 2013. My husband Michael and I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and have four children: Garrison, Jarron, Cassie and Natasha. We are also raising our grandson, Jonah. I enjoy all warm weather activities including gardening, camping, boating and watching sports.

Homesteaders is like family to me. My mother retired after 35 years of service, so I have been part of the Homesteaders family for most of my life. When the opportunity arose to join the team, I jumped at the chance. I have formed many strong relationships and continue to support my team and the funeral homes we work with. In my role as a regional director, I’m proud to provide resources to allow my team to offer the best solutions to fit their funeral home customers’ needs. I’m passionate about end-of-life planning, having served funeral homes for more than 10 years as a trusted advisor and resource for information on advance funeral planning. I most enjoy working with my customers to understand their marketing needs and developing plans which lead to a firm’s total success. I’m focused on helping my customers succeed and helping spread the word on the benefits of preplanning and prefunding funerals to help our loved ones through the grieving process.

I attended Indiana University, and I’ve completed multiple certifications through the Life Office Management Association (LOMA). I am a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) and I hold my life insurance license in Kentucky and Indiana. Prior to joining Homesteaders, I trained as a funeral director, which gives me insight into the needs of the funeral home customers I serve. Throughout my career, I’ve received several sales awards through Homesteaders and other insurance companies, and I spent 13 years serving as an ambassador to the City of Louisville, Ky. I live in Charleston, Ind., with my fiancé, Prentice, and I’m all about my family. I have three grown children, and I love attending my grandchildren’s sporting events — baseball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, football and basketball. When I’m able, I enjoy traveling with family and friends.

I joined Homesteaders because of a steadfast belief in their commitment to funeral home customers. As an agent, I wrote for many different insurance companies. When I was looking to advance my profession, I knew Homesteaders was the best in the business. I feel the same way today, and I am always grateful to be working for such a solid company. I work with East region account executives to bring new ideas, support and partnership to every funeral home we have the honor of working with. I know the funeral homes we serve have a choice for their preneed funding, and our team works hard to earn their trust by providing resources they need to exceed their goals. My best days at work are when I can make a difference for our funeral home partners, providing products and services personalized for their businesses that grow their preneed programs and support their outreach with their communities.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Evansville and my Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. I have more than 25 years of experience in the funeral profession and more than 30 years in the insurance industry. I joined Homesteaders in 1999 as an account executive for northern Indiana. In 2010, I was promoted to regional director for the Central region. Since then, I’ve received the Daniel M. Voecks Award for highest annual income, the Territory Development Award twice, the Graham J. Cook Account Executive of the Year Award twice, and the Region of the Year Award twice. My husband Jimi and I live in Sheridan, Ind., with our two dogs, Magic and Cooper. In my free time, I enjoy running, swimming and spending time with family.

Homesteaders has demonstrated commitment to promoting the value of funeral service. Everyone on the Homesteaders team shares in this responsibility, and I’m proud to be part of a company that’s a leader in the funeral service profession. In my role, I work with a team of account executives to ensure Homesteaders is providing the best possible solutions and service to our funeral home customers. Because the funeral service profession is constantly changing, I work with my team to provide resources that meet our customers’ evolving needs. I implement effective coaching and leadership skills to ensure they have the training needed to help you succeed. I enjoy working with my team of account executives to help funeral home customers reach their organizational goals and objectives while helping families design a better farewell.