March 2017

B10 A1-A52 B1-B28

Page B10 MARCH 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on B
Express Elevates
Buckman to
Director of Sales
Unity Financial Life helps
Needy Families
Specialty Hearse Joins the Federal Team
AMELIA,OH—Federal Coach is proud to announce
the appointment of its’ newest dealer, Jim and Scott
O’Neill, owners of Specialty Hearse in East Farming-
dale, NY. Operating as a third generation family
owned business, Specialty Hearse has been serving
the industry since 1929 and is one of the largest sup-
pliers of new and reconditioned used funeral vehicles
in the United States with over 200 international cus-
tomers worldwide.
Specialty Hearse has been in the funeral service
industry for nearly 88 years; beginning as Special-
ty Motor Car Division in 1929, and then changing
their company name to Specialty Hearse & Ambu-
lance Sales in 1960 as a result of
their growing segment of the fu-
neral car industry.
As Specialty Hearse has grown
Homesteaders Account Executives
Recognized for Outstanding
Service
Steve Lang (L), Chairman, President and CEO, presents the Graham
J. Cook Account Executive of the Year Award to RD Monson
WEST DES MOINES,IA— Homesteaders Life Com-
pany recently held its national sales meeting and rec-
ognition banquet in Glendale, AZ. During the event,
the company recognized several account executives for
providing exceptional service and delivering results for
their funeral home customers.
Senior account executive RD Monson of the East Re-
gion was named the Graham J. Cook Account Execu-
tive of the Year. The award recognizes the account exec-
utive who best exhibits the qualities required to provide
superior support to funeral home customers. Monson,
who previously served as a funeral director and pre-need
counselor, has been part of the Homesteaders account
executive team for more than a decade. He was recently
inducted into Homesteaders’ prestigious Pioneer Club
for tenured account executives.
“RD’s strong commitment to the funeral profession
is just one of the many reasons he has earned the trust
and respect of his colleagues and funeral home cus-
tomers,” said Dan Lodermeier, Homesteaders’ vice
president of field sales. “He continuously demonstrates
Homesteaders’ values by holding himself accountable
to help firms achieve success.”
Monson was also recognized as the East Region Ac-
count Executive of the Year. Several other Homestead-
ers account executives were honored during the event,
including: Tami Hall: West Region Account Executive
of the Year/Territory Development Award; Jake Sale:
Central Region Account Executive of the Year/Territo-
ry Development Award/Commitment Award; Brianne
Niedermyer: Home Office Region Account Execu-
tive of the Year/Territory Development Award; Vin-
cent Michaelsen: Daniel M. Voecks Award/Monthly
Volume Award; Jessica Schulz: PartnerPoints® Service
Award; Gary Weisenbach: Rising Star Award; Terri
Bordenkircher: Territory Management Award; and
Eolo Nizzi: Positive Attitude Award.
Since 1992, the Homesteaders account executive
program has helped the company provide top-quality
service and business support to its funeral home cus-
tomers. This program is part of Homesteaders’ ongo-
ing commitment to customer success and promoting
the value of funeral service.
Homesteaders Life Company, a 110-year-old
mutual company, is a national leader in provid-
ing life insurance products and services to pro-
mote and support the funding of advance fu-
neral planning and end-of-life expenses. Visit
to learn more.
Andy Buckman
CLARKSVILLE, IN— Express Funeral Funding (EFF), the
fastest and easiest insurance assignment provider in the na-
tion has promoted Andy Buckman to director of sales.
“Buckman, has been a pillar for the success of our com-
pany since he joined us in 2013, his passion and affable
nature will make him a great leader to our sales force,”
said Aaron Calloway, vice president of EFF.
Buckman will be respon-
sible for implementing
strategic sales objectives
and promotional programs
to achieve annual growth
and retention of the cur-
rent customer base. He will
monitor competitive ad-
vantage opportunities and
oversee regional and na-
tional account operations.
Prior to Express Funeral
Funding, Buckman man-
aged accounts with Equian
LLC, a leading platform for
cost containment solutions
in the healthcare industry.
His four year duration with EFF has developed his invalu-
able claim resolution knowledge, providing funeral homes
with the fastest and most accurate assignment funding.
“I’m extremely privileged to accept the position of director
of sales at EFF,” said Buckman. “The partner’s emphasis on
creating a family atmosphere for all our clients aligns directly
with my core values of how any company should run.”
The financial professionals at EFF have been improving
financial management and increasing cash flow for funeral
homes and cemeteries in the United States since 2002. All at
no expense to funeral professionals, Express Funeral Fund-
ing limits administration, advances complete and immedi-
ate policy funds within 24 hours, and offers direct payment
to third parties and provides up-to-the-minute claim status.
For more information on how Express Funer-
al Funding can improve your cash flow, visit
or call 800-231-8383.
CINCINNATI,OH— Unity
Financial Life Insurance
Company was able to do-
nate to two Greater Cin-
cinnati area needy families
this past holiday season. The
home office staff collected
money all year long, through
a program called “Blue Jean
Charity.” They used the col-
lected funds to buy Christ-
mas gifts for the families.
Since the company spon-
sored program’s inception in
2006, home office employ-
ees have helped buy Christ-
mas presents for over twenty
needy families. Local social
service agencies participate
in the program by recom-
mending families that could
use a helping hand during
the holiday season.
“We started the Blue
Jean Charity as a fun way
for home office employ-
ees to be able to wear blue
jeans to work every Friday
and the last working day
of each month,” said Jay
Hardy, president, Unity
Financial Life. Employees
can wear jeans only if they
donate a dollar into the
Christmas holiday fund.
At the end of the year the
collected funds are used to
purchase Christmas pres-
ents for needy families.
Angie Darenkamp, ac-
counting analysis and Tra-
cy Stewart, policy issue spe-
cialist delivered Christmas
presents to one of the area
families. According to Tracy,
“The young lady we met was
Dana, who was chosen for
us by the St. George Inter-
faith Food Pantry. She has a
family that consists of two
son’s ages 6 and 10, a 15 year
old step-daughter, a boy-
friend and her mother who
lives with her. Her mom has
been battling cancer and has
had many surgeries. When
she was talking to us about
her, she teared up. When
we opened up the car, she
could not believe all the gifts
we had and again started to
cry. Dana was very thankful
and much appreciated what
we did for her family. It al-
ways brings me a feeling of
warmth to be able to do this
for families in need.”
Unity Financial Life con-
tinues to be one of the fast-
est growing national pre-
need insurance companies
in America. Assets and net
worth have grown every
year since 2002. Founded in
1964, Unity Financial Life is
an Ohio-based life insurance
company, currently licensed
in 48 jurisdictions, includ-
ing the District of Colum-
bia. Vis r
call 877-523-3231 for addi-
tional information.
2007 Lincoln Hearse by Eagle Stock #4806 2005 Lincoln Limousine Stock #8453
2015 Cadillac Renaissance by Federal Stock #0783 2017 Cadillac Heritage by Federal Stock#0001
Your Authorized Dealer
INTELLIGENT BY DESIGN
1801
751 North Lincoln Ave., Fremont, Nebraska (800) 776-9444
1801
901
1339
and expanded across the Northeast region, the
O’Neill’s wanted to ensure that they could provide
their customers with a choice of high quality vehicles.
Federal Coach is the company with the products that
enable them to accomplish that goal.
Join Jerry Looney, vice president of sales and
marketing, in welcoming Specialty Hearse to the
Federal Coach team. For more information, visit
or call at 888-725-5185.