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Page B8 JUNE 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on B
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Empowering Cemetery &
Funeral Service Suppliers
Robinson Joins Vandor
Corporation’s Funeral
Product Division
RICHMOND,IN—Vandor Corporation’s funeral products
division, the parent company for CJ Boots Casket Com-
pany, Starmark® Cremation Products and Vision Casket,
has announced the hiring of Kellon Robinson as opera-
tions manager. Over his twenty-year career, Robinson has
developed a deep understanding of operations, particularly
the lean manufacturing process. In this position, Robinson
will lead the operations at the Starmark Cremation Products
and Vision Casket plants in Richmond, IN as well as the CJ
Boots Casket Company facility in Anderson, IN.
“Kellon’s vast experience leading manufacturing com-
panies both in the United States and abroad will serve us
well in improving both the quality and efficiency at our
plants,” said Gerald Davis, president of Vandor Corpo-
ration. “As we expand operations at our plants, we are ex-
cited that Kellon has chosen to join us.”
Robinson began his career in funeral service in oper-
ations at Astral Industries, where he rose to the posi-
tion of plant/production manager. After leaving Astral,
he joined Osborn International, where he and his team
were responsible for building an entirely new, lean man-
ufacturing operation. Robinson’s next assignment with
Osborn was running a plant in Ningbo, China and later
assumed responsibility for Osborn manufacturing facili-
ties across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Most recently, Robinson was assistant vice president of
manufacturing for Indiana Marujun LLC. When the compa-
ny was acquired, Robinson led the transition team that suc-
cessfully integrated operations between the two companies.
“Given the recent growth and focus on quality and in-
novation, Vandor Corporation’s funeral products di-
vision represents a great challenge and opportunity for
me,” stated Robinson. “Vandor is committed to manu-
facturing domestically and keeping jobs in Indiana. I am
excited to refine current processes to maintain Vandor’s
competitiveness, oversee the introduction of new prod-
ucts and help drive the future growth of the company.”
Robinson graduated from IndianaWesleyan magna cum
laude with a bachelor’s degree in business and economics.
To help pay for college and obtain hands-on experience,
he worked part-time in manufacturing at Belden Wire &
Cable, working alongside his father. He currently lives in
Richmond with his wife, Christina.
Vandor Corporation manufactures products for a wide va-
riety of public and private sector companies. Products in-
clude injection molded plastic automotive parts, and pack-
aging reels for the wire and cable industry. Vandor’s funeral
products division manufactures cloth covered and wood ve-
neer burial and cremation products marketed under the Star-
mark® Cremation Products and Vision Casket brands as well
as hand crafted premium wood caskets under the C.J. Boots
brand in their two plants in Anderson and Richmond, IN.
For more information, visit .
Howard Miller introduces
Luke
ZEELAND,MI— Howard
Miller has created a beau-
tiful, full display cabinet.
Luke is the perfect piece
to house memorabilia, re-
cords of local historical
events or beautiful collec-
tions. The sleek lines and
simply framed exterior al-
low easy viewing. With a
mirrored back and narrow
28.5” width, Luke suits
any smaller or tighter space
and the light adds shine to
any room. It could also be
used to flank a doorway or
subtle fireplace area.
MaryAnne Scheuble,
Hekman designer says, “I
love the versatility of this
piece and how it suits any
décor. This offers homi-
ness for funeral homes to
display local information
or long-held collections of
interest to the community.” This piece is designed and as-
sembled in the United States.
Cressy Memorial Group is a manufacturer rep agency
that supports sales for Howard Miller Clocks & Urns,
Hekman Furniture, R & S Marble Urns, Crowne Vault
and Natural Legacy Caskets. For more information, call
866-763-0485 or visit
Refreshing Bottled Water
Advertising for Funeral
Homes
CEDAR CREEK,TX— Aqua
Custom Label Bottling, a
custom label bottled water
manufacturing company
in Texas supplies funeral
homes nationwide. Funer-
al homes have the oppor-
tunity to place their logo
or any message on bottled
water which can be dis-
tributed during services,
at the cemetery or com-
munity events. Also per-
fect for sponsorships and
fundraising.
Bottled water with full
color custom labels serves
as a refreshing walking bill-
board for funeral homes
and a great way to person-
alize an experience. Families on site appreciate the com-
plimentary offerings and highlights the funeral home’s at-
tention to detail and client needs.
With low minimums, fast turnaround and friendly
service, Aqua Custom Label Bottling is the go to source
for funeral home’s bottled water needs. Call 855-725-
1119 or email sales at for pric-
ing and special rates. Visit for
more information.
Affordable Funerals
Network Launches
Community Outreach
Initiative
LAS VEGAS,NV— Afford-
able Funerals Network
is committed to “Bridg-
ing Families with Funer-
al Homes” and in one ini-
tiative to do so, AFN is
launching a “National Fu-
neral Funding and Pre-
Planning Awareness Cam-
paign” on July 1, 2017.
Affordable Funerals Net-
work’s upcoming national
campaign is called Life or
Death, because you can-
not truly live with peace if
you’re unprepared for the
inevitable. Affordable Fu-
nerals Network will gift an
at-need family with funeral
funding of up to $5,000.00
each week for 52 weeks to
pay for pre-need or imme-
diate funeral expenses. This
funding will be provided to
funeral homes within the
Affordable Funerals Net-
work throughout the coun-
try.
Families can’t afford to
bury their loved ones when
they die. According to Time
Magazine, several coun-
ties across the country are
noticing an increase in the
number of unclaimed dead
bodies. According to the
most recent statistics from
the National Funeral Di-
rectors Association, a regu-
lar adult funeral with buri-
al – not including cemetery,
monument, or marker
costs – would average over
$7,000. So when a loved
one dies, they’re forced to
either not claim the body –
or sign a release saying they
can’t afford to bury them.
Several counties are notic-
ing this sad trend. For ex-
ample, the Clark County
Coroner’s Office in Nevada
saw a 22 percent increase
in burials and cremations
of unclaimed bodies this
year. According to Albert
Samuels, chief investiga-
tor at the Wayne County
Medical Examiner’s Office
in Michigan – about half
of the bodies he has that are
ready to be buried, belong
to families who don’t have
the funds to bury them.
Affordable Funerals Net-
work will also be working
with the funeral homes, re-
ligious based organizations
and local media in each
market to establish com-
munity awareness events.
The purpose of these events
is to start a dialog and build
awareness within the com-
munities to educate indi-
viduals and families about
pre-planning for themselves
or their loved ones.
Affordable Funerals Net-
work refers families to fu-
neral homes that demon-
strate a valued commitment
to their communities by of-
fering affordable rates and
a variety of services based
on a families particular
need. In addition to AFN
referring families to their
provider’s funeral homes,
AFN has been able to gar-
ner multiple partnerships
for their providers by con-
solidating their provider’s
annual case volume. AFN
provider’s average annu-
al case volume is around
68,000 cases. This affords
funeral homes in the AFN
Network to garner mul-
tiple discounts that could
not be obtained with their
individual case volume.
For more information, visit
.