Basic HTML Version
Page B8
NOVEMBER 2014
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on B
Andrew will establish new customer accounts
as well as manage the relationships with many
of Kates-Boylston’s existing customers.
“With his extensive knowledge of the fu-
neral industry and his passion for innovation,
Andrew will be a tremendous asset to Kates-
Boylston Publications,” said Sullivan. “I’m
confident that Andrew will play a key role in
providing and implementing high-quality
business solutions to all our customers.”
Andrew comes to Kates-Boylston with a
wealth of experience in funeral service and
sales. Most recently, he spent seven years as Ac-
count Executive – Business Development for
the
National Funeral Directors Association
. Pre-
American Cemetery
Magazine changes
name:
American Cemetery & Cremation
Andrew Werner
WALL,NJ—
In response to a changing indus-
try,
American Cemetery
, the leading month-
ly publication for cemetery professionals for
more than 85 years, has re-launched the mag-
azine as
American Cemetery & Cremation
beginning with the October 2014 issue. A
redesign of the magazine accompanied the
name change.
“As cremation rates continue to rise, we are
pleased to relaunch
American Cemetery
mag-
azine to better connect with the expanding
readership and better align with the changing
dynamics in the death-care profession,” said
Allison Sullivan
, publisher of
American Cem-
etery & Cremation
. “For over 85 years, the in-
dustry has looked to
American Cemetery
mag-
azine to be the leading source of information
within the industry.We continue to honor that
tradition by capturing the voice of today’s read-
er and creating a forum for beginners and ex-
perts alike to share and learn from each other.”
The redesign of the magazine also reflects
that change.
American Cemetery & Crema-
tion’s
design is more contemporary, accessible
and reader friendly. A monthly cremation col-
umn written by industry leaders has been add-
ed, and specific cremation content is noted
throughout the issue.
“We geared the new design toward making it
easier for readers to find the cremation content
that is important to them,” Sullivan said. “Our
name may have changed, but our principles
have not. Our allegiance is to our readers, and
we are committed to empowering them with
the tools they need to contin-
ue to grow their business.”
American Cemetery & Cre-
mation
will continue to re-
main true to its editorial
mission – offering in-depth
coverage of all of the issues af-
fecting the cemetery profes-
sion in today’s competitive
business environment.
“We hear from readers –
whether they’re from cemeter-
ies, combination operations,
crematories or funeral homes
– about how cremation is
vious to that, he was Display
Sales Manager at the
Milwau-
kee Journal Sentinel
.
“To say that I am excited to
again be working with funer-
al, cemetery and cremation
professionals is an understate-
ment. This opportunity to
support readers and advertis-
ers through the leading funeral
service publications,
American
Funeral Director
and
American
Cemetery & Cremation
, is one
I am looking forward to,” An-
drew said. “I cannot wait to re-
impacting their need business,” said
Thom-
as A. Parmalee
, executive director of
Kates-
Boylston Publications
. “We looking forward
to providing them with solutions in
American
Cemetery & Cremation
.”
Kates-Boylston Hires Industry
Veteran AndrewWerner
Kates-Boylston Publications is pleased to wel-
come
Andrew Werner
to its talented team as
National Accounts Manager. In his new role,
connect with all my colleagues in funeral service
and assist them in growing their businesses.”
Headquartered in Wall Township, New Jer-
sey, Kates-Boylston Publications publish-
es
American Cemetery & Cremation
,
Amer-
ican Funeral Director
and
Funeral Service
Insider
. The company has been helping fu-
neral professionals succeed and serve since
OGR Welcomes New Business Member
The Champion Company
AUSTIN,TX—
The
Interna-
tional Order of the Gold-
en Rule
recently added
The
Champion Company
to its
group of business suppliers.
Since 1878, Champion has
been recognized in the profes-
sion by the high quality and
dependability of their em-
balming and supply products.
“Our goal is to partner
with funeral homes by sup-
porting them in better ser-
vicing their families. Our
friendly, knowledgeable, ex-
perienced team is dedicated
to helping assist with proven
solutions for the most natu-
ral and best restoration pos-
sible while maintaining safe-
ty for all of your caring staff,”
says
Rick Jordan
, sales asso-
ciate, Champion Company.
“Over the years, our cus-
tomers’ needs have contin-
ued to change. In response
to these changes, we fo-
cused our efforts on devel-
oping advanced products
for the most difficult of cas-
es. Unique products such as
Xeros Edema Factor (excel-
lent edema solution), Ome-
ga Decomp (additive for de-
layed embalming/odor and
more), Jaundial (truly effec-
tive jaundice fluid), and Tri-
san (increased sanitation/flu-
id action) are all unmatched
in the industry,” said Jordan.
Founded in 1928, OGR
is affiliated with more than
600 independent funeral
homes that share common
goals of exemplary service,
uncompromising care and
compassion to families in
Lundgren Monuments Installs Glass
Rainbow in Cemetery
SEATTLE,WA—
Lundgren
Monuments
recently com-
pleted installation of this
275 pound cast glass rain-
bow made with seven bands
of overlapping color, set into
an absolute black granite
upright in Baltic, SD. The
original task was to create a
monument that contained
three elements: a rainbow, a
butterfly and an angel. “To
our knowledge, this is the
first and only cast glass rain-
bow in any cemetery, but
we suspect that this beauti-
ful work will generate a lot of
interest. After all, what cem-
etery doesn’t need a color-
ful rainbow to remind us of
the magic and beauty of our
time on earth?” asked artist
and owner,
Greg Lundgren.
Lundgren Monuments con-
tinues to examine and chal-
lenge society’s ideas of me-
Wilbert Funeral Services to Implement
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
BROADVIEW,IL—
In a recent surprise an-
nouncement,
Joseph U. Suhor, III,
chair-
man of the board,
Wilbert Funeral Services,
Inc.,
informed employees and the Wilbert li-
censee network of his intention to initiate an
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for
the sale of his stock and the stock of the con-
trolling group of shareholders. This will allow
employees to share in the company’s growth
and success while also ensuring long-term
commitment to its licensees and customers.
This structure will distinguish Wilbert Fu-
neral Services as the only known ESOP in
the funeral service industry and ensures con-
tinuation of the company as an independent
entity with a solid focus on the industry.
“Wilbert employees fully understand and
appreciate the funeral service industry and as
owners will be motivated for the long term,”
stated Suhor. “In a certain respect this contin-
ues the legacy established by company found-
er
Wilbert Haase,
who in 1947 chose to sell
ownership in the company to the licensee net-
work to strengthen the entity and engender
growth. Putting the future of the company in
the hands of those who have made it successful
just seemed like the right thing to do for them,
for our licensee network, and for customers.”
Suhor added, “I believe funeral service will
always provide a valuable and vital role in so-
ciety and the Wilbert group of organizations
is dedicated to provide products and servic-
es that will serve those needs, whatever they
may be. As employee-owners, the people that
comprise Wilbert will be even more passion-
ate about doing that.”
Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. is the lead-
ing provider of burial vaults through its net-
work of nearly 200 licensees throughout the
United States and Canada. The company
also provides cremation urns, mementos and
other cremation-related products through its
North American network. Additionally, oth-
er Wilbert group divisions provide caskets,
cemetery construction, monuments, lawn
crypts, columbarium niches, mausoleums
and various services. Its
Pierce
group offers
fluids and various products, and the
Pierce
Mortuary Colleges
are noted as an industry-
leading educational institution.