July 2021

Page B10 JULY 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on B ABOUT US www.hello@imsa-online.org A TRUSTED RESOURCE OF FUNERAL & CEMETERY SUPPLIER COMPANIES Since 1976 IMSA has been empowering cemetery and funeral service providers by advocating for unity with various industry associations and ensuring greater access to supplier products and services. Our organization of companies is committed to supplying quality products and services to the funeral profession while providing the leading best practices and standards in the industry. As a member of IMSA you’ll receive exclusive benefits no other supplier association can provide. FIND A SUPPLIER OR BECOME A MEMBER AT UPD Urns releases New Cremation Jewelry Catalog SCOTTSDALE,AZ— Johnson Con- sulting Group (JCG) has added an impressive group of new experts to its business consulting services team. Gill Giddens, Doug Wagemann and Doug Miller are seasoned experts with hands- on experience in funeral home and cem- etery operations. Lacy Robinson and David Shank are recognized authorities in training, coaching and business com- munications. “These remarkable professionals will bring valuable insight to our clients,” said JCG president and CEO Jake Johnson. “I look forward to working with them to deliver the highest value possible for our clients.” Gill Giddens, business consultant, started his career in 1991 assisting fam- ilies in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) community with their future planning needs. This experience set a strong foun- dation of service for Gill, and for the next decade he worked as a leader in multi- state and multi-market sales organiza- tions. In 2003 Gill and his brother built four funeral homes (three cremation-fo- cused locations and one traditional fu- neral home) in DFW. Managing his own company gave Gill a new perspective on how to grow a business and make it thrive. Gill has extensive experience in sales and operations and developing indi- viduals and teams. His business acumen coupled with his ability to focus on peo- ple’s strengths is what helps him achieve and exceed in goal performance. Doug Miller, business consultant, has been involved in funeral service for more than 45 years, accumulating a wealth of experience working for independent funeral homes, Service Corporation International (SCI), The Hamilton Group, The Keystone Group and Park Lawn Corporation. His management Consultants Bring Vast Experience to Johnson Consulting Group Gill Giddens Doug Wagemann Doug Miller Lacy Robinson David Shank positions, which comprise of general man- ager, district manager, regional president, chief operating officer and president, show- case Miller’s growth as a recognized leader in a variety of businesses including funer- al homes, cemeteries, care centers and floral shops. He has also held licenses as an em- balmer, funeral director, cemetery broker and pre-need insurance agent. Miller is a past president of the Nevada Fu- neral Directors Association and a past mem- ber of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the California Funeral Directors Associa- tion. He also served as a board member of the Interment Association of California and the California Mortuary Alliance. During his 22 years with SCI, he also held the posi- tion of Governmental Relations Liaison for Nevada and worked as SCI’s Western Re- gion Field Trainer. Miller associates many of his accomplishments to his hands-on lead- ership style, and he enjoys working along- side other funeral professionals and build- ing strong relationships within the industry. Doug Wagemann, business consultant, joined JCG as the president/owner of Wagemann Holdings, Inc, which owns funeral businesses in California. He began his funeral service career in 1973—he grad- uated from Cypress College of Mortuary Sci- ence and immediately went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in business management (operations) from California State Poly- technic University, Pomona, and a master’s in business administration (finance) from California State University, San Bernadi- no. Over the years, was a Wagemann held operational management positions within SCI and Carriage Services, as well as vari- ous roles in the banking and hospice indus- tries. He has also worked as an adjunct pro- fessor at several colleges teaching financial/ cost analysis and strategic planning and dis- cussed various industry topics as a frequent radio guest and conference speaker. He deeply believes that creating one-on-one partnerships with clients is the best way to fully understand their objectives and pro- vide the best advice to help grow their busi- ness and watch it flourish. Lacy Robinson, CFSP, business consultant, offers funeral home clients more than 14 years of success in developing and facilitat- ing customer service training programs. As an experienced coach and speaker, Lacy has shaped organizations such as Aurora Casket Company and the National Funeral Directors Association into leading providers of training and development for funeral professionals. Lacy is a licensed funeral director/em- balmer, a certified funeral celebrant and cer- tified member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP). She previ- ously served on the APFSP Board of Trust- ees and is a graduate of Georgetown College holding a bachelor’s degree in communica- tions. She is also a graduate of Mid-Amer- ica College of Funeral Service and currently serves as an instructor for Worsham College of Mortuary Science teaching fundamentals of customer service. As an active member of the Bluegrass Toastmasters Group, Lacy has achieved the designation Competent Com- municator and is also an active volunteer for Hosparus Health in Louisville, KY. Dave Shank, business consultant, be- gan his funeral service career in 1973 in his hometown of Sterling, IL. He holds degrees in mortuary science, a Bachelor of Science in business quality management and an Execu- tive MBA. Dave was a licensed funeral direc- tor and embalmer in Missouri and Kansas (1980-1998) and joined Batesville Cas- ket Company in 1997 as a Kansas sales representative. At Batesville he worked as a region sales director in both the Moun- tain and Midwest regions and a sales consultant in north Texas (2005-2013). Dave was inducted into the Maters Club in 2012 and concluded his Batesville ca- reer as the sales training manager (2014- 2019). Dave’s consulting work specializes in re- lationship building, arranger training, sales and merchandising strategies, customer satisfaction and business profitability. He serves as a speaker, trainer, one-on-one performance coach and workshop facilita- tor. Dave has presented on skill building and motivation at the International Cem- etery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Kansas Funeral Directors Association, Texas Funeral Directors Association and for nu- merous Batesville sponsored events. Johnson Consulting Group seeks out the best people. Giddens, Miller, Wage- mann, Robinson and Shank, along with Greg Hilgendorf, Senior Business Consultant; Vincent Roberge, Senior Business Consultant; Nelson Thulin, Director of Business Consulting are re- sponsible for helping clients achieve op- timal success in customer service, work- place development, strategic planning, financial and performance management. JCG welcomes each of the new team members and the expertise each brings to the team and for the success of its clients. Johnson Consulting Group is commit- ted to providing intelligent business so- lutions that meet business owners wher- ever they are in their business life cycle. Whether they want to grow their busi- ness and enterprise value or plan their exit strategy, JCG can assist. With over two decades of creating personalized partnerships and growing revenue with funeral and cemetery business owners, managers and staff, JCG has the exper- tise and dedication to assist funeral home and cemetery businesses grow in their current operations, start their succession planning, or take their business to mar- ket. For more information, visit www. johnsonconsulting.com to learn more. DALLAS,TX— UPD Urns is excited to have re- leased its brand-new cre- mation jewelry catalog featuring more than a hun- dred of their most popular cremation pendants. This new jewelry catalog has been sent to all the private Red Heart Ring with White Stones Solid Gold Owl Pendant funeral service providers in the United States. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned the popularity of families choosing cremation jewelry as a personal connection to their loved one. Offering this col- lection in your selection room or on your UPD Urn Store gives you the leading edge of meeting the needs of fami- lies who call on you as a cremation provider,” says Jason Engler, director of customer experience at UPD Urns. This collection represents one of the most complete cre- mation jewelry collections available in funeral service. All pieces in the catalog are available in stainless steel, .925 sterling silver, 24k gold plated steel, and solid gold. Tyler Fraser said, “Cremation jewelry has become pop- ular, and it has been a focus for us to develop and expand this category. We have also targeted quality and strive to provide elegant cremation jewelry pieces, that do not look like they hold remains. We feel we have achieved something special here and we are celebrating!” UPDUrns, based inDallas,TX, now has shipping points in Dallas, Manassas, VA, and Midvale, UT. Their exten- sive line of cremation products is virtually unmatched in the deathcare space, and new products are being added regularly. Their signature offering to funeral professionals is the Urn Store e-commerce platform, which puts on- line purchasing of cremation urns at families’ fingertips, straight from the funer- al home website. To learn more contact UPD Urns at 800-590-4133 or visit https://updurns.com.