Posey: In addition to being a funeral director myself, I serve as a consultant for companies that are working to provide better tools needed to improve the experience around funerals today, so this is a subject close to my heart. In April 1992, Little established Personal Alternative Funeral Services to provide consumers throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with a comfortable, affordable and common-sense alternative to the escalating costs found in traditional funeral homes. In these areas, such as New York and Detroit, funeral directors are to be commended for the valiant way they’ve risen to the extreme challenges placed before them. Interment in Sunset Hill Cemetery. In his role with NFDA, Nicodemus developed and is responsible for conducting cremation certification programs throughout the country. Funeral directors serve families in their communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Prior to joining NFDA, Nicodemus served as vice president of cremation operations at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes, which operates eight funeral homes, two cemeteries and a crematory in the Tidewater, Virginia-area. The webinar featured NFDA Director of Public Relations, Jessica Koth, Funeral Director, Walker Posey, and DISRUPT Media CEO, Ryan Thogmartin. The National Funeral Directors Association also has a central resource, Remembering a Life, where families can find resources, tools and answers to questions to help their own families or friends during the loss of a loved-one. Suddenly, they have been called on, in some regions, to do as many funerals in the course of just a week or two as they would more typically carry out in an entire year–and to do so in the face of limited facilities and essential social distancing restrictions. Posey entered the funeral service in Aiken County with the goal of providing quality, professional funeral service to those in need. Conversely, I would caution you to remember that it is a business, so don’t get caught up only in working in the business, but remember to be working on your business as well–including by staying in tune with your cash flow statements and doing SWOT [Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats] analysis frequently. NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - Funeral Services for Mrs. Alta Marie Posey, 97, of North Augusta, SC, who entered into rest November 20, 2014, will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock from the Posey … ... anyone can make a few calls to funeral homes and find disappointment in the conversations that take place from funeral director to consumer. Lawrence began his apprenticeship in the funeral business in 1971. While I don’t consider this going an extra mile, I do think it illustrates the importance of being observant and just being there for those we serve, both young and old. We also see funeral directors share enhancements to memorial video with apps like Tukios’ Send Hugs, where a family and friends can send “hugs” to a family that has lost a loved one during this time. Kaniuk: If you want to make a difference and add value first without expectation, the industry will welcome your passion and drive for doing so. More than 500 funeral directors tuned in to hear Jessica, Walker and Ryan discuss live streaming funeral services, using social media to proactively communicate with the community, and remaining transparent throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Solomon: Has your organization, the NFDA, been stepping up here to offer crisis support to your members? In 1980, Lawrence began a six-year term as a Director of the British Columbia Funeral Association and served as Chairman of the Professional Education Committee, the Public Education Committee and Chairman of the Management Committee. Hernandez: A woman lost her husband of 60 years unexpectedly at home in the middle of the current pandemic. Walker Posey is a fourth generation funeral director and embalmer at Walker Posey Funeral Directors with a family history dating back 130 years in funeral service. David Lee Hernandez, Jr., Principal, Jersey Memorial Group: Being a funeral director is a lifestyle choice, attracting people who are by nature caregivers, who will drop everything to rush to the aid of the family in need. She is known for her community involvement, charitable work, and bringing innovation to her field. He is a licensed funeral director in the states of Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Posey: In “hot zones,” the case load has been so overwhelming that it has presented real logistical challenges for funeral homes. Micah Solomon, Forbes Senior Contributor, Customer Service Consultant and Keynote Speaker: When I consider the industries that have a customer service focus at their core, the funeral industry is certainly one where you’re serving customers at a moment that is both high-stress and emotionally sensitive. We are working to create a virtual environment where families can work with our directors to plan services from the comfort of their own homes with the same level of care and professionalism they receive in person at our location. But directors can conduct services, especially when a family doesn’t want a minister from a specific denomination, says Walker Posey of Posey Funeral Directors in South Carolina. I'm a customer experience consultant and customer service trainer. Soon his brother came over and I was blessed to spend a few minutes simply explaining what all these things at the cemetery were: the casket, burial vault, the device that lowers the casket into grave, etc. If that resonates with you, you might not have the biggest wallet, but you’ll be in the richest person in the room. In 2009, Lawrence was elected to the Board of Directors of the Cremation Association of North America. Nicodemus & Associates | Cremation & Funeral Consulting. Customer experience consultant • customer service keynote speaker & webinar host • training • executive content creator and ghostwriter • influencer • company culture • patient experience • tech & AI • hospitality • www.micahsolomon.com • micah@micahsolomon.com • 484-343-5881 • Bestselling author of "Ignore Your Customers and They'll Go Away," (HarperCollins Leadership). As Posey worked to successfully transition ownership of his family firm, his understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with generation transition deepened. Tour the funeral facility. When Walker Posey invited me to view the funeral of his grandmother, Alta Marie, via webcast, I was stunned. In areas of the country where the caseload has not been as severe, our challenge has been helping families understand that while, due to social distancing, we may not be able to have the presence of their friends to support them, we can provide, via alternative means, the same elements of ceremony and ritual that make the funeral experience meaningful, and provide the healing moments that will be so beneficial in the difficult days to come. Solomon: Even pre-COVID, there have been multiple technological developments affecting the nature of funerals, correct? The man is in search for a beautiful, responsible and independent partner. Mike serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, of which he is an alumnus. Kaniuk is the Senior Business Development Executive at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), an industry organization that provides a support, training, and a shared code of standards for its members, who include both of the funeral directors contributing to this article. In the unprecedented losses we’ve suffered so suddenly as a country, a large part of the burden, both logistical and emotional, has fallen on the funeral industry, sometimes called deathcare. Solomon: Do you have any thoughts for those of my readers who might consider going into this industry? Plan Now. It has been very difficult for us as professionals to not have the personal interaction with families face to face. When Walker Posey invited me to view the funeral of his grandmother, Alta Marie, via webcast, I was stunned. Posey: There are so many stories to share where our directors have done something for a family or family member that has turned out to be so meaningful and healing to them, but what sticks out in this moment is an experience I had not long ago: A young mother of three had died unexpectedly and tragically. This email address is being protected from spambots. Odd times, but friendships and connections are still possible. The memorial is part of the Naming the Lost project which attempts to humanize the victims who are often just listed as statistics. The program is also appropriate for any funeral home employee, from support staff to licensed funeral professionals. Walker Posey Shares The REAL Reason Families Choose Direct Cremation May 27th, 2015. Little recently rebranded his company and changed the name to Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services which serves 1,400 families annually and is the largest family owned funeral home in Western Canada. This has two pillars of support: emergency assistance and grief support. In 2004 Walker Posey joined the family firm as the fourth generation to enter the funeral service. Walker Posey, owner of W.S. Compete and play along with your friends Plan a funeral, find contact information and more. Today’s technologically-delivered solutions, like virtual tributes, live streaming of services and virtual grief tools, are important developments that are valuable in less stressful times and are certainly even more so as a result of the gathering restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker Posey is an American owner, director, and vice-president. Hernandez: It’s a ministry. Anthony Kaniuk, Senior Business Development Executive, National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA): You will not find a group of people who are more compassionate and dedicated. “The gathering is really the important part about the funeral ceremony, because you feel the support of your community around you,” says Walker Posey, a funeral director at Posey Funeral Directors in North Augusta, South Carolina and spokesman for the NFDA. Death care is about putting that family and its priorities first. The memorial is part of the Naming the Lost project which attempts to humanize the victims who are often just listed as statistics. Posey Holdings & Posey Funeral Directors is a fourth generation funeral director. Kaniuk: A member of ours [a funeral director] recently told me about a service he did for a family on Facebook Live that was viewed by 4,800. He is the author of the Cremation Operations Manual published by Kates-Boylston and numerous media outlets, such as USA Today, Time, Newsweek, ABC News, BBC News and the New York Times, have sought his expertise for cremation-related news stories. One of the positives of this job is that during difficult loss and hardship you will truly develop friendships with the families you serve. Customer experience consultant • customer service keynote speaker & webinar host • training • executive content creator and ghostwriter • influencer • company culture •. In addition to funeral service, Walker has an extensive background in marketing, with a direct emphasis in public relations and social media marketing. “I hope that folks know that although there’s a lot of fear around public spaces and gatherings, there are ways to still make those gatherings meaningful. Cemetery workers prepare to bury a casket from McLaughlin & Sons funeral home, without any family ... [+] present because of coronavirus restrictions, following guidelines from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). How is this solved? This wouldn’t have happened in the traditional way, even pre-COVID. My heart was so full of concern for them that I could not hold back the tears. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Posey is also a contestant for Fox’s “Labor of Love”. Some funeral homes in those areas did a year’s worth of funerals in a few weeks’ time, and the overwhelming numbers and speed of the deaths in some locales has had a huge impact on cremations at local crematories; some families are waiting weeks for a loved-one to be cremated due to limited crematories. Posey Funeral Directors “The most important thing I can do as a director in my community is to really connect with my consumer, who is my general public in my town, so DISRUPT Media helped me drastically improve the way I connect to people in real life in real time, so thanks so much for all you do.” - Walker Posey, Posey Funeral Directors Walker Posey, Posey Funeral Directors "The most important thing I can do as a director in my community is to really connect with my consumer, who is my general public in my town, so DISRUPT Media helped me drastically improve the way I connect to people in real … Walker is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and holds degrees in both Communications and Mortuary Science. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan). Lawrence G. Little, owner of Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services, has a distinguished career in the British funeral industry. At her service, her young son, who had been with her when she died, came over to me and unexpectedly gave me the biggest hug. Female Gamers Are On The Rise. Mrs. Alta Marie Posey NORTH AUGUSTA, SC - Funeral Services for Mrs. Alta Marie Posey, 97, of North Augusta, SC, who entered into rest November 20, 2014, will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock from the Posey Funeral Chapel. No upcoming events scheduled. I tell my own children: if you ever need help and there is a funeral home/funeral director nearby, ask them to help. I’ve personally had two close friends who have lost family members: one lost her sister and the other lost his father. I had already interviewed Posey, a fourth-generation funeral director… Solomon: I know this can be personal, but would you share a story of you or a colleague going the extra mile in providing customer service? It was very difficult for me being in funeral service yet not being able to be there for either of them. Posey: The job can be demanding, so make sure you love what you do. Walker Posey, Owner/Director, Posey Funeral Directors: Customer experience is at the center of our profession. Kristy sent Jason, a 38-year-old flooring business owner from Charlotte, NC; Angelo Castricone, a 39-year-old firefighter from Miami, FL; and Walker Posey, a 41-year-old funeral director from North Augusta, SC, packing after she determined she couldn't envision a future and starting a … As Posey worked to successfully transition ownership of his family firm, his understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with generation transition deepened. Walker Posey, owner of W.S. Planning Matters. It was then that I realized just how much more difficult it must be to grieve in solitude: alone in the home they’d shared for 60 years, all his things around her, his smell, the photos, no place to escape, no human interaction; just her and her grief.