Calling Hours

Jon Lefrandt joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about the importance of grief resources and how funeral homes and families benefit from having a comprehensive approach to aftercare. Jon Lefrandt is the Founder and CEO of Elevia and For Grief, as well as the Chief Consumer Experience Officer with Homesteaders. In their chat, Jon talks about how he become involved in the funeral profession, the origin of Elevia and For Grief and how both companies have evolved to meet the needs of consumers. They also dive into the value of partnerships and networking and even chat about TikTok in this lively and engaging conversation.

Barbara Kemmis joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about final disposition options and the overall end of life experience for families and how it is continually evolving. Barbara Kemmis is executive director of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). In their chat, Barbara covers her experience with CANA, the challenges and opportunities facing funeral professionals related to cremation and the many variations of disposition. They also explore the possibilities of how families are memorializing cremated remains of their loved ones as they are passed on to new generations. Discover all the creative approaches funeral professionals are taking to ensure their families have meaningful experiences in this heartfelt and lovely conversation.

Erin Creger joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about the importance of building trust in preneed sales and strengthening relationships in the funeral space. Erin is Chief Sales Officer for Envision Strategic Partners. In their chat, Erin talks about her sales background, including building, managing and motivating a team of diverse sales professionals. They also discuss the Death Care Collective, a group dedicated to building connections and empowering women in the funeral profession. Learn more about what it takes to succeed in sales and the evolution of the Death Care Collective in the seventh episode of Calling Hours.

Mike Lake joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about casket and urn sales and the growth in disposition options over the years. Mike is director of partner growth with Matthews Aurora. In their chat, Mike covers everything from his time growing up in the funeral profession and what has shaped his career to how selling wine coolers differs from caskets! They also discuss the significance of funeral services and how the casket price protection plan can help minimize the impact of inflation on funeral home businesses.

Zach Chatterton joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about the funeral home software platform Gather. Zach is the Founder and CEO of Gather, which recently partnered with Homesteaders, enabling an integration with their case management platform. In their chat, Zach covers how Gather originated, how technology has shifted over the years and what it takes to build a positive and productive workplace culture. They also discuss importance of understanding the funeral professional experience as a company immersed within the funeral space. Learn more about Zach’s inspiration behind Gather and key features of the platform in their conversation.

John Heald joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about how the funeral industry has shifted to the digital space. John is General Manager of the Funeral Home Channel of Legacy.com and Chair-Elect on the Board of Trustees for the Funeral Service Foundation. In their chat, John covers his career path over the years, opportunities and challenges that funeral professionals face as generations unite in the workplace and the power of relationship building and networking within the industry. They also discuss the importance in giving back to communities and the amazing work the Funeral Service Foundation does for others.

Teresa Carlson joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about funeral home lending, the future of females in the funeral space and the importance of succession planning. Teresa is Vice President of The Bancorp Bank, a nationwide funeral industry lender. In their chat, Teresa talks about how she got started in the banking industry, challenges and opportunities in small business lending and how her career has evolved into a focus on funeral home loans. They also cover how she grew her career while maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Learn all about lending opportunities for firms of any size in this entertaining conversation with Teresa.

Dan Lodermeier joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about sales, leadership and the value of the Harry Potter book series. In their chat, Dan shares stories of starting out as a young professional, lessons he’s learned over the course of his 30+ years with Homesteaders and the qualities needed to succeed in sales to become a standout leader. They also talk about Homesteaders’ account executive program and share many book recommendations. Learn more about what it takes to thrive in the field of sales in this lively and engaging conversation.

Steve Shaffer joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about his career in the funeral profession. Steve Shaffer is the President, CEO and Board Chair of Homesteaders Life Company. In their chat, Steve covers how he entered the funeral profession and his career path over the years. They also discuss how he has seen the industry grow and how he sees it changing moving forward. Learn more about Homesteaders' leader in this informative and insightful conversation.