The International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural 40 Under 40 Award, recognizing young, outstanding professionals in the death-care profession. This prestigious award celebrates individuals with exceptional talent, leadership, and a deep commitment to the profession’s future.
Nominated by their peers, supervisors, and colleagues, these 40 trailblazers have all made remarkable contributions to death care, excelling in their professional roles, community engagement, and forward-thinking innovation. They are the ones helping to shape the profession’s future and inspiring others to strive for excellence in service and care.
“The 40 individuals we honor today represent the future,” said Lee Longino, president of ICCFA. “Their leadership, dedication, and passion for innovation set a powerful example for all of us. We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements and lasting impact on the death-care profession.”
Winners of the 2024 ICCFA 40 Under 40 Award:
- Jennifer Yessenia Aguilar Franco de Lopez – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Nicolas Andrade – Parque de las Memorias
- Candace Aramburu – Fairmount Memorial Association, Heritage Funeral Home
- Liz Bagley – Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home
- Molly Barwick – Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum
- Steven Berkoff – Memorial Reefs International
- John Blevins – Park Lawn Corp, Williams Funeral Home
- Grace Birdwell – Greenlawn Funeral Home Inc
- Lauren Buzzard – Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service
- Ka Lok Chung – Peace Of Mind Funeral Services
- Christina Chao – SCI
- Carlos Davenport – Mack’s Funeral Home & Cremation Service
- Kacie Derby – Park Lawn Corp, Baue Funeral Homes
- Pierce Dempsey – Leaf Cremation
- Luke Densow – Park Lawn
- Billy Eaton – Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
- James Fletcher – Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
- Evan Frew – BIONDAN USA
- Ashlinn Goodman – Envision Strategic Partners
- Lauren Hogan – Park Lawn
- Katey Houston – Return Home
- Emily Howell – Newcomer Funeral Service Group / Dove Southeast Chapel
- Yuri Marleni Juarez Gomez – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Andrew Kennedy – Live Oak Bank
- Joelle Kerfoot – SCI, Dignity Memorial
- Katie LaBella – St. Michael’s Cemetery
- Manlio Alexis Emmanuel Morales – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Ryan Milley – Forest Hills Cemetery
- Nikole Mitchell – SCI, Evergreen Washelli
- Dagny Neel-Fitzpatrick – Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum
- Ana Palencia – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Ashlynn Rickord-Werner – Plotbox Ltd
- Sandra Robledo – Mont Meta Funeral Home
- Brie Smith – Return Home
- Shane Pudenz – Carriage Services
- Nick Timpe – webCemeteries
- Tiffany Ung – Cypress Lawn Cemetery Association
- Mark Vandermeersch – Park Lawn
- Sammy Villanueva – Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CCM
- Deauna Wright – Ridout’s Southern Heritage SCI
Please join us in congratulating these exceptional individuals on their well-deserved recognition.
ICCFA will feature the honorees in its flagship magazine, Memento Mori, highlight them across social media platforms, and formally recognize them at the 2025 ICCFA Experience in Las Vegas. Each winner will also receive a $500 educational scholarship from the ICCFA Educational Foundation, which they can apply toward registration for the 2025 Fall Leadership Summit.
For more information about the ICCFA 40 Under 40 Award program, including nomination guidelines and eligibility criteria, please visit iccfa.com/awards.
Follow FuneralVision.com on LinkedIn.