By Thomas A. Parmalee
Members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes continue to reap the benefits of membership – especially as they relate to participating in communities that contribute to personal and professional growth.
One community in particular that is becoming increasingly popular is Selected’s Women in Funeral Service Community, according to Liz Centi, member engagement director at the association.
The community has existed for several years, but Centi brought a renewed focus to it when she joined Selected about three years ago.
With more than 1,000 women represented collectively across its membership, Selected reached out to stakeholders to discover what programs would have wide and far-reaching appeal. The goal was to inspire and inform everyone, including rank-and-file funeral directors, support personnel as well as owners, Centi said.
Since regrouping, the Women in Funeral Service Community has been holding four webinars per year, all of which have received great reviews, she said.
Some members use the webinars as team-building events, inviting all the women on their staff to attend, she said.
But still, some aren’t fully aware of Selected’s communities, which is rounded out by NextGen, which provides unmatched support to members striving to develop their full leadership potential through peer connections, education and meaningful social activities; FirstGen, which provides an opportunity for first-time owners to connect, inspire, and share with one another; and Funeral Home + Cemetery Management, which provides combo firms and those managing or considering the purchase of a cemetery, opportunities to share best practices.
There is also a fifth community of sorts: Selected’s online Discussion Forum provides members with the opportunity to access the knowledge and experience of their peers at any time of the day or night.
Educational Opportunities for Women
Any Selected member can take advantage of community programming.
Independent funeral home members who are not members but want to explore becoming one should visit this page.
Future programs being offered to the Women in Funeral Service community include:
A Legacy of Your Own: Women Acquiring Funeral Homes | Thursday, May 8, 2025
This webinar is designed to empower women in the funeral industry who are ready to take the next step in their careers by becoming business owners or are interested in understanding how to acquire a business in the future.
The webinar will feature Jordan Coleman, a dedicated loan officer on the funeral home and cemetery team at Live Oak Bank.
Coleman is absolutely committed to empowering funeral home business owners to achieve their dream.
Selected members can register here.
The Purpose Formula: Leadership, Culture, and Success for Women in the Funeral Profession | Thursday, July 10, 2025
More women are entering the funeral profession than ever before – and providing clear paths to leadership and environments where they can thrive will be essential.
In this webinar, attendees will learn how to leverage their purpose and values to attract top talent. Then, using real-world examples and actionable strategies, they will discover how to retain this talent through a workplace that fosters support, belonging and opportunities for advancement.
The webinar will feature Kelly Kohut, who is the regional vice president in partnership development at Precoa. Her talent for business growth blends perfectly with her passion for helping funeral homes connect with more families through preneed.
Selected members can register here.
Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to Less Stress and Burnout | Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
Stress has become an omnipresent issue in modern life, especially in high-stress professions. Recent statistics show that 80% of U.S. workers are experiencing stress on the job (American Institute of Stress, 2024), and work stress is the second top cause of stress in America (American Psychological Association, 2017).
While many people first think of first responders when it comes to stressful professions, our last responders are another profession that is particularly prone to high levels of stress which can lead to a significant impact on mental health,
This webinar will feature Dr. Melanie Carr, director of sales development at Funeral Directors Life.
Selected members can register here.
Measuring Success: How You Can Demonstrate ROI on Investments for the Future | Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
Every decision you make as a leader can shape your firm’s future. Whether you’re investing in new technology, upgrading facilities, growing your team, or fostering a strong internal culture, proving the value of these investments can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to.
So, how do you demonstrate that today’s spending will pay off tomorrow?
In this webinar, Courtney Gould Miller, president of commercial markets at Tribute Technology, will explore how to build a clear, practical business case for any investment — whether it’s new software, leadership programs, or team-building initiatives.
Selected members can register here.
A Continuing Focus on Providing Value
Looking to the future, Selected may very well create additional communities to provide even more value to its members, Centi said.
“We’ve been toying with the idea of a pet community,” she said, observing that numerous members have emotional support dogs – and one even has an emotional support horse.
“We also have a growing population of members that offer pet services,” she said.
It’s been particularly rewarding, however, to see the Women in Funeral Service community do so well, she said.
“Our challenges as women are different,” she said. “The community offers a peer support system, and it covers all levels at all career stages.”
Of course, Selected’s other communities also are hosting robust programming throughout the year.
You can view all the association’s events on its Event Calendar Page.
Follow FuneralVision.com on LinkedIn.
Follow FuneralVision.com on X.
Follow FuneralVision.com on Facebook.
