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Bryant-Hightower

Bryant Hightower is the 2019-20 president of the National Funeral Directors Association

Bryant, of Martin & Hightower Funeral Home in Carrollton, Georgia, is part of a funeral service family that goes back three generations. He has served the state of Georgia in many ways, including terms as president of both the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia. He has served as a deputy coroner for Haralson County and as a member of the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service.

On a national level, Bryant has served NFDA in many ways, including as a member of the Advocacy Committee, Budget Task Force, Governance Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, and Spokesperson Team. His national service also included representing Georgia on the NFDA Policy Board and serving on the NFDA Board of Directors as an at-large representative, secretary and treasurer.

Committed to his community, Bryant has volunteered his time and talents with many organizations, such as the Carrollton Noon Rotary, Carroll Relay for Life, and the Tanner Medical Center Foundation. His local service also includes terms as president of the Carrollton Mainstreet Board of Directors, Carrollton Jaycees, Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club, Carroll County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and Carrollton Blue Fins Board of Directors.


Business Information
Martin & Hightower Funeral Home
1313 South Park Street
Carrollton, GA 30117
Phone: 770-836-1466

Randy-Anderson

Randy Anderson is the 2019-20 president-elect of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Randy is a first-generation funeral director, is owner of Radney's Funeral Home in Alexander City, Alabama, and Langley Funeral Home in Camp Hill, Alabama.

Randy has served the Alabama Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) in a number of capacities, including as a member of several committees. He was a member of AFDA's board of directors and held the positions of secretary/treasurer, vice president, president-elect and president. Anderson was a member of the Funeral Trust of Alabama Board of Directors.

Nationally, Randy has extensive volunteer experience with NFDA. In addition to service on the Advocacy Committee, Budget Taskforce, Spokesperson Team, Pursuit of Excellence Work Group, Governance Committee and Convention Education Task Force, he was Alabama's representative to the Policy Board. He also served as an at-large representative (2012-2014 and 2015-2017) and secretary on the NFDA Board of Directors. Randy was a member of the work group that developed the NFDA Business Conference and is an active participant in the Pursuit of Excellence Award Program.

Randy enjoys giving back to his community and has volunteered his time with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, the United Way and the Horseshoe Bend High School Athletic Club. He previously served as a member and chairman of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education and as a member of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.


Business Information
Radney's Funeral Home, Inc.
1326 Dadeville Rd.
Alexander City, Alabama 35010
Phone: 256-234-2511

Jack-Mitchell

Jack Mitchell is the 2019-20 treasurer of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Jack is a sixth-generation funeral director with Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home in Baltimore, Maryland. He has also operated John O. Mitchell IV Funeral Services of Dulaney Valley since 2007, when he and his father became the owners of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Jack has extensive experience serving on committees with both the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association (MSFDA) and NFDA. He is a past president of MSFDA and is Maryland’s former representative to the NFDA Policy Board.

Nationally, Jack has served on the NFDA Advocacy Committee, Budget Task Force, Convention Education Task Force, Spokesperson Team and Cemetery Resources Work Group. He previously served as an at-large representative on the NFDA Board of Directors.

Jack graduated from McDonogh School in 1989; he went on to serve as president of the school’s Alumni Association for the 2007-2008 term and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, and from Catonsville Community College in 1995 with an Associate in Arts degree in Mortuary Science.


Business Information
Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home
6500 York Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21212
Phone: 410-377-8300

Dutch-Nie

Dutch Nie is a 2019-20 secretary to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

He is a second-generation funeral director who grew up in the residence above his family’s funeral home, Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has worked every position in the funeral home – car washer, lawn mower, manager – and now is the owner of the family multi-location funeral business. He has always felt that these experiences not only helped him understand and appreciate how funeral service affects the families he serves, but also the effect on his funeral home family who serve them.

Dutch is a dedicated member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association serving on many committees as well as all of the offices from district officer to state president. He is very proud of his tenure with the MFDA board, especially his role in establishing a leadership model during his presidency that increased membership, reduced member apathy and boosted member engagement.

On a national level, Dutch has served NFDA as a member of the Disaster Preparedness Task Force, Convention Education Task Force, Advocacy Committee, Audit Task Force, Budget Task Force and Spokesperson Team and continues as a At-Large Member. 

Dutch is a proud US Air Force veteran and an active member of the American Legion and VFW and has vast experience serving and working on many executive boards, including those of service clubs, non-profits and education organizations in the Ann Arbor-area.


Business Information
Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service
2400 Carpenter Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734-971-2345

Chuck BowmanChuck Bowman is the 2018-19 immediate past-president of the National Funeral Directors Association. 

Chuck’s initial calling in life was law enforcement. After stepping away from law enforcement to enter the funeral profession, he spent most of his career as a funeral director with Horan and McConaty, which operates several locations in the Denver, Colorado, area. He joined Brenneman Funeral Home in Liberal, Kansas, in 2017.

Chuck has been extremely active in the Colorado Funeral Directors Association for a number of years. In addition to service on the Disaster and Legislative Committees, he was a member of the CFDA board of directors, serving as president in 2003. He served as the chair of Arapahoe Community College Mortuary School Advisory Board. In 2014, he retired from his role as deputy commander of the Region VIII DMORT. Chuck is now a proud member of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association. 

Most recently, Chuck served on the NFDA Board of Directors as an at-large representative, secretary, treasurer and president-elect. He previously served as Colorado's representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He has also served on NFDA's Disaster Preparedness Resource Group, Governance Committee, Spokesperson Team, Advocacy Committee, Budget Task Force, Convention Education Task Force and Metals Recycling Task Force.


Business Information
Brenneman Funeral Home
1212 W. 2nd Street
Liberal, KS 67901
Phone: 620-624-5647

John-Wenig

John Wenig is a 2018-20 at-large representative to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

As a first-generation funeral director, John’s interest and admiration for the profession came to him following the tragic deaths of his father when he was in high school and the death of his oldest son. The genuine and professional care that his family received left a lasting impression, to the extent that he wanted to provide that same spirit of care to others. 

Following the death of his son, Andrew, John left the teaching profession, enrolled in mortuary science school and, upon graduation, began his career in funeral service. He worked for several funeral firms before purchasing a funeral business with locations in Sheboygan Falls and Oostburg, WI, in 1991. 

John has served in various leadership capacities on the local, state and national level. His leadership experience with the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association includes service on several committees and the Board of Directors.

On a national level, John has served as the state of Wisconsin’s representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He has also served as a member of the NFDA Audit Task Force, Budget Task Force, Member Resources Work Group and Spokesperson Team. 

John is also proud to have served on the Board of Directors for the International Order of the Golden Rule; he was proud to have been the 2005-2006 president of this association.

John has invested much into his business, church and community, serving on many committees and boards. While his involvement in these organizations is very important to him, his most valued commitment is to his wife, Barbara, his four adult children and five dear grandchildren.

 

Business Information
Wenig Funeral Homes
711 Broadway
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
Phone: 920-467-3431

Christopher-Robinson

Christopher Robinson is a 2018-20 at-large representative to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

Christopher’s roots in funeral service date to a summer job in high school digging graves by hand. After graduating cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in German and European History and a master’s degree in international business from the University of South Carolina, he worked in the international banking industry.

During this time, Christopher’s father continued to expand the family’s funeral business. With no other relatives working alongside his father, Christopher left the banking industry and returned to his grave-digging roots to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Robinson Funeral Homes in Easley, South Carolina.

Christopher has been a dedicated member of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, serving in the state officer positions. His service to his state association culminated with a term as president.

A devoted member of NFDA, Christopher has represented the state of South Carolina on the Policy Board and served as a member of the Convention Education Task Force; he is a newly appointed member of the Spokesperson Team, Headquarters Operations Committee, Audit Task Force, and the Associate Membership Committee.


Business Information
Robinson Funeral Home
PO Box 387
Easley, SC 29641
Phone: 864-859-4001

Linda-Allen

Linda Allan is a 2019-20 at-large representative to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

My passion and interest in the funeral profession stems from my parents. Whether they were in the preparation room, casket showroom, or working a visitation, I was never far behind. From a very young age, I witnessed the professional care and compassion they possessed, and I admired the service they provided to those who had lost loved ones. Particular moments from that time stand out: awakened to the phone ringing in the middle of the night, accompanying my dad on removals and attending my first state convention. From cutting grass, shoveling snow, cleaning the funeral home to washing the hearse, my journey through the funeral profession has been both comprehensive and rewarding. I still live above the funeral home I own and operate. This proximity has given me added insight and perspective, which other funeral directors have never experienced. I have served on both state and national associations, providing knowledge on where funeral service has been while also cultivating foresight on how to guide the profession successfully into the future. I enjoy staying active with local civic organizations, serving my community, and spending time with family and friends; but my biggest joy comes from being a mom.

Business Information

Allan & Ciuferi Funeral Home
314 West Main Street
Collinsville, IL 62234
Phone: 618-344-0195

Daniel-Ford

Daniel Ford is a 2019-20 at-large representative to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

I was raised in the western part of Connecticut in the borough of Naugatuck, the proud son of the late Maureen E. (Hughes) Ford and John W. Ford, CFSP. During my youth, I enjoyed many hobbies and activities in my community, including boxing and baseball. I also consider myself a “diehard” Yankee fan! Growing up as a “funeral director’s kid” certainly influenced my career path; I always knew that I wanted to be part of the funeral industry. Just twelve days after high school graduation, I headed off to mortuary school at the former New England Institute (NEI) at Mt. Ida College. I met the love of my life, Danielle DeMarco in 1999. We married in November 2000 and joyously welcomed our children into the world, son Ryan in 2001 and daughter, Emma in 2003. Throughout my many years in the funeral industry and owner of my funeral homes, I have always looked for what can be done differently, both to compliment and exceed the expectations of the changing consumer while maintaining the sustainability of our businesses. While keeping an “open mind” to new concepts, trends and practices it is also important to re-educate ourselves, and repeatedly re-invent ourselves.

 

Business Information

Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc.
65 Pound Ridge Road
Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: 203-272-3069

NFDA Past Presidents

2017-18—Kenneth A. Cahall, CFSP, CCO, Georgetown, OH
2016-17—W. Ashley Cozine, MBA, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Wichita, KS
2015-16—Robert T. "Bob" Arrington, CCO, Jackson, TN
2014-15—Robert C. Moore IV, CFSP, CCO, Wayne, NJ
2013-14—Robert L. “Robby” Bates, CFSP, CCO, DeKalb, TX
2012-13—Robert T. “Bob” Rosson, Jr., CFSP, CPC, CCO, Oxford, MS
2011-12—Randall L. Earl, CFSP, CCO, Decatur, IL
2010-11—Patrick E. Lynch, CCO, Clawson, MI
2009-10—William C. Wappner, CFSP, Mansfield, OH
2008-09—John D. Reed Sr., CFSP, CPC, Webster Springs, WV
2007-08—*Michael R. St. Pierre, CFSP, Indianapolis, IN
2006-07—*John J. Hogan Jr., CFSP, Flushing, NY
2005-06—*Robert J. Biggins, CFSP, CPC, Rockland, MA
2004-05—R. Doggett Whitaker Jr., CFSP, CPC, Newberry, SC
2003-04—Mark D. Musgrove, CFSP, Eugene, OR
2002-03—Dwayne R. Spence, CFSP, Canal Winchester, OH
2001-02—Robert F. Vandenbergh, CFSP, Clinton Township, MI
2000-01—John C. Carmon, CFSP, Windsor, CT
1999-2000—William F. Aaron, CFSP, Sun City, AZ
1998-99—David R. Pearson, CFSP, Galesburg, IL
1997-98—L. Ruple Harley Jr., CFSP, Greenwood, SC
1996-97—Maurice E. Newnam III, CFSP, Easton, MD
1995-96—*Bruce A. Overton, CFSP, Traer, IA
1994-95—Sumner Brashears, CFSP, Huntsville, AR
1993-94—Joe Merritt, CFSP, Wenatchee, WA
1992-93—David E. Dillon Jr., CFSP, Joplin, MO
1991-92—*Robert J. Smith Sr., CFSP, Chicago, IL
1990-91—Robert L. Shank Sr., CFSP, Perrysburg, OH
1989-90—*Richard A. Braun, CFSP, Adrian, MI
1988-89—*William V. Hocker, CFSP, Grants, NM
1987-88—Glenn G. McMillen, CFSP, Lancaster, PA
1986-87—*Roy T. Pfeffer, CFSP, Manitowoc, WI
1985-86—*John B. Hutchins, CFSP, Kendallville, IN
1984-85—*H. Pat Mayes, Norman, OK
1983-84—*Morris A. Nilsen, CFSP, Richfield, MN
1982-83—*William P. Rutherford, CFSP, Columbus, OH
1981-82—*Earle D. Biggerstaff, Caney, KS
1980-81—*Richard Myers, CFSP, Ogden, UT
1979-80—*Sumner James Waring Jr., CFSP, Fall River, MA
1978-79—*Cecil L. Goettsch, Monticello, IA
1977-78—Royal Keith, CFSP, Yakima, WA
1976-77—*Myron L. Van Horn, Lakeview, OH
1975-76—*R. Jay Kraeer, Pompano Beach, FL
1974-75—Edward J. Fitzgerald, CFSP, Elephant Butte, NM
1973-74—*Frank R. Galante, Union, NJ
1972-73—*Raoul L. Pinette, CFSP, Lewiston, ME
1971-72—*Amos N. Dunn, Sulphur, OK
1970-71—*Frederick R. Sears, N. Syracuse, NY
1969-70—*Joseph L. McCracken, Pana, IL
1968-69—*John L. Werness, Minneapolis, MN
1967-68—*William G. Hardy Jr., Louisville, KY
1966-67—*Paul W. Eddy, Jamestown, ND
1965-66—*Philip J. Schoen III, New Orleans, LA
1964-65—*Glenn H. Griffin, Pontiac, MI
1963-64—*Bruce M. Hotchkiss, Tracy, CA
1962-63—*C. M. Franklin, Orlando, FL
1961-62—*A. Raymond Pearson, Providence, RI
1960-61—*Thomas Glidden, Des Moines, IA
1959-60—*Arthur E. Taylor, Merrill, WI
1958-59—*Merle M. Welsh, Baton Rouge, LA
1957-58—*Roy T. Merrill, Albion, NY
1956-57—*William E. Lutz, Warren, PA
1955-56—*Jerry G. Spears, Columbus, OH
1954-55—*A. B. Eckersell, Rigby, ID
1953-54—*Fred W. Johnston, St. Paul, MN
1952-53—*W. Bruce Donaldson Jr., Tifton, GA
1951-52—*H. Fremont Alderson, New London, CT
1950-51—*Jack Marshall, Tilden, NE
1949-50—*Edward A. Martin, Grand Junction, CO
1948-49—*Ronald C. Jones, Scranton, PA
1947-48—*John W. Gennerich, New York, NY
1946-47—*James C. Orr, El Paso, TX
1945-46—*John E. Drummey, Seattle, WA
1944-45—*R.P. Lee, Minneapolis, MN
1943-44—*J. Leo Redgate, Bridgeport, CT
1941-43—*Jacob Van't Hof, Grand Rapids, MI
1940-41—*George A. Brewer, Jr., Dallas, TX
1939-40—*John W. Eberle, Pasadena, CA
1938-39—*Chas W. Porterfield, Holton, KS
1937-38—*Samuel J. Waters, New York, NY
1936-37—*John S. Rhodes, St. Petersburg, FL
1934-36—*Joseph L. Galen, Philadelphia, PA
1933-34—*Bert S. Gadd, Indianapolis, IN
1932-33—*John W. Mattle, Rochester, NY
1931-32—*John T. Skelton, Sacramento, CA
1930-31—*Thomas S. Wright, Temple, TX
1928-30—*Harry J. Gilligan, Cincinnati, OH
1927-28—*Henry Bosse, Louisville, KY
1926-27—*Colby E. Smith, Dallas, TX
1925-26—*Martin W. Hysong, Washington, DC
1923-25—*Ferd P. Schoedinger, Columbus, OH
1922-23—*Charles J. Dillon, Hartford, CT
1921-22—*C. Albert Roth, Little Rock, AR
1920-21—*Frank L. Ketcham, Chicago, IL
1919-20—*John F. Martin, Elizabeth, NJ
1918-19—*John Maas, Louisville, KY
1917-18—*Charles C. Reel, Pittsburgh, PA
1916-17—*M. H. Alexander, St. Louis, MO
1915-16—*Charles H. Watkins Jr., Wheeling, WV
1914-15—*George W. Lunt, San Francisco, CA
1913-14—*James J. McLarney, New York, NY
1912-13—*George Chandler Paul, Philadelphia, PA
1911-12—*J. W. Cookerly, Walla Walla, WA
1910-11—*Charles A. Miller, Cincinnati, OH
1909-10—*George L. Thomas, Milwaukee, WI
1908-09—*W. D. Farley, Battle Creek, MI
1907-08—*Al Eickelberg, New York, NY
1906-07—*D.B. Quinlan, Chicago, IL
1905-06—*L. T. Christian, Richmond, VA
1904-05—*L. M. Penwell, Topeka, KS
1903-04—*J. M. Connelley, Charleston, SC
1902-03—*J. H. McCully, Palo Alto, CA
1901-02—*Fred Hulberg, New York, NY
1900-01—*Percy B. Dixon, Mobile, AL
1899-1900—*Josiah S. Pearce, Ardmore, PA
1898-99—*Francke W. Dickinson, Springfield, MA
1896-98—*John H. Sharer, Alliance, OH
1894-96—*W.P. Hohenschuh, Iowa City, IA
1893-94—*S. Merrit Hook, New York, NY
1891-93—*Joseph W. Laube, Richmond, VA
1887-91—*Robert R. Bringhurst, Philadelphia, PA
1885-87—*Hudson Samson, Pittsburgh, PA
1884-85—*Oscar N. Crane, Canandaigua, NY
1882-84—*Charles L. Benjamin, Saginaw, MI

*Deceased