Mentors
  • For Families
  • Suppliers
  • The Foundation
  • Store
  • News
    • In the News
    • COVID 19
    • Media Center
  • More NFDA
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Contact us
    • Share Your Story
  • Become a Member
Search Cart Login
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
Cart
Search
Login
  • Become a Member
  • Conferences
    • Advocacy Summit
    • Cremation Success Seminar
    • Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar
    • Professional Women's Conference
    • Leadership Conference
    • Meet the Mentors
    • International Convention & Expo
    • Funeral Service Events
    • Call for Presentations
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Member Perks
    • Committees & Groups
    • GM Competitive Assistance Program
    • Recognition Programs
    • Endorsed Providers
    • Discount Advantage Program
    • Member Directory
    • Code of Professional Conduct
    • Service of Remembrance
  • Resources
    • Legal & Compliance
    • Business & Technical
    • Operations & Management
    • Products & Services
    • Music and Webcasting Licenses
    • Remembering A Life
    • Media Relations
    • Marketing Materials
    • Publications
    • Research
    • Serving Veterans
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • National Emerging Leaders Program
    • Search CE By State
    • Calendar of Events
    • Webinars & Virtual Roundtables
    • On-Demand Learning
    • Certification & Training Programs
    • International Professional Achievement Certificate
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
  • Careers
    • Find/Post a Job
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
    • Schools/Education
    • Scholarships
    • NFDA Careers
  • Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Formaldehyde Study
    • Advocacy 101
    • Current Legislation
    • Get Involved
    • Contribute to the PAC
  • News
    • In the News
    • COVID-19
    • Media Center
    • Blog
  • Conferences
    • Advocacy Summit
    • Cremation Success Seminar
    • Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar
    • Professional Women's Conference
    • Leadership Conference
    • Meet the Mentors
    • International Convention & Expo
    • Funeral Service Events
    • Call for Presentations
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Member Perks
    • Committees & Groups
    • GM Competitive Assistance Program
    • Recognition Programs
    • Endorsed Providers
    • Discount Advantage Program
    • Member Directory
    • Code of Professional Conduct
    • Service of Remembrance
  • Resources
    • Legal & Compliance
    • Business & Technical
    • Operations & Management
    • Products & Services
    • Music and Webcasting Licenses
    • Remembering A Life
    • Media Relations
    • Marketing Materials
    • Publications
    • Research
    • Serving Veterans
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • National Emerging Leaders Program
    • Search CE By State
    • Calendar of Events
    • Webinars & Virtual Roundtables
    • On-Demand Learning
    • Certification & Training Programs
    • International Professional Achievement Certificate
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
  • Careers
    • Find/Post a Job
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
    • Schools/Education
    • Scholarships
    • NFDA Careers
  • Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Formaldehyde Study
    • Advocacy 101
    • Current Legislation
    • Get Involved
    • Contribute to the PAC
  • For Families
  • Suppliers
  • The Foundation
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact us
  • Share Your Story

Mentors

Meet the Mentors
Home Conferences Meet the Mentors Mentors

Ginny Sanzo

Managing Partner, John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, NJ

Receiving her calling to funeral service at the age of sixteen, Ginny graduated from Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, IN in 1997. She has worked diligently since then to compassionately care for the families she is deeply honored to serve. Ginny believes in leading with love and strives to learn about each life lived and to connect with those who remain to help celebrate their loved one’s legacy. She also holds fast to the principles of dignity, respect and honor. Having also graduated from Mount Ida College in Newton, MA with her degree in Funeral Home Management, Ginny has served as President of the New Jersey State Funeral Director’s Association.

Ginny lives in Matawan, NJ with her husband, Ray, and their rescue dog, Oliver and Chocolate Lab pup, Roscoe. An appointed member of the Matawan Environmental Commission, Ginny is also active with the Matawan Historical Society. A yarn enthusiast, Ginny enjoys the creative arts of knitting and crocheting.


Sam James

Owner, James Funeral Home & Northlake Memorial Gardens

Sam James is a first-generation funeral director. He started working at a funeral home when he was 16. In his mid-20s, he opened his own funeral home which he built from the ground up and purchased an existing cemetery in 2013. He has his B.S. from Erskine College and an Associate’s Degree from the SC College of Funeral Service. He created the online funeral service program for the SC College of Funeral Service in 2007 and taught in the funeral service department for ten years. He has also taught in Australia and China. He currently serves on the board of SCCFA, as well as on the pursuit of excellence committee for NFDA. Sam is also very involved in his community, serving as president of the Lake Norman Rotary Club, an elder at his church, a board member of the Lake Norman Chamber, and recently he rotated off as chairman of the board of trustees for Erskine College and Seminary. He also volunteers at an end-of-life care home.


Tom Sproles

Owner, Sproles Family Funeral Home

Tom Sproles is a licensed funeral director and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner with 32 years of experience in funeral service. Tom began his career in funeral service in 1989. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1991 and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Prior to opening Sproles Family Funeral home in 2006, Tom held a position in regional funeral home management for eight years. He oversaw the operation of 35 funeral homes and 17 cemeteries in central Indiana and Ohio. Tom was appointed by then-Governor Mike Pence to serve on the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service in 2014 and continues to serve today.

Tom is a Maxwell Leadership certified coach, speaker, and trainer. Tom delivers valuable insight to help funeral directors, owners, and support staff build and maintain successful hospitality programs, develop a culture of hospitable service to others, and efficiently implement strategies to improve the funeral business.

Meet the Mentors
  • Mentors
  • Agenda
  • Hotel & Travel
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • COVID-19 Statement

NFDA Mission Statement

The National Funeral Directors Association is the world’s leading, largest and most trusted association to support funeral professionals. We provide our members with critical information, innovative tools, resources and the professional community they need to serve families, run sustainable businesses and become pillars in their communities.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • NFDA Podcast
  • NFDA Blog
  • Share Your Story

Quick Links

  • About NFDA
  • The Foundation
  • In The News
  • Contact Us
  • The Director
  • NFDA Blog
  • Conferences
  • Membership
  • Resources
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Podcast
  • NFDA Store
  • Career Center
  • Remembering a Life
    • For Funeral Directors
    • For Families
  • Suppliers

Quick Links +

  • About NFDA
  • The Foundation
  • In The News
  • Contact Us
  • The Director
  • NFDA Blog
  • Conferences
  • Membership
  • Resources
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Podcast
  • NFDA Store
  • Career Center
  • Remembering a Life
    • For Funeral Directors
    • For Families
  • Suppliers
©2022 by National Funeral Directors Association. All Rights Reserved. Terms Of Use Privacy Statement
Back to top
This site uses cookies - you have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the NFDA services or websites you visit.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org
This site uses cookies to help deliver an engaging user experience.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org
This site uses cookies - you have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the NFDA services or websites you visit.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org