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.