Home Conferences Professional Women's Conference Inspiration Award

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The National Funeral Directors Association’s Inspiration Award will be conferred annually on an exceptional female or non-binary individual who has made noteworthy professional contributions to funeral service or a related field. The ideal nominee is an enterprising individual who consistently takes the initiative to elevate the funeral service profession. They serve as a mentor to colleagues. Their energy and independent spirit serve as an example to others. Their efforts result in significant accomplishments at the local, national and/or international level.

The 2023 NFDA Inspiration Award recipient is Ellen Wynn McBrayer from Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory. NFDA extends a warm Congratulations to Ellen!

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Click here to read the full announcement. 

2023 NFDA Inspiration Award Nominees: 

  • Sarah Brown-Derbah, Haley Funeral Directors, Southfield, Michigan
  • Dr. Camelia Clarke, Paradise Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Milwaukee, Wisconisn
  • Megan Comer, Alhiser-Comer Mortuary, Escondido, California
  • Antonietta Cuoco, Cuoco Funeral & Cremation Services, Somerville, New Jersey
  • Amie Crockett, Wallace Family Funeral Home, South Point, Ohio
  • Traci Denver, Life Forest and Denver Undertaking Services LLC, Milford, New Hampshire
  • Dr. Lucia Dickinson, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma
  • Kaye Gaines, Gaines Funeral Home, Maple Heights, Ohio
  • Abby P. Goodenow, CFSP, Ewing Funeral Home, Britt, Iowa
  • Michelle Johnston, East Texas Mortuary Service, Tyler, Texas
  • DJ Jons, Funeral Directors Life, Abilene, Texas
  • Bethann Lainfiesta, Curnow Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Bellevue, Washington
  • Katie Mackoway, Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home, Waynesville, Ohio
  • Heather Maderia, Boakes Funeral Home, Mays Landing, New Jersey
  • Nhi Pham Nguyen, U.S. Navy Mortuary Affairs, Guam
  • Geraldine Oliverie, Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester, New Jersey
  • Brienna Smith, Return Home, Auburn, Washington
  • Paula Staab-Polk, St. Finbar Catholic Community and Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Burbank, California
  • Lanae Strovers, Hamilton’s Funeral Home, Des Moines, Iowa
  • Monica Torres, NXT Generation Mortuary Support, Coolidge, Arizona
  • Jessica Wakefield, CFSP, Keaton’s Mortuary and Chapel of the Chimes, San Rafael, California

 

NFDA Inspiration Award Criteria & Guidelines

Inspiration-Award-webCriteria

  • Open to anyone currently employed in the funeral service profession or a deathcare-related field with a minimum of five years’ experience, working directly with families.
  • Identify as a female or non-binary individual. 
  • Is actively involved in community and professional service organizations.
  • Is actively involved in efforts to educate the public about the value of meaningful memorialization and/or funeral directors. 
  • Is actively involved in professional development activities. 
  • Individuals cannot nominate themselves.

Guidelines

  1. The NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Inspiration Award is not necessarily an annual award. It will be presented if and when appropriate candidates are nominated and approved by a panel of judges. 
  2. Nominations meeting the established criteria will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Decisions of the judges are final.  
  3. A standard evaluation form, based on established criteria, will be used to judge each nominee.
  4. The nominee who receives the highest evaluation will receive the award, which will be presented during the 2023 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference
  5. The nominating party and his or her winning nominee will be informed via email of the results.  Other nominating parties will also be informed via email of the results.  

 

Watch for more information about when you can submit nominees for the 2024 NFDA Inspiration Award!

Thank you to our generous Inspiration Award sponsor!

NGL

JenniferKasetNGLHeadshot

I am honored and thrilled to be a part of a new initiative with the NFDA in celebrating, and awarding, an exceptional female or non-binary individual that makes a difference in a profession that I love.  From an article in 2021, in the past 40 years, the number of funeral directors who are women in the United States has jumped from 5 percent to 43 percent, according to the New York State Funeral Directors Association. And 60 percent of today's mortuary science students are women, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.  This is amazing and together we will continue to see this number impact the funeral profession to make a difference in so many lives. I am excited and looking forward to seeing who will be the first recipient of the NFDA Inspiration Award in 2023!

Jennifer Kaset
Regional Vice President 
National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL)