NFDA Inspiration Award
Congratulations to this year's Inspiration Award winner - Katey Houston of Return Home!
Katey Houston is a funeral service trailblazer. With a career defined by innovation, compassion, and leadership, Houston has been instrumental in shaping the evolving landscape of funeral service. As a funeral director and care team manager at Return Home, she has played a key role in advancing Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) – a sustainable end-of-life option that transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil. Through her dedication to educating families, mentoring professionals and advocating for meaningful memorialization, she has set a remarkable example for her peers.
Beyond her daily work, Houston is a passionate advocate for funeral service education and mentorship. She actively supports the professional development of emerging funeral directors, sharing her knowledge and experiences to help shape the future of the industry. Her efforts extend to community outreach, where she works to increase awareness about alternative disposition methods and the value of personalization in end-of-life rituals.
One of the support letters in her nomination paperwork sums up why she’s such a worthy recipient of this award, “Words fail me in truly expressing all that Katey has done and accomplished during her career in funeral service, but I have seen firsthand the transformational effect she has had. Her leadership, creativity and passion have not only left an indelible mark on everyone affiliated with Return Home but also with client families and funeral professionals throughout our state and on a national level. I have worked with hundreds of funeral professionals throughout my 39-year career in our sacred profession, but there is no one that is more deserving of this recognition than Katey Houston.”
How did Katey react to winning the Inspiration Award? Watch the video above to find out.
The Inspiration Award will be presented to Katey at the 2025 NFDA Professional Women's Conference in Santa Ana Puebla, NM on May 16.
The National Funeral Directors Association’s Inspiration Award will be conferred annually on an exceptional woman 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.
Criteria
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Nominations meeting the established criteria will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Decisions of the judges are final.
- A standard evaluation form, based on established criteria, will be used to judge each nominee.
- The nominee who receives the highest evaluation will receive the award, which will be presented during the 2025 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference
- 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.