Chris Howard was elected president of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) during its 122nd Annual Meeting. Held February 24-26 at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, Kentucky, the meeting focused on funeral service regulation and public protection. More than 100 funeral service regulators and educators from 32 different states and provinces across the U.S. and Canada attended.

Howard’s commitment to public service began early, during his time as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for Howard County, Missouri. He earned his mortuary science degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College and achieved his dream of owning a funeral home after 13 years in the profession.

Howard has served as a board member of the Boonville Chamber of Commerce and became the acting coroner of Cooper County in 2024. He currently serves on the Missouri Board of Embalmers; he was appointed as vice chairman in April 2023. He joined the ICFSEB board in 2025.

The ICFSEB Annual Meeting provides a valuable opportunity for those interested in furthering funeral service regulation to exchange information, problem-
solving strategies and goals for the future of the profession. The 123rd Annual Meeting will be held February 23-25, 2027, at the Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

In other news, ICFSEB selected Bobby Steven Spann, president of John A. Gupton College and NFDA board member, as the recipient of its inaugural Partners in Professionalism Award for his thoughtful advocacy on behalf of the funeral service profession. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to advancing the funeral service profession. Spann’s work exemplifies these values by reinforcing the importance of unity across education, examination, regulation and practice.

Spann was selected for this honor following the publication of an article he wrote in the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association magazine. In the article, he offered a comprehensive defense of the integrity of the National Board Exam and addressed broader workforce challenges facing funeral service. He also addressed common misconceptions surrounding funeral service education and licensure exams. He detailed the data-driven process behind the exam’s development, including its reliance on subject-matter experts and validated testing standards.

Furthermore, Spann encouraged licensed professionals to look for ways to implement universal licensure or reciprocity while maintaining standards that protect the public and uphold professional competency.  TheConferenceOnline.org