Selected Independent Funeral Homes(SIFH) recently named Joshua Nathaniel Blake of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, Texas, as the 2023 recipient of the NextGen Professional of the Year Award, which highlights career achievements and community involvement of funeral professionals under age 50. Recipients are presented with a physical award and also receive complimentary registration to participate in the association’s NextGen Seminar.

As chief operating officer at his firm, Blake helps continually improve and enhance the business. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he pivoted regular operations to serve the community while retaining as many team members as possible. He coordinated staff vaccinations while refining virtual arrangements and livestreaming services. He also managed critical website, software and social media upgrades.

Under Blake’s leadership, the firm received a Small Business of the Year Award in 2021. It continues to receive the “Best of Waco Award” from Wacoan magazine and was voted the top funeral home in Waco by Locals Love Us Waco.

Blake served as SIFH president from 2021-22 and has also served on the NextGen Advisory Group and Programming Work Group. He graduated from the SIFH Leadership Academy in 2018.

Said Blake about receiving the award: “I decided to dedicate the award to Hatch Bailey, the owner and president of our funeral home. I realized at that moment that receiving this award wouldn’t be possible without him. I’m thankful he took a chance on me when he hired me after making a career change, and now he has entrusted me with the management of his family business. Receiving this award from my peers feels like a fist pump with a ‘Heck yeah!’ from some of my biggest supporters.” selectedfuneralhomes.org