From August 25 to 27, the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) held its Future Leaders Forum at Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home, an affiliate location of Pollock-Randall Funeral Home in Port Huron, Michigan. During this two-day program, young professionals, first- and second-career individuals, and emerging leaders explored visionary concepts and innovative strategies to help shape the funeral homes of the future.

With the theme of “Own the Future,” the program featured a range of sessions and activities, including: “Bridging the Generational Divide in the Workplace” with Antonio Green, James H. Cole Home for Funerals; “Making the Best Choice for Your Preneed” with Andy Weninger, Premier Preneed Marketing; “Building a Strong Foundation: Financial Insights from Independent Funeral Homes,” presented by Express Funeral Funding; “Star Trek and Vikings... at a Funeral? aka Dare to Use Your Imagination” with Joe E. Pray, Pray Funeral Home; and “The Power of Moments,” led by Matthew Van Drimmelen, Full-Circle Aftercare.

In other news, OGR elected new members to its Foundation Board for the 2025-26 term. Chris Miller, Thomas Miller Mortuary, Corona, California, was elected as chair; Jamie Wieting, Wieting Family Funeral Home, Chilton, Wisconsin, was elected as vice chair; and Roger Beyers, Beyers Funeral Home & Crematory, Leesburg, Florida, was reelected as secretary/treasurer.

New to the board are Chase Miller, Lewis Funeral Home, Milton, Florida; Peter Urban Jr., Anton B. Funeral Home, Ambler, Pennsylvania; and Justin Zabor, Zabor Funeral Home, Parma, Ohio.

They join continuing members William Brock, Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, Wyckoff, New Jersey; Laura Kendrick-Godwin, Pollock-Randall Funeral Home Inc., Port Huron, Michigan; Charles Castiglia, Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, West Seneca, New York; Thomas Hemmerle, Barnett-Strother Funeral Home LLC, Madisonville, Kentucky; and Paul Hummel, Hummel Funeral Home & Crematories, Akron, Ohio. OGR.org