During its Annual Conference & Trade Show, the Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America (CFSA) elected its 2024-25 board of directors: President Charles-Olivier Dumont of Victoriaville & Co., Vice President Lori Eanes of C&L Containers, and Treasurer Matt Hockett of Prepainted Metals. Greg Beavers of Wise Products will transition to immediate past president.

Joining the board as new directors are J.E.B. Cranford of Triangle Atlantic Casket Co. and Chris DiMascio of Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions. Existing board members include Michael Bretherick of Iron City Stamping, Andrew Kaplan of Cahill Nonwovens Company, Leland Robinson of Southern Craft Manufacturing, Nick Taddeo of Church & Chapel Metal Arts, Presson Thomson of Dixline Corporation and Andrew Williamson of Covington Casket Company.

Leaving the board after completing their three-year terms are Dwayne Heeter of Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, Andy Lawrence of Tiedemann-Bevs Industries, Justin Thacker of Thacker Caskets and Scott Weisenbach of Sich Casket Company.

During the event, CFSA also honored two of its own with the association’s Lifetime Recognition Award. The association presents CFSA’s highest honor to professionals who have devoted at least 35 years to raising professional standards and moving the industry forward with positive and progressive actions. Jeff Cheek of Matthews Funeral Solutions was honored this year. Said Cheek: “I’ve spent just about my entire professional life in this wonderful industry and this occasion makes me appreciate and respect all the great people in funeral service supply even more. I cannot thank CFSA enough for considering me when selecting recipients.”

Also honored was Tina Houck of Schuylkill Haven Casket Company, who said about the award: “I am so humbled to receive this lifetime achievement award from the Casket & Funeral Supply Association. To be included with some of the most dedicated and hard-working people in this industry is such an honor.”

Finally, CFSA presented Jeanette Hiemstra with this year’s Audrey Thacker Women of Excellence Award, which is named after Audrey Thacker, retired CFO and vice president of Thacker Caskets and Thacker Casket Manufacturing. Criteria for this award include a CFSA membership, a minimum of five years in the funeral supply industry and demonstration of exceptional innovation and leadership in their company.

Said CFSA CEO Tim Murphy about the recipient: “Jeanette has been involved in the leadership of CFSA for many years, working her way up to president just a few years ago. Her legacy of leadership, as well as her accomplishments while in leadership, is what CFSA looks for in its governance ranks. Her sense of priority and big-picture vision served all of us well during her tenure and beyond.” cfsaa.org