About the Episode: In this episode of A Brush with Death, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Derrick Husmann, Senior Business Consultant with Johnson Consulting Group, to talk about struggling funeral homes — and what it takes to turn them around.
From poor financial management and outdated facilities to toxic workplace cultures and weak leadership, Derrick and Gabe explore the common challenges that can cause funeral homes to fail — and the practical steps firms can take to rebuild. With the right strategy, mindset, and willingness to adapt, even the most challenged funeral homes can find renewed success.
Whether your funeral home is thriving or fighting to stay afloat, this episode offers real-world lessons in funeral home management, leadership, and growth that every funeral professional can use.
About Derrick: Derrick Husmann is a Senior Business Consultant with Johnson Consulting Group.
Derrick graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Management. He began his career as a funeral director serving family-owned funeral homes throughout Southern Illinois.
In 2008, Derrick joined Batesville as a sales representative covering Illinois and Missouri, where he earned numerous honors, including the President’s Circle, the Council of Excellence for Merchandising, and recognition as the 2010 Regional Sales Representative of the Year.
In 2016, Derrick joined Remembrance Group as Director of Corporate Development and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2018. In April 2023, he joined Johnson Consulting Group as a Senior Business Consultant. Throughout his career, Derrick has been responsible for operational leadership, sales growth, merchandising, profitability improvement, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance support.
For more than 20 years, Derrick has also served as a Mortuary Officer for the Federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), Region V. In addition, he is the Assistant Fire Chief for the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department