Funeral Service Foundation Welcomes New Trustees and Elects 2019-20 Executive Committee
(Above, left to right) Bob Arrington, Arrington Funeral Group, Jackson, Tennessee (2018-19 Chair); Anthony Guerra, Guerra & Gutierrez Mortuaries, Los Angeles, California (2019-20 Chair); Allan Cole, MacKinnon & Bowes, Toronto, Ontario (Current Chair-Elect, 2020-21 Chair)
The Funeral Service Foundation’s Board of Trustees welcomed three new trustees and elected its 2019-20 executive committee at its annual fall meeting held during the NFDA International Convention & Expo in Chicago. Voted onto the board in July, Stephen Phelps, CEO of National Guardian Life Insurance Company, and David Falconer, Senior Vice President, Regions Funeral and Cemetery Trust Manager began three-year terms as Foundation Trustees. Christopher Robinson, vice president and general manager, Robinson Funeral Home, Easley, North Carolina, joined Foundation trustees as the NFDA liaison, and NFDA Board-appointed role.
Funeral directors and allied professionals alike serve on the 17-member volunteer board, and offer their expertise and insight to advance to Foundation’s mission to support meaningful relationships with families and communities. The Foundation’s impact includes 250 scholarships and continuing education grants annually, and major grants to organizations whose work supports funeral service and aligns with our mission.
“David, Steve and Chris are solid and inspiring additions to the Board,” said Anthony Guerra, who was elected as the Foundation’s 2019-20 Chair. “They are respected leaders within the funeral service profession and have been longtime Foundation supporters.”
In addition to electing Guerra, vice president of Guerra Gutierrez Mortuaries in Los Angeles, California, as 2019-20 Chair, the Board of Trustees elected Allan Cole, president and owner, MacKinnon and Bowes, Toronto, Ontario, as chair-elect. Cole is the first-ever international board member to serve in a leadership role. “We are so honored to have Allan on our Board and serving as a member of our Executive Committee this year,” said Lee Wiensch, Foundation Executive Director. “We are looking forward to his service as Chair in 2020-21, and especially pleased that he is the first international Chair of the Funeral Service Foundation. We know that he will lead us to new heights!”
The Board also re-elected Eric Tanzberger, senior vice president and CFO, Service Corporation International, Houston, Texas as secretary/treasurer. Bob Arrington, owner, Arrington Funeral Group, Jackson, Tennessee, serves as immediate past president.
Jay Dodds, chief operating officer, Park Lawn Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Dave McComb, chairman and owner of Inman Shipping and Eagles Wings Air, Fort Wayne, Indiana, both transitioned off the board after six years of dedicated service to the Foundation.
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