Stephen Bassett is Vice President of Cemetery Operations at Legacy Funeral Group, with 34 years of experience in the deathcare industry. He began his career in 1991 with Service Corporation International (SCI), serving 23 years in design, management, and operational roles nationwide. Since joining Legacy in 2014, he has overseen 17 cemeteries and more than 20 crematories across nine states, while also managing the Las Vegas market, which serves over 9,000 cases annually.

Erin Creger is Chief Sales Officer for Security National Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, bringing over 20 years of experience in sales, leadership, and business development, including 12 years in the funeral and cemetery profession. She has held roles from pre-need sales to sales trainer, manager, and later Chief Sales Officer overseeing more than 130 funeral home clients nationwide. Since 2024, she has led Security National’s Funeral Homes and Cemeteries Division across Utah, San Diego, and Santa Fe, specializing in high-performance sales cultures, structured training programs, and innovative growth strategies. 

Steve Metzger is President and Chief Operating Officer of Carriage Services, with more than 20 years of experience in law, compliance, and deathcare operations. After earning his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Texas, he practiced litigation at a Houston law firm before joining Service Corporation International, where he served as Chief Compliance Officer and later Managing Counsel. For the past seven years, he has led at Carriage, working closely with funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories nationwide, and contributing to legislative affairs, legal matters, operational strategy, and succession planning. 

Ryan Milley is Vice President of Operations at Forest Hills Cemetery, bringing over 13 years of experience in the cemetery industry. He began his career as a laborer and advanced through roles including assistant foreman, foreman, and assistant director of operations before assuming his current position. With expertise spanning both fieldwork and management, Ryan has led major projects, implemented systems to improve efficiency, and developed long-term operational strategies. 

Armando Mora is the Director of Cemetery Operations and Cemetery Manager for Cypress Lawn, where he has dedicated 37 years of his career. He began as a member of the grounds crew before moving into roles on the interment crew, as crematory manager, leadman, and foreman. Over time, he developed a deep understanding of the daily operations of cemetery management, ultimately progressing into his current leadership role overseeing teams, projects, and long-term planning. 

Sean O’Regan is President & CEO of Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio, a historic cemetery, crematory, and accredited arboretum serving over 450 memorial services and 1,200 cremations annually. He oversees operations, administration, financial stewardship, capital projects, and community engagement, ensuring Woodland’s role as both a cultural landmark and active service provider. With leadership experience in both nonprofit and private sectors, Sean brings expertise in strategic planning, governance, endowment management, and donor relations. 

Sam Scott is General Manager with Dignity Memorial, bringing nearly three decades of experience in funeral service. He began his career in 1996 in Lebanon, Missouri, working with independent firms in Missouri and Texas before joining Dignity Memorial in 2013 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas. Since then, he has managed funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and columbaria, building broad expertise across the profession. 

Rick Tuss is a Partnership Consultant with Foundation Partners Group. He began his career in the funeral and cemetery profession in 1979 as a pre-need cemetery counselor, later moving into cemetery management and funeral and cemetery sales leadership. Over the years, he owned and operated a consulting company serving the Montana, Louisiana, and Florida markets, became a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and retort operator, and earned certification as a celebrant. In 2012, he purchased Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory, which he operated until selling to Foundation Partners Group in 2019. After a brief retirement, he returned in 2021 as an acquisition consultant and continues to serve in that role today. 

Dwane Wills is currently a Managing Partner with Carriage Services, bringing more than 40 years of deep expertise in funeral home, cemetery, and cremation operations and management. He holds long-term licensure as both a funeral director and an embalmer. Over his extensive career, he has successfully owned and operated multiple family branded funeral homes/cemetery and has led largescale corporate operations across 15 states. He has served as president of several state funeral professional organizations and has been an active participant at the national level for many years. He possesses extensive and successful lobbying and legislative experience. With a genuine love for the profession, he strives to excel in mentoring others, leading operations, and ensuring exceptional service for client families.