STERLING, VA (October 18, 2024) – The International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association (ICCFA) is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural 40 Under 40 Award, recognizing young, outstanding professionals in the deathcare profession. This prestigious award celebrates individuals with exceptional talent, leadership, and a deep commitment to the profession’s future.
Nominated by their peers, supervisors, and colleagues, these 40 trailblazers have all made remarkable contributions to deathcare, excelling in their professional roles, community engagement, and forward-thinking innovation. They are the ones helping to shape the profession’s future and inspiring others to strive for excellence in service and care.
“The 40 individuals we honor today represent the future,” said Lee Longino, President of ICCFA. “Their leadership, dedication, and passion for innovation set a powerful example for all of us. We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements and lasting impact on the deathcare profession.”
Winners of the 2024 ICCFA 40 Under 40 Award:
- Jennifer Yessenia Aguilar Franco de Lopez – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Nicolas Andrade – Parque de las Memorias
- Candace Aramburu – Fairmount Memorial Association, Heritage Funeral Home
- Liz Bagley – Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home
- Molly Barwick – Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum
- Steven Berkoff – Memorial Reefs International
- Grace Birdwell – Greenlawn Funeral Home Inc.
- John Blevins – Park Lawn Corporation, Williams Funeral Home
- Lauren Buzzard – Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service
- Christina Chao – SCI
- Ka Lok Chung – Peace Of Mind Funeral Services
- Carlos Davenport – Mack’s Funeral Home & Cremation Service
- Pierce Dempsey – Leaf Cremation
- Luke Densow – Park Lawn Corporation
- Kacie Derby – Park Lawn Corporation, Baue Funeral Homes
- Billy Eaton – Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
- James Fletcher – Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
- Evan Frew – BIONDAN USA
- Ashlinn Goodman – Envision Strategic Partners
- Lauren Hogan – Park Lawn Corporation
- Katey Houston – Return Home
- Emily Howell – Newcomer Funeral Service Group / Dove Southeast Chapel
- Yuri Marleni Juarez Gomez – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Andrew Kennedy – Live Oak Bank
- Joelle Kerfoot – SCI, Dignity Memorial
- Katie LaBella – St. Michael’s Cemetery
- Ryan Milley – Forest Hills Cemetery
- Nikole Mitchell – SCI, Evergreen Washelli
- Manlio Alexis Emmanuel Morales – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Dagny Neel-Fitzpatrick – Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum
- Ana Palencia – Señoriales Corporación de Servicio
- Shane Pudenz – Carriage Services
- Ashlynn Rickord Werner – Plotbox Ltd
- Sandra Robledo – Mont Meta Funeral Home
- Brie Smith – Return Home
- Nick Timpe – webCemeteries
- Tiffany Ung – Cypress Lawn Cemetery Association
- Mark Vandermeersch – Park Lawn Corporation
- Sammy Villanueva – Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CCM
- Deauna Wright – Ridout’s Southern Heritage SCI
Please join us in congratulating these exceptional individuals on their well-deserved recognition.
ICCFA will feature the honorees in its flagship magazine, Memento Mori, highlight them across social media platforms, and formally recognize them at the 2025 ICCFA Experience in Las Vegas. Each winner will also receive a $500 educational scholarship from the ICCFA Educational Foundation, which they can apply toward registration for the 2025 Fall Leadership Summit.
For more information about the ICCFA 40 Under 40 Award program, including nomination guidelines and eligibility criteria, please visit iccfa.com/awards.
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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization segments. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, supplier and related businesses worldwide.