Today we start a new feature with Funeral Director Daily that we plan to showcase every Thursday afternoon.  This is our “Get to Know Them” feature.

Doing this daily edition of death care related topics for Funeral Director Daily has shown to me the unique, but yet diverse occupations and individuals involved in bringing the death care experience to the consumer client.  I’ve learned that our profession is not only funeral directors, cemetery operators, casket sales reps, but many, many individuals who carry out the seamless operation of death care to the public.

Our “Get to Know Them” feature will highlight these individuals – from different areas of death care — every Thursday.  Today, we will start with Jay Dodds.  Jay is currently the Chief Operations Officer for Park Lawn Corporation.  He has had other positions during his more than 35 year stint in funeral service, but we will let him tell you about himself.

Q1.  What is your position in the Death Care profession/industry at this time?

I am the President and COO of Park Lawn Corporation, serving and supporting 2,000 employees that meet our customers’ needs and work to exceed expectations every day.

Q2.  Is this your first employment experience in the Death Care profession/industry?  If so, how did you acquire this position and what do you believe are some of your previous work life experiences that may have qualified you for this position?

If it is not your first employment experience in the Death Care profession/industry, what other, if any positions, have you held in the profession/industry? 

After 36 years as a licensed funeral director and embalmer, not including the first 23 years growing up in a funeral home, I have held positions from part-time funeral assistant and cemetery maintenance to the Chief Operating Officer of two separate Funeral Home and Cemetery companies.  In addition, I owned my own funeral home and cemetery company along the way.  Through the late 80’s and early 90’s I managed funeral homes and combination operations, personally serving several thousand families.  I have had the great experience and opportunity of leading funeral and cemetery operations in nearly every region of the country.  This experience not only gave me a good breadth of knowledge, but I was fortunate to meet some of the best people in the profession.

Q3.  How would you describe what you do in your present position?

Best described would be leading a great team focused on serving customers that have experienced a death and customers that are planning to secure their arrangements in advance of need.  My responsibilities range from strategic planning to day-to-day operations of our many businesses.  The funeral and cemetery businesses contribute significantly to each community.  My role is to make sure that we have a continual push for excellence and that our offerings and services remain relevant.

Q4.  Do you belong to any professional organizations or associations?  If so, which ones? 

Currently, I serve as the President of the ICCFA and sit on their Educational Foundation Board.  I also serve on the Pierce Mortuary Schools Board and hold membership with the NFDA and CANA.  I have previously served as Trustee to the Funeral Service Foundation.

Q5.  What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the Death Care community in the next decade?

The biggest challenge to our business is to stay relevant in the eyes of the consumer and to meet their needs.  This profession addresses a necessary need that all people must face at some point in their lifetime.  Making arrangements for a loved one and walking a path of grief.  What we do is not fun or conducive to the “feel good” society.  However, what we do is absolutely necessary for the health and well being of our communities.  How we address those needs is key, whether it is offering more services to those families that choose to not have a meaningful service or creating permanent placement opportunities for families in a cemetery which is a forever decision.  As a profession, we must lead our consumer in what is healthy for them and in turn, it will be good for us.

Q6.  What are the best words of advice you received about working in the Death Care community?

You get out of life what you put into it.   It is not an easy profession nor is it one that you can give less than 100%.  The best words of advice about this or any profession is that “you never burnout when you give 1oo%, you only burnout when you give less”.

Q7.  What would you advise those thinking about entering the Death Care profession/industry?

It is more of a “calling” rather than a job.  In addition to a calling, it is a business that requires profitability in order to give the level of service that is required by families.  It demands time and requires prioritizing what is important to the families you serve, with your time often taking second place.  Rewarding professions like Death Care take a lot of hard work, but the intrinsic reward is incomparable to most fields.

Q8.  Tell us a little about yourself and what you enjoy doing when away from work.

Outside of work, my time is spent with my family.  I also tend to do a little fishing and a little golfing.  The quietness of fishing from my kayak in the bays and bayous around Houston is great respite from the hectic world of funeral and cemetery service.

Funeral Director Daily take:  We certainly hope that you will enjoy our “Get to Know Them” feature today and in the future.  We would love to know what you do and if you are interested in being featured please use the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the page to let us know of your interest and we will get questions to you.

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Church cemetery gets rededicated.  The Tribune Chronicle (OH)
• Historic church, cemetery in peril again due to construction. Finance & Commerece (TX)
• Fayetteville council lifts time restrictions on Mowell cremations.  The Citizen (GA)