OneRoom, the trusted funeral streaming provider, has appointed Justin Whatley as Chief Revenue Officer.

 

With more than 15 years in the profession and a family legacy in funeral service, Whatley brings deep industry knowledge and senior leadership to OneRoom’s work with funeral homes throughout North America.

 

“Justin knows the profession, and a lot of the people in it,” said Brady Cox, CEO of OneRoom. “He’s respected and understands what matters to funeral homes. As our platform continues to evolve, having someone of his calibre leading in the US gives us the senior focus and direct support our customers deserve.”

 

“OneRoom offered me the opportunity to give something truly valuable back to families,” said Whatley. “It allows people to attend remotely, but more importantly, it offers families the ability to go back and hear the poignant moments that reflect a loved one’s life well lived. That’s transformative.”

 

Based in Colorado, Whatley will lead OneRoom’s work with funeral homes across the United States and Canada He’ll focus on helping funeral homes reduce operational workload and provide families with a high-quality record of the service. With tools that work and leadership grounded in the profession, OneRoom is here to back funeral homes in doing their best work.

 

“COVID created this space, and for better or worse, it left some funeral homes unsure about how streaming fits,” Whatley added. “OneRoom has made it their mission to take the complexity out of it. I hope to show homes that this can be simple to offer, meaningful to families, and genuinely profitable. Profitability and serviceability do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

 

 

 

 

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is proud to announce that Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, has been named one of the 2025 Top Lobbyists by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE).

 

This prestigious, merit-based honor recognizes 100 government affairs professionals nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional legislative success, innovation, integrity and a commitment to ethical advocacy.

 

While the award celebrates an individual, it also reflects NFDA’s powerful leadership and unwavering presence in Washington, D.C., as the only funeral service association with a full-time presence dedicated to representing the profession on Capitol Hill

 

“For decades, NFDA has served as the strongest and most trusted voice for funeral service in our nation’s capital,” said NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, CAE, MBA. “Lesley’s recognition as a Top Lobbyist underscores the strength and credibility of our advocacy program. Her expertise, dedication and integrity make her a force in our Nation’s Capital. I am honored to work alongside Lesley as we ensure that the needs of funeral service professionals and the grieving families they serve are represented with compassion, integrity and impact.”

 

Witter has led NFDA’s advocacy efforts for nearly 19 years, shaping federal policy on behalf of thousands of funeral homes, funeral directors and grieving families nationwide. Her recent achievements include securing protections for embalming under the EPA’s final Risk Evaluation of formaldehyde; driving awareness of the need for oversight of the body donation industry; and advancing bipartisan legislation to honor and protect veterans and their families

 

 

“Lobbying and government affairs are essential to democracy because they give everyone a voice,” said Witter. “I chose to advocate for funeral service because I believe every voice deserves to be heard, not just the loudest or most powerful. This profession is about service, and lobbying in this space allows me to combine strategic advocacy with purpose-driven work. It’s about fairness, representation, and ensuring that those who serve others are not forgotten in the decisions that shape their ability to do so.”

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  As a person who enjoys the dynamics of politics, understands the intricacies and art of compromise, and has worked with legislators, I immensely enjoy Ms. Witter’s annual recap of her efforts on behalf of the NFDA membership.  It is presented each year at the NFDA Convention and while it is over for this year — it was on Sunday — make sure you take it in at future NFDA events.

 

 

 

 

ObituaryShare.com has partnered with Tribute Technology to make it easier for funeral homes to share obituaries online and connect with more people in their communities.

 

Through this new partnership, funeral homes using Tribute Technology websites can now link directly to ObituaryShare. The integration lets staff automatically post obituaries to Facebook and other social channels with no extra steps or technical work required. Each post leads readers back to the funeral home’s website, helping more families find services, send flowers, and show support.

 

“As obituaries continue to move online rather than being printed, it’s important that they still reach the people who care,” said Bob Arrington, President of ObituaryShare. “We built ObituaryShare so families could get the word out in a way that connects. Working with Tribute Technology makes that even easier for funeral homes.”

 

The connection between the two platforms is simple to set up and available now for Tribute Technology customers. Those who activate the feature will also receive special partnership pricing on ObituaryShare services.

 

“Families often turn to Facebook to remember a loved one and share memories and support,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “Our partnership with ObituaryShare makes that process effortless for funeral homes by helping bring those stories to where people are already connecting.”

 

 

 

Parting Stone, the pioneering company transforming cremated remains into solid, touchable stones, has announced the launch of their new Pre-Need Plans, making it possible for individuals to plan their memorials in advance and choose stones instead of ashes for their loved ones.

 

Justin Crowe, Founder and CEO of Parting Stone, says that Pre-Need planning with Parting Stone provides both emotional relief and a sense of legacy. This empowers individuals and their families to no longer wonder what will happen with their ashes. With Parting Stone, they can create a lasting tribute that is comforting, shareable, and tangible.

 

Since launching in 2019, Parting Stone has served more than 12,000 families across the United States and Canada. The addition of Pre-Need Plans makes the company’s innovative solidified remains service more accessible, empowering individuals to take control of their memorial choices.

 

Accessing and creating a Pre-Need Plan is simple and can be done entirely online through Parting Stone’s dedicated website. With just a few straightforward steps, individuals can secure their legacy and give their families lasting peace of mind.

 

 

 

Tribute Technology is partnering with Homesteaders Life Company to make it easier for funeral homes to manage preneed policies.

 

The planned integration, coming in 2026, will connect Homesteaders’ policy data directly with Tribute Management Software, allowing funeral directors to see and link matching preneed policies right from a case. Policy information will update automatically each night, so directors always have the most current details without sorting through paperwork or entering data twice.

 

“At Homesteaders, we’re committed to offering financial support, expertise, and partnerships that bring value to funeral professionals and the families we serve together,” said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “This planned integration with Tribute Technology helps simplify the preneed management process, giving funeral providers easier access to the information they need so they can focus more fully on designing meaningful experiences for the families they serve.”

 

For funeral homes, this will mean fewer errors, faster workflows, and peace of mind knowing every available fund is captured and applied correctly. Families will benefit too, with less back-and-forth over documents and a smoother, more professional experience.

 

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