In this press release from Tuesday, September 10, Park Lawn Corporation (PLC) CEO J. Bradley Green announced both that the PLC leadership team had some changes to it and also that the company had acquired operating locations in North Carolina and Texas.

Jay Dodds
Park Lawn Corporation

In probably the most noticeable move of the executives, it was announced that Jay Dodds “has elected to step away from his role as President and Chief Operations Officer but will remain an important member of the Executive Leadership Team as the Chief Strategy Officer”.  According to CEO Green, “. . .Jay will be instrumental in advancing our strategic objectives well into the future”.   

Other moves by Park Lawn in the executive suite include the appointment of Jennifer Hay as President and General Counsel.  According to the press release “Ms. Hay joined Park Lawn in 2018 and has served in various leadership capacities, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel.”  CEO Green said this about that appointment, “. . . With her diverse set of skills and experience, in her new role, she will work to more deeply support each of the functional areas of the business including the operations and sales functions as we continue to execute on our long-term strategy.” 

Finally, it was announced that Mathew Forastiere has been appointed to serve as the Chief Operations Officer.  According to the press release, “Mr. Forastiere is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who has worked in the profession for over twenty-five years.  He joined Park Lawn in 2018 and has served in a variety of senior operational leadership positions since that time.” 

Acquisitions Continue —  Park Lawn Corporation has been a privately held company for about one month now, but they show no signs of a stop in growth.  The same press release announced that they had purchased one funeral home and two cemeteries in North Carolina and also purchased the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funerals & Cremation of Waco, Texas.  That acquisition adds one funeral home to their Waco area operations.

Funeral Director Daily take:  Over the years I’ve got to know both Jay Dodds and Brad Green and, in my book, they are  good people.  Years ago when I was looking to exit the funeral business, the two of them operated a start-up funeral home consolidation company known as Signature Group.  And, they were interested in my funeral home.

I have great memories of hosting them for an evening in my community in Minnesota on a snowy, cold, January evening.  With both of them being from Houston I can remember their surprise at crispness of the cold and the beauty of the white as can be snow.

Brad Green
Park Lawn CEO

I chose to affiliate with a group other than Signature Group, but Jay and Brad have stayed in touch over the years.  And, as successful as they have become they have never refused to take a call from this small operator with a question about operations or some other thought.  As they change their C-suite around, work for a private company as compared to a public company, and continue their work in the Death Care realm I continue to wish them much success and expect Jay Dodds will be an asset in whatever position he works in.

And, I’m guessing Mr. Dodds is pretty excited about his native Nebraska Cornhuskers cracking the NCAA Football Top 25 this week.  Unfortunately, with the expansion of the Big Ten Conference and some of the scheduling changes because of that, my Minnesota Gophers do not get the Cornhuskers on our schedule in 2024 and a chance for the Gophers 6th straight victory over the team from Nebraska!!!

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Human composting — a green alternative to traditional burials.  Geographical (Great Britain)
• Cinespia announces spooky October screenings, including the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Coraline”.  Yahoo News
• Michael Williams re-elected to North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service.  Jamestown Sun (ND)
• O.J. Simpson remains become cremation jewelry.  TMZ
• Bauhaus urns and Scrabble coffins:  UK embraces new funeral trends.  The Guardian (Great Britain)

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