Last week I read this press release from Service Corporation International (SCI) that was headlined “Service Corporation International announces Leadership Promotions”.  As I read through the announcement it reflected the fact that SCI was making some changes in its leadership structure.

 

While I don’t know the exact circumstances, in reading the press release you get the idea that the announcement by Steve Tidwell of his intent to step down as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing precipitated the changes.  Tidwell will be staying on at SCI with the new title of “Special Advisor to the CEO”.

 

In prepared remarks in the press release, here’s what SCI Chairman and CEO Thomas Ryan says of Tidwell’s service, “Steve has served SCI with distinction over the last 14 years. He joined SCI in 2010 as Vice President of Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2018. Steve has been instrumental in shaping our strategy and developing our sales and marketing leadership team, greatly contributing to the company’s success. We look forward to his continued contribution in his new role.”

 

There is other management changes taking place. . . one which includes that of Sumner J.Waring III (Jay) being promoted to President and now reporting directly to CEO Thomas Ryan.

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  It’s not always easy being the biggest player in any field. . . .and in North America SCI, when looked at on a revenue basis, is probably ten times bigger than any other firm in the funeral and cemetery business.  That fact reminds me of something I have been told, that is that “watch your behaviors because you are always a role model to somebody whether you realize it or not”.

 

I remember a time when I had been a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents for only a few days.  The President of the University, Eric Kaler, and I were walking together on campus to his office.  We came upon a red light at a lightly used intersection, with no traffic at the time, and I started to cross the street anyway.  He grabbed my arm and said, “Tom, whether you like it or not, you are now a role model to 50,000 students”.

 

It’s amazing how much that simple sentence has meant to me as I moved forward in life.  I bring it up because I’ve had the opportunity to be in a group of about 120 people every year at the Memorial Classic golf event and these SCI executives have, from time to time, been a part of that group.

 

They wouldn’t know me. . . . but what I have noticed from them is impressive.  Again, SCI is big — they are kind of like the Yankees in baseball or the Dallas Cowboys in football  — whereby some people don’t want to like them simply because of their success.

 

At the Memorial Classic, I’ve noticed Tom Ryan and Jay Waring. . . .and before them SCI executives like Steve Mack and John Morrow.  And, like I just said even if they didn’t realize it, I looked to them as role models to those of us with much more minor roles in funeral service. . . . and I’ve never been disappointed by what I saw from them. . . . . I’ve seen honesty, integrity, and openness.  And, I think that is partly because of the history of most of them either working in funeral homes or growing up with the family funeral home before moving up the ladder at SCI.

 

And, Steve Tidwell. . . . I wish Steve all the success in the world in his new position.  I once welcomed him in our home over 30 years ago when the company he worked for at the time was interested in purchasing our funeral home.  I wasn’t real interested in selling, but because that company was interested I listened to what they had to say about my operation.

 

At the time I learned that Steve was a funeral director himself and conducted himself in a manner appropriate with our profession. . . I’ve followed his career since and always knew he would do a great job wherever he was because he cared about the people our profession is called to serve.

 

So, I think it is good advice for funeral directors everywhere to conduct themselves with conduct becoming of being trusted by the families of those we serve.  Because, I guarantee you, .  . . . .someone is looking to you as a role model.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• New Jersey Cemetery lets you save the planet after you die.  NJ101.com  (NJ)
• I’m a funeral director and my sister’s a funeral arranger – we’re both in our 30’s and our jobs have brought us closer than ever.  Manchester Evening News – Yahoo News (Great Britain)
• What the tech?  “Chptr” allows app sharing of photos, stories of loved ones.  Local 3 News – Chattanooga (TN)
• “No money and no answers” two years after collapse of funeral firm.  BBC (Great Britain)
• News Track:  Cedar Rapids Czeck National Cemetery raises enough money to get through the year, but challenges continue.  The Gazette (IA)

 

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