ASD is excited to announce our company has been named to Fortune‘s 2026 list of America’s Most Innovative Companies. Our family-owned answering service earned a place among 300 businesses recognized for their commitment to innovation, joining an impressive roster of companies that includes Apple, SpaceX, and other nationally recognized industry leaders.
For ASD, the recognition came as a complete surprise as we did not apply or submit any materials for consideration. Companies serving the deathcare profession rarely find themselves in the national spotlight, particularly on a list dominated by household names in technology, finance, and other major industries. While ASD has long been recognized for innovation within funeral service, receiving recognition on such a prominent national stage was something we truly never anticipated.
“When we first heard about this, we honestly thought someone was trying to sell us something,” said Kevin Czachor, ASD Family-Member Owner and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’ve always been proud of the technology we’ve developed and the recognition we’ve received within the funeral profession but seeing ASD on a Fortune list alongside companies like Apple and SpaceX is pretty surreal. We’re a small family-owned business that answers phones for funeral homes. To see our name among some of the most innovative companies in America is something we never could have imagined. More than anything, I hope it brings some well-deserved attention to the incredible innovation happening within the funeral service profession.”
The annual ranking, developed by Fortune in partnership with global research firm Statista, evaluates companies across three dimensions: product innovation, process innovation, and innovation culture. Companies are assessed using employee surveys, expert evaluations, and patent data, with no application or nomination required. ASD ranked #227 on the 2026 list, with Innovation Culture identified as its strongest dimension. This category examines how companies encourage creativity, support new ideas, and foster an environment where innovation can thrive.
As part of the selection process, Statista surveyed industry experts, including recruiters, management consultants and patent attorneys, to evaluate companies’ approaches to product and process innovation. Statista also partnered with LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions to assess both the quantity and value of companies’ patents. The 300 U.S. companies with the highest overall scores earned a place on Fortune’s list. While we can’t say for certain what contributed most to ASD’s selection, we believe our numerous patents and proprietary solutions certainly played a role as well as being a 4X NFDA Innovation Award winner.
Innovation has been a driving force at ASD since our company was founded in 1972 by Martin and Barbara Czachor. Over the decades, our technology team has developed numerous patented solutions designed specifically to address the communication challenges funeral professionals face. Many of our best ideas come directly from the funeral directors we serve and from our own team members who speak with funeral professionals every day. By listening to their challenges and learning from their experiences, we continually strive to develop new solutions that make their jobs easier and help them better serve families. For the past three years, ASD has also served as the official sponsor of the NFDA Innovation Award, reflecting our commitment to not only developing innovative solutions of our own but also recognizing and encouraging innovation throughout the funeral service profession.
Despite our emphasis on communication technology, ASD has always maintained that innovation should strengthen, rather than replace, the human connections at the heart of funeral service. For us, this unexpected recognition represents not only a proud milestone in our company’s history but also an opportunity to shine a national spotlight on the creativity and forward-thinking solutions emerging from within the funeral profession.
Related Reading
Celebrating Progress: Why ASD is Proud to Sponsor the NFDA Innovation Award
ASD’s Patented Technology
ASD’s Innovation Awards
