In a profession where time is often scarce and continuing education is essential, funeral directors need to make every learning opportunity count. Fortunately, a new wave of speakers and educators has emerged—individuals who have not only mastered their respective specialties but have also become trusted voices in deathcare. These deathcare thought leaderes are helping reshape the profession with bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and proven strategies.
Today, professional development isn’t confined to convention halls or seminar rooms. While national and state conferences still offer invaluable in-person learning, many of the most influential speakers now share their insights online—through webinars, digital courses, books, and podcasts. This makes it easier than ever for funeral professionals to grow their knowledge from the comfort of their own office or on the go.
Whether you’re seeking technical advice for the embalming room, innovative ways to support grieving families, financial planning ideas, or marketing tips to grow your firm, these thought leaders in the funeral profession are leading the charge. Their voices are driving progress, challenging the status quo, and offering practical guidance to help you better serve your community—and become the best funeral director you can be. Be sure to explore our list below and also check out Part I where we shared eight other thought leaders in the funeral profession making an impact.
8 Thought Leaders in the Funeral Profession Every Funeral Director Should Know
Monica Torres
Director of Marketing and Outreach fort Cairn Partners and Founder of NXT Generation Mortuary Support
Specializes in Embalming and Restorative Arts
Website | Linked In | Instagram
Monica Torres is a globally recognized embalmer, funeral director, and death care educator known for her innovations in post-mortem restoration. She is the founder of NXT Generation Mortuary Support, one of the first companies to offer online education for embalmers, and is a respected speaker, author, and social media personality with over 70,000 followers. Monica shares practical, advanced embalming techniques and restorative skills that both funeral directors and embalmers can learn from to improve the quality of open casket viewings and post-mortem care. In October 2024, she joined Cairn Partners as Director of Marketing, Outreach, and Development, further expanding her impact across the profession. Her work bridges technical expertise with public education, making death care more transparent and accessible.
Here a few ways you can learn from Monica’s expertise: Hire NXT Generation to provide professional embalming consulting services, hire Cairn Partners to provide deathcare marketing consulting, attend a webinar or see her present in person at funeral association events, follow her Instagram for weekly embalming tips, or explore her library of educational videos on YouTube.
Welton Hong
CEO and Founder of Ring Ring Marketing and RRM@Home
Specializes in Funeral Home Marketing and Lead Generation
Website | Linked In | YouTube
Welton Hong is the founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing and the author of Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes. A former Silicon Valley technologist with experience at Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle, Welton now helps funeral homes grow by using data-driven digital marketing strategies. Funeral directors can learn how to generate more phone calls, increase market share, and improve their online visibility through his proven techniques. His insights are regularly featured in The Director, the official publication of the NFDA, and he is a sought-after speaker and educator in the profession. Welton’s background in engineering gives him a unique ability to simplify complex marketing systems for busy funeral professionals. He holds a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Here a few ways you can learn from Welton’s expertise: attend a webinar or see him present in person at funeral association events, read his articles published in various funeral publications and on the RRM website, explore Welton’s library of helpful how-to funeral home marketing videos on Youtube, follow him on Instagram or read his book, Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes
Jo’el Simone Maldonado
Founder of the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy and The Grave Woman
Specializes in funeral home cultural competency
Website | Linked In | YouTube Channel
Joél Simone Maldonado, known widely as The Grave Woman, is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, sacred grief practitioner, and founder of The Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy. With over a decade of experience, she teaches funeral professionals how to approach end-of-life, death, and grief care with deep cultural sensitivity and spiritual reverence. Drawing from her Gullah and Geechee heritage and ancestral traditions, Joél empowers funeral directors to better serve diverse families through inclusive practices that honor spiritual, racial, and cultural identity. Her work emphasizes that death is not only sacred, but also a powerful opportunity for healing. Joél’s passion for compassionate and culturally competent care was unmistakable. We are proud to that part of her well-rounded background experience includes some time working part-time as a Call Specialist for ASD several years ago.
Here a few ways you can learn from Jo’el’s expertise: attend a webinar or see her present in person at funeral association events, enroll in the one of her self-guided online courses, hire the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy for consulting services, or follow the Grave Woman on YouTube.
Chris Cruger
CEO of Foresight Companies
Specializes in succession planning and finance
Website | Linked In | Articles
Chris Cruger, CEO of Foresight, is a leading expert in succession planning for the funeral and cemetery profession. With more than 25 years of experience—including leadership roles at SCI and as an independent consultant—Chris helps funeral home owners navigate the emotional and financial complexities of transitioning their business. His deep understanding of corporate development, finance, and operations allows him to craft succession strategies tailored to each client’s goals and values. Chris emphasizes the importance of early planning to ensure continuity, preserve legacy, and create flexible options for the future. His hands-on approach begins with getting to know the people behind the business, not just the numbers.
Here a few ways you can learn from Chris’s expertise: Hire the Foresight Companies to provide funeral home business strategy consulting services for your funeral home, attend a webinar or see him present in person at funeral association events, or read his articles on the Foresight Company’s blog.
Jennifer Muldowney
Founder of Muldowney Memorials
Specializes in funeral planning and celebrant training
Website | Linked In | YouTube Channel
Jennifer Muldowney, widely known as “The Glam Reaper,” is an internationally recognized funeral celebrant, memorial planner, author, and podcast host who is reshaping how we commemorate life and loss. Originally from Ireland and now based in New York, Jennifer began her career as a wedding planner before personal loss led her to the funeral profession. With her book Say Farewell Your Way: A Funeral Planning Guide for Ireland, she began advocating for personalized, meaningful memorial services that reflect the individuality of the deceased. Her work—through public speaking, writing for outlets like Funeral Times Magazine, and hosting The Glam Reaper Podcast—focuses on grief, digital legacy, and redefining remembrance with compassion and creativity. Though not a licensed funeral director, she partners with funeral professionals around the world to bring her unique, celebrant-style ceremonies to life.
At ASD, we had the opportunity to hear Jennifer speak at a Continuing Vision funeral director CE seminar hosted at Green-Wood Cemetery in March. The event was standing room only and was even covered by New Yorker magazine. We enjoyed hearing Jennifer’s fun and engaging presentation covering the various components that make up a typical Irish funeral.
Here a few ways you can learn from Jennifer’s expertise: Enroll in Muldowney Memorials Celebrant Training courses, attend a webinar or see her present in person at funeral association events, subscribe to the Muldowney Monthly newsletter, explore Jennifer’s videos on YouTube, listen to the Glam Reaper podcast, or follow her on Instagram.
Gail Rubin
Founder of A Good Goodbye, Certified Thantologist, Coordinator of the Before I Die festival, author of A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die
Specializes in grief and death education
Website | Linked In | YouTube Channel
Gail Rubin, CT, known as The Doyenne of Death®, is a trailblazing death educator, Certified Thanatologist, and award-winning speaker dedicated to helping people plan ahead and talk openly about mortality. Based in Albuquerque, she founded and coordinates the Before I Die New Mexico Festival, a groundbreaking event series that combines education, entertainment, and community engagement around end-of-life issues. Rubin was one of the first to host Death Cafes in the U.S. and continues to innovate with activities like The Newly-Dead Game and Newly-Dead Bingo. Her approachable, often humorous style makes difficult conversations accessible, helping families and professionals alike face mortality with clarity and confidence. In 2024, she was honored with the Community Educator Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling for her excellence in nonacademic thanatology education.
Here a few ways you can learn from Gail’s expertise: attend a webinar or see her present in person at funeral association events, read Gail’s book, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, explore her videos on YouTube, listen to The Doyenne of Death podcast, or read The Family Plot blog.
Dr. Damon de la Cruz
Director of Education for Frigid Fluid Company, Creator of EmbalmCalc app, Author of Turning Art into Science textbook
Specializes in embalming chemistry and post-mortem education
Website | Linked In | YouTube Channel
Dr. Damon de la Cruz is a leading educator in the funeral service profession, known for transforming complex embalming science into practical knowledge for funeral directors. As Director of Education at Frigid Fluid Company, he shares his deep understanding of embalming chemistry and application, helping professionals elevate their technical skills. His book, Turning Art Into Science: Chemistry for Funeral Service, has become a foundational resource in the field. With a PhD in Pathobiology and real-world experience as a licensed embalmer and funeral director, Dr. de la Cruz brings both academic rigor and hands-on insight to his teachings. His guidance empowers funeral professionals to improve outcomes and better serve grieving families.
Here a few ways you can learn from Damon’s expertise: attend an embalming seminar or webinar presented by Damon, read Turning Art Into Science: Applying Chemistry to Funeral Service, explore Frigid Fluid’s library of embalming videos which often feature Damon, or read his articles on the Frigid Fluid blog.
Courtney Gould Miller
President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Tech Technology, Chief Strategy Officer of MKJ Marketing, UCLA Law Attorney
Specializes in funeral home digital marketing, customer experience, and risk management
Website | Linked In | Webinar Channel
Courtney Gould Miller is a cross-functional business leader with over a decade of experience in strategy, marketing, account management, and P&L ownership. As President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology, she plays a key role in shaping the customer journey, integrating client feedback into company-wide decisions, and delivering impactful solutions to the funeral profession. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges funeral professionals face, Courtney makes learning accessible through her widely attended webinars, which focus on practical, results-driven strategies. Her engaging presentations—more than two dozen of which are available in Tribute Technology’s webinar library—help funeral homes and cremation businesses generate leads, improve digital presence, and navigate change with confidence. Courtney’s dedication to education and innovation has positioned her as a trusted resource and thought leader in the deathcare profession.
Here a few ways you can learn from Courtney’s expertise: Attend a TributeTech event, listen to Courtney present at a funeral association event or view a TributeTech webinar.
Who are some thought leaders in the funeral profession that have influenced you the most? Please share in the comments below. Be sure to also check out Part I of our Funeral Director Speaker blog series where we shared 8 more top speakers in the funeral profession making an impact, including Poul Lemasters, Dr. Jennifer Lares and Jake Johnson and more.
Related Reading
Thought Leaders in the Funeral Profession Bringing Innovation and Insight to Deathcare: Part I
Exploring Valuable Tools for Deathcare Professionals: 18 Must-Know Funeral Director Resources
8 Grief Resources Funeral Professionals Should Know About
