Funeral service has been my life’s work for more than four decades. I’ve led companies through crisis, growth, reinvention, and sale — and the one thing experience has taught me is this: the profession is always changing, and leaders must choose whether to shape that change or be shaped by it.

My career began in turnaround work, where I learned to diagnose problems quickly, simplify the noise, and set a clear path forward. That skill brought me into funeral service 45 years ago, first leading the rebirth of a distressed national association subsidiary, then guiding Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes and cemeteries through a period of growth that culminated in a landmark sale at 10.5× EBITDA.

Since then, I’ve built companies, sold companies, and helped others do the same. As president of Trust 100, I grew it into one of the largest preneed marketing firms in the country. For the past several years, my focus has been advising owners and successors on operations, finance, leadership, culture, and transition planning. I’ve authored dozens of valuations, written extensively for the profession, spoken at state and national conventions, and served as Chairman of the Funeral Service Foundation.

Today, my work is simple: help leaders think clearly, act confidently, and build businesses strong enough to last. I bring the financial discipline of a former CPA, the insight of a strategist, and the perspective of someone who has spent a lifetime helping funeral home owners finish well — and lead well.

I live in Greensboro, NC, with my wife of more than 50 years, and I’m the very proud grandfather of seven.