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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Barbara Kemmis Phone: (312) 245-1077 499 Northgate Parkway Wheeling, IL 60090-2646 Barbara@cremationassociation.org CANA WELCOMES NEW DIRECTORS WHEELING, IL—The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) welcomed new board members and recognized the service of others at the Annual Meeting of the Membership in August 2021. CANA’s membership elected two incumbent board members and three new directors as well as passing the gavel to new CANA President Archer Harmon. ARCHER HARMON ELECTED PRESIDENT Archer Harmon recently retired as Managing Director of Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, Virginia. Since then, Harmon has joined CANA Past President Mark Matthews at Wiefels Cremation & Funeral Service in southern California as a funeral director. When asked what he wants to accomplish during his presidency, Harmon told American Funeral Director magazine that his focus is collaboration. “I want to have open dialogue with our members and other industries about what is best for CANA when it comes to guiding people at the pulse of cremation.” ELECTED TO THE CANA BOARD New to the CANA Board of Directors are three people with the knowledge and experience to keep CANA at the leading edge. Dirk Bearden, Managing Director at Service Corporation International in Houston, Texas, has worked in the industry for more than nine years. “I serve on the CANA Board of Directors because I believe that cremation will continue to grow, and as an industry, we will struggle to provide an unparalleled experience without the appropriate tools and industry guidance.” John Goobeck, Director of Operations of Park Lawn Group in Central Texas, has been in the funeral profession since 1979. Goobeck looks forward to bringing decades of experience as well as an open mind to the board to meet today’s challenges head on. Sandra Walker, Vice President of Strategic Business for Fairmount Memorial Association in Spokane, Washington, joins the CANA Board after serving as President of the Washington Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (WCCFA) and she looks forward to representing her home state’s experience on the board. “I will always view myself as a student of this profession. My thirst of knowledge and perfecting the skills needed for our profession is my greatest desire and I feel CANA has the educational tools and resources that helps me grow professionally. The membership base of CANA continues to grow because it is the leading association on a national level as far as resources, education and awareness. I am honored to serve on the Board and to get to be a small part of contributing to this vision.” Lindsey Ballard of Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Jordan, Minnesota and Ryan Wiseman of Porter Funeral Homes in Kansas City, Kansas were re-elected to serve a second term on the board. Kim Price, Vice President of Memory Glass, was re-elected for a second term as Supplier Liaison. Robert Hunsaker of Hunsaker Partners based in Decatur, Georgia was nominated to serve on the Executive Committee as Third Vice President. CANA’s Board of Directors is complete with Shannon Asmus of the Vertin Company, CANA President Elect; Caressa Hughes of Service Corporation International, CANA First Vice President; Don Fritz of Cremation Society of Illinois, CANA Second Vice President; Michelle Canerot of Trust Advisors, Inc., CANA Treasurer; W. Scott Smith of All Texas Cremation, CANA Immediate Past President; William "Bill" Clark of Kootenay Enterprises Inc.; Denis Desrochers of Gregoire Desrochers; Joseph "J.P." Di Troia of Fresh Pond Crematory & U.S. Columbarium Co.; and, CANA Legal Counsel Lara M. Price of Sheehy, Ware, Pappas & Grubbs, P.C. RETIRING BOARD The Membership recognized several dedicated board members for their years of service: Robbie Pape of Service Corporation International, Erin Whitaker of Whitaker Funeral Home and Past President Elisa Krcilek completed their terms of service with CANA and will continue their leadership in our profession. Past President Gerald “Jerry” Sullivan of Cremation Society of Illinois who served the CANA board for more than 30 years, and Past President Mark Matthews Wiefels Cremation & Funeral Service were saluted for their long service to the association as directors, leaders, and advisors. CANA is grateful for the dedicated service of its volunteer Board of Directors and all those who serve on its Advisory Groups. These leaders keep CANA informed, progressive, and collegial providing guidance to the association and to the profession. ABOUT CANA Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Kemmis Phone: (312) 245-1077 499 Northgate Parkway Wheeling, IL 60090-2646 Barbara@cremationassociation.org
CANA WELCOMES NEW DIRECTORS
WHEELING, IL—The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) welcomed new board members and recognized the service of others at the Annual Meeting of the Membership in August 2021. CANA’s membership elected two incumbent board members and three new directors as well as passing the gavel to new CANA President Archer Harmon.
ARCHER HARMON ELECTED PRESIDENT Archer Harmon recently retired as Managing Director of Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, Virginia. Since then, Harmon has joined CANA Past President Mark Matthews at Wiefels Cremation & Funeral Service in southern California as a funeral director. When asked what he wants to accomplish during his presidency, Harmon told American Funeral Director magazine that his focus is collaboration. “I want to have open dialogue with our members and other industries about what is best for CANA when it comes to guiding people at the pulse of cremation.”
ELECTED TO THE CANA BOARD New to the CANA Board of Directors are three people with the knowledge and experience to keep CANA at the leading edge. Dirk Bearden, Managing Director at Service Corporation International in Houston, Texas, has worked in the industry for more than nine years. “I serve on the CANA Board of Directors because I believe that cremation will continue to grow, and as an industry, we will struggle to provide an unparalleled experience without the appropriate tools and industry guidance.” John Goobeck, Director of Operations of Park Lawn Group in Central Texas, has been in the funeral profession since 1979. Goobeck looks forward to bringing decades of experience as well as an open mind to the board to meet today’s challenges head on. Sandra Walker, Vice President of Strategic Business for Fairmount Memorial Association in Spokane, Washington, joins the CANA Board after serving as President of the Washington Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (WCCFA) and she looks forward to representing her home state’s experience on the board. “I will always view myself as a student of this profession. My thirst of knowledge and perfecting the skills needed for our profession is my greatest desire and I feel CANA has the educational tools and resources that helps me grow professionally. The membership base of CANA continues to grow because it is the leading association on a national level as far as resources, education and awareness. I am honored to serve on the Board and to get to be a small part of contributing to this vision.”
Lindsey Ballard of Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Jordan, Minnesota and Ryan Wiseman of Porter Funeral Homes in Kansas City, Kansas were re-elected to serve a second term on the board. Kim Price, Vice President of Memory Glass, was re-elected for a second term as Supplier Liaison. Robert Hunsaker of Hunsaker Partners based in Decatur, Georgia was nominated to serve on the Executive Committee as Third Vice President.
CANA’s Board of Directors is complete with Shannon Asmus of the Vertin Company, CANA President Elect; Caressa Hughes of Service Corporation International, CANA First Vice President; Don Fritz of Cremation Society of Illinois, CANA Second Vice President; Michelle Canerot of Trust Advisors, Inc., CANA Treasurer; W. Scott Smith of All Texas Cremation, CANA Immediate Past President; William "Bill" Clark of Kootenay Enterprises Inc.; Denis Desrochers of Gregoire Desrochers; Joseph "J.P." Di Troia of Fresh Pond Crematory & U.S. Columbarium Co.; and, CANA Legal Counsel Lara M. Price of Sheehy, Ware, Pappas & Grubbs, P.C.
RETIRING BOARD The Membership recognized several dedicated board members for their years of service: Robbie Pape of Service Corporation International, Erin Whitaker of Whitaker Funeral Home and Past President Elisa Krcilek completed their terms of service with CANA and will continue their leadership in our profession. Past President Gerald “Jerry” Sullivan of Cremation Society of Illinois who served the CANA board for more than 30 years, and Past President Mark Matthews Wiefels Cremation & Funeral Service were saluted for their long service to the association as directors, leaders, and advisors.
CANA is grateful for the dedicated service of its volunteer Board of Directors and all those who serve on its Advisory Groups. These leaders keep CANA informed, progressive, and collegial providing guidance to the association and to the profession.
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.