CANA Members Elect Leaders at Annual Meeting

WHEELING, IL— In August 2025, members of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) attending the hybrid Annual Meeting at the 107^th Annual Cremation Convention in Phoenix re-elected one incumbent board member, elected two new directors, and passed the gavel to new CANA President Lindsey Ballard. Members also recognized the service of three individuals retiring from board service.  

CANA’s President for the 2025-2026 year is third-generation funeral director Lindsey Ballard, co-owner of Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation with locations in Jordan, Prior Lake, and Shakopee, Minnesota. “Serving as CANA president means so much to me. It really is an honor to be a part of an organization that is so progressive and has strong values,” stated Ballard. “I’m very excited to be a president during the sesquicentennial of modern cremation. I know there will be several meaningful projects in the year ahead that will allow us to look back at our history and also see how things have changed over time. I also see this as an opportunity to look toward the future . . . where is cremation going? This is a very exciting time for cremation and CANA, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.” 

CANA’s membership elected two new members to the Board of Directors to lead the association in the coming years. 

Daniel “Dan” Applegate, President/CEO of The Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio, has worked in the cemetery and funeral profession for over 20 years and is past secretary/treasurer of the Ohio Cemetery Association. “I bring practical leadership experience and skills, a passion for innovation, and also a deep respect for the evolving needs of families and practitioners in an evolving field,” Applegate remarked. “CANA is leading the way in shaping the future of death care. I am proud to support and add to that forward-looking vision.” 

Katie La Bella, Director of Operations of St. Michael’s Cemetery and Crematory in East Elmhurst, New York, has over 20 years of experience across the funeral profession as a licensed funeral director, crematory manager, and in cemetery operations. “I am passionate about helping others and advancing the funeral and cremation industries. I am eager to bring my diverse experience, strong work ethic, and commitment to quality to the CANA Board,” La Bella said. “By advancing education and innovation, CANA can continue to empower professionals to meet the evolving needs of the families they serve while setting new standards for service, sustainability, and community engagement in the cremation industry.”  

Evans Baldwin, Vice President of Sales for Foundation Partners Group based in Winter Park, Florida, joins the CANA Board to complete the one-year term vacated by a prior board member. Baldwin has worked in funeral service for over 20 years including his leadership at Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, which has multiple locations across Florida. “I am proud to join the CANA Board to advocate for innovation, best practices, and educational opportunities within the cremation industry,” explained Baldwin. “My vision for CANA is to make it the most progressive industry association via education opportunities and driving innovation. I aim to help grow CANA’s membership base by offering valuable resources and ensuring that all members are equipped to adapt to evolving industry trends.”  

Stephen Bassett, Vice President of Cemetery Operations at Legacy Funeral Group based in Houston, Texas, was re-elected to serve a second term on the board. The Board of Directors elected Tim Koch, Owner of Metro First Call in St. Paul, Minnesota, to serve as an officer on the Executive Committee as Third Vice President, and Robbie Pape, Senior Vice President and Eastern Regional Partner of Carriage in Houston, Texas, as Treasurer. 

CANA’s Board of Directors is complete with: 

• Lindsey Ballard of Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Jordan, Minnesota, CANA President; 

• Denis Desrochers of Grégoire Desrochers in Victoriaville, Quebec, President Elect; 

• Sandra Walker of Pacific Northwest Cremation in Spokane, Washington, First Vice President; 

• William “Bill” Clark of Kootenay Enterprises Inc. in Trail, British Columbia, Second Vice President; 

• Timothy “Tim” Koch of Metro First Call in St. Paul, Minnesota, Third Vice President; 

• Robbie Pape of Carriage in Houston, Texas, CANA Treasurer;  

• Ryan Wiseman of Porter Funeral Homes in Kansas City, Kansas, Immediate Past President;  

• Judy Olson of National Guardian Life Insurance Company, CANA Supplier Liaison;  

• Daniel “Dan” Applegate of The Arlington Memorial Gardens; 

• Evans Baldwin of Foundation Partners Group;  

• Stephen “Steve” Bassett of Legacy Funeral Group; 

• Dirk Bearden of Service Corporation International;  

• John Goobeck of Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors;  

• Katie La Bella of St. Michael’s Cemetery and Crematory; 

• Jimmy Lucas of Lucas Funeral Homes; 

• C.R. Lyons of C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors; 

• Katie Sullivan Frideres of the Cremation Society of Illinois; 

• Lara M. Price of Pappas Grubbs Price PC, CANA General Counsel; 

• E. Gene Allen of Kerrville Funeral Home, Education Liaison; and, 

• Caressa Hughes of Service Corporation International, Technical Advisor – Government and Legal Affairs. 

The Membership recognized Past President Robert Hunsaker for his commitment to promoting CANA in the association’s ongoing mission of service to the profession. His leadership ensured CANA’s future success as a leader in the profession for years to come. The Membership also recognized Jason Widing of Foundation Partners Group for the completion of his term of service to the board of directors and Tim Borden of Borden Enterprises for his service as Treasurer. We are grateful for their service to our association and the profession.  

CANA thanks its Board of Directors and all those who serve on its Advisory Groups and as CANA Ambassadors for their dedication to CANA and funeral service. These leaders volunteer their time and talent to ensure continued recognition for CANA as the trusted authority and educator on all aspects of cremation. Find more information and learn how to get involved on CANA’s website: cremationassociation.org/BoardofDirectors 

About CANA 

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. 

NFDA Members Elect New Leaders to Guide Profession’s Future

Dan Ford to serve as 2025-26 NFDA President

Brookfield, Wis. – Eligible voting members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) elected the following individuals to serve as officers on the Board of Directors: President-elect Chris E. Christian, CFSP, CCO, of Rogersville, Tennessee; Treasurer Steven Spann, CFSP, CCO, of Dickson, Tennessee; and Secretary Ellen Wynn McBrayer, CFSP, CPC, CCO, CCSP, of Villa Rica, Georgia. Additionally, a proposed change to the NFDA bylaws passed. 

The NFDA Board of Directors guides NFDA’s mission of providing unmatched support, resources and advocacy for members, their businesses and the funeral service profession. These visionary leaders will serve one-year terms of office that begin immediately following the 2025 NFDA International Convention & Expo, which will take place October 26-29 in Chicago, Illinois. 

From June 12 through 25, 2025, 1,252 votes were cast by eligible voting members. Votes were cast online through a secure balloting system run by YesElections. Winners of the officer elections are determined by a plurality vote. The results were: 

• President-elect
  • Chris E. Christian, CFSP, CCO – 100% (1,215 votes) 
• Treasurer
  • Steven Spann, CFSP, CCO – 100% (1,190 votes) 
• Secretary
  • Ellen Wynn McBrayer, CFSP, CPC, CCO, CCSP – 61.15% (754 votes)
  • Homer E. Elwood Jr., CFSP, CCO – 38.85% (479 votes) 

Following his term as the 2024-25 President-elect, Daniel J. Ford, CFSP, CCSP, of Cheshire, Connecticut, will lead NFDA as the 2025-26 President. 

Current NFDA President Christopher P. Robinson, CFSP, CCO, of Easley, South Carolina, will continue his service on the Board with a one-year term as Immediate Past President. 

Also continuing their service on the Board of Directors are 2024-26 At-large Representatives Carlton Maye Jr., MBA, CFSP, CCO, of Statesboro, Georgia; and Ladd Pulliam, CFSP, CCO, of Richton, Mississippi. 

During the 2025 NFDA Leadership Conference, taking place August 3–6 in Napa, California, state association representatives will elect two additional At-Large Representatives. The candidates, who will serve two-year terms that commence following the 2025 NFDA Convention, are:

• Carlos D. Black, Mobile, Alabama
• Christopher Costello, New Orleans, Louisiana 

Information about the officers elected to the Board of Directors can be found on the NFDA website, NFDA.org/Elections.    

Proposed Bylaws Change 

Along with electing officers to serve on the NFDA Board of Directors, qualified association members were also responsible for voting on a proposed change to the NFDA Bylaws that would allow for election by acclimation when only one or two candidates are running for at-large representative seats on the Board of Directors. This provision would eliminate election formalities and create a streamlined voting process. The NFDA Bylaws already have a provision allowing for election by acclimation for Officer positions when only one candidate is running for a position. 

Bylaws changes require a two-thirds affirmative vote to pass. This proposal passed with 91.21% (1,142 votes) votes in favor of the change. 

Details about the proposed changes can be found online at NFDA.org/Vote. 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org.