Matthew Kreidenweis Named New Homesteaders Account Executive

West Des Moines, Iowa — Homesteaders Life Company Senior VP-Strategic Markets Will Bischoff is pleased to  announce that Matthew Kreidenweis has joined Homesteaders’ industry-leading team of account executives.  Kreidenweis will serve Homesteaders customers in Eastern Tennessee. 

“As funeral service and consumer preferences continue to evolve, I am energized by the opportunity to introduce  a new generation of funeral professionals, like Matthew, who can help our funeral home customers grow their  market share and communicate the importance of preneed to more families,” Bischoff said. “Guided by the  decades-long experience of his fellow account executives, I am confident Matthew’s energy, fresh perspective and  eagerness to provide outstanding customer service will strengthen our team.” 

Growing up with a parent in the funeral profession, Kreidenweis understands the impact compassionate service  can have for families experiencing a loss. It was that perspective and his own firsthand experience with loss that  inspired him to pursue a career that allows him to make end-of-life more manageable for others. 

“I chose to join Homesteaders because the company is a leader in the funeral profession, helping families navigate  the most difficult days of their lives with compassion and support,” Kreidenweis said. “I look forward to using my  communication and problem-solving skills to build meaningful relationships as I support our customers.” 

Kreidenweis earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tennessee Tech University, where he  was also an active member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor  society recognizing academic excellence. He also holds his life insurance license. 

Homesteaders Life Company, a mutual company owned by its policy holders, is a national leader providing  products and services to help people design a better farewell. Visit homesteaderslife.com to learn more. 

Service Corporation International (SCI) conducted their 2nd Quarter 2025 Earnings Call where they answered questions from investment experts about two weeks ago.  You can access a copy of the transcript here.

During the Question and Answer session of that call SCI’s Executive Vice-President and CFO Eric Tansberger responded to a question about cash-flows and capital deployment with this answer:

“I mean we’re going to invest capital to the highest return. Certainly, we’ve done a lot in shares the first half of the year. I think you’ll see some momentum there that will continue at least the shares at this level. But the M&A program is going strong. I know someone commented that we spent $30 million year-to-date and the guidance is $75 million to $125 million in terms of investment. I think we’ll get there. I feel really good about the pipeline.

Some of the deals, I mean, if we just get through our LOIs alone right now, we’d be into that guidance, frankly, and there’s a lot more that we’re out there discussing. So I think we’ll get into that 75 — I think that’s a good guidance number for investment for M&A. Would we do more? Absolutely. The other thing that you have to remember, though, is — are the greenfield investments that we’re making, the new funeral homes and sometimes new cemeteries. This is a nice robust program, which we’ve told you — this year alone, we’re going to spend probably about $70 million on that. Could that go up? It’s possible, but it takes time. That’s a 3-year cycle. At any point in time, we have 30 to 35 projects that are in the pipeline. About 1/3 of those turn every year. And that’s at a more better velocity than what we’ve had in the past, but we’re excited about that.

M&A has its benefits because you get EBITDA and cash flow right away, but so do these construction projects have these benefits where you can build exactly where you want and exactly what you want, especially having a modern celebration of life venue when we design these brand-new funeral homes. So there’s a lot of opportunities out there, but they’re not different than what we have talked about in the past, and we’ll continue to invest as we can in both of those programs as well as the share repurchase program.”

 

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  I think that this is a very appropriate and interesting answer.  A lot of people in the Death Care business think all that SCI does is go out and buy funeral homes.  But, there responsibility is not necessarily to simply go out and buy funeral homes.  Shareholders want financial returns and Tanzberger lets one know with his comments that the company has multiple options to bring excellent financial returns to its shareholders.

Yes, there are funeral homes to be acquired that can immediately add to the operating EBITDA.  But there are also share buybacks which he indicates that SCI has “done a lot“.

The most interesting thing he says in his answer, in my opinon, is his talk of “greenfield investments”.  Tanzberger goes on to say about these greenfield investments, “. . .these construction projects have these benefits where you can build exactly where you want and exactly what you want, especially having a modern celebration of life venue when we design these brand-new funeral homes”.

I think that the answer also represents a realization  that Death Care has made some changes and things, in an overall scheme are becoming different than the way they have been in the past.   Building “exactly where you want and exactly what you want” is somewhat of a change in original modus operandi for SCI over their tried-and-true acquisition method.

I think SCI’s open-ness about building these new facilities that are designed for today’s consumer might tell some existing funeral homes that they are either outdated in client amenities or the demographic numbers of their current neighborhoods may not be as profitable as they once were.

Again, Tanzberger’s answer makes this statement about the new facility and cemetery program, “This is a nice robust program, which we’ve told you — this year alone, we’re going to spend probably about $70 million on that.”  

In the same answer he says this about SCI’s acquisition program, “So I think we’ll get into that 75 (million) — I think that’s a good guidance number for investment for M&A.”

I’m just going off the top of my head here. . . .but when is the last time SCI spent as much on building new as they did on acquisitions?

Obviously, there is a “proposition value” to what SCI eventually decides to do. . . . Has the “propsition value” changed over the years between aquisitions and building new “where and what you want”?  SCI might know more than many of us about facilities, traditions, and trends. . . . and, as Tanzberg states, “I mean we’re going to invest capital to the highest return”.

Disclaimer — The author of this article for Funeral Director Daily is a Service Corporation International shareholder.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Tribute Technology Expands Executive Team to Accelerate Innovation and Growth

WAUNAKEE, WI — Tribute Technology, the leading provider of software and marketing solutions for funeral homes, cemeteries, and cremation businesses across North America, has announced the appointment of Craig Greenseid as Chief Executive Officer. This strategic move further strengthens the company’s leadership bench as it enters its next phase of growth, platform innovation, and customer experience enhancement.

Greenseid is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience driving transformation and customer-centric strategies across the technology landscape. Most recently, he served as a Managing Director and Operating Executive within The Carlyle Group’s private equity portfolio where he focused tech companies on how they scale and operate effectively — experience that aligns with meeting the needs of Tribute Technology’s clients and the families they serve. 

Greenseid has been a Tribute Technology board member for more than two years, deeply involved in shaping the company’s strategic priorities and roadmap investments. His expanded role ensures continuity in execution and clear alignment for the company’s vision for the future. 

“It is an honor to join Tribute Technology as its CEO,” said Greenseid. “I am excited to lead this innovative company and continue working alongside the talented team to further its mission of delivering unparalleled solutions to the funeral and life celebration profession. Together, we will build on Tribute Technology’s strong foundation, serving our funeral home customers and the families they support in their communities.” 

Prior to joining Tribute Technology, Greenseid held senior leadership roles at companies such as Blackboard and PowerSchool — where he served as Chief Revenue Officer and led a go-to-market organization that significantly expanded the company’s reach in the K-12 education technology space, an area he remains passionate about as the husband to a veteran teacher with 23 years of experience. 

His appointment formalizes his transition from board advisor to operational leader, joining Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets, and Matt Powell, Chief Technology Officer, who have been with Tribute Technology for a combined six years. Together they will drive Tribute Technology’s long-term strategic success.

“Craig has been an excellent partner to the Tribute Technology team while advising for Carlyle,” said Gould Miller. “His leadership, insight, and strategic perspective have been invaluable as a board member for the past two years. Having him step into the CEO role to lead the team through the next phase of innovation is ideal for our thousands of customers and our 450 employees.”

Over the past year, Tribute Technology has broadened its leadership team by appointing a new Chief Financial Officer, Anthony Cali, and Chief Operating Officer, Joshua Gibbs, which has reinforced the company’s commitment to stability and future innovation. The entire leadership team, combined with Greenseid’s operating expertise and passion for customer-centric products and service, positions Tribute to best provide value to the clients we serve with increased purpose and confidence.

As part of its ongoing investment in innovation, Tribute Technology also announced the launch of a completely reimagined obituary experience, now available across all Tribute Technology platforms. This enhanced offering is a testament to the company’s dedication to technology that centers the needs of grieving families while equipping funeral professionals with modern, meaningful tools.

With a strong financial foundation, Tribute Technology is committed to reinvesting in its platform, its people, and its partnerships—with a clear focus on helping funeral professionals thrive in a digital-first world.

About Tribute Technology
Tribute Technology is the leading provider of software and marketing solutions for funeral homes, cemeteries, and cremation businesses across North America. Trusted by thousands of firms, Tribute Technology’s suite of tools supports funeral professionals in serving families with compassion, efficiency, and modern digital experiences.

Executive Orders For Funerals | FFFW 222

DISCLAIMER: None of the F’s in FFFW stand for “facts.”

Enjoy the jokes and satire. What a week. It’s wild how much can change in a week. So many huge things happened. Where should we begin? Did you hear about Donald?

That’s right- Retired L.A. Rams player, Aaron Donald showed up to their wildcard game a couple of weeks back and is making sports news as people speculate whether or not he could have a comeback.

Then… what about Tik Tok. We’ve all been talking about it! “Tik Tok” by Kesha is nearing in on 1.5 BILLION streams on Spotify.

And while I can admit I’ve jammed to the song several times- no dental professional condones brushing teeth with a bottle of jack.

Just use toothpaste. Your breath will smell better. Anyway- now that we’re caught up on current events- let’s get moving!

Days until the Chiefs win the Big Game: 16

Introducing The Memo by MemoryShare

MemoryShare, the #1 Live Streaming software for funeral homes, has announced a new monthly newsletter. “The Memo” is for funeral directors to stay updated on the latest tools, pro-tips, video tricks, and technology op-eds in the funeral profession. Subscribers will get exclusive access to early offers, discounts, and feature releases. To subscribe to The Memo, click the button below. The first 20 subscribers will receive a mystery gift!

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Executive Orders if the President Were a Funeral Director

Executive Order #101: Hearse Lanes on the Interstate

Because nothing says “dignity in death” like zipping past rush hour traffic in a dedicated funeral procession lane. Bonus perk: hearse drivers get free toll passes if they can honk “Amazing Grace” on the way through.

Executive Order #404: No More Boring Obituaries

Effective immediately, all obituaries must include at least one outrageous fact—whether true or not. “Beloved father of three, Jerry once wrestled a bear in a Denny’s parking lot and won” is now the gold standard. Families who opt for “he enjoyed golf” will face fines.

Executive Order #676: Ban on Overplayed Funeral Songs

Under this directive, any family who requests “My Heart Will Go On” for a service must also sit through a Titanic-length slideshow of random stock photos. All versions of Wind Beneath My Wings? Immediate fine.

Executive Order #999: The Eternal Tax Credit

Families who purchase a burial or cremation package early will receive a 10% tax deduction, affectionately called “The Dead Deduction.” Citizens are encouraged to plan ahead for Uncle Larry’s inevitable demise and deduct his burial from next year’s refund.

Executive Order #207: National Moment of Silence—And Silence Only

A hard ban on side conversations during funeral services. Any guest caught whispering, “Who’s the caterer?” during the eulogy will be sent to the parking lot holding a sign that reads, I couldn’t keep quiet.

Trivia

What celebrity had their ashes sent to space aboard a rocket?

Select the correct answer, and you’ll get a GIF of an otter. Select the wrong one, and you’ll get a GIF of someone hurting themselves.

Answer Choices:

A) Freddie Mercury

B) David Bowie

C) James Doohan

You Otter Be Proud

Here’s some good news going on in the profession.

1. Wilson Funeral Home director honored for organ donor support
2. Old Lick Cemetery in Roanoke cleaned, repaired with help of national expert
3. Fifth-generation funeral director Jeff Monreal helps families grieve, celebrate loved ones