Big Move in Deathcare Tech: Courtney Gould Miller Moves from Tribute Technology to Homesteaders Life Company

Courtney Gould Miller, a well-known leader in funeral service technology and digital strategy, is transitioning from Tribute Technology to join Homesteaders Life Company as Chief Growth Officer. The move represents a strategic shift for Miller while reinforcing Homesteaders’ continued investment in innovation, digital growth, and long-term relevance in the deathcare profession.

Courtney has been instrumental in helping Tribute Technology evolve into one of the profession’s most comprehensive digital platforms. During her time at Tribute, the company moved beyond standalone tools and toward a more unified ecosystem, designed to reduce complexity for funeral homes, eliminate redundant workflows, and create a more seamless experience for both professionals and the families they serve.

Her work helped position Tribute as a technology partner focused not just on features, but on usability, integration, and long-term value for funeral homes navigating an increasingly digital landscape.

As Courtney steps into her new role at Homesteaders, her relationship with Tribute will continue. She will remain involved as an advisor, supporting the company through strategic initiatives, industry events, and ongoing collaboration. The transition has been closely coordinated between the two organizations, reflecting a strong and positive partnership that remains intact.

A Strategic Growth Role at Homesteaders

At Homesteaders Life Company, Miller will join the executive team as Chief Growth Officer, where she will bring a digital-first growth perspective across the organization. Her role will extend beyond traditional marketing to include oversight and influence across technology investments, digital consumer journeys, and growth-oriented initiatives tied to preneed education and engagement.

Homesteaders has made significant investments in recent years to modernize how families interact with preneed solutions, and Miller’s appointment signals a continued commitment to meeting consumers where they are: digitally, relationally, and culturally.

In addition to marketing and brand strategy, Miller will be involved in evaluating and guiding technology initiatives that support Homesteaders’ broader vision. Her experience in building scalable, integrated platforms aligns with the company’s goal of creating digital solutions that match the size, reach, and responsibility of its mission.

Continuity and Momentum at Tribute Technology

Miller’s departure from Tribute comes at a time of strength for the company. Tribute continues to advance its vision of being a fully integrated, all-in-one technology platform for funeral homes, focused on reducing fragmented systems and simplifying how funeral professionals operate and serve families.

Leadership at Tribute has emphasized that the foundation built during Miller’s tenure positions the company well for continued growth and innovation. With leadership continuity in place and new product development underway, Tribute enters its next chapter with clarity and confidence.

A Move That Reflects the Direction of the Profession

Miller’s transition highlights a broader shift within the deathcare profession, one where technology, preneed, and consumer experience are becoming increasingly interconnected. Her move from a leading technology platform to a major preneed organization underscores the importance of cross-functional leadership and collaboration across the industry.

Rather than stepping away from deathcare, Miller is deepening her involvement, bringing her experience, perspective, and passion into a new role that bridges innovation and tradition.

As Homesteaders continues to expand its digital footprint and Tribute advances its platform vision, Miller’s ongoing connection to both organizations reflects a shared belief: the future of funeral service will be shaped by leaders who understand technology, growth, and the sacred responsibility of serving families.

Read full press release from Homesteaders Life Company

Read full press release from Tribute Technology

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. 

Tribute Technology and Homesteaders Partner to Simplify Preneed Policy Management for Funeral Homes

Waunakee, Wisconsin – October 23, 2025 — Tribute Technology is partnering with Homesteaders Life Company, one of the most trusted names in funeral service, to make it easier for funeral homes to manage preneed policies.

The planned integration, coming in 2026, will connect Homesteaders’ policy data directly with Tribute Management Software, allowing funeral directors to see and link matching preneed policies right from a case. Policy information will update automatically each night, so directors always have the most current details without sorting through paperwork or entering data twice.

“At Homesteaders, we’re committed to offering financial support, expertise, and partnerships that bring value to funeral professionals and the families we serve together,” said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “This planned integration with Tribute Technology helps simplify the preneed management process, giving funeral providers easier access to the information they need so they can focus more fully on designing meaningful experiences for the families they serve.”

For funeral homes, this will mean fewer errors, faster workflows, and peace of mind knowing every available fund is captured and applied correctly. Families will benefit too, with less back-and-forth over documents and a smoother, more professional experience.

“Funeral directors carry an enormous responsibility, and every minute spent searching for paperwork is a minute taken away from serving families,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “This upcoming integration with Homesteaders takes something complex and makes it simple. It’s about giving time back to the professionals who give so much of themselves every day.”

This is the first of several planned integrations designed to connect Tribute Management Software with multiple preneed partners. Together, these systems will help funeral homes work more efficiently and better support the families they serve.

About Homesteaders Life Company
For nearly 120 years, Homesteaders Life Company has provided products and services to help people design a better farewell. Rooted in financial stability and a deep commitment to the funeral profession, Homesteaders partners with funeral providers of all sizes to help them grow their businesses through innovative preneed solutions.

About Tribute Technology
Tribute Technology builds technology that helps funeral professionals focus on what matters most—supporting families. Serving more than 9,000 providers worldwide, Tribute’s connected tools for management, websites, marketing, online planning, and payments simplify daily work and strengthen the relationships that matter most. Learn more at www.tributetech.com.

Graphic Caption
Through a new partnership, Tribute Technology and Homesteaders Life Company will connect preneed policy data directly to Tribute Management Software—streamlining workflows and helping funeral homes better serve families.

The Independent Funeral Group Endorses Homesteaders as Exclusive Preneed Provider

West Des Moines, Iowa — The Independent Funeral Group (TIFG) has announced its exclusive endorsement of Homesteaders Life Company as the association’s preferred preneed funding partner. TIFG, which recently announced its national expansion, has supported family-owned funeral providers with buying and educational resources for more than 30 years. 

“Homesteaders is proud to partner with TIFG in their mission to strengthen independent funeral providers,” said Will Bischoff, Homesteaders SVP-Strategic Markets. “This endorsement reflects our longstanding relationship with TIFG and its members and our shared commitment to helping funeral professionals deliver peace of mind and lasting value to the families they serve.” 

The endorsement connects TIFG members with a trusted ally dedicated to supporting their success and providing solutions that enhance the value they bring to the communities they serve. 

“For three decades, the Independent Funeral Group has worked to provide innovative solutions, opportunities and tools to our members to support their growth in their communities,” said Dr. Brad Kucknicki, Ed.D., the association’s Executive Director. “By selecting Homesteaders as our endorsed preneed provider, we’re able to connect our members to a funding partner that is deeply invested in the funeral space and our member firms’ success.” 

Homesteaders and TIFG share a strong dedication to the funeral profession and to empowering practitioners to deliver meaningful, compassionate care to families in need. Through this endorsement, they aim to advance the profession while ensuring families receive the highest level of service. 

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. 

Since 1995, The Independent Funeral Group has worked to support family-owned and operated funeral homes, and now serves as a buying, education and resource group, committed to preserving family owned funeral homes and strengthening the profession through shared resources and collaboration. Founded by funeral practitioners, for funeral  practitioners, The Group champions dignity, service and community. To learn more about The Independent Funeral  Group’s mission, membership criteria and benefits, visit www.tifg.net, email info@tifg.net or call (865) 405-7085. 

Homesteaders Life Company’s New Simple Return Insurance Rider Protects Families When Death Occurs Away From Home

West Des Moines, IA – Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in preneed funeral funding, is  proud to announce the launch of Simple Return, a new insurance rider that covers expenses associated  with transporting the insured to their local funeral home if death occurs 75 or more miles from home. This innovative rider is the first of its kind as an insurance-backed offering and will be available at-issue  on eligible policies in most states. Offered by Homesteaders and serviced by Sepio Guard, Simple  Return reflects Homesteaders’ ongoing commitment to providing personalized solutions for funeral  home customers and policy owners. 

“With Simple Return, Homesteaders is proud to be the first in the market to offer an insurance-backed  solution specifically designed to address the need for protection when a death occurs away from home,”  said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “With this offering we are bringing  a benefit that reduces the stress and unexpected costs families can face in those difficult moments and  makes it seamless to include the coverage in advance funeral plans.” 

The Simple Return rider can be purchased easily with a Homesteaders policy, making it convenient for  individuals who prearrange to include this coverage as part of their comprehensive advance funeral  plans. In the event of a qualifying death away from home, this rider helps ensure the deceased is  transported to a local funeral home. Through coverage provided by Homesteaders’ Simple Return,  families can focus on what matters most without the added burden of coordinating arrangements. 

“People are thinking ahead and want to know their plans will be honored when the time comes — no  matter where they are,” said Chris Johnson, Sepio Guard Co-founder and CEO. “Our collaboration with  Homesteaders makes it possible for more families to know they’re covered and for professionals to  easily offer protection that just makes sense.” 

With a focus on convenience in offering this protection, Simple Return is designed to seamlessly  integrate with Homesteaders’ systems and funeral professionals’ processes. The rider is backed by the  financial strength and security of Homesteaders, providing funeral professionals a trusted solution they  can confidently present to families. To learn more, funeral professionals can contact their Homesteaders  account executive. 

Homesteaders Life Company, a life insurance company which is part of a mutual holding company system owned  by its policy holders, is a national leader providing products and services to help people design a better farewell.  Visit www.homesteaderslife.com to learn more.

A.M. Best Company Affirms Homesteaders’ Financial Strength

West Des Moines, Iowa — AM Best Company, a global rating agency focused on the insurance industry, has  affirmed Homesteaders Life Company’s financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook. 

“We appreciate AM Best’s diligence this past year and are pleased they have once again affirmed our financial  strength,” said Homesteaders Executive VP-CFO Steve Pick. “Along with our continued strong operating  performance, Homesteaders’ strategic investments over the last few years have bolstered our ability to support  the funeral profession through innovative product and service offerings. This affirmation by AM Best is an  additional vote of confidence in our performance and strategic direction.”  

Pick added that 2025 was characterized by significant strategic capital deployment, record asset growth, strong  sales performance and continued operational excellence.  

“Last year was a transformative one for our company, and AM Best’s affirmation tells us we’re on the right  track,” said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “Our continued financial strength is a direct result of our team’s ability to execute on creative and complex strategy while maintaining strong year over-year growth. Our funeral home customers should feel very confident in their choice to entrust us with their  client families’ preneed funds.” 

Shaffer noted that record profitability has positioned Homesteaders to invest even more capital in the profession.  “No other preneed provider can match our investment in the funeral space,” he added. “Homesteaders continues to lead the profession in investing tools and services that benefit independent operators – like our funeral home  lending program. To-date, we’ve provided more than $200 million in loans to support the growth of funeral  businesses across the country. That number continues to grow as more funeral providers recognize  Homesteaders as a knowledgeable, reliable, long-term partner to finance their business’s growth.” 

To learn more, view the company’s most recent annual report of company performance. 

Homesteaders Life Company, a life insurance company which is part of a mutual holding company  system 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. 

AM Best Company (ambest.com) is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information  source.