Directors Investment Group Earns Great Place to Work Certification™ for Fourth Consecutive Year

ABILENE, TX — Directors Investment Group (DIG), parent company to Funeral Directors Life, Passare,
Claimcheck, and other subsidiaries, has spent the better part of four decades building a unique culture.
After undergoing a rigorous and extensive certification process, DIG is proud to announce that it has
been recertified as a “Great Place To Work” through May 2026!

“To be recognized as a great workplace for the fourth consecutive year is an honor and a testament to
the culture we’ve intentionally built over the years,” said Kris Seale, DIG President & CEO. “This
achievement isn’t just about having amazing programs or benefits; it’s about our people. We extend our
gratitude to Great Place To Work® for this recognition!”

This prestigious recognition is based on a comprehensive write-up and current employees’ experience
working at DIG. To acquire recertification, DIG’s employees completed an anonymous survey ranking the
company’s culture, leadership, benefits, and other factors. The survey feedback and Great Place To
Work’s extensive data-driven methodology revealed that 96% of employees said DIG is a great place to
work, compared to 57% at an average U.S.-based company.

For the past eight years, DIG has also been named on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Texas™ list.
Additionally, DIG has received recognition on Fortune’s Best Medium Workplaces™ list and its Best
Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance™ list.

“Our team shows up every day with purpose, passion, and a commitment to serve our clients,
community, and each other,” Seale continued. “To quote Nehemiah 6:3, we believe that ‘we’re doing a
great work, and we cannot come down.’ That shared mission is what makes DIG truly special.”
To learn more about DIG, visit dig.family or view our Great Place To Work® profile.

About DIG

At Directors Investment Group (parent company to Funeral Directors Life, Passare, Claimcheck, and
other subsidiaries), our mission is to be known as “the best, most-respected provider of service to our
industries.” We serve funeral homes nationwide, offering various services to clients, including sales
programs, training, technology, marketing, and financial services. To apply online, visit us at dig.family.

About Great Place To Work®

As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking
research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform
and For All™ Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary
workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified or receiving recognition on a coveted Best
Workplaces™ List.

Everstory Partners Earns 2025 Great Place To Work Certification™

(May 22, 2025) – Altamonte Springs, FL – Everstory Partners is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for 2025. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Everstory and its family of brands.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.

“Over the past 24 months, we have been investing in our team — listening, learning, and evolving together,” said Everstory Chief Executive Officer Lilly Donohue. “I am incredibly proud to lead this company and to work alongside such dedicated and passionate individuals.”

A few of the initiatives Everstory has implemented during this time:

• Increased the company-wide minimum wage.
• Launched Everstory University to enhance professional development.
• Implemented user-friendly technology platforms streamlining workflows.
• Launched advisory councils where our general managers, sales managers and funeral home managers provide insights and advice, ensuring the company makes informed decisions for its business and its people.
• Held town halls and implemented direct access to its executives for transparent communication.

“Every step has been focused on creating a better workplace,” Donohue added. “These efforts exemplify our dedication to an open, collaborative culture because we believe by fostering a supportive and engaging environment, we can truly be the best in family service.”

To be certified, the company earned the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture with approximately 80 percent of Everstory’s 2,600 employees returning surveys sharing their thoughts on working at the company.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place To Work. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Everstory Partners stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

Everstory Chief People Officer Karen Sheean added: “Employee engagement is a key component of a multi-year commitment to listening to and understanding the voices of our employees through this program. We are thrilled to become Great Place To Work-Certified™ in our first year, however, we recognize that the real work is just beginning.”

“We owe our continued success to our team of dedicated employees at all of our Everstory locations and Support Center. We celebrate and thank them for all they do in earning this incredible recognition,” Sheean said.

Explore a Career at Everstory Partners

Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: www.everstorypartners.com/careers

About Everstory Partners

Everstory Partners’ mission is to create supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. Since 1999, the company has grown to include 463 cemetery, funeral, and crematory locations serving more than 65,000 families a year across the United States (including Puerto Rico) on both a pre-need and at-need basis. Everstory is the brand promise, created in April 2023, to destigmatize death care with a unique blend of long-standing traditions of caring for the deceased with a fresh perspective that death is a natural and beautiful part of the human experience that should be planned and celebrated.

About Great Place to Work Certification™

Great Place To Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

About Great Place To Work®

As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work® brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All™ Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.

Planning a funeral is a deeply personal and emotional journey, and selecting the right venue is a crucial part of honoring a loved one’s memory. The United Kingdom offers a diverse range of options, from traditional chapels to scenic outdoor locations. This blog explores some of the best places to host a funeral in the UK, considering various preferences and needs.

1. Crematoria and Chapels

Traditional Crematoria

Crematoria are the most common venues for holding funerals in the UK. They provide comprehensive services, including facilities for ceremonies and catering.

Religious Chapels

For those seeking a faith-based service, religious chapels offer a meaningful setting. Whether it’s an Anglican, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or other faith-specific chapel, these venues provide spaces for religious rites and ceremonies.

2. Cemeteries and Church Grounds

Traditional Cemeteries

Many choose to hold the funeral directly at a cemetery. This can provide a serene and respectful environment for the ceremony and immediate burial or interment.

Church Grounds

Holding a funeral on church grounds allows for a familiar and spiritual setting, especially for those with strong ties to their local parish.

3. Outdoor and Scenic Locations

Gardens and Parks

For a more personalised and natural setting, gardens and parks can be ideal.

Coastal and Lakeside Venues

Locations by the sea or lakes, offer tranquil environments that can bring peace and reflection during a funeral service.

4. Unique and Alternative Venues

Maritime Funerals

For those with a connection to the sea, maritime funerals can be a unique option. This might include services on a boat or even a sea burial, subject to specific regulations.

Memorial Gardens and Woodlands

Memorial gardens and woodlands provide a lasting tribute and a place for family and friends to visit and remember their loved one. Examples include The Woodland Trust sites across the UK.

Private Residences

Hosting a funeral at a family home or a loved one’s residence can offer a deeply personal and intimate setting. It allows for a customised experience tailored to the individual’s life and preferences.

5. Considerations When Choosing a Venue

Size and Accessibility

Ensure the venue can comfortably accommodate all attendees and is accessible for elderly guests or those with disabilities.

Personal Preferences and Beliefs

Choose a venue that reflects the deceased’s personality, interests, and beliefs, whether that’s a religious site, a favorite outdoor location, or a unique alternative setting.

Budget

Consider the costs associated with different venues and services. Funeral homes and traditional chapels offer package deals, while alternative venues might have variable pricing.

Availability

Popular venues may require booking well in advance, especially during peak times. Plan early to secure your preferred location.

Weather Contingencies

For outdoor venues, have a backup plan in case of inclement weather to ensure the ceremony can proceed smoothly.

6. Virtual and Hybrid Funerals

In today’s digital age, virtual and hybrid funerals have become increasingly popular, especially for those unable to attend in person. These options allow friends and family from different locations to participate, ensuring everyone can pay their respects.

Virtual Platforms

Using platforms like Zoom or dedicated funeral streaming services, families can broadcast the ceremony live to distant loved ones.

Hybrid Venues

Some funeral homes and venues offer hybrid services, combining in-person ceremonies with virtual participation, catering to both local and international attendees.

Conclusion

Choosing the best place to host a funeral in the UK depends on various factors, including personal preferences, religious beliefs, budget, and the desired atmosphere. Whether opting for a traditional creamtoria, a scenic outdoor location, or a unique alternative venue, the most important aspect is to create a meaningful and respectful farewell that honours the life and legacy of your loved one. Take the time to explore different options, consult with funeral professionals, and consider what will best reflect the individual’s personality and wishes.

Better Place Forests is one of those ideas whose time has come.  As a 33-year funeral director who has seen the social mores of Death Care move away from the traditional options during that time, I see where there is a place for ideas like Better Place Forest to catch on with a segment of the population and embrace their idea of memorialization.

However, new ideas and businesses sometimes don’t happen as fast or as linear as the founders may anticipate.  While I don’t know what is behind the move, Better Place Forests has announced that their business system will become a Non-Profit business.  You can read about the company’s evolution to Non-Profit status here.

The company will still be an operating business but will operate as a Non-Profit.  Non-profit businesses still operate with sound business principles in the economic sphere of commerce.  I know something about them as I have been associated with a company in the Non-Profit Senior Living and Health Care realm for almost 20 years.  I served six years on the Board, and as Chairman of the Board for Vivie for three years, and also served for six years as Chairman of the Board of Vivie spin-off partnership Ethos Home Health.  

Both of those companies are Non-profit but work at building business, gaining market share, providing employment opportunities, and grinding out financial success as we compete with profit-oriented businesses every day.  The only difference being instead of rewarding shareholders with profits, those profits are put back into the communities that we serve.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

So, my guess is that Better Place Forests will somehow transfer shareholder stock into a current non-profit status.  There is probably a tax advantage for shareholders to do so, however, I’m guessing that the foundation of the company will stay intact and move forward with a slightly altered business plan that will still be focused on preserved forests as a memorialization destination for many people.

And, I’m also guessing that there is still ample opportunity to help foster some of your clients needs and wishes about being memorialized in a natural preserve.  Partnering with Better Place Forests can help your funeral home or cemetery do just that.  You can learn how to do that here.

Related Article — “Why I started Better Place Forests – Brad Milne”

Related Article —  “Better Place Forests becomes both “High Touch” and “High Tech”.  Funeral Director Daily October 8, 2024.

For what it is worth — Better Place Forests has been a sponsor of Funeral Director Daily and for that I am grateful.  Their sponsorship, along with the other sponsors, has allowed subscribers to receive Funeral Director Daily free of charge five days per week in their e-mail inbox.  I don’t know if the non-profit status will change that relationship but I do know from my affiliation with BPF that they have a great group of people working there and have ideals of conservation of the environment coupled with memorialization of society in a sustainable environment as the precipice of their existence and that is commendable.

There has been no better people to work with than Better Place Forest CEO Adam Tibbs and Strategic Partnerships executive Tim Rogers in building our relationship and whatever path their lives take I wish them much success.

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Foster Beautiful, Meaningful Dispositions for Your Families with Better Place Forests

Imagine standing alongside a family as they celebrate a loved one’s life not within the walls of a chapel or church, but amid a wide open, lush landscape, in the shadow of majestic trees, a fresh, gentle breeze wafting through the air. Members of this family will return to this permanent, protected, and preserved place for generations to picnic, pay homage, or perhaps even to hold a similar ceremony for another loved one, and they’ll inevitably and gratefully remember how you and your team made this experience possible for them — all because you partnered with Better Place Forests.

“A partnership between Better Place Forests and our local funeral homes helps us both serve families who go to a funeral home to learn about options for cremated remains,” explains Tori Nonnemacher, General Manager at the St. Croix Valley Memorial Forest in Minnesota, one of nine Better Place Forests located throughout the United States. “We want to provide resources and be part of the conversation you’re having with families. We believe that when we’re connected with funeral homes in our communities that everyone involved benefits.”

Much more than scattering

It’s actually quite easy to share placement within a Better Place Forest with families once you learn about the benefits and just how beautiful the experience can be. To put it simply, Better Place Forests facilitates the disposition of cremated remains at dedicated, designated spots within protected acreage of established forests. The remains are integrated into the local soil, placed at the base of a tree the family has selected, and covered. The Better Place Forests team places a custom inscribed bronze Memorial Marker at the tree.

However, while the process is fairly straightforward, the Better Place Forest team has transformed it into a meaningful “Forest Memorial” ceremony in which the family can fully participate if they choose to do so. Memorial guests are invited to participate in combining the cremains with the soil, then placing and covering the mixture at the site. 

“It’s a beautiful memorial ceremony, and can be a healing ritual for people to move through that process together,” explains Nonnemacher.  “Everyone’s together, placing their loved one in this space at the base of the tree. And you’re surrounded by this beautiful forest, which is just incredible.”

Permanent and protected memorialization

The tree at which families are placing the remains of their loved one is also special in itself, as it belongs to the family in perpetuity — which means they will also have access to the property for generations.

“You can come out for visits and bring your grandkids, kids, pets, or friends — anyone you want,” shares Nonnemacher. ‘You have this opportunity to create memories with your loved ones, whether it’s picnics, hikes, or time at your tree. So when someone passes, maybe your loved ones will remember when grandma brought them out and had a picnic by the lake, or sat at the tree for a while and read a poem. It’s creating these moments for everyone in an environment where, especially for children, death is not scary.”

The acreage within the Better Place Forests properties is not only protected for the families, but it is also ecologically conserved. Every effort is made to keep the forest in its natural, original state. 

“Our goal is to keep the forest as close as possible to its natural state,” Nonnemacher explains. “If a tree comes down, it stays where it lands and becomes a nurse log, and feeds the forest floor its nutrients over time.”

A true family tree

When a family purchases a tree for one spreading, they always have the option to buy spreading rights at a reduced cost for others, whether that’s a spouse, descendants, or even pets. Families may also add a completely customizable Memorial Marker that will include their tree number so it will always be connected to that spot.

Currently, Better Place Forests’s nine breathtaking properties are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, and California — and families are not limited to selecting a spot based on their proximity to a location. In fact, some choose properties that became special destinations for hiking vacations or other events.

However, Better Place is always exploring new opportunities for expansion and partnerships to provide access to more and more families — and that most certainly includes partnerships with funeral homes across the country.

“We hope to create relationships where we can refer Better Place Forests customers who are looking for additional services to our funeral home partners,” says Nonnemacher. “Families will know we have a relationship with the funeral home; that we are recommending partners we deeply trust. We’re going to send families to them because our goal is to offer options that work for everyone. To be part of the conversation when someone is looking for a nature-based option.”

If you’re interested in becoming a partner of Better Place Forests, or just want to learn more, reach out to Jess Wakefield at jessica.wakefield@betterplaceforests.com or visit betterplaceforests.com.

Archaeologists May Have Found Jolly Old St. Nick’s Final Resting Place — and It’s Not at the North Pole

Let’s start out with an admission: Yes, of course we know Santa Claus is real. He wears a red suit and visits all the good boys and girls (not you naughty ones) once a year. He has a slew of small helpers and a stall of dope reindeer at his home on the North Pole, and duh, he’s immortal and very much alive and well. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

However, there was a devoted Christian bishop named Nicholas who lived in the 4th century and became well known for his kindness and generosity, especially toward children and the needy. His good deeds and miraculous works were so notable that after his death, he was granted sainthood by the church; in fact, he was named the patron saint of all sorts of entities, including the countries of Russia and Greece; of charitable fraternities and guilds; and of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers.

Sadly, most folks eventually forgot about old St. Nicholas … but not the Dutch. The legend of the kindly Sinterklaas (the Dutch variant of his name) persisted in Holland, and as Dutch colonists settled in America and shared their Sinterklaas stories, the legend of “Santa Claus” — a joyful, generous gift-giver — was born. 

The original St. Nicholas was buried in 343 A.D. in his hometown of Myra, in what is now Turkey. In the 5th century, a grand church was erected in his name around his sacred resting place. It is said that in 1087 A.D. a group of Italian sailors stole at least some of the remains of St. Nicholas from this church, brought them back to their hometown of Bari, and reburied them. Eventually, a shrine to the saint, the Basilica di San Nicola, was developed at the spot. Over the years, though, portions of the remains buried there have been disinterred and small pieces shared throughout the world as relics of St. Nicholas. These include parts that were transported to Venice during the First Crusade.

In 1953, the Pope supervised the opening of St. Nicholas’ Bari tomb during renovations of the basilica, and scientists removed the remaining bones from the tomb for study. After taking extensive measurements, notes, and photographs, the remains were reinterred in a new and improved crypt. Using the data on the skull which was collected in 1953, anthropologists used 3D technology to create perhaps the most authentic representation of what St. Nicholas looked like when he died in his 70s. Believe it or not (and don’t we all want to believe?!), the resulting image is strikingly similar to the famously rosy-cheeked face of Santa Claus!

But here’s the big news: Since 1989, Turkish archaeologists have been excavating within the walls of the Church of St. Nicholas in Turkey. Just last week, news broke that those archaeologists had unearthed a limestone sarcophagus that they believe contains the remains of none other than St. Nicholas himself … or at least what might be left of him after the Italian thieves desecrated his grave.

The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin with a raised, pointed lid was buried six feet under the ground in an annex of the church, and is still being meticulously unearthed by the Turkish team. They hope to find an inscription somewhere on the burial chamber that proves their theory that this is the real resting place of the venerated saint.

Last week we learned through this press release that Better Place Forests was offering a new product to consumers that they felt would appeal to those consumers in a cost-conscious manner.  The new product is known as “Spreading Groves” and gives consumers the option of scattering cremated remains in Better Place Forest dedicated forest areas.

According to the press release the idea is a  “direct response to insights from funeral home partners, and is a critical next step in an expansion journey as Better Place Forests realizes its vision of offering comprehensive and meaningful end-of-life experiences to a wider range of consumers.”

Here’s what Better Place Forests CEO Adam Tibbs said in prepared remarks in the press release, “Spreading Groves are a critical next step in an expansion journey as Better Place realizes its vision of offering comprehensive end-of-life experiences by connecting physical memorial forest sites with the limitless reach of digital tributes.”

The first Spreading Groves location is slated to be offered at the Better Place Forest (BPF) located in St. Croix Valley, Minnesota  — a distance about 40 miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul marketplace.  The other eight cemeteries under BPF management are expected to open Spreading Groves areas in 2025.

Scott Mueller, who’s company, Mueller Memorial, operates a growing number of alternative death care services as well as tradional funeral home services in St. Paul, made these remarks in the press release, “We’re a family-owned funeral home, operating in the Twin Cities for 78 years and we’re meeting a growing demand for green alternatives. We always encourage families to plan for permanent memorialization for cremated remains and think the Spreading Grove at Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley is a beautiful option.”

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  From my point of view, both Better Place Forests and Mueller Mortuary are headed in the right direction with their philosophies.  There is a place for vendors and funeral homes to offer legitimate permanent options for cremated remains. . . . and Better Place Forests is certainly one of these options.

Spreading Groves will offer a “destination” memorial place for families that find peace and solace in that idea.  From my own perspective and experience with my father, mother, and brother, a “destination memorial place” offers me that solace and place of reflection when I go to pay my respects on various important dates in the lives of my loved ones — such as the dates of birth, weddings, anniversaries, and deaths.

There is just something about knowing that my loved ones are in their final earthly destinations that gives me comfort. . . .and the new lower-cost Spreading Grove alternative will allow that choice for many more consumers.

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Better Place Forests (BPF) has been known for being a place where families can have meaningful “in-person” experiences with memorialization in the company forests.  Last week we learned of BPF’s acquisition of digital platform Butterfly which will now give the company the addition of “High Tech” digital memorials that can be accessed online globally.

You can learn more about that acquisition here.

Here’s what Adam Tibbs, CEO of Better Place Forests, said in his prepared statements in the recent press release, “We are excited to welcome Butterfly into the Better Place family. This acquisition allows us to bridge the natural and digital worlds, ensuring that memories can live on in the physical beauty of our forests and in the digital space where they can be preserved across generations”.

According to the press release issued on October 3, “The acquisition enables Better Place to expand its reach exponentially by offering families both a meaningful in-person experience in its forests and the ease of a digital memorial that can be accessed online globally. The combined offering strengthens Better Place’s position as a leader in end-of-life services, providing families a spectrum of solutions that acknowledge the need to blend traditional and digital memorial experiences.”

The Butterfly platform will be rebranded as Better Place Memories and be a technology tool where families can share stories, photos, and videos to celebrate and remember loved ones.

Better Place Forests was established in 2015 and, according to Crunchbase, has raised over $79 million in capital to further its business plans.  As of now they offer permanent memorialization in nine memorial forest locations.  You can see where they are located by going to their website here.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily:  Over four decades ago I read John Naisbitt’s book, Megatrends.  In that book he talked about the need that when living in a high tech world we would also need “High-Touch” experiences.  That’s the first thing I thought of when I read the news about the BPF/Butterly combination.

From my point of view, Better Place Forests and Butterfly are now in a position to offer the best of both to the memorialization consumer.  A client can get both the “High-Touch” experience of being with a loved one’s remains at a solemn Better Place Forest location while at the same time get the “High-Tech” advantage of being able to share memories via the electronic media.

In that regard you can see a strategy of the company that combines environmental stewardship with innovative technology.

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It was announced earlier in September that Jessica Wakefield has joined Better Place Forests as their new Director of Partnerships, Community, and Education.  The announcement made this comment, “With over 15 years of experience in the funeral service industry, Jessica will play a pivotal role in building and strengthening partnerships with local funeral homes and community organizations, focusing on Better Place Forests’ growing network of more than 100 funeral home and crematory partners near their forest locations.”

You can see a listing of those partnerships here.

Adam Tibbs, CEO of Better Place Forests made this prepared comment in the press release announcing Wakefields position with the company, “We are thrilled to have Jessica join our team.  Her deep knowledge of the funeral profession, combined with her commitment to mentorship and continuing education, makes her the ideal person to lead our partnership efforts. We look forward to expanding our reach and continuing to provide families with meaningful, green memorial options.”

A passionate leader and former President of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association, Wakefield has dedicated herself to becoming more involved in developing modern approaches to funeral services and the promotion of green alternatives within the profession.

Better Place Forests was founded in 2015 and is America’s first conservation forest memorial company.  The fairly new concept allows for permanent memorialization creating natural final resting places in protected forests.  Currently the company offers their services at ten forest locations across the United States.

To learn more about Better Place Forests you can access their website here.

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