Our sales team.

I was born and raised in Parkersburg, W.Va., and knew from an early age that I wanted to be involved in funeral service. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by great funeral homes and funeral directors who took me under their wings, teaching me the ins and outs of funeral service. After attending Ohio Valley University, I attended The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where I received my degree in funeral service. I went on to work 12 years as a licensed funeral director/embalmer for funeral homes in West Virginia before joining Homesteaders in 2007.

Joining Homesteaders was an easy choice for me because I sold Homesteaders while working as a funeral director. Homesteaders made my life easier through their commitment to my funeral home and their outstanding customer service. Being able to share that message from a personal experience with my funeral home customers and prospective customers has been an honor. I know firsthand the day-to-day struggles of this profession but also the many rewards it can bring. It is my privilege to help our funeral home customers succeed.

Because I grew up in my family’s funeral home, funeral service has always been a big part of my life. My dad is a mortician, and my mom is the office manager of their firm. I joined Homesteaders after graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. Prior to joining the training and development team, I worked as a marketing data coordinator and a senior account executive. I enjoy spending time with my husband Bruce, our children Beckham, Blake and Brynli and the rest of my family. I also serve on the Logan Magnolia School Board and enjoy biking, traveling, baking, cooking and volunteering in my community.

My ties to the funeral service industry made Homesteaders an appealing choice. My dad recommended that I pursue a career at Homesteaders, knowing the company has a strong reputation as a leader in preneed funding. Working at Homesteaders gives me the opportunity to use my background and expertise in a team-oriented environment.

Prior to joining Homesteaders, I worked in life insurance and banking my entire career, which helped me establish a strong understanding of solutions that help businesses grow. While I became an Account Executive in 2019, I spent more than five years prior as a customer service representative at Homesteaders. As an Account Executive, I’ve received multiple sales achievement awards. I live in Adel, Iowa, and enjoy spending time with friends and family, which includes my wife, Tracy, three children and three grandchildren. I also enjoy camping, watching sports and playing tennis and bags.

I joined Homesteaders because of its history and outstanding reputation in the funeral profession and the preneed field. The family-oriented culture here is unmatched. I enjoy building relationships with my funeral home customers and working alongside them to create customized success plans that match the strengths of their firms and the needs of their communities. Using my experience on the customer service team, I educate clients about Homesteaders’ resources and how to implement them effectively.

I have worked in the insurance industry for more than 20 years, and I am a Fellow in the Life Management Institute (FMLI), a distinction earned from the Life Office Management Association. After 12 years in the health insurance field, I joined Homesteaders in 2002 as a customer service representative before becoming Homesteaders’ first Home Office-based account executive in 2009. I’m also a Certified Preplanning Consultant and was named Account Executive of the Year in 2013. My husband Michael and I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and have four children: Garrison, Jarron, Cassie and Natasha. We are also raising our grandson, Jonah. I enjoy all warm weather activities including gardening, camping, boating and watching sports.

Homesteaders is like family to me. My mother retired after 35 years of service, so I have been part of the Homesteaders family for most of my life. When the opportunity arose to join the team, I jumped at the chance. I have formed many strong relationships and continue to support my team and the funeral homes we work with. In my role as a regional director, I’m proud to provide resources to allow my team to offer the best solutions to fit their funeral home customers’ needs. I’m passionate about end-of-life planning, having served funeral homes for more than 10 years as a trusted advisor and resource for information on advance funeral planning. I most enjoy working with my customers to understand their marketing needs and developing plans which lead to a firm’s total success. I’m focused on helping my customers succeed and helping spread the word on the benefits of preplanning and prefunding funerals to help our loved ones through the grieving process.

I am a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Stevens College in Omaha, Neb., with a degree in marketing. Most of my career has been in the health insurance industry with companies such as Wellmark BCBS of IA and Principal Financial Group. Additionally, I hold the certificate of Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC). I was named the Account Executive of the Year in my region in 2022, and I’ve been given the honor of being Account Executive of the Month many times at Homesteaders.

As a participant in Homesteaders continuing education classes for many years, I had come to know many in the Homesteaders “family,” including the funeral directors we serve. The classes helped me understand the importance of preneed, not just from the funeral director’s perspective but also from the perspective of the families they serve. Homesteaders has a long-standing reputation for being stellar in values and a leader in the preneed market. As a Home Office senior account executive, I get the honor of working with many states in the northeast part of the country. I see myself as a support system but also as a “coach” who takes the time to learn your challenges and goals so I can help you develop your business and achieve your goals. You can count on me to be there whether you need help completing an application or want to put together a marketing plan to increase community awareness. I look forward to getting to know you, learning about your business and creating strategies that will make our partnership a success. I will take my decade-long knowledge with Homesteaders and customize it to meet your needs in the ever-changing funeral world. I want you to be the best of the best in your field.

Prior to joining Homesteaders in January 2014, I worked as an internal marketing representative for American Equity. In that position, I assisted agents in growing their business by marketing to potential and existing customers and by serving as a vital resource for them while they worked in the field. Prior to that position, I was a real estate agent for nine years in Des Moines, Iowa. My focus in that role was on building lasting relationships with my customers and helping them find their dream homes. I live in Norman, Okla., with my dogs, Boomer and Barney. In my spare time, I enjoy playing cards with friends. I also enjoy golfing — which is the most frustrating thing I have ever done, but I still love it!

I joined Homesteaders because wanted to be part of a company where the work was valued, challenging and fast-paced, and Homesteaders was the perfect fit for me. Homesteaders has a very family-friendly environment. It provides the opportunity to share my 15+ years of relationship-building experience with our firms so you can do what you do best: Taking care of your client families’ needs. As an account executive, I reach out to firms each day to see how I can help find solutions and provide support for success. I have a passion for customer service, and I look forward to helping you reach and exceed your goals. I’m happy to help any time by listening to — and acting on — your business needs.