For Immediate Release: August 4, 2026

Media Contact: Jessica Koth, 262-814-1536, JKoth@NFDA.org

Brookfield, Wis. – Christopher Holt and Maureen Krienen have been elected to serve as at-large representatives on the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Board of Directors. They will begin their two-year terms of service immediately following the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo, taking place October 25-28 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On August 4, during the NFDA Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, state association representatives elected the new at-large representatives. State association representatives are the designated voting delegates from each state who cast ballots on behalf of their associations in the election of at-large representatives to the NFDA Board of Directors.

Christopher Holt is a licensed mortician with Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home & Crematory in Helena, Montana, where he has served families for nearly two decades. A second-career funeral director, Holt entered the profession after working in property management, bringing with him a practical perspective and appreciation for the vital role funeral service plays in every community.

An active leader within the Montana Funeral Directors Association, Holt has served as district governor, secretary, president and currently as the state’s representative to NFDA. Throughout his service, he has championed education, advocacy and professional collaboration, believing that strong associations help funeral professionals better serve families while strengthening the profession.

“I am enthusiastic about providing members with all the tools and resources they need to be successful,” Holt said in his campaign statement. “Having worked from the ground up, I realize how details matter, communication matters, teamwork matters and sharing what works helps us all become a stronger association.”

Maureen E. Krienen is a fourth-generation funeral director with Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home in Wilmington, Delaware. She previously served as the first female president of the Delaware State Funeral Directors Association and has long been committed to supporting funeral professionals through leadership, mentorship and service.

Krienen is passionate about ensuring that funeral homes of every size have access to the resources, education and advocacy they need to thrive. She believes independent funeral homes remain an essential part of the profession while recognizing the importance of collaboration across all segments of funeral service.

“I believe NFDA must continue to be a lifeline for all funeral directors,” Krienen said in her campaign statement. “Together, we can ensure that NFDA remains strong, relevant and prepared to support funeral directors today and for generations to come.”

Additional information about the newly elected at-large representatives is available at NFDA.org/Elections.

NFDA thanks the two candidates who ran against Holt and Krienen: Steven L. Johnson, CFSP, CCSP, and Shelby Ogozaly.

NFDA Board Leadership

As announced in June, the following individuals were elected by NFDA members to serve as officers on the 2026-27 Board of Directors:

• President-elect: Steve Spann, CFSP, CCO, Spann Funeral Home, Dickson, Tennessee
• Treasurer: Ellen Wynn McBrayer, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory, Villa Rica, Georgia
• Secretary: Carlton Maye Jr., MBA, CFSP, CCO, Serenity Funeral Home, Dublin, Georgia

Following his term as 2025-26 President-elect, Chris E. Christian, CFSP, CCO, of Rogersville, Tennessee, will serve as the 2026-27 President.

Current NFDA President Daniel J. Ford, CFSP, CCSP, of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes in Cheshire, Connecticut, will continue his service on the Board as 2026-27 Immediate Past President.

Also continuing their service on the NFDA Board of Directors are 2025-27 At-Large Representatives Carlos D. Black of Small’s Mortuary in Mobile, Alabama, and Christopher Costello, CFSP, of Mothe Funeral Homes in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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.

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