For generations, NFDA has evolved to meet the changing needs of funeral professionals. Today, we’re pleased to share the next step in that journey.
The boards of directors for the National Funeral Directors Association and Selected Independent Funeral Homes have announced they signed a letter of intent to pursue the merger of the two associations. If approved by the memberships of both associations, Selected would become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA organization, integrating Selected’s membership and signature programs while creating new opportunities for NFDA members. A final agreement is expected to be signed later this year.
With a combined 253 years of serving funeral professionals, this proposed merger brings together two organizations with complementary strengths. For NFDA members, that means new opportunities to connect with respected funeral professionals, while benefiting from expanded leadership development, peer learning and professional engagement opportunities. Together, the combined organization will be even better positioned to strengthen the long-term value of your NFDA membership and serve as a stronger, unified voice for the profession. This is an exciting next step for both associations and one that is embraced by both boards of directors.
We look forward to welcoming Selected and its members into the NFDA family and working together to build an even stronger association that delivers greater value to members and the profession we serve.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Ford, CFSP, CCSP, NFDA President
Christine Pepper, MBA, CAE, NFDA Chief Executive Officer
The boards of directors for the National Funeral Directors Association and Selected Independent Funeral Homes have announced they signed a letter of intent to pursue the merger of the two associations. If approved by the memberships of both associations, Selected would become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA organization, integrating Selected’s membership and signature programs while creating new opportunities for NFDA members. A final agreement is expected to be signed later this year.
With a combined 253 years of serving funeral professionals, this proposed merger brings together two organizations with complementary strengths. For NFDA members, that means new opportunities to connect with respected funeral professionals, while benefiting from expanded leadership development, peer learning and professional engagement opportunities. Together, the combined organization will be even better positioned to strengthen the long-term value of your NFDA membership and serve as a stronger, unified voice for the profession. This is an exciting next step for both associations and one that is embraced by both boards of directors.
We look forward to welcoming Selected and its members into the NFDA family and working together to build an even stronger association that delivers greater value to members and the profession we serve.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Ford, CFSP, CCSP, NFDA President
Christine Pepper, MBA, CAE, NFDA Chief Executive Officer
Building a Brighter Future, Together
Selected Leaders Announce Intent to Merge with NFDA
Dear Selected Members,
For more than a century, Selected Independent Funeral Homes has stood for excellence, trusted peer relationships, and a commitment to serving families with integrity and care. Today, we are writing to share an important and forward-looking step to ensure that legacy continues long into the future.
The Boards of Directors of Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) are announcing that both organizations have signed a Letter of Intent to pursue a merger that would bring our two associations together. If approved by both memberships later this year, Selected would become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA organization — preserving everything that makes Selected special while expanding the resources, advocacy strength, and long-term stability available to our members.
Why We Are Taking This Step
Like many nonprofit organizations, Selected has been navigating persistent market, financial, and operational headwinds. Independent ownership is shrinking, dues pressures have increased, and the cost of delivering high-quality programs continues to rise. Your Board and staff have explored multiple approaches to address these challenges. While each effort helped in meaningful ways, none provided the durable, long-term solution required to protect Selected’s future.
After extensive evaluation and guidance from outside experts, we have concluded that joining forces with NFDA is the strongest and most responsible path forward. This proposed merger allows us to preserve Selected’s identity, leadership, peer community, and high standards — while gaining the scale, stability, and advocacy strength needed to thrive for generations to come.
An Opportunity with Real Member Benefits
This is not only a response to today’s challenges. It is a strategic opportunity to build something stronger together. A unified organization between Selected and the NFDA would:
• Strengthen the financial foundation behind the programs and resources you rely on
• Expand opportunities for learning, leadership, and peer engagement
• Preserve the trusted Selected community through a new Selected Designation
• Provide greater advocacy strength for independently owned firms
Most importantly, we will spend the next year working together — members, staff, and leaders — to design the integrated model thoughtfully and collaboratively. Nothing changes about your membership or benefits in 2027. This transition will be deliberate, transparent, and shaped by your input before ultimately being adopted in 2028.
Looking Ahead with Optimism and Confidence
Selected has always been strongest when members learn from one another, challenge one another, and commit to excellence together. This proposed merger honors that legacy while giving us the tools, stability, and reach to continue thriving in a changing profession.
We enter this next chapter with optimism, gratitude, and a deep commitment to preserving what makes Selected extraordinary. We have spent the last 18 months considering and shaping this decision, and we firmly and unanimously believe this is the best path that allows us to protect our identity while simultaneously expanding our impact.
Thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your dedication to the families you serve. We look forward to collaborating with you throughout this transition and building a future that strengthens both Selected and the profession we care so deeply about.
Warm regards,
The Selected Board of Directors
Selected Leaders Announce Intent to Merge with NFDA
Dear Selected Members,
For more than a century, Selected Independent Funeral Homes has stood for excellence, trusted peer relationships, and a commitment to serving families with integrity and care. Today, we are writing to share an important and forward-looking step to ensure that legacy continues long into the future.
The Boards of Directors of Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) are announcing that both organizations have signed a Letter of Intent to pursue a merger that would bring our two associations together. If approved by both memberships later this year, Selected would become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA organization — preserving everything that makes Selected special while expanding the resources, advocacy strength, and long-term stability available to our members.
Why We Are Taking This Step
Like many nonprofit organizations, Selected has been navigating persistent market, financial, and operational headwinds. Independent ownership is shrinking, dues pressures have increased, and the cost of delivering high-quality programs continues to rise. Your Board and staff have explored multiple approaches to address these challenges. While each effort helped in meaningful ways, none provided the durable, long-term solution required to protect Selected’s future.
After extensive evaluation and guidance from outside experts, we have concluded that joining forces with NFDA is the strongest and most responsible path forward. This proposed merger allows us to preserve Selected’s identity, leadership, peer community, and high standards — while gaining the scale, stability, and advocacy strength needed to thrive for generations to come.
An Opportunity with Real Member Benefits
This is not only a response to today’s challenges. It is a strategic opportunity to build something stronger together. A unified organization between Selected and the NFDA would:
• Strengthen the financial foundation behind the programs and resources you rely on
• Expand opportunities for learning, leadership, and peer engagement
• Preserve the trusted Selected community through a new Selected Designation
• Provide greater advocacy strength for independently owned firms
Most importantly, we will spend the next year working together — members, staff, and leaders — to design the integrated model thoughtfully and collaboratively. Nothing changes about your membership or benefits in 2027. This transition will be deliberate, transparent, and shaped by your input before ultimately being adopted in 2028.
Looking Ahead with Optimism and Confidence
Selected has always been strongest when members learn from one another, challenge one another, and commit to excellence together. This proposed merger honors that legacy while giving us the tools, stability, and reach to continue thriving in a changing profession.
We enter this next chapter with optimism, gratitude, and a deep commitment to preserving what makes Selected extraordinary. We have spent the last 18 months considering and shaping this decision, and we firmly and unanimously believe this is the best path that allows us to protect our identity while simultaneously expanding our impact.
Thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your dedication to the families you serve. We look forward to collaborating with you throughout this transition and building a future that strengthens both Selected and the profession we care so deeply about.
Warm regards,
The Selected Board of Directors
NFDA and Selected Independent Funeral Homes Announce Intent to Combine Organizations
Brookfield, Wis. / Lincolnshire, Ill. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected
Independent Funeral Homes (Selected) announced today that their Boards of Directors have signed a
Letter of Intent to pursue the merger of the two organizations, creating a unified association designed
to offer leadership development, professional education and peer engagement while preserving the
unique strengths that have defined each organization.
General FAQ
The funeral profession is facing significant headwinds. Owner succession is accelerating, the independent owner base is shrinking, regulatory complexity is increasing, and vendor consolidation is compressing association revenue across the industry. These pressures affect both organizations and the members they serve.
At the same time, NFDA and Selected each bring distinct strengths that are more powerful in combination than separately. NFDA’s scale, financial stability and advocacy capacity, combined with Selected’s culture of excellence and trusted peer network, create opportunities to invest in the profession beyond what either organization could achieve independently. This is about building something stronger together, not simply responding to today’s challenges.
At the same time, NFDA and Selected each bring distinct strengths that are more powerful in combination than separately. NFDA’s scale, financial stability and advocacy capacity, combined with Selected’s culture of excellence and trusted peer network, create opportunities to invest in the profession beyond what either organization could achieve independently. This is about building something stronger together, not simply responding to today’s challenges.
The intention of the association Boards is to combine the two associations into one organization that brings together the strengths and offerings of both. From a legal perspective, however, the transaction would be structured as an acquisition of Selected Independent Funeral Homes by NFDA.
A looser partnership would leave NFDA and Selected as two separate organizations, each with its own Board, CEO, and fiduciary responsibilities. That structure was determined not to serve either organization’s members well over the long term.
Operating as a single, unified organization allows for one governing board with clear fiduciary accountability, eliminates the cost of maintaining two parallel organizations, and creates the financial and operational integration needed to achieve lasting economies of scale. A partnership could also be scaled back or unwound if priorities shift, while a merger represents a long-term commitment to building something stronger together.
Operating as a single, unified organization allows for one governing board with clear fiduciary accountability, eliminates the cost of maintaining two parallel organizations, and creates the financial and operational integration needed to achieve lasting economies of scale. A partnership could also be scaled back or unwound if priorities shift, while a merger represents a long-term commitment to building something stronger together.
Together, NFDA and Selected combine a trusted peer exchange culture with national scale, financial stability, and advocacy strength to create a model of member engagement that neither organization offers on its own today.
The merger strengthens the financial foundation behind the programs members rely on, extends Selected’s peer learning model to a broader base of independently owned firms, and gives the profession a more unified voice on the issues that matter most. The result is an organization built to advance excellence and support meaningful service to families and communities at a scale neither organization could achieve alone.
The merger strengthens the financial foundation behind the programs members rely on, extends Selected’s peer learning model to a broader base of independently owned firms, and gives the profession a more unified voice on the issues that matter most. The result is an organization built to advance excellence and support meaningful service to families and communities at a scale neither organization could achieve alone.
The NFDA name will remain, and Selected will continue as a distinct designation and community within the unified organization. Any future updates to the organization’s mission will be determined by the leadership of the merged organization.
Leaders in both organizations have been talking for some time about how best to respond to changes in the profession and whether a closer partnership could strengthen support for independent funeral professionals.
Those conversations led, in 2025, to early-stage discussions about a possible merger and to the decision to engage McKinley Advisors to help both Boards evaluate the opportunity.
A joint Steering Committee, made up of Board members from both organizations, was charged with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the opportunity, examining strategic, governance, financial, and member considerations before making recommendations to the Boards. That work resulted in a formal Case for Consolidation, which was presented to both Boards in spring 2026 as the basis for their decision to move forward with merger planning.
Those conversations led, in 2025, to early-stage discussions about a possible merger and to the decision to engage McKinley Advisors to help both Boards evaluate the opportunity.
A joint Steering Committee, made up of Board members from both organizations, was charged with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the opportunity, examining strategic, governance, financial, and member considerations before making recommendations to the Boards. That work resulted in a formal Case for Consolidation, which was presented to both Boards in spring 2026 as the basis for their decision to move forward with merger planning.
Yes. Both organizations will ask their members to vote before the transaction can be completed. Selected members will vote on the proposed merger, as required by Selected’s governing documents. NFDA members will vote on the bylaw amendments needed to implement the proposed governance structure of the combined organization.
The merger will move forward once the required member approvals have been obtained. If Selected members do not approve the merger, it will not proceed. If NFDA members do not approve the proposed bylaw amendments, the organizations would need to determine whether and how to move forward.
The voting process (including ballot delivery, notice requirements, voting thresholds, and approval procedures) will follow each organization’s governing documents.
Definitive agreements are targeted for completion by late October, 2026, pending the required Board and member approvals. The two associations would become one under the NFDA unified organization by December 31, 2026.
Both organizations will maintain their current membership structures and program offerings while jointly designing the future integrated model. The 2027 calendar year will serve as a transition year, with the target for launching the unified NFDA membership and Selected Designation Program on January 1, 2028.
Both organizations will maintain their current membership structures and program offerings while jointly designing the future integrated model. The 2027 calendar year will serve as a transition year, with the target for launching the unified NFDA membership and Selected Designation Program on January 1, 2028.
Both organizations will maintain their existing membership structures and program offerings throughout 2027.
Beginning January 1, 2028, the goal is to launch a unified NFDA membership together with the Selected Designation Program. The integrated membership model—including member benefits, program access, and other key elements—will be developed during the transition with input from members and staff before the merger is finalized.
Beginning January 1, 2028, the goal is to launch a unified NFDA membership together with the Selected Designation Program. The integrated membership model—including member benefits, program access, and other key elements—will be developed during the transition with input from members and staff before the merger is finalized.
All current Selected programs including the NextGen Seminar, the Leadership Academy, Study Groups, Group Roundtables and the Annual Meeting will take place as scheduled in 2027. Throughout the 2027 transition year, the merged organization will also conduct a holistic review of NFDA’s and Selected’s programs, services, and resources.
The goal is to preserve the high-value offerings that members from both organizations rely on while identifying opportunities to strengthen and better align programs across the merged organization. Decisions about individual programs will be made through this review process, informed by member and staff input, and members will be kept updated as the work progresses.
The goal is to preserve the high-value offerings that members from both organizations rely on while identifying opportunities to strengthen and better align programs across the merged organization. Decisions about individual programs will be made through this review process, informed by member and staff input, and members will be kept updated as the work progresses.
Christine Pepper will continue serving as Chief Executive Officer of NFDA.
Rob Paterkiewicz is expected to continue leading the Selected community as Executive Director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes during the transition to the combined organization. This role is intended to provide continuity for members and help guide implementation of the Selected Designation Program and the integration of the two organizations.
Rob Paterkiewicz is expected to continue leading the Selected community as Executive Director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes during the transition to the combined organization. This role is intended to provide continuity for members and help guide implementation of the Selected Designation Program and the integration of the two organizations.
National Funeral Directors Association Member FAQ
NFDA’s membership dues structure will stay the same. Beginning in 2028, NFDA members that are independently owned can apply to add the Selected Designation and, if approved, would pay an additional assessment to access programs, communities and experiences available exclusively to Selected Designation holders. Details about the eligibility criteria, assessment, and the application and review process for the Selected Designation will be determined in 2027.
If the merger is approved, both organizations would continue operating under their existing membership structures and program offerings throughout 2027 while leaders and staff work together to design the future integrated organization.
Pending the approval of the merger, beginning in 2028, current Selected members will retain their Selected benefits and be awarded the Selected Designation automatically if they are also NFDA members in good standing. The Selected Designation carries an additional assessment. NFDA members (that are not already Selected members) that are independently owned and want to take advantage of Selected member benefits must be NFDA members in good standing to be considered for the Selected Designation. Details about the application and review process for the Selected Designation will be available in fall 2027. No Selected benefits will be available to NFDA members who do not have the Selected Designation.
Dues and membership benefits will not change during the 2027 membership year. As a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes you’ll continue to receive full Selected benefits through the end of 2027, and as an NFDA member you’ll also receive full NFDA benefits through the end of 2027. Dues information for 2028 will be available in fall 2027.
No immediate changes will be made to benefits received by members of either association. 2027 will be a transition year during which all benefits will be reviewed to ensure we’re offering a comprehensive menu of benefits that support our members in serving their families, running a successful business and supporting their funeral home staff. The goal is to preserve the high-value offerings that members from both organizations rely on while identifying opportunities to strengthen and better align programs across the merged organization.
Both membership terms expire at the end of each calendar year. Your 2027 membership dues for both associations are due no later than December 31, 2026. You should continue to pay dues for both on schedule to ensure your full benefits are available in 2027. Use the usual channels you’ve used in the past to renew your memberships.
Eligible NFDA members will vote on the changes to the NFDA Bylaws which will be required to complete the merger with Selected. Watch for more information to come.
No, you’ll still have the same familiar faces and voices answering your questions and helping you make the most of your NFDA membership!
The existing Boards will continue to fulfill their governance responsibilities until the merger is completed.
The current proposal includes transition representation from Selected leaders on the NFDA Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee to help guide implementation and leadership continuity.
Following the merger, fiduciary responsibility would reside with the NFDA Board, while the Selected Executive Council would provide ongoing guidance on matters related to the Selected Designation Program.
The current proposal includes transition representation from Selected leaders on the NFDA Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee to help guide implementation and leadership continuity.
Following the merger, fiduciary responsibility would reside with the NFDA Board, while the Selected Executive Council would provide ongoing guidance on matters related to the Selected Designation Program.
This is about much more than two associations coming together. It’s about creating a stronger organization to support funeral professionals and the families they serve.
By combining NFDA’s advocacy, education, research and national reach with Selected’s culture of peer learning, leadership development and commitment to excellence, we believe we can provide greater value to members than either organization could independently.
Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen the profession, invest in its future and ensure funeral professionals have the resources they need to succeed in a changing environment.
By combining NFDA’s advocacy, education, research and national reach with Selected’s culture of peer learning, leadership development and commitment to excellence, we believe we can provide greater value to members than either organization could independently.
Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen the profession, invest in its future and ensure funeral professionals have the resources they need to succeed in a changing environment.
Questions can be sent via email to nfda@nfda.org.
Selected FAQ
Like many associations, Selected has faced increasing market, financial, and operational pressures that have made it more challenging to operate as a stand-alone organization. Over the past several years, the Selected Board has explored multiple approaches to address these challenges while remaining focused on serving its members.
NFDA’s scale, financial stability, and diversified revenue streams provide a stronger long-term foundation for investing in the programs and community that make Selected distinctive. This is not a choice between sustainability and identity. The goal is to preserve the trusted peer exchange, high standards, and leadership community that define Selected while giving them an even stronger foundation for the future.
NFDA’s scale, financial stability, and diversified revenue streams provide a stronger long-term foundation for investing in the programs and community that make Selected distinctive. This is not a choice between sustainability and identity. The goal is to preserve the trusted peer exchange, high standards, and leadership community that define Selected while giving them an even stronger foundation for the future.
Beginning in 2028, firms will belong to a single unified NFDA membership.
Within that membership, eligible firms may earn and maintain the Selected Designation—a mark of distinction recognizing firms that meet the standards established for Selected. The designation is designed to preserve the unique identity, trusted peer community, high standards, and exclusive programming that have long defined Selected while providing access to the broader resources and advocacy of a unified organization.
The goal for creating this new Selected Designation is to follow the same requirements that independent firms must meet in order to gain membership in Selected. All current Selected Members will automatically earn the Selected Designation when it is launched in 2028.
Within that membership, eligible firms may earn and maintain the Selected Designation—a mark of distinction recognizing firms that meet the standards established for Selected. The designation is designed to preserve the unique identity, trusted peer community, high standards, and exclusive programming that have long defined Selected while providing access to the broader resources and advocacy of a unified organization.
The goal for creating this new Selected Designation is to follow the same requirements that independent firms must meet in order to gain membership in Selected. All current Selected Members will automatically earn the Selected Designation when it is launched in 2028.
Yes. Because the Selected Designation will exist within the unified organization, interested NFDA members will be required to earn and maintain the designation starting in 2028.
The invitation-based approach will continue as a core element of the Selected Designation Program.
As today, prospective firms will be identified and reviewed before being invited to pursue the designation. The specific qualification requirements and application process are still being developed and will be finalized during the transition with input from members and staff.
As today, prospective firms will be identified and reviewed before being invited to pursue the designation. The specific qualification requirements and application process are still being developed and will be finalized during the transition with input from members and staff.
In 2027, dues for both organizations will remain exactly as they are today during the transition year.
Beginning January 1, 2028, firms holding the Selected Designation will pay NFDA membership dues plus a Selected designation assessment. The integrated dues structure is still being finalized, but the goal is for the total cost of NFDA membership and the Selected Designation to remain at or below what Selected firms pay today.
Beginning January 1, 2028, firms holding the Selected Designation will pay NFDA membership dues plus a Selected designation assessment. The integrated dues structure is still being finalized, but the goal is for the total cost of NFDA membership and the Selected Designation to remain at or below what Selected firms pay today.
Selected’s history and legacy are an important part of what the merged organization is designed to preserve. While Selected membership will now become the Selected Designation, your firm’s history of membership and participation will remain fully in-tact and we will continue to celebrate and recognize member milestones.
Through the 2027 transition year, Premium Membership will continue as it does today.
Beginning in 2028, NFDA membership will be required in order to hold the Selected Designation, so the current Premium Member category will not continue in its current form.
Beginning in 2028, NFDA membership will be required in order to hold the Selected Designation, so the current Premium Member category will not continue in its current form.
Through the 2027 transition year, Virtual Membership will continue as it does today.
Beginning in 2028, NFDA membership will be required in order to hold the Selected Designation, so the current Virtual Member category will not continue in its current form.
Beginning in 2028, NFDA membership will be required in order to hold the Selected Designation, so the current Virtual Member category will not continue in its current form.
International participation will continue to be an important part of the Selected community. The current European and Pacific Group Membership will continue as is in 2027. The future model for international participation within the unified organization will be developed during the transition.
Selected’s Board of Directors will transition into a new body called the Selected Executive Council (SEC). The SEC’s role will be to provide ongoing guidance to the NFDA Board on matters related to the Selected Designation Program, including designation standards and requirements, application review, education and event programming, and programming that supports trusted peer exchange within the Selected community.
The SEC will serve as Selected’s ongoing advisory body to the NFDA Board, which will remain the organization’s sole fiduciary governing body.
The current Selected Board of Directors will become the inaugural SEC. Going forward, the SEC will be composed of representatives from firms holding the Selected Designation.
The SEC will serve as Selected’s ongoing advisory body to the NFDA Board, which will remain the organization’s sole fiduciary governing body.
The current Selected Board of Directors will become the inaugural SEC. Going forward, the SEC will be composed of representatives from firms holding the Selected Designation.
The standards for the Selected Designation will continue to be developed and stewarded by the Selected Executive Council. As the unified organization’s fiduciary governing body, the NFDA Board will review and ratify the SEC’s recommendations.
No. Under the new structure, the Selected Executive Council will review and vote on membership applications and eventually applications to earn the Selected Designation in 2028.
The future of committees and volunteer leadership roles beyond the Selected Executive Council will be evaluated during the transition. Recommendations will be developed with input from members and staff, with the goal of preserving meaningful opportunities for leadership, engagement, and service within the Selected community.
The Selected Educational Trust was created by Selected and operates under Selected as a related organization. As such, if Selected is acquired by NFDA, the Trust would not be able to continue operating separately. Both associations agree there are important programs currently provided by the Trust that should be continued. While specific details are still to be determined, it is expected that the Funeral Service Foundation may be able to fold in these programs into their charitable offerings. We will update this information when more details are agreed upon and available.
Yes. Selected’s signature programs—including Study Groups, member panels, and other trusted peer exchange opportunities—are expected to continue as part of the Selected Designation Program.
During the 2027 transition year, members and staff will work together to determine how meetings and programs will be delivered beginning in 2028, with the goal of preserving the distinctive experience and value of the Selected community while creating opportunities to strengthen offerings within the merged organization.
During the 2027 transition year, members and staff will work together to determine how meetings and programs will be delivered beginning in 2028, with the goal of preserving the distinctive experience and value of the Selected community while creating opportunities to strengthen offerings within the merged organization.
The goal is to preserve the trusted, member-only peer exchange that has long been a hallmark of the Selected experience, including Study Groups and Group Roundtable Meetings.
As part of the transition planning process, the Selected Executive Council will help advise on programming that fosters trusted peer exchange, leadership development, and community engagement among firms holding the Selected Designation.
As part of the transition planning process, the Selected Executive Council will help advise on programming that fosters trusted peer exchange, leadership development, and community engagement among firms holding the Selected Designation.
No. A central goal of the merger is to preserve what has made Selected valuable for generations.
The Selected Designation is designed to preserve the unique identity, trusted peer community, high standards, and exclusive programming that have long defined Selected, while providing access to the broader resources and advocacy of a unified organization.
Throughout the transition, member listening sessions and transition work groups will help ensure the Selected community continues to shape its future.
The Selected Designation is designed to preserve the unique identity, trusted peer community, high standards, and exclusive programming that have long defined Selected, while providing access to the broader resources and advocacy of a unified organization.
Throughout the transition, member listening sessions and transition work groups will help ensure the Selected community continues to shape its future.
Yes. Preserving the integrity and prestige of the Selected Designation is a central objective. While the specific qualification requirements will be finalized during the transition, the designation is intended to continue recognizing firms that meet Selected’s standards and exemplify the qualities that have long distinguished the Selected community.
The Selected name and identity are expected to continue as part of the Selected Designation Program within the unified organization.
Details of how the brand will be represented across programs, communications, and member-facing materials will be finalized during the transition.
Details of how the brand will be represented across programs, communications, and member-facing materials will be finalized during the transition.
The governance model was intentionally designed to ensure Selected continues to have a meaningful role within the combined organization. Dedicated representation during the transition, leadership pathways within NFDA, and the ongoing role of the Selected Executive Council all help ensure that Selected’s perspective, standards, and community remain an enduring part of the unified organization
Beginning in 2028, Selected will function as a designation within the unified organization rather than as a separate membership.
The Selected Executive Council will help steward the standards and requirements for the Selected Designation and advise on their ongoing evolution, with final governance remaining the responsibility of the NFDA Board.
The Selected Executive Council will help steward the standards and requirements for the Selected Designation and advise on their ongoing evolution, with final governance remaining the responsibility of the NFDA Board.
Trusted peer exchange is one of Selected’s defining strengths and is central to what the combined organization is designed to preserve.
Study Groups, Group Roundtable Meetings, and other peer-to-peer programming are expected to continue as part of the Selected Designation Program. During the 2027 transition year, members and staff will work together to determine how these experiences will be delivered beginning in 2028, with the goal of preserving the distinctive experience and value of the Selected community.
Study Groups, Group Roundtable Meetings, and other peer-to-peer programming are expected to continue as part of the Selected Designation Program. During the 2027 transition year, members and staff will work together to determine how these experiences will be delivered beginning in 2028, with the goal of preserving the distinctive experience and value of the Selected community.
Rob Paterkiewicz is expected to continue leading the Selected community as Executive Director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes during the transition to the combined organization. This role is intended to provide continuity for members and help guide implementation of the Selected Designation Program and the integration of the two organizations. Christine Pepper will continue serving as Chief Executive Officer of NFDA.
The current Selected staff are expected to continue supporting members while working closely with the NFDA team as the organizations integrate in order to ensure continuity throughout the transition. As part of that transition, Selected plans to vacate its current office by May 2027, and the organization’s headquarters will transition to NFDA’s headquarters. Other operational integration decisions will continue to be made over time to best support the combined organization.
The Selected Preferred Partner Program will remain exactly as it is today for all of 2027. We intend to preserve the strong relationships Selected has built with its Preferred Partners while thoughtfully integrating them into the combined organization’s business development approach.
The future partner program will be designed during the transition in partnership with Preferred Partners to preserve the relationships and value they bring while creating a stronger integrated program.
The future partner program will be designed during the transition in partnership with Preferred Partners to preserve the relationships and value they bring while creating a stronger integrated program.
We know members will have questions throughout this process, and we encourage you to ask them.
In addition to upcoming town hall meetings, you are welcome to submit questions at any time by emailing info@selectedfuneralhomes.org. We will continue updating these FAQs throughout the transition as additional information becomes available.
In addition to upcoming town hall meetings, you are welcome to submit questions at any time by emailing info@selectedfuneralhomes.org. We will continue updating these FAQs throughout the transition as additional information becomes available.
Better Together