TUKIOS ADDS AUTOMATED MILEAGE CHARGES TO SYMPATHY PLAN

Tukios recently added automated mileage charges for Sympathy Plan. The new feature simplifies
transfer-fee calculations and provides families with greater pricing transparency. By automatically calculating mileage charges during checkout, it eliminates manual distance calculations and last-minute fee adjustments.

To use this feature, a funeral home sets its mileage terms just once within its plan settings. The platform then automatically calculates the appropriate charge for each qualifying order.

During checkout, family members are asked to enter the location of their loved one. Sympathy Plan then measures the driving distance from the funeral home and applies the firm’s established mileage terms. The charge appears within the running order total and clearly displays the mileage rate and number of billable miles. This provides clients with an upfront explanation of costs and spares them unexpected fees at the end of the arrangement process.

Once an order is placed, the mileage charge automatically appears within the order details, printed summary and confirmation email. Tukios.com

BAUE’S WAKE-UP CALLS EARNS MULTIPLE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

Funeral director, entrepreneur, author and podcaster Lisa Baue continues to earn national recognition for her debut book, Wake-Up Calls: A Journey of Learning to Lead and Succeed in the Funeral and Deathcare Profession. Numerous independent award programs have honored the work for its compelling blend of personal reflection, leadership lessons and professional insight.

Most recently, Wake-Up Calls was recognized with several 2026 Literary Global Independent Author Awards. It won the Cancer category and earned finalist honors in the categories of Death and Dying, Memoir, Nonfiction, and Women’s Issues.

Published in September 2025, the book draws from Baue’s four-plus decades in funeral service. Through candid stories of personal loss, business challenges and leadership experiences, the book offers encouragement and practical wisdom for anyone navigating change, adversity or the calling to serve others.

“I wrote [the book] to share lessons learned throughout my career and to encourage others – especially women in funeral service – to trust themselves, embrace challenges and lead with purpose,” said Baue. “To have the book recognized by so many respected award programs is incredibly meaningful because it shows that the themes of resilience, compassion, leadership and personal growth resonate with readers from all walks of life.”

All proceeds from the book are donated to organizations that support women’s education and leadership development, including Funeral Women Lead and the Funeral Service Foundation. LisaBaue.com

@NEED MARKETING HIRES MARASCO AS SENIOR MANAGER OF ACCOUNT STRATEGY

Marketing agency @need Marketing has hired Eric Marasco as senior manager of account strategy. In his new role, he will work closely with company partners to develop and execute custom marketing strategies, deepen client relationships, and help funeral home and cemetery owners better connect with the families they serve.

Marasco possesses more than two decades of experience in brand strategy, digital marketing and client development. A graduate of Butler University, he began his career in sales in 1996 before transitioning into marketing several years later.

Said Marasco about the opportunity: “What drew me to @need was the people and the mission. Helping funeral home owners run stronger businesses so they can better serve families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives … is meaningful work. I am genuinely excited to bring everything I have built over two decades to serve these owners well, and to keep learning from a team that knows this profession deeply.” AtNeedMarketing.com

ASD RELEASES ASD MOBILE 6 FOR APPLE USERS

ASD-Answering Service for Directors recently released ASD Mobile 6, the latest version of its mobile application for Apple devices. The update introduces several features designed to help funeral service professionals manage their businesses more efficiently while away.

Among the most significant enhancements is expanded billing functionality, allowing ASD clients to securely add and manage payment methods within the mobile app.

Additionally, ASD Mobile 6 introduces several tools aimed at improving communication and collaboration. A new button lets users create a Cremation Air account within the app, providing an easy way to offer aerial-scattering services while taking advantage of exclusive ASD-client pricing. And a new out-of-area lookup tool helps funeral service professionals locate ASD-client funeral homes when coordinating nonlocal funeral services.
MyASD.com

FUNERAL WOMEN LEAD ADDS MEEHAN AND ANTONIO

Funeral Women Lead recently added Lisa Meehan and Misha Antonio to its staff. Meehan joins as the part-time education and community engagement coordinator, and Antonio joins as the executive assistant.

Meehan has more than three decades of funeral service experience, including 21 years in higher education and leadership development. She currently serves as dean of academic affairs – health sciences at Ogeechee Technical College, and she previously held academic leadership roles at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Additionally, she has worked in a leadership capacity in funeral homes, funeral service education and health-sciences administration.

A licensed funeral director, embalmer and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, Meehan is a lifelong advocate for education, mentorship, and the advancement of women in funeral service and deathcare.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside the women of this profession as they grow into their next chapter,” Meehan said. “Funeral Women Lead’s commitment to education and community is exactly why I wanted to be part of this work.”

Antonio has nearly a decade of executive-support experience and a background in international relations. In her new role, she will keep the organization’s daily operations, priorities and communications running smoothly. FuneralWomenLead.org

MULDOWNEY MEMORIALS LAUNCHES MEMORIAL-PLANNING PROGRAM

In August, Muldowney Memorials launched a program that provides guidance on planning meaningful, personalized memorials and celebrations of life. Created to help professionals confidently manage every stage of the process, the comprehensive online program covers topics such as venue selection, ceremony design, music, flowers, catering, visual tributes, invitations, budget, logistics, technology, sensory experiences, hospitality, family
dynamics and post-event considerations.

Participants receive practical workbooks, planning templates and downloadable resources they can use immediately.

The program is designed for funeral directors, funeral home staff, celebrants, cremation providers, event professionals, end-of-life doulas and anyone wishing to develop specialist skills in memorial planning. MuldowneyMemorials.com

GRAYSTONE HIRES ANAYA AS SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER AND TRAINER

Graystone Associates Inc. recently hired Bridget Anaya as a senior account manager and trainer. A funeral director licensed in both Kansas and Missouri since 1997, Anaya most recently served as the general manager of a high-volume combination location at Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens and Longview Funeral Home & Cemetery.

In addition to an associate degree in funeral service, Anaya holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

According to the company, her extensive knowledge of cemetery sales and development will be a great addition, as will her desire to train others and lead by example. GraystoneAssociates.com

EVERSTORY INTRODUCES EVERMARK FAMILY ESTATES

Everstory Partners recently introduced Evermark, its brand of custom-designed private family estates. With the help of experienced architects and design professionals, Everstory will guide families through every step of the process, from initial vision and design to installation and dedication.

Every Evermark family estate is custom-created and can include a private walk-in or walk-around mausoleum; multigenerational burial and cremation estates; custom architectural monuments and memorial structures; premium granite, bronze or
natural-stone elements, as well as personalized stained glass, family crests, inscriptions or artistic features; and gardens, gathering spaces and landscaping designed to facilitate reflection and remembrance.

To commemorate the launch of Evermark in August, the company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Windridge Memorial Park and Nature Sanctuary in Cary, Illinois. The event marked the opening of the Windridge showcase estate, and it included guided tours, media interviews and remarks from company leaders. Additional Evermark walk-in models are located at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania; Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania; and Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. EverstoryPartners.com

NGL HIRES WHITMER, PROMOTES HEINS AND FISH, RECEIVES A.M. BEST A (EXCELLENT) RATING

NGL has hired Al Whitmer as senior vice president, chief preneed distribution officer. Leading the company’s preneed sales program, he will oversee the sales team, as well as its distribution strategy and profitability. He also will work closely with partners to optimize existing relationships and implement objectives that help ensure the growth of their preneed programs. Finally, he will identify new partners whose strategic goals and values align with those of NGL.

Whitmer holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Most recently, he served as assistant vice president of national sales distribution for Wellabe.

Said Whitmer about his new opportunity: “I’m honored to join a company with more than 100 years of serving families with strength, stability and integrity. NGL has a history of being a trusted leader in the industry, and I’m excited to be a part of its next chapter of growth.”

In other news, NGL promoted both Robert Heins and Tim Fish to vice president of sales and business development. Each is responsible for the strategic direction and success of the preneed sales team, and the pair will work closely with existing partners to optimize their sales plans and drive growth.

Since joining NGL in 2006, Heins has advanced through the organization by combining his extensive product knowledge with firsthand insight into the needs of partners, agents and policyholders.

Said Heins about his new responsibilities: “I’m thrilled to move into this new role … I look forward to continuing to support our partners’ success, driving growth and helping advance NGL’s long-term strategic growth objectives.”

Fish joined NGL in 2023 with more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the funeral and cemetery professions. With an extensive background in sales leadership, he delivers strong results by fostering collaboration and identifying opportunities to further meet the needs of partners.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow with NGL and learn from my colleagues and partners,” said Fish. “This promotion is an exciting new chapter, and I look forward to … delivering value to our partners, enhancing relationships and pursuing new opportunities for growth.”

Finally, A.M. Best affirmed its A (Excellent) rating of NGL. This rating reflects the ability of the company to meet ongoing insurance-policy and contract obligations, and it attests to NGL’s financial strength.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance-rating source. Each rating is based on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluations of a company’s balance-sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. NGLIC.com

HARBOR LAUNCHES “DEATHCARE OS” WITH INSTANT ACCESS AND FLAT PRICING

Harbor recently made its funeral-management software available, then invited funeral directors to skip the sales process and simply use its offering instead. Called the Harbor Sandcastle Challenge, the platform is fully and instantly accessible – with no sales call, no demo, no credit card and no “contact me for access.”

From first call to final goodbye, Harbor keeps everything in one place. This includes intake, arrangements, FTC-ready price lists and statements, a branded family portal, billing and accounting, and follow-up. You enter information once, and it flows everywhere.

What sets the software apart is how much is included. Review requests, satisfaction surveys, compassionate aftercare and Harbor Studio – a built-in design room for service cards, folders, register books and keepsakes – all come standard.

In addition, pricing is transparent. It’s $300 per month per location – with no per-case fees and no contracts – plus a one-time data-transfer fee to bring over the firm’s history. The transfer is handled by Harbor’s team, and cases, contacts and financials are reconciled before go-live.

Built by Director’s Corner, a women-owned deathcare marketing and technology agency that has served funeral homes, crematories, cemeteries and pet-aftercare providers since 1999, the platform was developed with the help of independent funeral directors.

To access the software, visit SandcastleChallenge.HarborFuneral.app and enter code Anchor26 (an email address is required). HarborFuneral.com

WELLABE ADDS STEVENSON AND GOFF TO BOARD, HOLDS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Wellabe recently appointed Eric Stevenson and Gregory Goff to its board of directors. Their combined experience across retirement solutions, financial services and enterprise technology aligns with the company’s strategy to expand its product portfolio and invest in digital innovation.

Most recently, Stevenson served as president of retirement solutions for Nationwide Financial. Before that, he held senior leadership roles in marketing and brand management at Warner-Lambert, The Quaker Oats Company and Xerox. Stevenson also served as a member of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents.

Goff joins the board with a strong background in technology and data-driven solutions. He most recently served as president of Alight Solutions LLC. Before that, he worked at Uptake Technologies, Morningstar and The Nielsen Company. He also served as a member of the InMoment Board of Directors.

In other news, Wellabe held its fundraiser, Blooming with Hope, in August. The annual event brings potted mums, care packages and encouragement to cancer patients and healthcare workers across central Iowa. Every purchase supports the American Cancer Society’s mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and to fund research, patient-support programs and other services for those navigating a diagnosis.

Since its launch in 2017, Blooming with Hope has raised more than $160,000 and delivered thousands of plants to patients and healthcare workers in the Des Moines area. The campaign pairs a simple, tangible memento – a vibrant flower – with a meaningful purpose.

As presenting sponsor, Wellabe expanded the campaign’s reach this year by engaging individuals, businesses and organizations across central Iowa. They were encouraged to purchase a mum for their home or to gift a plant or care package directly to a patient or healthcare worker. Wellabe.com