Page B14 july 2024 News EDUCATIONAL Continuing Vision: Jeff Holcomb is on a Mission to Help Funeral Directors Earn CEUs By Thomas A. Parmalee Jeff Holcomb, 66, has been a funeral director for about 43 years, and he once dreamed of owning his own funeral home. While the stars never aligned for him to do that, he scratched his itch of becoming a business owner in a different way: In 2006, he launched Continuing Vision, which hosts virtual and on-site events with the goal of helping funeral directors fulfill continuing education requirements. “I did have aspirations at one time of owning my own funeral home, but the cost kind of put that on the side – and I started Continuing Vision in that respect of wanting to be an owner of something,” he said. A first-generation licensed funeral director, Holcomb became interested in the profession while his father was working on a parttime basis at James Funeral Home on Atlantic Avenue and LaPolla Funeral Home in Canarsie, a neighborhood in Brooklyn. “That is where we lived and that is where I started,” Holcomb said. “I was actually in a seminary college studying for the priesthood and saw funeral service as a vocation that was more my calling.” Today, he manages a firm owned by Service Corporation International on Staten Island – Harmon Funeral Home, where he has been for five years. The funeral home serves about 250 families per year. The bulk of his career was spent at Aievoli Funeral Home in Brooklyn, where he worked for 25 years. Over the course of his career in funeral service, the experience that stands out the most is the death of his son, Brian Holcomb, on July 1, 2022. “That really changed my perspective,” said Holcomb, who is married and also has a daughter. “I had always been on the other side of death, and now I was that person … it was a gut-wrenching change.” His son died after a battle with cancer, Holcomb said. “He beat the original prognosis by a year,” he said. “We fought hard and tried to give him any chance he could in fighting the cancer … until the end, I did not realize how much pain and suffering he went through.” His son continued to work right until the end, he said: He was also a funeral director, working at Aievoli Funeral Home in Brooklyn. The ordeal has helped Holcomb connect with families, he said, noting that when someone dies, there may be massive medical debt and all sorts of other challenges left behind. “You try to have compassion for the family,” he said. As for Continuing Vision, he says he started the company because as a funeral director, he saw that it could be a struggle to earn the necessary CEUs to renew his license. “All the offerings were always through the associations at their meetings, and as a working funeral director, I always had to stay back at the funeral home while the owners went,” he said. “There is not a lot of time to earn CEUs at a small firm if the owner is away and you have to man the store.” So, he got to thinking that he could not possibly be the only hardworking funeral director in such a situation. “I decided to create something,” he said. “I would move around borough to borough, giving everyone opportunities on different days.” He knew he was on to something from the moment he held his first event in 2007. “We did it at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan on Lexington Avenue,” he said. “We had a military presentation and about 75 people for that first event. It went very well, and it has continued to go very well.” He suspects that is largely because he’s a funeral director and fairly well known in the profession. “I am one of them,” he said. “When you come to a Continuing Vision seminar or workshop, there are absolutely no association fees or requirements to be part of any group,” Holcomb said. “We opened it up to everyone, and it worked,” he said. When he started the company, virtual events were not even considered for CEU purposes, so Holcomb learned how to coordinate on-site events by going out and doing it. As a funeral director, however, it came naturally. Today, the company hosts both on-site and virtual events that offer CEUs to licensees. “So, for New York, if you need 12 credits, six of which have to be attended and the others which can be completed online, you can do it all through Continuing Vision,” he said. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, however, that Holcomb began to get serious about virtual events, he said. For some time, Holcomb focused on offering CEUs and doing events only in New York, but it became apparent to him that funeral directors in other states also struggle with meeting CEU requirements and could benefit from Continuing Vision’s events. “I then branched out into New Jersey with the help of some speakers,” he said, singling out Edith Churchman, owner of James E. Churchman Funeral Home in Newark, NJ, for her assistance. Continuing Vision courses are also approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice as well as in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Indiana. The company recently began offering CEUs for Tennessee licensees as well, Holcomb said. “You just have to navigate the waters with some of the states in terms of those that accept academy approval – and find out the nuances of state notification, etc,” he said. Asked about CEU requirements, Holcomb said he thinks that every state should have some type of minimum requirement. “You don’t go to a doctor or trust a nurse who doesn’t continue their education,” he said. “You want to keep up with new trends and procedures with embalming and with integrating different things into your services.” While each state should have some minimum requirements, he believes there should be some leeway for them to customize them as needed. Over the years, Continuing Vision has made a clear impact on the profession, which is not lost on Holcomb. Over 7,500 people have attended a Continuing Vision program either virtually or on site over the years, he said. The majority of his offerings continue to be an on-site format, he said. “I tend to gravitate toward restaurants or catering halls, especially during the week as they have availability,” he said. “They offer a nice setting, have nice rooms and the food is usually good.” He added, “I don’t like the idea of having a tray of cookies or paper cups for coffee – most of these places have porcelain cups, and there is not a cheap feel to it.” Typically, Holcomb designs a program so that it covers six hours, which usually translates into six CEUs. As he’s built Continuing Vision, Holcomb has gotten a great deal of help from various funeral professionals, including Regan Moreland, a funeral director from Alabama who serves as his digital marketing manager and web administrator. He’s also been blessed to work with some incredible speakers and instructors, including Kari Northey, also known as “Kari the Mortician,” out of Michigan; John Hill, who works for James Funeral Home in Huntersville, NC and is a funeral service education instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, NC; Dr. Jennifer Lares, a mortuary officer with the United States Army who also does consulting work with Larry Stuart Jr., Raven Plume and Kelley Romanowski out of Minnesota. “The most impressive presentation I have seen in recent times was ‘Are You Facing It or Fearing It? The Transformation of Death Care,’ which was presented by Northey and Hill,” Holcomb said. As to what presenters can do to deliver a better experience to attendees, Holcomb has some wise words of advice. “Put a little personality into the presentation,” he said. “Just reading from slides puts people to sleep. You have to mix it up. It’s almost like you are an entertainer when you are performing.” While Holcomb has built an impressive business, he scoffs at the notion that he’s getting rich running Continuing Vision. “Everything has a cost,” he pointed out. “This isn’t a million-dollar business. Most events I have done have just broken even on covering costs. But it’s not so much the monetary aspect – it’s more about giving back to the profession and giving them the availability to earn their credits. And we have some nice social gatherings.” To learn more and see a schedule of available seminars visit https:// www.continuingvision.com/. Reprinted with permission. Thomas A. Parmalee is the founder of FuneralVision.com, which aims to help death-care professionals honor the dead and comfort the living. (L to R) Jeff Holcomb, Kari Northey and John Hill LEAWOOD,KS— Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Antonio Green, a distinguished fourth-generation funeral director and author, will be the featured speaker for our upcoming WilbertEDU® continuing education course on July 25, 2024. The webinar, “Bridging the Generational Divide in the Workplace,” will focus on the importance of a multigenerational workforce where every generation feels valued and understood. Antonio Green has dedicated over 15 years to the funeral service industry, upholding his family’s century-long legacy at the James H. Cole Home for Funerals in Detroit, MI. A graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Bowling Green State University, Antonio’s commitment to being a “Man for Others” has been evident throughout his career. He further honed his skills at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where his passion for helping others in their time of need led him to modernize and expand his family’s business. Under Antonio’s visionary leadership, the James H. Cole Home for Funerals opened a new facility in 2010, reflecting his innovative approach and dedication to the community. His commitment to professional excellence is further exemplified by his 2021 book, Antonio Green to Address Multigenerational Workforce Challenges at Upcoming Continuing Education Webinar Antonio Green The Conference Launches North Carolina Laws Exam FAYETTEVILLE,AR— The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards is pleased to announce the North Carolina Laws Exam (NC-Law) is now live and available for applications. This exam ensures funeral service professionals in North Carolina are well-versed in the state-specific legal requirements and regulations. “We’re excited to collaborate with the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service to administer its Laws, Rules, and Regulations Exam,” ICFSEB exam program director Dustin Wardlow stated. “Our expanded partnership ensures a smooth transition, and we’re eager to provide a familiar and efficient exam process for North Carolina licensees.” Candidates can apply through their candidate portal accounts on The Conference website. The NC-Law exam consists of 50 questions and candidates will have one hour to complete it. A minimum passing score of 75 is required to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of North Carolina’s funeral service laws and regulations. Candidates are encouraged to check their eligibility status with the North Carolina State Board of Funeral Service before applying. The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards is headquartered in Fayetteville, AR. Founded in 1904, the membership of The Conference is composed of funeral service licensing and regulatory agencies throughout the United States and Canada. For more information on The Conference, visit www.theconferenceonline.org. Talk to Me - Understanding the Millennial Mindset, which offers valuable insights for small business owners seeking to engage with the Millennial generation. Antonio’s presentation will cover topics such as understanding the generational landscape, challenges in managing a multigenerational workforce, strategies for bridging the generational gap, the role of each generation in fostering a cohesive workplace, and the benefits of a successfully integrated multigenerational workforce for long-term business success. “We are thrilled to have Antonio Green share his wealth of knowledge and experience with our attendees,” said Mark Bates, President and CEO. His unique perspective and proven track record of success will provide invaluable insights to funeral professionals.” In addition to his professional accomplishments, Antonio is a dedicated family man, married to his wife Angel since 2010, with whom he has three extraordinary children: Nolan, Berkeley, and Jaxson. His personal and professional journeys serve as an inspiration to many, highlighting the importance of balancing family, career, and community service. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s most promising young leaders. Register for the continuing education course today at Wilbert.com/wilbertedu. Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. supports funeral professionals seeking CEU hours with a complimentary online program called WilbertEDU. Launched in November 2020, WilbertEDU has featured dozens of presenters, all accomplished funeral professionals, and entrepreneurs, providing insight on a wide variety of deathcare topics. Participants have expressed their appreciation for the many industry-related topics including professional and staff development, embalming, children and death, cremation, cemetery development, legal and ethical issues, and many others, all from the comfort and convenience of their own homes and offices.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzg4MQ==