August 2020

Page B4 AUGUST 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on B www. vischerfuneralsupplies.com For funeral and cemetery suppliers, business has never been more isolating. Often ideas are done in a vacuum. What you know is only what you know, which limits how far you can go. IMSA membership can change that. We’ve brought together some of the top industry experts to offer our members free one-on-one advice on marketing, business planning, legal issues and more. We also bring to our members insightful business-boosting webinars, meaningful trade resources and networking with other IMSA members. All this for just $175 a year. We’re the only association serving all funeral and cemetery suppliers. Because what’s good for the suppliers is good for the providers and that’s good for the families. IMSA. Supplying opportunity. Who Supplies the Suppliers? IMSA members now get free consultation with Dan Katz & Rolf Gutknecht of LA ads, Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting, Ryan Thogmartin of Disrupt Media and Poul Lemasters of Lemasters Consulting. www.IMSA-Online.com Thacker Caskets Relocates Headquarters Wilbert Funeral Services Inc Promotes Mark Bates to President and CEO Matthews International Announces Sale of Investment in Pet Cremation Business PITTSBURGH,PA— Mat- thews International Cor- poration (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) announced the sale, on June 26, 2020, of its noncontrolling owner- ship interest in a pet crema- tion services business. The Company sold its owner- ship interest for a sales price of $57.2 million, consist- ing of $42.2 million cash and $15.0 million preferred stock. Matthews Interna- tional intends to apply the cash proceeds from the sale to debt repayment. Joseph C. Bartolacci , President and Chief Exec- utive Officer, stated: “This transaction, together with the recent sale of one of our buildings for $11.25 mil- lion, is consistent with our near-term strategy to in- crease cash flow and reduce debt, not only through op- erating cash flow, but also through identification of as- sets that are no longer con- sistent with our long-term return objectives. As a re- sult, despite the impact of COVID-19, we currently expect that our operating cash flow combined with the benefit of these transac- tions will result in a signifi- cant reduction of our con- solidated net debt (debt less cash) from January 1, 2020 through the end of fiscal 2020.” Matthews International Corporation is a global pro- vider of brand solutions, me- morialization products and industrial technologies. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memo- rialization products, includ- ing memorials, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help fami- lies move from grief to re- membrance. The Company has approximately 11,000 employees in more than 25 countries on six continents that are committed to de- livering the highest quality products and services. Mark Bates OVERLAND PARK,KS— Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc (WFSI) has announced the promotion of Mark Bates to president and chief executive officer effective July 1. Bates joined WFSI in January as part of the company’s acqui- sition of Norwalk-Wilbert Vault Company (NVC), which he acquired in 2007 and operated for thirteen years. He relocated from Connecticut to Overland Park, KS upon joining WFSI, where he has served as chief op- erating officer. In his new role, Bates will work closely with the WFSI board of directors and senior manage- ment to implement WFSI’s strategic plan. Bates has a diverse business and entrepreneurial back- ground and worked for five years in finance prior to acquir- ing NVC in 2007. Under his leadership, NVC expanded significantly, growing into the largest Wilbert licensee in the Northeast. Wilbert’s management team identified his business and leadership skills, and invited him to join the Wilbert board of directors in 2016. Bates has further dem- onstrated his commitment to the funeral profession and the products that support it by serving on the board of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA), in- cluding a term as president. He has also served on various boards for cemeteries and other funeral service groups. “Mark has brought tremendous insight to the board and ultimately the entire Wilbert network,” said Dennis Wel- zenbach, current president and CEO of WFSI, who will transition to a senior leadership role in corporate develop- ment when Bates assumes his new role. “I am confident that Mark will be an excellent steward and guiding light for Wilbert going forward.” remarked Bates. “Wilbert is undoubtedly the leader in burial vaults and related burial and cremation prod- ucts and services, and I know that together we will build upon this firm foun- dation to continue to meet the industry’s future needs with innovation and un- paralleled service.” Established in 1880, Wil- bert Funeral Services, Inc is a licensor of, and sup- plier to, independent- ly owned concrete buri- al vault manufacturers that are licensed to manufacture Wilbert® brand burial vaults under an intellectual prop- erty license agreement including the sale of cremation products, vault forms, liners, and other related products to the licensees. The company sells other funeral indus- try products directly to funeral home customers through its vast distribution network. Wilbert’s company store di- vision manufactures and distributes vaults, caskets, lawn crypts, monuments, and other precast concrete products as a licensee. Substantially all of the company’s custom- ers are located in the United States and Canada. For more information about Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc, visit www.wilbert.com or call 913-345-2120. “I am honored to be se- lected as Wilbert’s presi- dent and CEO and am pleased to be able to con- tinue working with all of the Wilbert family. With the support of Alleghany Capital, our financial part- ner, I look forward to being able to invest in the success of our talented employ- ees, hardworking licens- ees, and loyal customers,” View of the outside of the new Thacker headquarters MONROVIA,MD— Thacker Caskets is excited to announce that they have re- located their headquarters to Monrovia, MD, a suburb of both Baltimore and Washington, DC. The brand new, cus- tom-designed building will be entirely oc- cupied by Thacker Caskets and will meet the needs of Thacker’s rapidly growing or- ganization. Founded in 1939 by Carl Thacker, Thacker Caskets spent its first 50 years lo- cated in the heart of Washington, DC. In 1989, under the direction of Audrey and CJ Thacker, the company’s continuous growth provided an opportunity to relocate their headquarters to Clinton, MD, just 7 miles outside of Washington, DC. 30 years later, the company has yet again outgrown its current location. The new building has been specifically designed and built to meet the needs of the business as they continue to expand and grow. CEO of Thacker Cas- kets, CJ Thacker, said “I have been so for- tunate to see the progression of Thacker Caskets and we’re excited about our next transition! At the heart of this decision were our employees and their needs as we continue to grow our internal team.” The new building is 41,000 square feet - 33,000 dedicated to the warehouse space and 8,000 of it being dedicated to office space. The office space features an open office concept, sit/stand desks, private of- fice space, and professional conference rooms. In addition, there is a large, multi- purpose space that will be used for show- ing and displaying products and conduct- ing training sessions with both internal staff, as well as funeral directors. The location of the new headquarters was carefully selected based on the business’s needs as they continue to expand. Danielle Thacker, executive vice president of sales, said “The new building is located right off Interstate 70 in Frederick County. Freder- ick County is a growing area and is easily accessible to many of the funeral homes we work with. It also keeps us close to the Bal- timore-Washington metro area and allows us to be closer to Harrisburg, PA, which will be beneficial for our growing busi- ness.” Relocating to a more central area will allow Thacker to enhance their already ex- ceptional customer service. Not only does the new headquarters meet all the code requirements, but it was constructed with a high level of en- vironmentally friendly standards as well. Thacker Caskets would like to thank their architects, Proffitt & Associates Archi- tects; their general contractor, Waynes- boro Construction Company; and their civil engineer, Daft McCune Walker. Thacker Caskets is the funeral indus- try’s leading family-owned funeral supply company. To learn more about Thacker and their new headquarters, call 800-637- 8891 or visit www.thackercaskets.com.