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Candidates for the ICFA Board of Directors
 Barry Berlin is the chief operating officer and executive director of planning and development for Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, California. He has over 43 years of experience in sales, marketing and operations for large national corporations and has been in the cemetery and mortuary business for the last 20 years. He holds a bachelor of science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from New York University.
Berlin plays an active role in the ICFA as a member of the Finance Committee, Sales and Marketing Committee and Product Development Committee, and formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors. He is a professor at ICFA University as well as a frequent speaker at association conferences.
Berlin is a past president and former director of the California Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) and is a member of the finance committee and the legal and legislative committee. He is treasurer and board member for the Funeral Directors Service Corporation (California Master Trust), a member of the Interment Association of California and a member of the Los Angeles Funeral Directors Association.
Berlin actively supports numerous community-based civic and religious organizations, including serving as trustee of the Culver City Educational Foundation and board member of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.
 Stephen G. Burrill is superintendent of Mount Hope Cemetery Corporation in Bangor, Maine. He entered the cemetery business in 1969 as assistant to the superintendent and became the third-generation superintendent of Mount Hope in 1992.
Burrill serves as the secretary/treasurer of the Maine Cemetery Association, where he is a past president and former board member. He is immediate past president and former board member of the New England Cemetery Association and served as program chair for the New England Cemetery Management Seminar at the University of New Hampshire in 2002. He currently serves on the state Cemetery Consumer Service Council, as well as several local area cemetery boards as an advisor, and is a frequent attendee at ICFA conferences and conventions.
Burrill is a member of the Burton-Goode-Sargent Chapter 1 (Korean War Memorial) for which he helped establish a site at Mount Hope and is a member of the Air Force First Sergeants Association. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and with the Marine Air National Guard for 24 years, retiring in 2002. Burrill is a graduate of Husson College and Eastern Maine Community College.
Burrill says: "It would be a great honor to serve on the ICFA Board of Directors. As I have been a cemeterian all my life, I feel that my knowledge may be of help. If the future of our cemetery and funeral association is to remain strong, we must work together to better serve our communities and customers."
 Darin B. Drabing is senior vice president-operations of the five Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries located throughout Southern California. With over 20 years of experience in the cemetery and funeral service profession, he is responsible for overseeing and directing the activities of 550 employees in all areas of mortuary, cemetery, crematory and flower shop operations, as they conduct over 7,500 funeral services and 10,000+ interments annually.
Drabing is also a licensed funeral director, embalmer, cemetery manager/broker and life insurance agent. He holds a degree in mortuary science from Vincennes University, a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of La Verne and an Executive MBA from Claremont Graduate University.
Currently serving on the ICFA Finance Committee, Drabing has been a speaker at both the 2002 and 2004 ICFA Annual Conventions. As an active member of the Interment Association of California and the California Mortuary Alliance, Drabing serves on an ad hoc regulatory oversight committee that has dramatically improved the working relationship with the director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs and its Cemetery and Funeral Bureau.
Active in the local community, Drabing has served on a number of boards and committees, including the Boy Scouts of America Orange County Council, past president of the Boys and Girls Club of Cypress and vice president of the Cypress Chamber of Commerce. Currently, Drabing serves as trustee of the Forest Lawn Foundation and vice president and finance committee member of the Cypress College Foundation, where he was instrumental in the revitalization of the Cypress College Mortuary Science Program facilities.
Drabing says: "I have always considered it a privilege to serve others and to contribute to our industry. From working in a small family-owned funeral home to managing a large organization with multiple locations, including mortuaries, cemeteries, and crematories, I have a broad perspective of the issues facing our association's members. In such challenging times of shifting consumer demands and increasing regulation, I have the necessary skills and insight to provide leadership for the ICFA's future."
 Andrew J. Gauntley is vice president, trust and regulatory compliance, for Alderwoods Group and is responsible for the corporation's relationships with regulators in the United States and Canada. In that role, Gauntley works closely with Alderwoods' funeral homes, cemeteries and general management in dealing with any compliance issues raised by regulators.
He currently serves as a member of the ICFA Government and Legal Affairs Committee and is a director of the ICFA Service Bureau Board. Prior to joining Alderwoods in 1998, he gained 33 years of retail, commercial and corporate banking experience with two Canadian and two major international banks.
Gauntley says: "After gaining invaluable experience in the similarly competitive and service-oriented banking industry, I have really come to appreciate my friends, colleagues and competitors who serve families in their hour of need. I believe that my business background and in-depth experience with industry regulators can be of real benefit to the ICFA and serve to help maintain the ICFA as the authoritative legislative, regulatory and legal representative of the industry at a time when attempts are being made to challenge the effective state and federal regulation of our great business."
 Nancy Hansen is vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Seattle, Washington, as well as part owner of the company. Hansen entered the cemetery and funeral business in 1981, joining the Greenacres Memorial Park team, while a college student at Western Washington. She joined Evergreen-Washelli in 1984 and earned her degree from the University of Washington.
Hansen serves on the Taxation Subcommittee of the ICFA Government & Legal Affairs Committee and is a graduate of ICFA University. She was a speaker at the 2000 ICFA Fall Management Conference. In addition, Nancy serves as secretary-treasurer for the WCFA (Washington Cemetery & Funeral Association) and is a member of the board of directors. She has been a speaker at numerous conventions over the past 14 years and has served as program co-chair for three conventions.
Hansen has served as a member of the board of directors of the Seattle-area Better Business Bureau and the Boys & Girls Club. She has chaired and been active in several political campaigns and served as treasurer of her county's party as well as precinct committee officer.
Hansen says: "With 24 active years in the industry, I believe I have a lot to offer should I be elected to the board. I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the ICFA and believe this association is the association in our industry."
 Michael L. Hays is senior vice president with Keystone Group Holdings Inc. in Tampa, Florida. His areas of responsibility with Keystone include advance planning, professional development and training and program development. He is a licensed Kentucky funeral director who has served funeral homes and cemeteries around the country for more than 15 years. Hays is an experienced salesperson and sales manager having worked directly with more than 200 funeral homes and 40 cemeteries to install or improve preneed systems.
Hays is a member of the ICFA Sales and Marketing Committee and co-chaired the 2003 Sales and Marketing Conference, where he has been a speaker and active participant for six years. Hays has also served as an ICFA University professor for the past four years.
Hays attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and is a graduate of Berea College. He holds a master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and is currently working toward a doctorate with an emphasis in the area of grief counseling.
Hays says: "My family and even the partners of Keystone tease that I am a 'professional student.' But my personal mission statement speaks directly to my commitment 'to be dedicated to learning every day.' That is why I'm such a strong supporter of ICFA. No other organization on the planet makes such concerted efforts to develop professionals in our business. When I have the opportunity to share learning, information and ideas with my colleagues in an ICFA forum, I always receive an abundant return on my time and effort. For that reason, I feel more than honored to have the opportunity to provide a degree of leadership in the organization—I feel obligated."
 Herbert B. Klapper is president of the Cedar Park and Fidelity Cemetery Association of Bergen County, New Jersey. After graduating from Long Island University with a degree in public accounting and working for a large firm, he entered the cemetery business. With 34 years of experience in the industry, Klapper also manages three ongoing public mausoleum projects in New Jersey with over 25,000 crypt spaces. A longtime active member of ICFA and attendee at many association conferences and conventions, he formerly served on the ICFA Board of Directors and is currently a member of the Finance Committee. Klapper is a past president and active member of the New Jersey Cemetery Association.
Klapper says: "I am fascinated by the constant changes in our industry as well as varying legislation imposed by state regulators throughout the country. This enthusiasm, combined with my 34 years of experience, makes me a prime candidate as a board member."
 I. Frederick Lappin is president and chief executive officer of Knollwood Cemetery Corporation in Sharon, Massachusetts. The company owns and operates Sharon Memorial Park and Knollwood Memorial Park located in the Boston area. Prior to entering the death care industry, Lappin attended the College of Business Administration at Syracuse University and held senior management positions in distribution businesses and real estate.
Lappin serves the ICFA as a member of the Sales and Marketing Committee, the New Products Committee and the Board of Directors of the ICFA Service Bureau. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Cemetery Association and the New England Cemetery Association. Lappin is also a founder and member of the board of directors of the Cemetery Sales Conference of New England, a group founded to provide networking and continuing education opportunities for preneed sales counselors.
Lappin serves on the board of directors of Newton Cable Access Center and the Jewish National Fund for the New England region, where he is also a member of the National Product Development Committee. He has served as vice president of Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, Massachusetts, and is a member of the board of directors. Lappin has also chaired the Economic Development Commission for the City of Newton, Massachusetts.
Lappin says: "I feel strongly that it is important for people to become involved and to make a contribution to their profession. Having extensive business experience prior to becoming a cemetery professional prepared me well for leading my company. This background, combined with my other organizational experience, allows me to bring a somewhat different perspective to our profession. I believe that this combination of skills and experience will be beneficial to the ICFA at the board level as we address the challenges that face us today and in the future."
 Blair H. Nelsen, CFuE, CFSP is president and chief executive officer of Nelsen Family Funeral Services, which operates funeral homes and crematories in Virginia. Nelsen Funeral Home has twice been awarded the Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award by the National Funeral Directors Association and was named a finalist in the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award. In 2004, Nelsen Funeral Home was awarded first place in the "Magic Moments" category of the ICFA KIP Awards.
A licensed funeral director, Nelsen has been active in funeral service since 1990 and has served in numerous leadership capacities. He is a member of the ICFA Sales and Marketing Committee and a professor at ICFA University, which he has also attended as a student. He has served as president, director and legislative chairman of his state funeral directors association, as well as a director of Preferred Funeral Directors International. His involvement with cemetery issues includes service as a member of the City of Richmond Historic Cemetery Commission and the City of Hopewell Cemetery Committee.
Nelsen is a retired Air Force pilot and holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has served as a director and officer of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Metro Richmond YMCA, Metropolitan Business Foundation, Leadership Metro Richmond, Hopewell Preservation Inc., the Henrico County Business Council, the Henrico Education Foundation, the Henrico Police Foundation and was elected to two terms on the Richmond School Board. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine, the Retired Officers Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is immediate past president of the Western Henrico Rotary Club.
Nelsen says: "Our industry is in a period of great change and faces many challenges, from competitors outside our industry to increased regulation. The cooperation of all segments of the death care industry is necessary to meet these head on. ICFA is the only association which represents cemeterians, funeral directors and suppliers, while working to ensure our continued prosperity and, perhaps, survival. We must work together to prevent the Funeral Rule from becoming federal law. Only ICFA has consistently opposed this terrible legislation. I will use my experience to work with the Board of Directors to protect the integrity and interests of our profession."
 David H. Quiring, CM, FAICA is president of Quiring Monuments Inc. in Seattle, Washington. He has over 40 years of experience in the memorialization profession and has taken an active leadership role in the industry. Quiring is a member of the ICFA Product Development Committee and the Allied Industry Subcommittee. He is a former ICFA board member and has served as co-chair of the 2000 Fall Management Conference and convention speaker. He has served as president of the Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association, president of the Allied Memorial Council of Washington, vice president of the Monument Builders of North America and president of the American Institute of Commemorative Art.
The Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association presented Quiring with the Meritorious Service Award in 1986, and he was honored as the Washington Cemetery and Funeral Association's 1991 Person of the Year. He has also received the AICA Medallion and the Outstanding Merit Award from the American Institute of Commemorative Art. Quiring was part of the first group to earn the designation of Certified Memorialist from the Monument Builders of North America in 1985 and was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Commemorative Art in 1992. He is one of only two memorialists to hold both designations.
Quiring has served as president of the Aurora Avenue Merchants Association, past president of the North Seattle Police Precinct Advisory Council and a member of the Seattle Police Chief's Advisory Board.
Quiring says: "I believe that the future of the death care industry hinges on the commitments made by its leaders. As governmental and other political influences become more far-reaching and both broadcast and written media sources become capable of immediately changing consumer attitudes throughout the world, it is imperative that the ICFA continue to grow as an educated and reasonable resource representing a full spectrum of the industry. After over 40 years as a memorial provider, I feel I can add perspective on the relationships between consumers, memorial purchasers and cemetery and funeral providers."
 Gregory M. Vogele is superintendent of Chippiannock Cemetery and Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois, where he oversees all phases of cemetery and crematory operation, including office management, finance, budgeting, public relations, sales, legislative activities, employee relations, grounds maintenance and mausoleum construction from planning through completion. He is a graduate of Blackhawk Community College in Moline, Illinois.
With 30 years experience in the cemetery profession, Vogele has held many leadership positions in the industry. He is president of the Central States Cemetery Association and has served as vice president and program chairman. Vogele is a past president of the Alliance of Illinois Cemeterians and served as program chairman for the January 2003 cremation certification program. He is editor of the AIC "Quarterly" newsletter and has authored numerous articles, brochures and multi-media productions relating to the death care industry, including an article for International Cemetery and Funeral Management magazine. Vogele is a past president of the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association and has served as treasurer, director and a member of the legislative committee, as well as a member of the Illinois Comptroller's Cemetery Advisory Board.
Over the years, Vogele has actively served his community and was recognized as Rock Island Citizen of the Year in the Professional Category. He has served as president and vice president of the Rock Island County Historical Society, chairman and commissioner of the Rock Island Beautification Commission, vice president and director of the Quad City Heritage League, executive director of the Chippiannock Cemetery Heritage Foundation, recorder and chancellor of the Knights of Columbus #658, treasurer and director of the Rock Island Labor Day Parade Advisory Board and member of the Rock Island Historic Preservation Commission.
Vogele says: "Managing an historic cemetery has created an awareness of challenges cemetery founders never anticipated. As historic cemeteries face declining use for burial purposes, their use evolves to become more likened to that of a museum, library or even a tourism attraction. Preservation, stabilization, restoration and archival issues become the needs to be addressed. This experience, coupled with my involvement in both all-faiths and Catholic cemeteries, will bring a unique perspective to the board of ICFA."
 Thomas E. Weaver Jr., CCE is director of marketing for Service Corporation International (SCI) in Edmonds, Washington. Throughout the course of his career, he founded the SCI Cemetery Division, Marketing Department; was active in the development of the SCI Sales Training Program; coordinated the development of SCI Cemetery Presentation Program, coordinated the development of SCI Marker, Granite Base and Vault Vendor Program and coordinated the development of the Vietnam Wall Experience.
Weaver formerly served as a member of the ICFA Board of Directors, a professor at the ICFA University, where he was instrumental in developing the original curriculum for the College of Land Management and Grounds Operation, and convention speaker.
Weaver is a past president and former director of the Colorado Association of Cemeteries. He is a member of the Texas Cemetery Association, a member of the Western Cemetery Alliance board of directors and has served as an industry speaker. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University.
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