Message From the President

This past year has proven to be one of great challenge for the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers as we have shared the economic challenges of Arizona.  As you know, our savings were taken to support the state budget.   The interest from those savings enabled the board to keep licensing fees low.  Under the outstanding leadership of our Executive Director Rudy Thomas the staff, after a personnel cut of 25%, has met our mission - with one exception due to the lack of funds.

With the budget cut, the board has not had the funds to send Licensing Administrator Alex Estrada to do the normal inspections.  There has been funding only to handle mandatory new establishment inspections and investigation inspections.  However, the inspections are being accomplished thanks to a wonderful crew of volunteers.   Board members and retired funeral directors were trained and have given more then 150 hours doing these inspections.  The process has gone smoothly not only because of the skill of those volunteers, but also because of the gracious way our licensees have received them.

I want to salute the professionalism of all our licensees.  In the six years I have served on the board, I have never seen so few complaints.  Month after month we are able to do teleconference meetings, saving money, because there are no complaints.  The lack of complaints is the greatest testimony to the care and compassion given by our professionals to the families and friends in grief.  Thank you.

2009-2010 could have been a time of disaster for the board.  However because everyone has risen to meet the need, this has been a time of excellence.  I salute the great team – licensees, staff, and board members – who have worked together to make this possible.  Thank you.

Rev. Katherine Shindel
President