Unleashing greatness in women of the funeral and deathcare profession
Funeral Women Lead foundation, a 501 (c)(3), was born out of Lisa Baue’s vision to expand the possibilities for women in the deathcare profession to build community and receive support, mentoring, and training as they become leaders.
How we began
The time has come for funeral women to lead
The Time Has Come for
Funeral Women
to Lead
Despite the influx of talented female professionals, longstanding industry practices have left many feeling unseen and unsupported. Something had to be done.
In mid-2024 Funeral Women Lead founder Lisa Baue initiated conversations and gatherings with trusted advisors and supporters to explore pulling together resources to support women.
“Women have been telling me for years that they need more support, more mentorship, and more guidance on how to grow as leaders in a male-dominated profession,” Lisa said. “I realized I had to focus on this and act.” Those initial conversations became Funeral Women Lead.
Funeral Women Lead foundation partners with other organizations in the profession working toward this change. We are focused solely on women and provide wellness, a community, ongoing support, leadership development and mentorship.
Our vision for the future
In addition to its own Leadership Academy and Wellness Summit, Funeral Women Lead gathers resources, opportunities, and support from others in the deathcare and funeral profession to provide to passionate women leaders looking for growth.
Our board believes
women are the future of this profession and they deserve better.
Our Board
believes
women are the future of this profession and they deserve better.
Many women still feel unsupported in their roles and are often in the minority in their firms and associations. Despite their growing numbers, women are underrepresented in leadership positions across the deathcare profession. They struggle with self-confidence and lack a clear path or strategy for career advancement.
Our Team
Meet the people coming together to unleash the power of women in the deathcare and funeral profession. Our team is composed of dedicated advocates from inside and out of the deathcare profession, who bring decades of experience in their fields to ensure our women get the support they need.
Lisa Baue
Founder/CEO
Patty Neuswanger
Executive Director
Erin Wilson
Senior Director of Education + Program Strategy
Taylor Crabbs
Senior Manager of Content + Communications
Lisa Meehan
Education + Community Engagement Coordinator
Misha Antonio
Executive Assistant
Kristen Ernst, MA, LPC
Funeral Women Lead Endorsed Wellness Professional
Founder, Funeral Women Lead
Lisa A. Baue
Lisa is a visionary leader, trailblazer in funeral service, and fierce advocate for women’s leadership in deathcare. As the former third-generation owner and CEO of one of the Midwest’s leading funeral home, cremation, and cemetery companies, she transformed a single funeral home into a multi-faceted business serving thousands of families annually. Under her leadership, the company expanded to include four funeral homes, a flower and gift shop, an 80-acre memorial gardens and mausoleum cemetery, a centralized care and cremation center, a cremation society, and a pet cremation business.
A licensed funeral director, national speaker, educator, business coach, and industry changemaker, Lisa has dedicated her career to elevating both the profession and the women within it. In 2019, she and her son, John Devaney, transitioned their company to Park Lawn Corporation. She continues to serve in a consulting capacity for Baue’s in St. Charles, MO.
Recognizing the need for more leadership development and business education in funeral service, Lisa founded Your Funeral Coach LLC in 2021, providing coaching, mentorship, and strategic insights to funeral, cremation and cemetery service professionals. In 2024, she launched Funeral Women Lead LLC, an organization committed to unleashing greatness in women across the profession through leadership development, providing wellness programs, coaching, mentoring , and advocacy. She firmly believes investing in women’s education and leadership is critical to the future of the profession.
Lisa is also the host of Your Funeral Coach Talks, a top-ranked podcast in funeral service where she shares best practices in business, leadership, and mentorship, with a special focus on developing the next generation of leaders—especially women.
A dedicated industry leader, Lisa has served as past board chair and current trustee of the Funeral Service Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where she has worked tirelessly to raise funds to offer scholarships and programs for funeral service professionals. She is a current member of deathcare Collective, an online women’s support program who meets annually around the country at various conventions and gatherings. Lisa is a past board member and past Secretary/Treasurer of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, and a past president of Preferred Funeral Directors International (PFDI). She is also an active member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Cremation Association of North America (CANA), International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA), and the Missouri Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (MFDMA). Additionally, she is a Preferred Partner of Selected Independent Funeral Homes and a strong supporter of Selected’s Educational Trust, assisting them with their online learning program and scholarships to students.
Investing in women’s education and leaderships is critical to the future of the profession.
Investing in women’s education and leaderships is critical to the future of the profession.
Lisa’s commitment to championing women in funeral service is deeply personal.
Lisa’s commitment to championing women in funeral service is deeply personal. Her father, David C. Baue, pioneered the first women in funeral service program in the history of the profession in the early 1980s, as she was beginning her career as a young funeral director who needed role models, coaching, and mentoring at a time when very few women were active in the profession. It’s a legacy she proudly continues today by sponsoring scholarships for NFDA’s Professional Women’s Conference, the modern continuation of her father’s initiative as well as supporting numerous other programs in the profession.
Since 2020, Lisa and her family’s charitable fund have provided over 100 women’s scholarships, ensuring that more women have access to the education, development, and opportunities they need to excel.
Within a year of founding Funeral Women Lead, it becoming an active 501 (c)(3) Foundation. The foundation will continue to support women in the US, as well as collaborate with other organizations and associations both in the US and around the globe, with the mission to ensure continued and ongoing efforts to create programs supporting, recruiting, and retaining women in the funeral service and deathcare profession.
Lisa and her husband, Monte Crabbs, a retired educator, have four children and six grandchildren. They enjoy travelling to spend time with family and friends, their two Doodle Dogs, three horses, golfing, boating, cheering on the Denver Broncos and the St Louis Cardinals.
Both Lisa and Monte are award-winning authors, Lisa with an Amazon bestselling non-fiction book, Wake-Up Calls, A Journey of Learning to Lead and Succeed in the Funeral and Deathcare Profession. All the proceeds from Wake Up Calls go to charitable organizations that support women.
“The future of funeral service is being shaped by women. When we invest in their leadership, education, their careers, help them feel supported, find their voice and their long term place in our profession, we don’t just elevate them—we elevate the entire profession.”
– Lisa A. Baue
Executive Director
Patty Neuswanger
Patty Neuswanger is the Executive Director for Funeral Women Lead, where she brings more than two decades of leadership experience in nonprofit strategy, education, events, and organizational development. Known for her ability to build high-performing teams and drive mission-aligned growth, Patty is passionate about advancing equity and opportunity for women in funeral service.
Throughout her career, Patty has played a key role in designing and implementing innovative educational initiatives and professional development programs tailored to the unique needs of funeral service professionals. Her collaborative leadership style has helped forge impactful industry partnerships, and ensure access to meaningful, high-quality resources across diverse member organizations.
Patty’s background includes leadership roles at both the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. At Selected, as Director of Member Engagement, she developed targeted programming for key segments including women in funeral service, next-generation leaders, and first-generation funeral professionals to foster connection, representation, and professional growth. She also spent a significant amount of time in the field, visiting funeral homes and meeting face-to-face with professionals to better understand their daily challenges and concerns. These first-hand experiences deepened her insight into the operational realities of the profession and informed more relevant, responsive programming.
In her time at NFDA as Vice President of Education & Meetings, Patty was instrumental in expanding continuing education offerings, enhancing event experiences, and strengthening the overall value of membership. She led cross-functional teams in modernizing digital learning, increasing accessibility, and launching initiatives that supported both individuals and funeral businesses.
A skilled facilitator and strategic thinker, Patty has also contributed to internal leadership coaching programs and organizational culture-building initiatives. Her operational expertise and nuanced understanding of the profession make her a trusted voice in shaping its future.
Beyond her professional work, Patty has long championed underserved and underrepresented communities through volunteer leadership with organizations such as the Woodfield Children’s Association, Families for Russian & Ukrainian Adoptions (FRUA), United Methodist Women, and Literacy Services of Wisconsin.
In her free time, you’ll find her outdoors hiking or biking, discovering new restaurants, or cheering on her husband Kurt’s bands. An avid traveler and lifelong learner, Patty remains committed to cultivating spaces where women and all professionals in funeral service can connect, lead, and thrive.
Senior Director of Education + Program Strategy
Erin Wilson
Senior Manager of Content + Communications
Taylor Crabbs
Taylor Crabbs serves as Senior Manager of Content + Communications for Funeral Women Lead, where she leads the organization’s messaging, storytelling, and community communications. In this role, she helps bring the mission and programs of Funeral Women Lead to life through thoughtful, engaging content that connects and supports women across the funeral service and deathcare profession.
With a background in psychology and years of experience working alongside professionals in funeral service and deathcare, Taylor brings a deep appreciation for the relationships, leadership, and shared experiences that shape the industry. She is passionate about creating communications that not only inform and inspire, but also foster connection and growth among women building their careers in funeral service and deathcare.
Through content strategy, digital communications, and brand storytelling, Taylor works to expand Funeral Women Lead’s reach while amplifying the voices and leadership of women across the profession. Known for blending strategic thinking with creativity, she brings both structure and heart to the organization’s communications and community engagement.
Education + Community Engagement Coordinator
Lisa Meehan
Lisa Meehan serves as Education + Community Engagement Coordinator for Funeral Women Lead, where she helps lead the implementation and delivery of the organization’s educational programs and Leadership + Wellness Community.
Bringing more than three decades of experience in funeral service, higher education, and leadership development, Lisa has remained deeply committed to supporting the growth, success, and advancement of funeral professionals at every stage of their journey.
Prior to joining Funeral Women Lead, Lisa served in academic leadership roles at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, working closely with students, faculty, and industry partners to strengthen educational experiences and foster student success. Her career has also included leadership positions in funeral homes, funeral service education, and health sciences administration, giving her a unique understanding of both the profession and the people who serve within it.
At Funeral Women Lead, Lisa is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences, cultivating connection, and ensuring every woman who engages with the organization feels supported, empowered, and inspired to lead with confidence.
Lisa is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), and a lifelong advocate for education, mentorship, and the advancement of women in funeral service and deathcare.
Executive Assistant
Misha Antonio
Misha Antonio serves as Executive Assistant for Funeral Women Lead, where she keeps the organization’s daily operations, priorities, and communications running smoothly so the team can stay focused on unleashing greatness in the women of this profession.
With nearly a decade of executive support experience and a background in International Relations, Misha brings quiet thoroughness and reliable structure to everything she touches, from the details behind FWL’s programs and events to the everyday experience of its members and Passionate Professionals. This allows the foundation’s leaders to show up fully for their mission, and she brings that same dedication to supporting the women FWL serves.
Funeral Women Lead Endorsed Wellness Professional
Kristen Ernst MA, LPC
Kristen Ernst, MA, LPC is the Owner and Clinical Director of the Center for Hope & Healing. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Lindenwood University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in grief, trauma, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, emotional resilience, and personal development. Kristen has extensive experience working with hospice and end-of-life care, bereaved families, trauma survivors, and individuals navigating major life transitions. Her work integrates evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and somatic-based healing modalities. Through counseling, coaching, speaking, and leadership development, Kristen helps individuals build self-awareness, strengthen emotional well-being, and lead with authenticity and purpose.
Our Board
Our board is composed of dedicated advocates from inside and out of the deathcare profession, who bring decades of experience in their fields to ensure our women get the support they need.
Alicia Carr
Board Member
Melissa Posey Loose
Secretary
Brenda Suit
Treasurer
Dr. Camelia L. Clarke
Board Member
Faith Haug
Board Member
Kelly Kohut
Board Member
Rachel Moring
Board Member
Robbie Pape
Board Member
Stephanie Ramsey
Board Member
Board Member
Alicia Carr
Alicia Carr is the owner of Kelco Supply Company, where she has been leading the business since 2004 after working alongside her mother, Nira Mesker, for 12 years before officially taking the helm. With a deep-rooted connection to the deathcare profession, Alicia has hands-on experience in customer service, financial management, and business operations. In addition to her leadership at Kelco, she earned her degree in mortuary science in 2019 and continues to serve as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer at a local funeral home in Minnesota.
Beyond her business and funeral service roles, Alicia has dedicated herself to supporting families and professionals alike. From 2016 to 2023, she served as a board member for Healing Hearts Connection (formerly Children’s Grief Connection), helping families navigate grief through compassionate support programs and family camps. She also served on the Board of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust from 2012 to 2015, working to advance educational initiatives for independent funeral homes and the wider profession.
Alicia’s dedication to funeral service extends far beyond her company. As an advocate for women in the field, she actively supports organizations like Funeral Women Lead, as well as other initiatives that provide resources, foster connections, and create opportunities for women to grow and succeed at every level.
What fuels Alicia’s passion is a deep appreciation for the skill, sacrifice, dedication, and compassion that women bring to their work. Ensuring that women have the tools and opportunities to excel isn’t just good for them; it benefits families, businesses, and the future of the profession.
If she could drive one major change in the funeral profession, it would be ensuring that the vital role of women in funeral service is fully recognized. Alicia firmly believes that women are key to the future of funeral service.
Secretary
Melissa Posey Loose
A passionate advocate for women in deathcare, Melissa Posey Loose is dedicated to fostering growth, mentorship, and leadership in a profession that demands both skill and heart. With over 25 years of experience spanning funeral service, training, marketing, and community engagement, she understands the challenges women face—and the power they hold to transform the industry.
As Senior Vice President of Communications for Security National Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Melissa works to ensure that every touchpoint in the funeral profession reflects clarity, respect, and purpose. Her career has been shaped by a commitment to education and empowerment, from her leadership in funeral home marketing and community partnerships to her tenure with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where she developed programming for the Professional Women’s Conference and Arranger Training for domestic and international audiences. She has also served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing for National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), contributing to the broader conversation on how we care for families and professionals alike.
A published author and thought leader, Melissa’s work includes contributions to When a Child Dies: Creating Acts of Love and Legacy, now used by the National Institutes of Health and over 60 hospital systems. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts from Brigham Young University.
For Melissa, Funeral Women Lead is more than an organization—it’s a movement. She believes that investing in women is essential to the future of funeral service, and she is committed to helping women gain the confidence, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive. Whether by mentoring future leaders, advocating for industry-wide change, or supporting women in business ownership, she walks alongside those who seek to shape the future of this profession.
A native of North Augusta, S.C., Melissa now calls Utah home, where she lives with her husband, Rob.
Secretary
Melissa Posey Loose
A passionate advocate for women in deathcare, Melissa Posey Loose is dedicated to fostering growth, mentorship, and leadership in a profession that demands both skill and heart. With over 25 years of experience spanning funeral service, training, marketing, and community engagement, she understands the challenges women face—and the power they hold to transform the industry.
As Senior Vice President of Communications for Security National Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Melissa works to ensure that every touchpoint in the funeral profession reflects clarity, respect, and purpose. Her career has been shaped by a commitment to education and empowerment, from her leadership in funeral home marketing and community partnerships to her tenure with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), where she developed programming for the Professional Women’s Conference and Arranger Training for domestic and international audiences. She has also served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing for National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), contributing to the broader conversation on how we care for families and professionals alike.
A published author and thought leader, Melissa’s work includes contributions to When a Child Dies: Creating Acts of Love and Legacy, now used by the National Institutes of Health and over 60 hospital systems. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts from Brigham Young University.
For Melissa, Funeral Women Lead is more than an organization—it’s a movement. She believes that investing in women is essential to the future of funeral service, and she is committed to helping women gain the confidence, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive. Whether by mentoring future leaders, advocating for industry-wide change, or supporting women in business ownership, she walks alongside those who seek to shape the future of this profession.
A native of North Augusta, S.C., Melissa now calls Utah home, where she lives with her husband, Rob.
Treasurer
Brenda Suit
Brenda Suit has been with Baue Funeral Homes since August 2014 as CFO. She learned and developed skills in the deathcare industry during this time doing everything from Financing, Banking, Trusts, dealing with State auditors, attorneys, CPA’s, selling the company and purchasing new companies (PLC). After the sale of Baue in 2019, Brenda continued to work for PLC as a Regional Controller.
Originally from Montezuma, Iowa, she attended Truman State University for her Associate Degree in Accounting, University of Houston for her BBA in Accounting and received her MBA in Business from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Brenda has managed personally owned rental properties and been the CFO for a home builder with multiple corporations. She has experience with various banking and financial advisors including obtaining new financing and refinancing.
At Truman University Brenda met her husband Alan. They have two wonderful daughters, Nicole and Angela, who are both married and have 4 granddaughters.
Brenda loves to play tennis, travel, golf, bike and spend time with her family and friends. She has been recognized with the Dove Business award in 2005, Vision St. Charles Leadership award in 2006 and worked on the St. Charles Public Works Board and Advisory Board Assured Title.
Board Member
Dr. Camelia L. Clarke
Dr. Camelia L. Clarke is a 30-year death care expert and President of Paradise Memorial Funerary Corp in Milwaukee, WI. An internationally recognized thought leader, speaker, and industry expert, she previously held leadership roles with local, regional, and national trade associations, including serving as Past President of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. She is a spokesperson for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), representing over 20,000 funeral homes worldwide, and was named the 2022 Funeral Director of the Year by American Funeral Director Magazine.
In 2022, Dr. Clarke was elected to the board of directors of Federated Mutual Insurance Companies, a Fortune 1000 company in Minnesota serving more than 46,000 business owners nationwide. She is a founding member of the Entrepreneurial Organization (EO) Wisconsin Chapter and has extensive nonprofit leadership experience, including 10 years on the board of Outreach Community Health Center in Milwaukee, WI.
Her educational background includes an Applied Science Diploma from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, a B.S. in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University, an Executive MBA from Marquette University, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is also a published author in top-tier academic journals.
Dr. Clarke is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Epsilon Kappa Omega Chapter), Sarah’s Joy Chapter #8 of Unity Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and the Cream City (WI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She is a longtime member of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee, WI, where her husband, Marcel, and four children are also members.
Board Member
Dr. Camelia L. Clarke
Dr. Camelia L. Clarke is a 30-year death care expert and President of Paradise Memorial Funerary Corp in Milwaukee, WI. An internationally recognized thought leader, speaker, and industry expert, she previously held leadership roles with local, regional, and national trade associations, including serving as Past President of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. She is a spokesperson for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), representing over 20,000 funeral homes worldwide, and was named the 2022 Funeral Director of the Year by American Funeral Director Magazine.
In 2022, Dr. Clarke was elected to the board of directors of Federated Mutual Insurance Companies, a Fortune 1000 company in Minnesota serving more than 46,000 business owners nationwide. She is a founding member of the Entrepreneurial Organization (EO) Wisconsin Chapter and has extensive nonprofit leadership experience, including 10 years on the board of Outreach Community Health Center in Milwaukee, WI.
Her educational background includes an Applied Science Diploma from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, a B.S. in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University, an Executive MBA from Marquette University, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is also a published author in top-tier academic journals.
Dr. Clarke is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Epsilon Kappa Omega Chapter), Sarah’s Joy Chapter #8 of Unity Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and the Cream City (WI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She is a longtime member of Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee, WI, where her husband, Marcel, and four children are also members.
Board Member
Faith Haug
Faith Haug is the Program Director of the Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO. She has been working in the funeral service industry for over 20 years in both corporate and independently owned firms. Faith is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in several states, including Colorado. She is involved in multiple industry organizations and speaks nationally on funeral service topics.
Faith serves as Director-at-Large for the Colorado Funeral Directors Association and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the American Board of Funeral Service Education. She also owns an auto service and repair shop in Denver, where she lives with her family and their standard poodle, Nandor.
She is a graduate of NFDA’s National Emerging Leaders Program and is involved with multiple industry organizations speaking nationally on a variety of funeral service topics. She is the co-host of the YouTube shows and podcasts “Six Feet Under: Exhumed”, and “The Momticians”.
Board Member
Kelly Kohut
Kelly Kohut is a champion for women within the funeral profession, dedicated to building access to education and development while connecting those passionate about the profession to expand their network. She is an energetic leader with more than 20 years of experience driving business growth, strategic partnerships, and organizational leadership across sales and marketing organizations.
As Regional Vice President of Partnership Development at Precoa, she leads a large team responsible for growing enterprise partnerships and delivering exceptional results. Beyond her commercial impact, Kelly is a passionate advocate for women in sales leadership, having created a development program that expanded female representation and growth within her organization.
A frequent speaker at national industry conferences and a published author on sales leadership topics, she holds an MBA and a B.S. in Marketing Management. She also recently completed the Women’s Leadership Academy through the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
Board Member
Kelly Kohut
Kelly Kohut is a champion for women within the funeral profession, dedicated to building access to education and development while connecting those passionate about the profession to expand their network. She is an energetic leader with more than 20 years of experience driving business growth, strategic partnerships, and organizational leadership across sales and marketing organizations.
As Regional Vice President of Partnership Development at Precoa, she leads a large team responsible for growing enterprise partnerships and delivering exceptional results. Beyond her commercial impact, Kelly is a passionate advocate for women in sales leadership, having created a development program that expanded female representation and growth within her organization.
A frequent speaker at national industry conferences and a published author on sales leadership topics, she holds an MBA and a B.S. in Marketing Management. She also recently completed the Women’s Leadership Academy through the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
Board Member
Rachel Moring
Rachel Moring is a second-generation funeral professional and founder of NextGen Legacy Planning. Her career spans funeral home operations, preneed, and national distribution leadership.
Raised in the profession, she began her career at age 21, serving funeral homes in Hammond, Albany, and Ponchatoula. From early conversations around the family kitchen table to leading national distribution initiatives, Rachel has gained firsthand experience across nearly every aspect of funeral service and preneed planning.
Throughout her career, Rachel has broken barriers for women in the profession, becoming the first non-family female to reach upper management at one organization and the first female regional manager at another. Her experience includes leading distribution operations for a venture-capital-backed company. In 2025, the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association recognized her for outstanding excellence and dedicated service.
That industry expertise inspired Rachel to launch PUP Preneed on June 1, 2026, a platform focused on pet preplanning. The platform gives families the opportunity to plan and financially prepare for the final arrangements of a beloved pet companion. Through PUP Preneed, she equips partners to serve families confidently while making pet preplanning accessible and thoughtful.
Rachel’s commitment to service extends globally. She has volunteered in Mexico and Cairo, Egypt, where she served on the board of the Maadi British Women’s Association. Today, she remains active with the NFDA, LFDA, MFDA, and PWC, while serving on various boards throughout Louisiana.
She lives in New Orleans with her husband, Parker, and their three children. Outside of work, she enjoys making jewelry, hunting, fishing, Mardi Gras, touring cemeteries, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Board Member
Robbie Pape
Robbie Pape serves as Vice President of Operations for Carriage Services, bringing a broad operational, financial, and people-centered perspective to funeral and cemetery service. With over three decades of experience, Robbie has built a career at the intersection of disciplined business leadership, service excellence, and team empowerment.
A certified public accountant with a degree in Marketing and Information Systems from Baylor University, her career began in 1991. Her leadership roles span internal audit, finance, sales support, process improvement, cemetery records digitization, and memorialization operations. Today, she helps organizations strengthen performance by connecting strategy to execution and supporting field leaders.
Robbie is Treasurer of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) and Past President of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA). As a board member for Funeral Women Lead, she advocates for leadership development and women’s advancement. An accomplished speaker, she presents on executive presence, resilience, and influential leadership.
Active in the Houston community, Robbie has served on Volunteer Houston’s Board of Directors, as past president of the Baylor University Women’s Association of Houston, and as Co-President of the Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts Vocal Guild.
She is the proud mother of Samantha, a 2026 graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, whose artistry inspires Robbie’s belief in preparation, presence, and finding one’s voice.
Board Member
Robbie Pape
Robbie Pape serves as Vice President of Operations for Carriage Services, bringing a broad operational, financial, and people-centered perspective to funeral and cemetery service. With over three decades of experience, Robbie has built a career at the intersection of disciplined business leadership, service excellence, and team empowerment.
A certified public accountant with a degree in Marketing and Information Systems from Baylor University, her career began in 1991. Her leadership roles span internal audit, finance, sales support, process improvement, cemetery records digitization, and memorialization operations. Today, she helps organizations strengthen performance by connecting strategy to execution and supporting field leaders.
Robbie is Treasurer of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) and Past President of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA). As a board member for Funeral Women Lead, she advocates for leadership development and women’s advancement. An accomplished speaker, she presents on executive presence, resilience, and influential leadership.
Active in the Houston community, Robbie has served on Volunteer Houston’s Board of Directors, as past president of the Baylor University Women’s Association of Houston, and as Co-President of the Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts Vocal Guild.
She is the proud mother of Samantha, a 2026 graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, whose artistry inspires Robbie’s belief in preparation, presence, and finding one’s voice.
Board Member
Stephanie Ramsey
Stephanie Ramsey is Director of Transaction & Advisory Services at
The Foresight Companies. She is an experienced business advisor who specializes in human resources, mergers and acquisitions, valuations, succession planning, and strategic growth, and a frequent speaker at national and state conventions and contributor to funeral service publications.
She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Business and International Management before earning a Master’s degree in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management (formerly The American Graduate School of International Business) in 1988.
She began her career at Capital Analysts, Inc., where she connected with Dan Isard and joined Foresight Analysts to focus on human resources, mergers and acquisitions, valuations, and business succession planning. In 2002, Stephanie transitioned into Native American Gaming, spending 12 years as a consultant and financial analyst, including serving as Tribal Administrator for an Oklahoma tribe, managing over 200 employees.
In 2014, she returned to consulting by rejoining The Foresight Companies. Beginning in 2024, she launched her own transaction and advisory services business unit within the firm, helping clients analyze financial data and achieve strategic growth.
Stephanie met her husband at Oklahoma State University, and they have two children: a son who is a licensed practical nurse and a daughter pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Currently based in Oklahoma, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and reading in her free time.
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