2019 Innovation Award Finalists

We are pleased to announce the finalists for this year's Innovation Award! 

The Innovation Award is designed to recognize companies dedicated to advancing funeral service through new and inventive products and services. The finalists have been selected independently by a distinguished panel of judges.

The winner was announced during Monday’s General Session at the 2019 International Convention & Expo.

First Place: Carved in Memory LLC. - Booth #451

Carved In Memory - www.carvedinmemory.com

We take the love note from a late husband, a birthday card from a sibling or grandma's famous pie recipe and cut them out of wood and turn them into an exact replica piece of art. Each piece is carved into a 3-D wood sign that families can cherish forever. 

Second Place: Mortuary Lift Company, Inc. - Booth #1668

The Stepper - Electric Stair Climber Dolly - www.mortuarylift.com

The Stepper was designed by funeral directors for the specific needs of funeral directors. The Stepper, an electric dolly, is designed to fit human remains, electrically ascends and descends staircases and effortlessly maneuvers around stairway landings, furniture and narrow always, eliminating muscle strain and back injury. The compact design slips into the side of the vehicle.The 12-volt battery can be charged in the vehicle while on the way to the deceased home and the microcellular tires never need inflating and don’t leave marks on floors!

Third Place: Coasson, Inc. - Booth #1143

Coasson Funeral Coach - www.coasson.com

A leading-edge vehicle and system for the dignified bearing of human remains, the COASSON funeral coach offers the heritage of a caisson, with the luxury of a coach. The unique COASSON is immune to model changes and out-dating and offers unmatched visibility of the casket or urn during the procession and is easily towed by any fleet vehicle.

Thank You To Our Participants

Thank you to our 2019 Innovation Award Participants:

  • American Crematory Equipment Co., Booth 602
  • ASD - Answering Service for Directors, Booth 1260
  • APEX, Booth 1631
  • Bereavemints by PIM, Booth 1274
  • Domani Group (The), Booth 935
  • Doorbadge, Booth 1817
  • eFuneral, Booth 267
  • Foresight Companies/GIST, LLC., Booth 330
  • Frontrunner Professional, Booth 946
  • Living Urn (The), Booth 1372
  • MemorialPhotoCanvas.com, Booth 1183
  • Precoa, Booth 652
  • R & S Design Gallery, Booth 457
  • ShivaShade, Booth 1152
  • TribuCast, Booth 871


Thank You to Our Judges

Thank You to our distinguished panel of judges:

  • Amie DeLuca, Senior Strategist, Agency H5 
  • Amy Cunningham, Funeral Director/Owner, Fitting Tribute Funeral Service
  • Carol Roth, Author, Creator of the Future File Legacy planning system, TV personality and host, host of The Roth Effect podcast and New York Times bestselling author. 
  • Leili McMurrough, Program Director, Worsham College of Mortuary Science
  • Matthew R. Bailey, CFSP, Funeral Director/President, Bailey Family Funeral Homes
  • Nicole Krause, Funeral Director, Krause Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Inc.
  • Patrick T.  Lanigan, CFSP, CCO, Funeral Director/Owner, Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home
  • Timothy McLoone, Funeral Director, Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home Inc.
  • Welton Hong, Founder & CEO, Ring Ring Marketing