Kurt Soffe is a fourth-generation funeral director with 43 years of funeral service. Kurt owns two funeral homes and one cremation center located in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary serves approximately 800 families per year and provides 1,400 cremations to the community. Kurt graduated from Cypress Mortuary College and earned his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation from Academy for Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP), a voluntary credential for funeral service professionals. Kurt also earned his Certified Crematory Operator (CCO) designation from NFDA , a specialized certification program to ensure safe, ethical, and compliant operation of cremation equipment. Kurt has four children, two of whom work in the business, and 13 grandchildren, all of whom reside near the funeral home and will assist with outside chores, car cleaning, etc. So, Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary is truly family-owned and operated. Kurt is also involved in his faith, having served in prominent ecclesiastical positions with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a total of 15 years. Kurt has served as president of the Utah Funeral Directors Association. He has also served as a policy board member to the National Funeral Directors Association for five years and has been a member of the NFDA spokesperson team for 22 years.

Jimmy Olson is one of the funeral industry’s foremost experts and speakers on Green and Natural Burials and Services. As a first-generation funeral director, Jimmy began his career in Connecticut in 1997 after graduating from Briarwood College of Mortuary Science. His academic background also includes degrees in music and a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med Biology from Southern Connecticut State University. He is the owner and operator of Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Jimmy is a dedicated educator on green burial practices, serving on the NFDA Green Burial Workgroup and as a spokesperson for the National Funeral Directors Association. He has traveled internationally, providing education to funeral homes, directors, and consumers about natural burials, cremation, innovative marketing, and funeral home and crematory management. His expertise has been recognized in several articles he has authored and through features and quotes in prominent publications including NFDA’s Director Magazine, The New York Times, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal. Professionally, Jimmy is a past President of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association and continues to serve on its Legislative Committee. He is also a member of FIAT-IFTA and the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in England, reflecting his engagement with the global funeral service community. Jimmy currently resides in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with his partner, Clint, and their six dogs. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys traveling, touring historic homes, exploring antique stores, and visiting wineries. His passion for sustainable funeral service and community involvement has established him as a respected leader and advocate in the field.