Scottsdale, AZ [May 19, 2021]
Johnson Consulting Group (JCG) has added an impressive group of new experts to its Business Consulting Services team. Gill Giddens, Doug Wagemann and Doug Miller are seasoned experts with hands-on experience in funeral home and cemetery operations. Lacy Robinson and David Shank are recognized authorities in training, coaching and business communications.
“These remarkable professionals will bring valuable insight to our clients,” said JCG President and CEO Jake Johnson. “I look forward to working with them to deliver the highest value possible for our clients.”
Gill Giddens, Business Consultant, started his career in 1991 assisting families in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) community with their future planning needs. This experience set a strong foundation of service for Gill, and for the next decade he worked as a leader in multi-state and multi-market sales organizations. In 2003 Gill and his brother built four funeral homes (three cremation-focused locations and one traditional funeral home) in DFW. Managing his own company gave Gill a new perspective on how to grow a business and make it thrive. Gill has extensive experience in sales and operations and developing individuals and teams. His business acumen coupled with his ability to focus on people’s strengths is what helps him achieve and exceed in goal performance.
Doug Miller, Business Consultant, has been involved in funeral service for more than 45 years, accumulating a wealth of experience working for independent funeral homes, Service Corporation International (SCI), The Hamilton Group, The Keystone Group and Park Lawn Corporation. His management positions, which comprise of general manager, district manager, regional president, chief operating officer and president, showcase Doug’s growth as a recognized leader in a variety of businesses including funeral homes, cemeteries, care centers and floral shops. Doug has also held licenses as an embalmer, funeral director, cemetery broker and pre-need insurance agent.
Doug is a past president of the Nevada Funeral Directors Association and a past member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the California Funeral Directors Association. He also served as a board member of the Interment Association of California and the California Mortuary Alliance. During his 22 years with SCI, he also held the position of Governmental Relations Liaison for Nevada and worked as SCI’s Western Region Field Trainer. Doug associates many of his accomplishments to his hands-on leadership style, and he enjoys working alongside other funeral professionals and building strong relationships within the industry.
Doug Wagemann, Business Consultant, joined JCG as the president/owner of Wagemann Holdings, Inc. which owns funeral businesses in California. Doug began his funeral service career in 1973—he graduated from Cypress College of Mortuary Science and immediately went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in business management (operations) from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a master’s in business administration (finance) from California State University, San Bernadino. Over the years, Doug held operational management positions within Service Corporation International (SCI) and Carriage Services, as well as various roles in the banking and hospice industries. He has also worked as an adjunct professor at several colleges teaching financial/cost analysis and strategic planning and discussed various industry topics as a frequent radio guest and conference speaker. Doug deeply believes that creating one-on-one partnerships with clients is the best way to fully understand their objectives and provide the best advice to help grow their business and watch it flourish.
Lacy Robinson, CFSP, Business Consultant, offers funeral home clients more than 14 years of success in developing and facilitating customer service training programs. As an experienced coach and speaker, Lacy has shaped organizations such as Aurora Casket Company and the National Funeral Directors Association into leading providers of training and development for funeral professionals.
Lacy is a licensed funeral director/embalmer, a certified funeral celebrant and certified member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP). She previously served on the APFSP Board of Trustees and is a graduate of Georgetown College holding a bachelor’s degree in communications. She is also a graduate of Mid-America College of Funeral Service and currently serves as an instructor for Worsham College of Mortuary Science teaching Fundamentals of Customer Service. As an active member of the Bluegrass Toastmasters Group, Lacy has achieved the designation Competent Communicator and is also an active volunteer for Hosparus Health in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dave Shank, Business Consultant, began his funeral service career in 1973 in his hometown of Sterling, Illinois. He holds degrees in Mortuary Science, a Bachelor of Science in Business Quality Management and an Executive MBA. Dave was a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Missouri and Kansas (1980-1998) and joined Batesville Casket Company in 1997 as a Kansas Sales Representative. At Batesville he worked as a Region Sales Director in both the Mountain and Midwest regions and a Sales Consultant in north Texas (2005-2013). Dave was inducted into the Maters Club in 2012 and concluded his Batesville career as the Sales Training Manager (2014-2019).
Dave’s consulting work specializes in relationship building, arranger training, sales and merchandising strategies, customer satisfaction and business profitability. He serves as a speaker, trainer, one-on-one performance coach and workshop facilitator. Dave has presented on skill building and motivation at ICCFA, Kansas (KFDA), Texas (TFDA) and for numerous Batesville sponsored events.
Johnson Consulting Group seeks out the best people. Giddens, Miller, Wagemann, Robinson and Shank along with Greg Hilgendorf, Senior Business Consultant; Vincent Roberge, Senior Business Consultant; Nelson Thulin, Director of Business Consulting are responsible for helping clients achieve optimal success in customer service, workplace development, strategic planning, financial and performance management. JCG welcomes each of the new team members and the expertise each brings to the team and for the success of its clients.
About Johnson Consulting Group
Johnson Consulting Group is committed to providing intelligent business solutions that meet business owners wherever they are in their business life cycle. Whether you want to grow your business and enterprise value or plan your exit strategy, JCG can assist. With over two decades of creating personalized partnerships and growing revenue with funeral and cemetery business owners, managers and staff, JCG has the expertise and dedication to assist funeral home and cemetery businesses grow in their current operations, start their succession planning, or take their business to market. For more information, visit www.johnsonconsulting.com to learn more.