Chris Howard Elected ICFSEB President

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chris Howard was elected President of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards Inc. at the 122nd Annual Meeting.

The meeting, at the Seelbach Hilton, focused on funeral service regulation and public protection. The Conference hosted more than 100 funeral service regulators and educators from 32 different states and provinces throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Howard joined the Conference Board in 2025. He currently serves on the Missouri Board of Embalmers where he was appointed as Vice Chairman in April 2023.

His commitment to public service began early as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for Howard County, Missouri. He earned his mortuary science degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College and achieved his dream of owning a funeral home after 13 years in the profession.

In addition to his role with The Conference, he has been a board member of the Boonville Chamber of Commerce and became the acting coroner of Cooper County in 2024. Outside of funeral service, he enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his wife, three children, and two fur babies.

The Conference’s Annual Meeting provides a valuable opportunity for those interested in furthering funeral service regulation to exchange information, problem-solving strategies, and goals for the future of the profession. The 123rd Annual Meeting will be held on February 23-25, 2027, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, at the Sonesta Resort.

The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards is headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Founded in 1904, the membership of The Conference is composed of funeral service licensing and regulatory agencies throughout the United States and Canada. For more information on The Conference, visit www.theconferenceonline.org.