Dutch Nie is a 2023-24 president of the National Funeral Directors Association.

He is a second-generation funeral director who grew up in the residence above his family’s funeral home, Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has worked every position in the funeral home – car washer, lawn mower, manager – and now is the owner of the family multi-location funeral business.

Dutch is a dedicated member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association serving on many committees as well as all of the offices from district officer to state president. He is very proud of his tenure with the MFDA board, especially his role in establishing a leadership model during his presidency that increased membership, reduced member apathy and boosted member engagement.

On a national level, Dutch has previously served on the NFDA Board of Directors as an at-large representative, secretary, treasurer and president-elect. He has also served NFDA as a member of the Disaster Preparedness Task Force, Convention Education Task Force, Advocacy Committee, Audit Task Force, Budget Task Force and Spokesperson Team.

Business Information
Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service
2400 Carpenter Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734-971-2345

Christopher Robinson is the 2023-24 president-elect to the National Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors.

Christopher’s roots in funeral service date to a summer job in high school digging graves by hand. After earning a bachelor’s degree in German and European History and a master’s degree in international business from the University of South Carolina, he initially worked in the international banking industry. During this time, Christopher’s father continued to expand the family’s funeral business. With no other siblings working alongside his father, Christopher left the banking industry and returned to his grave-digging roots to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer at his family’s firm.

Christopher has been a dedicated member of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, serving in the state officer positions. His service to his state association culminated with a term as president.

A devoted member of NFDA, Christopher has represented the state of South Carolina on the Policy Board. Prior to serving as Secretary of NFDA, from 2018-2021, Chris served as an at-large representative, secretary, and treasurer on the Board of Directors.

Chris has also served as a member of the Convention Education Task Force, Spokesperson Team, Headquarters Operations Committee, Audit Task Force, Advocacy Committee and the Associate Membership Committee.

Business Information
Robinson Funeral Home
PO Box 387
Easley, SC 29641
Phone: 864-859-4001

Dan Ford is the 2023-24 Treasurer of the National Funeral Directors Association on the NFDA Board of Directors.

Dan comes from a funeral service family and always knew he wanted to be part of the profession. Ford recognizes the importance of being engaged in his chosen profession and has served NFDA and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association as a volunteer and leader in a number of ways. His service to the association in his home state culminated with his term as president in 2009.

Dan previously served as Connecticut’s representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He has also served on NFDA’s Audit Task Force, Disaster Response Work Group, Convention Education Task Force, Budget Task Force, Spokesperson Team and Headquarters Operations Committee.

Business Information
Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc.
65 Pound Ridge Road
Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: 203-272-3069

Jack Mitchell is the 2023-24 immediate past-president of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Jack is a sixth-generation funeral director with Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home in Baltimore, Maryland. He has also operated John O. Mitchell IV Funeral Services of Dulaney Valley since 2007, when he and his father became the owners of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Jack has extensive experience serving on committees with both the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association (MSFDA) and NFDA. He is a past president of MSFDA and is Maryland’s former representative to the NFDA Policy Board.

Nationally, Jack has served on the NFDA Advocacy Committee, Budget Task Force, Convention Education Task Force, Spokesperson Team and Cemetery Resources Work Group. He previously served as an at-large representative on the NFDA Board of Directors.

Business Information
Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home
6500 York Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21212
Phone: 410-377-8300

Chris Christian is the 2023-24 Secretary on the NFDA Board of Directors.

Chris, who is the co-owner of Christian-Sells Funeral Home in Rogersville, Tennessee, is a first-generation funeral director who began working in the profession at age 15. He has been a dedicated leader in the funeral profession, having served in many roles with the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, including a term as president.

Chris has also been active with NFDA for many years, having served as the Tennessee representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He has also served a member of the Budget Task Force, Spokesperson Team, and Audit Task Force.

Business Information
Christian-Sells Funeral Home
520 E. Main St.
Rogersville, TN
Phone: 423-272-0555

Brad Walker is a 2022-2024 at-large representative on the NFDA Board of Directors. 

Brad is a third-generation funeral director. He co-owns and operates Walker Funeral Homes in Spanish Fork and Payson, Utah.

Brad has been an active volunteer leader with his state and national associations. His service to The Utah Funeral Directors Association (UFDA) includes serving as a District Representative, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, and President of the Association's Board of Directors. He also served as chair of the Utah Funeral Directors Association (UFDA) Legislative Committee and is proud of the work he was able to do. He has also served at the national level serving as a member of NFDA's Budget Task Force. Audit Task Force, Spokesperson Team.

Brad has also tried to give back through educating others and has taught at the Salt Lake Community College Mortuary Science Program as an adjunct professor and is a regular guest lecturer at Brigham Young University.

Business Information:
Walker Funeral Home
187 S Main St
Spanish Fork, UT
Phone: 801-798-2169

Steve Spann is a 2022-2024 at-large representative on the NFDA Board of Directors. 

Bobby Steven Spann, CFSP, CCO, has been a funeral director for more than 40 years and currently owns Spann Funeral Home in Dickson, Tennessee, and Humphreys County Funeral Home in Waverly, Tennessee. Spann has served as President of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science since 1994.

Spann is a dedicated volunteer leader in the funeral service profession. He has served in many leadership roles with the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association (TFDA), including as chair of the Education Committee and Chair of the Alkaline Hydrolysis Sub-Committee. His service to TFDA also included serving on the Board of Directors, culminating with a term as the 2016-17 President.

His national service is equally admirable, having served on the NFDA Convention Education Task Force, Spokesperson Team, Budget Task Force and Audit Task Force. He has also been a member of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) since 1994 and has served on the Curriculum Review Committee as chair of the National Board Exam Liaison Committee and as chair of the Committee on Accreditation. Spann is a Past President of the University Mortuary Science Education Association and the current Treasurer of the University Mortuary Science Education Association.

Business Information:
Spann Funeral Home
1961 Highway 48 N
Dickson, TN
Phone: 615-446-1123

Elwood’s career in funeral service started at the age of 16 when he began working a local funeral home. This set him on a path that led him to attend the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. After graduation, he became a funeral director at Gray Funeral Home, a firm that he and his wife purchased one year ago.

As a first-generation funeral director, Elwood has dedicated himself to not only serving grieving families, but to his chosen profession. He is a dedicated volunteer leader with the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association (SCFDA). He served as secretary/treasurer and chair of SCFDA’s Piedmont Group and went on to serve in every office on SCFDA’s Board of Directors including the 2018-19 President of the association. He also is a past chair of the SCFDA Nominating Committee. On the national level, Elwood has served as a member of NFDA’s Member Resources Work Group, Budget Task Force, Audit Task Force and the Spokesperson Team.

Business Information:
Gray Funeral Home
504 E Carolina Ave
Clinton, SC
Phone: 864-833-1720

McBrayer is a third-generation funeral director at her family’s firm, Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory, with locations in Villa Rica and Douglasville, Georgia. Her father died suddenly while she was attending Auburn University and that pivotal moment was what called her to become a funeral director.

Service to her profession and community are an integral parts of McBrayer’s life. She has served as co-chair and chair of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association (GFDA) Northwest District. She is also a current member of the Georgia Cemetery Association Board of Directors. She has also given back to her alma mater, Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, by serving as a member of the Advisory Board and Open House Team.

Nationally, McBrayer has served on the Convention Education Task Force, Audit Task Force, Budget Task Force, NFDA Spokesperson Team and Pursuit of Excellence Task Force. She is also serving as a liaison from NFDA to the American Board of Funeral Service Education.

Business Information:
Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory
2189 Midway Rd
Douglasville, GA
Phone: 770-942-2311