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About the Episode: Succession planning preserves an organization’s legacy, ensures smooth leadership transitions, and nurtures internal talent. It is vital to the long-term success of any and every funeral home.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Chris Cruger, CEO of Foresight, and Jake Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group to talk about the value of and steps to successful succession planning from the perspectives of both the owner and the seller.
Chris Cruger, Chief Executive Officer – The Foresight Companies: Chris Cruger is viewed as a thought leader within the funeral and cemetery profession. His great success is built on his exceptional ability to provide efficient solutions to the complex business challenges funeral and cemetery leaders are faced with. He continues to successfully improve Foresight’s operational and transactional services.
Chris has the knowledge to provide efficient solutions to businesses of all sizes in our profession. His passion and desire for the development of the funeral and cemetery profession come through in everything that he does.
Chris’ experience in the funeral and cemetery profession began over 25 years ago when he was part of the Corporate Development team for SCI. His career spans throughout North America, across five continents and 25 countries. Throughout his career, he has analyzed several thousand funeral homes and cemeteries and has a unique depth of perspective in this space. He has cross-dimensional experience in finance, sales, transactions, and operational management with both public and private companies and their Board of Directors. He regularly consults with members of the financial community on matters related to funeral service and has strong relationships in capital markets.
Chris is a native New Englander who attended Lehigh University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on finance and accounting. He is the father of two boys and his passions include golf, fitness, hunting, fishing, travel and being outdoors.
Jake Johnson, President & Chief Executive Officer – Johnson Consulting Group: Jake Johnson has rapidly advanced into senior leadership roles and gained respect throughout the funeral and cemetery industries. He is known as an innovator, change agent and thought leader. Jake’s success is based on his unique ability to identify simple solutions to complex business problems and communicate across all levels of the organization, instilling positive morale, empowerment and employee ownership to drive service excellence. His strong foundation in accounting, financial analysis and EBITDA forecasting is complemented by technology savvy and broad general management qualifications in business development and operations.
As President & CEO at Johnson Consulting, Jake provides strategic direction and marketing innovations that laid the groundwork for the company’s rapid growth, gaining recognition as the premiere total solutions provider within the funeral industry. In his former position as Executive Vice President and General Manager at Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries, he provided key operations leadership to the Palm Cemetery Division.
Jake began his career at Keystone Group Holdings (now Dignity Memorial Network) as Associate Director, Corporate Development, where his financial analysis and forecasting expertise was foundational to the firm’s growth.
Jake’s educational credentials include a BSBA degree in Management with an emphasis in Accounting and Financial Analysis from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rounding out his financial portfolio, he is a licensed Real Estate Agent and licensed Investment Advisor representative. Jake is also a member-emeritus of the Funeral Service Foundation Board.