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As founder of MKJ Marketing, for decades considered the leader in funeral home and cemetery marketing, Marilyn was asked over twenty years ago to manage PFDI. Created to focus on marketing, the association wanted the guidance of a professional who knew death care marketing. She is credited with taking Preferred to universities, Olympic Training Centers, and prestigious companies to learn best practices from the best both inside and outside funeral service.

As a travel agent and licensed event planner, she utilizes all this expertise in making PFDI meetings enjoyable and, most of all, worthwhile for members. The size of the group, made up of some of the most successful firms in funeral service, allows Preferred to do things other groups would never be able to do.



The Executive Director’s View of the Association

"Preferred members are just a cut above any other group in the profession, and the board exemplifies that in every meeting. No politics, no time wasting, and no small thinking. Each year, I am amazed at how the leadership only cares about making sure Preferred continues as the kind of association it was when they joined. They truly feel that what they learned in the meetings, along with the lasting friendships created in the group, contributed to their success in funeral service."

"When I wanted to take the group to Northwestern’s Graduate School of Marketing, no one objected. In fact, the board got behind it, and we had our best attendance ever. One time, I asked a board member to recognize a sponsor at the convention since he was close with the provider and a good client. He said he couldn’t attend the convention because his daughter was having a baby, but he flew to the meeting at his own expense just to introduce and thank the sponsor! PFDI also values our sponsors; we do not see them as vendors, but as partners in what we do."