NOMINEE REQUIRING SENATE CONFIRMATION

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BACKGROUND SUMMARY

 

 

NOMINEE:               Joseph James Ahearne Jr.

 

POSITION:               State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Funeral Director

 

REPLACING:          Kristen Lietz-Aldridge

 

APPOINTING GOVERNOR:        Janice K. Brewer

 

DATE OF APPOINTMENT:  April 2, 2009

 

TERM ENDS: January 1, 2013

 

FUNCTION OF THE state board of funeral directors and embalmers:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-1307, the Board is required to adopt, administer and enforce rules, investigate violations, license and register all funeral directors and embalmers, assess fees for application, examination, licensure and registration and maintain a record of the name and mailing address of each licensee and registrant.

 

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-1302, the Board consists of seven members who serve four-year, staggered terms.  Four members must be practicing funeral directors or embalmers licensed in this state.  The remaining three must be public members who have not been licensed as a funeral director embalmer for the past five years, one of whom is an owner or manager of a business with no pecuniary or proprietary interest in funeral establishments, crematories or the sale of funeral goods and services.  All members must be residents of this state.

 

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AND TERM EXPIRATIONS:

Charles Merrick, Funeral Director                                                                  January 1, 2010

Phyllis Rowe, Consumer Member                                                                  January 1, 2011

John Munden, Funeral Director                                                                      January 1, 2012

Martin Crist, Funeral Director                                                                        January 1, 2012

Richard W. O’Keefe, Consumer Member                                                      January 1, 2012

Joseph James Ahearne Jr., Funeral Director**                                          January 1, 2013

Katherine Shindel, Consumer Member**                                                    January 1, 2013

**Pending Confirmation

 

SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-1302, members of the Board are entitled to receive compensation at the rate of up to $30 per day while engaged in the business of the Board.

 

BUDGET AND FTES:       

Total Operating Budget - $350,000 (FY 2008-2009)

FTES - 4

 

NOMINEE’S QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:    

University of Minnesota, B.S. in Mortuary Sciences, 1974

 

Employment:

Messinger Mortuary, Chief Operating Officer, 1970 to Present

 

Other Qualifications:

Licensed Funeral Director (#417), Embalmer (#601), Cremationist (#30) and Cemetery Sales (AZ)

Castle Foundation, Board Member

Arizona Cemetery Association, Board Member

Arizona Cemetery Association, President 1994-1996

Arizona Funeral Directors Association, President 1984-1985

Arizona Funeral Directors Association, Past Board Member

Sojourner Center, Past Board Member

Scottsdale Optimist Club, Past President

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commerce and Economic Development Committee

May 6, 2009