How will you be remembered?
Every life has a story, and notable individuals leave a distinct legacy that transcends generations. We honor that life and legacy with ultimate respect, unparalleled integrity and infinite attention to detail.
Through our vast knowledge and experience in the profession, coupled with strict adherence to confidentiality and discretion, we have planned and directed some of the country’s largest high profile and official funerals. Our executive planning team serves as a catalyst and a resource in discussions surrounding eventual death and memorialization while providing unbiased and objective counsel that leads to purposeful memorial event plans.
Nine out of ten family offices do not have a funeral or memorial event plan in place
Your Life. Your Legacy.
A distinguished life deserves world-class recognition. Accordingly, the events surrounding the final farewell to a noteworthy individual call for enhanced discernment and attention to detail—a service uniquely designed to illuminate the distinctiveness of someone whose life has had a remarkable impact.
We have been honored to assist many notable families with services ranging from small, intimate gatherings to internationally televised events. Our team works privately with family members, trusted advisors, and family office associates, both in advance and at life’s end, to plan and orchestrate these life celebrations.
We ensure a flawless farewell that is planned to meet one’s unique desires and wishes while creating peace of mind for our clients and their families.
Who we are
LHT offers exclusive consultation and event management services to celebrate the lives and legacies of distinguished and noteworthy individuals. LHT team members are experts in comprehensive planning, protocol, and event logistics that are essential to implementation of high-visibility funeral and memorial events.
Areas of Expertise
- Ceremony Site Logistics / Situational Awareness
- Guest List Management / Invitations / Credentialing
- Ceremony Choreography / Operational Protocol
- Precedence and VIP Seating Arrangements
- Family and Guest Transportation Management
- Media Relations / Press Releases / Digital Memorials
- Funeral Home Operations and Memorial Affairs
- Funeral Home and Cemetery Merchandise
- Executive Protection and Security Detail Liaison
- Global Repatriation of Remains
- Vehicles / Aircraft / Specialty Service Equipment
- Family and Guest Travel Management
- Event Production Equipment / Tents
- Floral Consultation / Design and Floral Production
- Event Planning / Catered Reception Management
- Printed Collateral Consultation / Design and Print Production
- Permanent Memorialization / Design and Construction
The LHT Team
Robert M. Boetticher
John DeBord
James H. (Jim) Simpson
Jeff Duffer
Stephen Zahn
Jeff Lambert
Sherri L. Gerland
The Difference
We have united more than 30 professionals within our Ceremonial Funeral Team who specialize in conducting high-visibility funeral and memorial events nationwide.
LHT Consulting Group is a subsidiary of North America's leading provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI)*. SCI operates in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and serves families through more than 2,000 locations.
Our experience is truly unique and unparalleled. We are the recognized leader in our industry with tenured associates who work exclusively in funeral service and cemetery management. Because of our corporate knowledge base of nearly 25,000 employees, LHT’s specially-selected, background-cleared team can deliver the most concentrated level of expertise available to our clients anywhere in North America.
Confidentiality and discretion are the keystones to our success, and we have earned a solid reputation of excellence by providing dedicated service and specialized care.
Shared Knowledge
We maximize the capabilities of our team through professional networking, external training exercises, close coordination of team functions and varying team member assignments. Associates draw upon these experiences to develop best practices that ensure our clients benefit not only from the proficiency of individuals assigned to their specific engagement, but also from the array of resources available to our team.
Onsite Management
Each engagement includes an onsite senior director to oversee our team’s work. Project leaders are subject-matter experts in their field and personally direct a significant portion of the work during each engagement. We feel this approach adds tremendous value to our services.
Firm Licensing
Because of our organizational footprint, we can provide services throughout North America, as our respective team members hold licensure in all 50 states within the U.S. and eight Canadian provinces.
Testimonials
“LHT’s leadership brought to our organization the skill, experience and personal interaction that were required for the public events surrounding the death of our founder. They provided the background, support services, planning and execution that we required. Their leadership and staff were professional, knowledgeable and highly competent – all equipped with specific training while demonstrating grace and hospitality for which they are well known.”
Dr. David Bruce, Executive Vice President
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
“The LHT team operated with discretion and the strictest of confidentiality. Their responsiveness and attention to detail at each step of the process was unparalleled. The resources brought to bear were outstanding in every instance. Most importantly the LHT team was unfailingly thoughtful and caring, always putting the needs of the family first and operating with the utmost professionalism.”
Del Williams, General Counsel
The Perot Companies
“LHT was incredibly flexible in working with us, from building plans for a possible demise in a global location, to providing creative and thoughtful ideas for each of the events and processes. They worked closely with our leadership team to help us be prepared when the deaths occurred. We thank LHT for their professional and tireless contributions to this successful outcome.”
Ginny Vander Hart and Jeff Lambert, Senior Executives
RDV Corporation
Affiliations
Dignity Memorial Premier Collection
The Dignity Memorial Premier Collection represents an exclusive selection of funeral homes, cemeteries and cremation providers throughout North America. Each property is selected for its distinctive history, exquisite facilities, and unwavering dedication to make a difference in the lives of the clients they serve - The “Premier” designation is your assurance of their commitment to theses exacting standards. LHT is proud to be an affiliate of this unique portfolio of locations, aligning our shared talents to provide carefully curated and seamlessly orchestrated memorial events.
Family Wealth Alliance
Since 2003, the Family Wealth Alliance has been the only membership organization focused on connecting and supporting North American multifamily wealth firms. They are a collaborative network that offers proprietary research, industry thought leadership, intimate events, and facilitated networking opportunities.
Together with their members, they have curated a peer-led community united by shared values and fueled by a desire to serve clients and the industry at the highest level.
Protocol & Diplomacy International -
Protocol Officers Association
The mission of PDI-POA is to share the highest level of collective expertise, training, information and advice regarding institutionally accepted rules of etiquette and protocol. They are committed to facilitating communication, understanding and cooperation among individuals, governments and cultures around the globe.
Our Process
Initial Planning Conference
- In-person introduction to connect all key organizational personnel
- Identify stakeholders involved in all planning and implementation stages
- Direct consultation with principal(s), family representatives and trusted advisors to discuss general desires regarding eventual funeral services and memorial events
- Alignment with overall Family Legacy Plan
- Thematic Development - vision and values discussion
- Communication Planning - Situational communication strategy to aid the family and organization at the time of demise
- Identification of unique pre- and post-demise scenarios
- Event site identification, selection and advance visit(s)
RESULT
Realization of a comprehensive draft of the master funeral or memorial event plan as well as a budgetary model.
Plan Presentation Conference
- Presentation of Executable Funeral or Memorial Event Plan
- Defined Organizational Leadership Structure
- Detailed Demise Communication and Notification Plan
- Decedent Care Arrangements
- Defined Event Timelines
- Guest List Management: Invitation and Credentialing Plan
- Precedence Seating Plan
- Attendee / VIP / Security / Media Plans
- Detailed Event and Ceremonial Site Schematics
- Specialty Equipment Requirements
- Family and Guest Catered Reception Plan
- Vehicle Manifesting and Family/Guest Transportation Plan
- Final Disposition / Permanent Memorialization
- Memorial Event Implementation Budget
RESULT
Delivery of a refined and family-approved executable master funeral or memorial event plan.