Director Snapshot
2021 Director Nominees
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors requires that certain general qualifications are met in order to serve on the Board. The Board believes that each of the nominees presented possess these general qualifications. In addition to the general qualifications, there are other unique qualifications important to serve on our Board which are outlined below. The mix of general and unique qualifications combined with each nominee's background, experience, and expertise allows us to have an effectively functioning Board that is well-equipped in its oversight capacity as stewards of the Company.
The following describes the specific qualifications of our Board and desired skills and experience:
Financial
SCI uses a broad set of financial metrics to measure its performance. Accurate financial reporting and robust auditing are critical to our success. We expect all of our Directors to have an understanding of finance, financial reporting processes, and internal controls.
Government/Regulatory
We operate in a heavily regulated industry. Directors with backgrounds in law or in government positions provide experience and insights that assist us in legal and regulatory compliance matters and in working constructively with governmental and regulatory organizations.
Human Capital Management
SCI has a large workforce, which is an important asset and key resource for the Company. Therefore, we seek individuals with experience in employee development, recruitment of key talent/personnel, succession planning, and overseeing Company culture.
Industry
The funeral and cemetery industry is unique. Directors with prior industry experience can help shape and develop all aspects of the Company’s strategy.
Investments/Financial Services
Knowledge of financial markets, investment activities, and trust and insurance operations assists our Directors in understanding, advising on, and overseeing our investment strategies. Our current trust investments include $7.2 billion in preneed funeral and cemetery trusts and related receivables that is part of our $12.7 billion backlog of future revenue.
Marketing/Brand Management
We employ a multi-brand strategy and also rely heavily on marketing our products and services on a preneed basis. Directors with marketing experience and/or brand management experience provide expertise and guidance as we seek to expand brand awareness, enhance our reputation, and increase preneed sales.
Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
We own a significant amount of real estate. Directors with experience in real estate provide insight into our tiered product/pricing strategy for our cemeteries as well as advice on best uses of our real estate. We seek to grow through acquisitions and development of new business operations. Directors with backgrounds in business development and M&A provide insight into developing and implementing strategies for growing our business.
Risk Management
As a large corporation, we must effectively manage our enterprise risks to ensure long-term value. We seek Directors with experience in assessing and managing financial, operational, social, and other risks significant to the Company.
Technology or e-Commerce
Directors with education or experience in relevant technology are useful for understanding our efforts to enhance the customer experience as well as improve our internal processes and operations.
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
Set forth below are profiles for each of the ten candidates nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors for election by shareholders at this year’s Annual Meeting each with one-year terms expiring in 2022. Directors are elected by a majority of votes cast. Please see page 14 in this Proxy Statement for more information.
The Board of Directors recommends that Shareholders vote "FOR" the following ten nominees.
Director Nominees
Alan R. Buckwalter
Former Chairman and CEO, Chase Bank of Texas
Chair of: Compensation Committee
Member of: Executive Committee, Investment Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 74
Director Since: 2003
Other Public Boards*: None
Qualifications **: Financial, Investments/Financial Services, Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Risk Management, Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Alan Buckwalter's extensive corporate finance and banking experience provides the Board with valuable financial and investment management insights. He is an insightful resource for relevant strategy and risk management gained from his many years in senior executive roles. His tenure with the Board allowed him to develop a robust understanding of our unique industry. Furthermore, he possesses significant corporate governance knowledge developed by current and past service on the boards of other publicly traded companies.
Anthony L. Coelho, Lead Independent Director
Former Majority Whip of the U. S. House of Representatives
Independent business and political consultant
Member of: Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 78
Director Since: 1991
Other Public Boards*: 2
Qualifications**: Financial, Marketing/Brand Management, Investments/Financial Services, Government/Regulatory, Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Tony Coelho's successful role as President and CEO of a multi-billion financial services company provides the Board with financial, investing, and senior leadership expertise. His political experience and expertise provide unique insights into government, public policy matters and regulatory issues. Additionally, he has significant corporate governance knowledge developed by current and past service on the boards of other publicly traded companies which is invaluable to SCI in his role as Lead Independent Director.
Jakki L. Haussler
Founder and Chairwoman of the Board, Opus Capital Management (since 1996), an independent registered investment advisor, providing investment solutions to institutions and high-net worth individuals
Member of: Audit Committee, Investment Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 63
Director Since: 2018
Other Public Boards*: 2
Qualifications**: Marketing/Brand Management, Financial, Investments/Financial Services, Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Government/Regulatory
Director Summary: Jakki Haussler has expertise in finance, portfolio management, and senior leadership experience as founder and Chairwoman of Opus Capital Management. Her expertise and experience provides background in investments and equity funds. Her experience as Partner in Adena Ventures provides insight into business development and M&A activity. Her other board positions have given her exposure to different industries and approaches to governance and issue resolution.
Victor L. Lund
Former President, CEO, and Executive Chairman of the Board, Teradata Corporation
Chair of: Audit Committee
Member of: Executive Committee, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 73
Director Since: 2000
Other Public Boards*: None
Qualifications**: Financial, Marketing/Brand Management, Real Estate/Business Development and Acquisitions (M&A), Technology or e-Commerce, Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Victor Lund's years of senior executive experience and leadership such as his former position of CEO and Executive Chairman of Teradata provide the Board with invaluable experience in technology and technological processes. As a former auditor who also worked in various corporate finance positions, he demonstrates an extensive understanding of financial reporting and auditing practices. Furthermore, his service on other boards provide SCI with valuable corporate governance expertise, which is of particular benefit to SCI in his role as Audit Committee Chair.
Clifton H. Morris, Jr.
Chairman and CEO of JBC Funding, a corporate lending and investment firm
Member of: Audit Committee, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 85
Director Since: 1990
Other Public Boards*: None
Qualifications**: Industry, Financial, Real Estate/Business Development and Acquisitions (M&A), Risk Management, Investments/Financial Services
Director Summary: Cliff Morris' background in finance and senior leadership experience is evidenced through his position as founder and Chairman of AmeriCredit Corp. As a CPA with 59 years of experience, he possesses extensive insight into finance, accounting, and auditing standards and practice. As a former executive of SCI and a long-term Board member, he has unique insight and knowledge of the funeral and cemetery industry. Further, he possesses significant corporate governance knowledge developed by past service on other boards of other publicly traded companies.
Ellen Ochoa
Former Director of NASA and Independent Director and Speaker
Member of: Compensation Committee (Chair-elect), Investment Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 62
Director Since: 2015
Other Public Boards*: None
Qualifications**: Financial, Technology or e-Commerce, Government/Regulatory, Risk Management, Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Ellen Ochoa's background with NASA and other governmental entities provides the Board with extensive technology and government/regulatory experience and insight. The senior leadership experience gained through her role as Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center provides the Board with strategic planning, management of large projects, personnel development, and capital allocation expertise. Her many other positions include oversight activities such as financial stewardship and organizational governance. This experience along with her tenure on the Compensation committee since her election in 2015, will be instrumental in her new role as the Chair of the Compensation Committee in 2021.
Thomas L. Ryan
President, Chairman, and CEO, Service Corporation International
Chair of: Executive Committee
Independent: NO
Age: 55
Director Since: 2004
Other Public Boards*: 1
Qualification**: Industry, Financial, Investments/Financial Services, Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Tom Ryan's current 25-year career with SCI has instilled a deep understanding of our industry and strategic insights as well as strong leadership skills. He has demonstrated operational execution to long-term strategic direction, including leadership in significant acquisition and capital allocation decision-making, as well as risk management. His service on other publicly traded company boards has given him valuable insight into corporate governance and diverse approaches to key issues.
Sara Martinez Tucker
Former Chief Executive Officer, National Math + Science Initiative, a non-profit organization to improve student performance in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects
Member of: Audit Committee, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 65
Director Since: 2018
Other Public Boards*: 1
Qualifications**: Human Capital Management, Technology or e-Commerce, Government/Regulatory, Risk Management, Financial
Director Summary: Sara Martinez Tucker has extensive knowledge and experience gained through her various executive leadership roles. Her most recent executive experience and her role as the chair of a board business and technology committee provides the Board with invaluable experience and expertise in technology. She also provides strong leadership and executive experience through her previous role as Vice President with AT&T. Her background serving as the Department of Education’s undersecretary has given her specific insight into governmental processes and human capital management as well as exposure to a variety of legal issues. Further, she possesses significant corporate governance knowledge developed by current and past service on the boards of other publicly traded companies.
W. Blair Waltrip
Independent consultant, family and trust investments, and former Senior Executive of the Company
Chair of: Investment Committee
Independent: NO
Age: 66
Director Since: 1986
Other Public Boards*: None
Qualifications**: Industry, Financial, Investments/Financial Services, Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Blair Waltrip's experience includes various corporate finance roles at SCI, demonstrating a solid understanding of mergers and acquisitions, real estate and investment management. His tenure as EVP/COO at SCI has allowed him to develop a robust understanding of our unique industry. Further, he possesses corporate governance knowledge developed by past service on the board of another publicly traded company.
Marcus A. Watts
President, The Friedkin Group, an umbrella company overseeing various business interests that include a variety of branded automotive, hospitality, and entertainment companies
Chair of: Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Member of: Compensation Committee, Executive Committee
Independent: YES
Age: 62
Director Since: 2012
Other Public Boards*: 1
Qualification**: Marketing/Brand Management, Real Estate/Business Development/Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Government/Regulatory, Risk Management, Human Capital Management
Director Summary: Marcus Watts’ executive role as President of The Friedkin Group provides the Board with senior leadership expertise and experience from oversight of various branded business interests. His previous role as Vice Chairman and Managing Partner-Houston of Locke Lord LLP, provides the Board with extensive legal and government experience. Additionally, he possesses significant marketing, brand management, and corporate governance knowledge developed by current and past service on the boards of other private and publicly traded companies.
*See Director Bios beginning on page 14 in this Proxy Statement, which includes other Public Boards for each Director.
**Although the members of our Board each embody a broad range of backgrounds, experience and expertise, we have highlighted only the top five qualifications for each member.
Director Snapshot
We have added four new Directors since 2012, which has decreased our Board's average age and tenure by two and seven years, respectively. Women represent 30% of the current Board:
Our Director nominees possess an effective mix of backgrounds, experience and expertise: