Secretary, McKenna Reinhard is an alumnus of Grand Canyon University, where she earned a Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness with an Emphasis in Grief and Bereavement. She is also a trained end-of-life doula through Going with Grace and the University of Vermont and has earned a NEDA proficiency badge. She started her career working in healthcare, which inspired her to move into grief and end-of-life work as she realized the lack of support for these areas within the healthcare system. She founded Time Enough, LLC. to provide unintimidating and personable end-of-life services and education. In her doula work, she has focused on grief support for non-death losses, advance care planning for people under 50, and end-of-life support for companion animals and their people. McKenna is also a member of the Arizona End of Life Care Partnership (AzEOLCP), the largest funded end-of-life community-based partnership of its kind in the U.S. As a member of the AzEOLCP, McKenna was Co-Chair of the Community-Based Education Action Team which focused on creating educational events and materials around end-of-life topics with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. McKenna lives in the Tucson, AZ area. Feel free to email her at Secretary@nedalliance.org

Secretary, McKenna Reinhard 

Director, Joan Bretthauer is the visionary Founder of ACE End-of-Life Doula Services and currently dedicates her efforts as an advance illness end-of-life doula. She possesses a solid academic foundation, having earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Lindenwood University. Her impressive qualifications include certifications as an End-of-Life Doula-NEDA Proficient, Advance Care Planning Respecting Choices Facilitator, and MIDEO Advance Care Planning Educator.  Beyond her professional roles, Joan actively contributes to the field by serving on the board of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. Her innovative engagement with various local end-of-life associations has significantly enhanced her local and regional communities. During her extensive tenure as a board member and President Emeritus of the Gateway End-of-Life Coalition, she pioneered impactful programs, workshops, and educational initiatives designed for healthcare professionals and the broader community. Joan's wealth of experience and exceptional leadership skills have now culminated in her role as the Executive Director of Community Advance Care Planning Facilitation in St. Louis.  Moreover, Joan is the founder of The Midwest End-of-Life Doula Collective and holds membership in organizations such as the St. Louis Palliative Care Network, Aging Life Care Association, End-of-Life University, and International Doulagivers.  In addition to her professional endeavors, Joan serves as a mentor, a dedicated researcher, and a highly sought-after speaker. As an engaged member of her community, she ardently advocates for Hospice and Palliative Care legislation, both in Washington D.C. and Missouri. Her commitment to this cause has been steadfast since she began volunteering with hospice in 2008.  With more than three decades dedicated to the well-being of others, Joan channels her energy, talent, and expertise into fulfilling her mission, firmly believing that every individual deserves dignity and love at the end of life. During her moments of leisure, she treasures the invaluable time spent with her children and grandchildren, cherishing the profound connections that life has to offer. Joan lives in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Feel free to email her at membershipengagement@nedalliance.org

Director, Joan Bretthauer

Jen Carolan is a certified End-of-Life Doula, Death Educator, Funeral Celebrant and energy worker whose services focus on end of life planning, support of funerals, services and legacy projects, aligning families to resources and support grief and bereavement care. Jen holds her doula certification from LifeSpan Doulas and studied with the Academy for Modern Celebrancy and is an ordained minister and notary. She also serves as the Director of Operations for the Iowa Funeral Director’s Association. Jen is also a Reiki Master and Shamanic Energy Healing practitioner having completed a two year apprenticeship program with The Joyful Journey. Prior to moving into death care, Jen’s 20+ years in IT program and project management in the corporate space, has allowed her to take her skills and transition into death education as well as assisting families in capturing and understanding their digital footprints. Jen can often be found networking and presenting with local companies and for health and wellness events in and around the Des Moines, Iowa vicinity through her company Forces of Nature. She and her husband can also be found camping, hiking and biking or supporting one of their four kids sporting events. Jen lives in Cumming, Iowa.  Feel free to email her at Membershipengagement@nedalliance.org

DIRECTOR, Jen Carolan

Lisa Cox is an alumna of Plymouth State University, University of Massachusetts- Lowell and University of Wyoming with advanced degrees in Education, Public Administration and Science. A long-time teacher, program director, and business manager, in recent years, Lisa has served as a core shamanic practitioner and ordained minister through her healing practice, Hjertehagen Healing Passages, assisting people with life transitions, including as an end-of-life doula. Lisa’s doula services focus primarily on end-of-life planning, funerals and memorials, and bereavement support, as well as assistance to pets and their families during final transition. She is an advocate for social justice, having worked with homeless and at-risk children and youth, as a care giver for the elderly and those with health and developmental challenges, and in environmental remediation. Lisa is also owner and creative cook at Red Door Kitchen, cooking for community, and in her limited free time enjoys kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing, reading, traveling and spending time with her 2-legged and 4-legged family. Lisa lives in Laramie, WY. Feel free to email her at Communications@nedalliance.org

Director, Lisa Cox

Alexis Hughes currently works as a development manager with the Alzheimer's Association in tandem with being an End-of-Life Doula having received her doula training from Going with Grace. A Valdosta State University alumni, Alexis holds certifications in Counseling Grief & Bereavement, and has completed End of Life Care: Challenges and Innovation from the University of Glasgow. Alexis has spent the past few years in an End-of-Life setting via her work with local hospice in which she developed several vigil and wellbeing programs to support their volunteer caregivers. Alexis founded Without Fear - offering a wide variety of death, grief, and transitional guidance education as she believes that all grief is valid and provides support for any type of loss, Her special interests in her doula work include historical traditions and old world practices especially applied to the resurgence of Pagan ceremony in modern End-of-Life work; Alexis is also a trained Sin Eater working to revive this practice within the end-of-life care sphere. Alexis resides in Chattanooga, TN. Feel free to email her at eventsandeducation@nedalliance.org.

Director, Alexis Hughes

Jessica Johansson is a UVM-trained end-of-life doula (NEDA proficient), celebrant, and ordained Interfaith minister, and the founder of Sacred Journey Holistic End-of-Life Doula Services, in Jaffrey, NH. She is also a companion animal end-of-life doula and supports pets and their families as well. In addition to her private doula and celebrant practice, Jessica serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Life Forest in Hillsborough, NH. Life Forest is a non-profit conservation cremation burial cemetery for both people and pets, and the first of its kind in this country. In this role Jessica is able to harness her marketing skills in service to a mission she believes in and supports. Beyond her professional commitments, Jessica hosts and facilitates Death Cafes in her area and is a volunteer for the Monadnock Kitty Rescue & Adoption. She is also an active board member of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative Chamber of Commerce, where she also chairs the marketing committee. Jessica's dedication to service is an integral part of her approach to life. Jessica lives in Jaffrey, NH. Feel free to email her at Communications@nedalliance.org

Director, Jessica Johansson

Neal Rosenburg is Professor, College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing at the University of Detroit Mercy. During his nursing career, he has served as Associate Dean for Program and Faculty Development in the School of Nursing at Linfield University in Portland, Oregon; Dean of the School of Nursing at Nevada State College (NSC); Dean for the College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing. He earned his Ph.D. in Nursing Theory/Research from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He also holds an Honor’s B.A. in French Language/Literature from Saint Louis University; B.S. in Nursing and M.S. in Nursing (Nurse Educator) from the University of Missouri, St. Louis; a Graduate Certificate in Thanatology and Applied Aging from the University of Maryland – Baltimore. Additionally, Rosenburg is a Post Doctorate Scholar in Nursing Theory from the Watson Caring Science Institute. Actively engaged in scholarship, his endeavors span exploring end-of-life care and decision-making among the marginalized. Neal earned a Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula certificate through the Conscious Dying Institute.He has published and presented both nationally and internationally. Neal lives in the metro Detroit, MI area. Feel free to email him at DEIJ@nedalliance.org

Director, Neal Rosenburg

Director Karen Reppen formed Persephone's Garden to offer personal death awareness training and end-of-life care education through immersive workshops and presentations, and to provide direct support for those preparing for or experiencing aging, illness, death, and grief. A strong proponent for community death care, she helped to form The Great Circle Collaborative where various local death workers can connect with and support each other in their individual and group practices, facilitate Death Cafés, and host other community events. Through another local grass-roots effort called Walking Each other Home, she helps to inform interested parties about home funerals and natural burials. Karen received a Grief Support Specialist certificate from the University of Wisconsin and completed the end-of-life doula training through the University of Vermont. She also completed the Upaya Center's "Being With Dying" contemplative end-of-life care intensive, and is a long-time student at Stephen Jenkinson’s Orphan Wisdom School. Karen has more than 20 years of experience as a hospice communications professional and direct-care volunteer and has completed CNA training and pet therapy programs. Besides her involvement with NEDA, Karen is a current board member at the Natural Path Sanctuary (green cemetery) and the Pet Loss Resource Center (grief support for Wisconsin’s pet community). Formerly a facilitator for the UW Multicultural Awareness Program, she remains active in several local antiracism and social justice initiatives, including previous service as a board member for Solace Friends, Inc., that is working to bridge the gaps in end-of-life care for vulnerable populations. An adventurous mixed-media artist, avid gardener, canine pack mom, and lover of all things natural and wild, Karen calls Madison, WI, home. Feel free to email her at Communications@nedalliance.org

DIRECTOR, KAREN REPPEN 

Business Manager, Kim Adams is responsible for supporting the NEDA Board with operational and administrative duties including all aspects of membership, website directories, finances, and community inquiries. Kim served two years on the NEDA board during its inception after many years of experience in the death/dying field, having begun in the early 1990's as a case manager, and housing and legislative advocate for people with HIV/AIDS. She served on the National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA) Board of Directors as Secretary and Events Coordinator, is a certified, professional End of Life Coach, Home Funeral Guide, and hospice volunteer. Kim is currently the Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Omega Home Network, a non-profit national membership organization that promotes the development and expansion of community homes for dying people. She is also the former President of the Board of Directors for The Lily House, a community home for the dying in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

Business Manager, Kim Adams 

Poul Lemasters, Esq has a professional career that covers both funeral service (over 25 years) and law. He attended Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1996. While working in deathcare, he went on to attend Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law, graduating in 2003. Poul now operates and is principal of Lemasters Consulting, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, a consulting business entirely for the deathcare profession, which includes funeral homes, funeral directors/embalmers, cemeteries, cemeterains, cremationists, crematory owners, as well as the suppliers to all of them. He assists in areas of legal, compliance, regulatory, and operational issues. Poul also serves in various roles with national groups such as: General Counsel for ICCFA (International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Association; Legal Counsel for NCBVA (National Concrete Burial Vault Association); Legal Advisor to CCC (Catholic Cemetery Conference). See Poul's website for more information.

Legal Counsel, Poul Lemasters, Esq