TODD W. VAN BECK, B.A., M.A., D.H.L
Phone: 404-909-1829
[email protected]
2005 – Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service
Houston, Texas
1986 – Master of Arts in Religion
Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary
Cincinnati, Ohio
1981 – Bachelor of Arts
Mount Mercy College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1973 – Diploma in Mortuary Science
New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing
Boston, Massachusetts
Fellow – British Institute of Embalmers
Certified Death Educator, Association for Death Education and Counseling
Graduate Study in Embalming, Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills
Certificate of Completion, Hospice Training Program, Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice
Certification of Passing the National Board of Funeral Service Examination, by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
- Wyoming #377 (Inactive Status)
- Iowa #4292 (Inactive Status)
- Ohio #7742 (Inactive Status)
- New York # 6771, Registration #04073
- Texas #111911
Certified Disaster Coordinator, Federal Emergency Management Academy
Certified Eye Enucleation Technician
University of Iowa Hospitals
Departments of Anatomy and Ophthalmology
Certified Homograft Eardrum Autopsy Retrieval
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
August 2005 – 2011: Director of Family Funeral Care and Public Relations, A. S.
Turner & Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, Georgia
Duties externally include: Holiday Bereavement Programs, Bereavement Support Group formation, Clergy Seminars, funeral programs for churches, schools, colleges, civic organizations, allied health, hospital and hospice organizations. Represent A. S. Turner & Son in NSM, NFDA, CANA, ICFA, GFDA, other state funeral director associations. Duties internally include: Staff training, Special Projects, compliance officer.
May 2002 – July 2005 – President and CEO
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Houston, Texas
Accountable for the day to day activities and operation of a college of mortuary science with an enrollment of 170 students, a faculty of 14, and a yearly revenue stream of one million dollars. Developed the Harris County Funeral and Burial Program whereby the student’s embalmed, dressed, cosmetized, casketed, and help on the actual burial and funeral service for over 600 indigent dead annually.
August 1999 – May 2002: School Director
New England Institute of Funeral Service
Daily management of college
1996 – Present – Dean of the College of Funeral Home Management- ICCFA University
Responsible for the preparation and instruction of advanced funeral home management material for a 4 and 1/2 day intensive seminar. Attendees come from across the world to receive this information. The topics range from the value and benefit of the funeral to credits and collections.
1986 – Present: Adjunct Faculty Member – Foundation of Thanatology, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York.
Serve in the capacity of author and lecturer at this scholarly organization which is associated closely with the world famous Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. Serve also on the Executive Committee as a liaison member between the Foundation and the funeral service profession.
October 1988 – April 1990: Dean and Executive Vice President
The Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Syracuse, New York
Responsible for the standards and policies of the College. Maintained constant activity in developing long and short term planning for the present as well as for the future expansion of the College. All personnel matters concerning hiring, dismissal, and job descriptions were handled through the Dean’s office. Also active in the public relation programs that the College sponsored. In addition to the above administrative duties, conducted classroom instruction in the management and social science areas. Counseled with students on a regular basis and was responsible for all student services. Also spent regular clinical time in the embalming laboratory.
November 1986 – October 1988: Chairman, Department of Mortuary Science
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, New York
Supervised the Department of Mortuary Science at a community college of 8,000 students in Upstate New York. Responsible for faculty development, training and educating a funeral service student body of 50. Other responsibilities included maintaining academic records, developing and implementing ongoing educational programs, advising the Mortuary Science Club, maintaining all accreditation standards for the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Public relations on the state and national level. On campus, a member of the Learning Resource Committee, and the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee. Was active with private bereavement counseling, support groups, a national lecture Circuit, the Disaster Preparedness Committee of the National Funeral Directors Association, numerous civic activities and Hospice work.
February 1988 – September 1988: Executive Director
The Institute of Thanatological Studies
This organization was a subsidiary of the Mortuary Science Department, which Mr. Van Beck developed and implemented in 1988 as part of the Department’s community Outreach and Continuing Education Program. The Institute ran continuing Education programs for the community at large and awarded a certificate in Bereavement care to each successful participant. The program received a great deal of positive community response.
March 1982 – September 1986: Chairman, Social Science Department
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio
Coordinated and instructed in the academic areas of Mortuary Arts and Sciences. Specific teaching responsibilities included the following courses: Psychology of Grief, Funeral Conference Laboratory, Sociology of Death and Dying, Funeral Service Ethics, Funeral Directing, Contemporary Funeral Principles and Practice, Merchandising, Government in Funeral Service, Comparative Law, Ohio Statutory Law, Color and Cosmetics, Pathology and Anatomy. This position also included numerous speaking engagements on the local, state and national level in the area of Funeral Service and Thanatology. Responsible for an academic department that employed three additional instructors and served as advisor to both the Alpha Tau Epsilon Fraternity and the College Women’s club. Conducted continuing education courses and was the clinical laboratory Supervisor for two years, responsible for the preparation of 1000 cases per year.
1980 – 1982: Adjunct Professor – Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Organized, implemented and taught two five week courses on Death and Dying for the evening division of Adult Education.
1979 – 1982: Instructor, Hospice Training Program, Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1978 – 1982: Manager, John B. Turner & Son Mortuary, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1975 – 1979: Owner, T. W. Van Beck Funeral Homes, Belle Plain and Blairstown, Iowa
1973 – 1975: Funeral Director & Embalmer, Wiederspahn Mortuary, Cheyenne, Wyoming
1968 – 1973: Apprentice: Heafey & Heafey Mortuaries, Omaha, Nebraska
2000 – 2004: Board of Trustees
President Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation
2000 – 2004: Board of Trustees
Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice
Served on the following committees of the National Funeral Directors Association
Education Committee
Clergy and Caregivers Committee
Planning Committee
1996 – 2000: Board of Directors
International Cemetery and Funeral Association
1996 – Present: Advisory Council
Federal Emergency Management Academy
1999 – Present: President of the Advisory Board
LifeFiles
1994 – 1999: Chairman of the Board
Children’s Hospice “Canuk Place” Foundation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1988 – 1990: Chairman, Curriculum Committee, American Board of Funeral Service Education
1985 – 1990: Member of the Psychology Curriculum Committee of the American Board of Funeral Service Education
1985 – 1989: Board of Directors,
The Free Store and Food Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio
1984 – 1988: Professional Consultant
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation
1982 – 1988: Chairman of the Board
Ohio Embalmer’s Association
1980 – 1982: Coordinator of Bereavement Services, Hospice of Mercy
1979 – 1982: Funeral Consultant, Legal Services of Iowa
1979 – 1982: Volunteer Coordinator, Hospice of Mercy
1975 – 1978: President of Benton County American Cancer Society
1975 – 1979: Member – Iowa State Board of Funeral Directors & Embalmers
1975 – 1976: Secretary of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association
American Board of Funeral Service Education
Special Recognition Award – 1995
Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities – 1982
Outstanding Young Man in America – 1976 – Selected by the United State’s Jaycee’s
Music Scholarship – McCook College – 1972
William B. O’Brien Memorial Scholarship – New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing, Boston – 1973
Who’s Who in American Business and Industry – 1994
International Cemetery and Funeral Association
National Funeral Directors Association
Texas Funeral Directors Association
The Foundation of Thanatology
The New England Institute Alumni Association
Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary Alumni Association
Mount Mercy Alumni Association
The Abraham Lincoln Association
The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation
British Institute of Embalmers
Funeral Ethics Association
Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice
American Society of Embalmers