I'm an elder-millennial who thinks and writes about the intersection of death and daily life. I live in Ventura, CA (aka "the 805") with my husband and kids -- Lucy, 4 & Arlo, 2. My mom died in June of 2017 and my dad died in August 2019. In the process of planning my mom's memorial, I realized the funeral industry, as it exists today, is broken, letting families down and woefully unprepared for the future. So I quit my job to join it.
With a background in behavioral economics and sales psychology, I naturally look for gaps and opportunities. Learning that the funeral industry, at $17 billion per year, was just a piece of the end-of-life continuum. As the massive wave of Baby Boomers approaches this dysfunctional industry, I decided this was a professional risk worth taking.
Prior to death upending my life, I managed sales strategy projects in the wealth management division of a major bank and also led the communications department for a chemistry company in Pasadena, CA. I hold a BA in Development Economics from the University of San Francisco (2004).
I am focusing a lot of my energy in 2020 on writing and speaking, freelancing for various publications, delivering my presentation, DEATHBOOM and, fingers crossed, recording a podcast. This newsletter is my outlet for the stuff that doesn’t fit into those other categories; the personal stories, the recommendations and the insight I share with my friends. No reason not to share with you, too.