Sales Representatives
MIKE BEARDSLEY
Mike joined Thacker Caskets, Inc. in November, 2004 as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Previously, Mike served as Director of Sales & Marketing for the Marsellus Casket Company, Syracuse, NY. He joined Marsellus in 1973 after graduating summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a degree in Secondary Education/Social Science. Mike has assisted leading funeral directors in 46 states & across Canada to create strategic merchandising plans. He has been a speaker for the National Funeral Directors Association, the National Foundation of Funeral Service, and numerous State Funeral Associations. Mike and his wife Nancy live in Chittenango, NY and have two children. His hobbies include golf, New York State Archeology, antiques, and collecting early casket & coffin company advertising. Mike is a contributing writer for AntiqueWeek magazine.
JIM PEACOCK
Jim is the President of Balanced Line Casket Company. Balanced Line joined with Thacker Caskets, Inc. in June of 2001. Jim is a graduate of Vincennes University, and the Indiana College of Mortuary Science. He maintains an active Indiana Funeral Director’s license, and he is a former funeral home owner. Jim has been serving leading Indiana Funeral Homes as a sales and merchandising consultant for over 35 years. As past President of the Casket and Funeral Supply Association and the Indiana Funeral Supply Group, Jim’s expertise is well respected both in Indiana and nationally. He is proud to serve as a board member and advisor to a number of independent funeral homes and cemeteries. Jim and his wife Sandy live in Indianapolis. They have two sons and four grandchildren. He is a life member of Sertoma International, and a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. In his spare time, Jim enjoys golf, travel, and spending time with his family.
BOB CULLEN
Bob Cullen has successfully represented Thacker Caskets, Inc. for the past 13 years. His territory includes New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and the New York Metropolitan market including Long Island and Westchester County. In 2011 Bob achieved wonderful sales successes as he was named as a member of the President's Club as well as 2010 Salesperson of the Year for Thacker Caskets. In all, Bob has been active in the funeral supply industry for over 25 years. Prior to this, Bob attended Keystone College in La Plume, PA. As the “Dean” of the Thacker Sales team, Bob has earned the respect of his customers, and fellow sales representatives alike. He and his family live in Scranton. PA. Bob is the father of 2 children. In his spare time, Bob enjoys skiing.
DENNIS CHRISTIAN
Dennis manages the Thacker Caskets, Inc. Customer Service Center in Richmond, VA, and he is also a sales representative for Thacker Caskets. He has been active in the funeral profession since 1963. Dennis is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, and a 1966 graduate of the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. Dennis joined the Spencer Casket Company of Richmond in 1978, and he became part of the “Thacker Family” in 1995 when they acquired Spencer Casket. Dennis is a widower, and he has a married daughter. He doesn’t have much spare time, but when he does, Dennis enjoys fishing, hunting, river activities, and just meeting people.
CONNIE AZURE
Connie Azure has been with Thacker Caskets, Inc. since 1998. Prior to joining Thacker, Connie enjoyed a successful sales career in Maryland. Connie and her husband Larry moved to Bristol, Tennessee after accepting the Thacker offer. Connie and Larry established an efficient Customer Service Center, and built their sales territory from scratch—something very rarely seen today. Connie calls on customers in portions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina. Connie has also enjoyed great sales successes the past two years as she is a member of the President's Club for both 2010 and 2011, while also capturing the Salesperson of the Year award in 2008 and 2009. She thoroughly enjoys the friendships that she has forged with her customers and the opportunity to help them meet their funeral supply needs. When she’s not on the road, Connie enjoys time with her family, friends, and her church activities.
JOHN COOPER
John Cooper came on board in 2007 as Director of Distributor Sales for Thacker Casket Manufacturing. He comes to Thacker with 15 years of proven industry expertise including a rich and varied background in metal casket manufacturing, markeing, and distribution. In November, the Casket and Funeral Supply Association (CFSA) honored John by electing him to their Board of Directors where he will serve for the next three years. John has earned an Associates degree in Business Administration from Vincennes University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Indiana University at Indianapolis. He and his family live in Fishers, Indiana. In his free time, John enjoys being with his family and playing basketball.
LARRY JONES
Larry joined Thacker in 1996 and managed the distribution of our caskets to our loyal customers in New Jersey, and in the Metropolitan New York City market from our Distribution Center in Hackensack, NJ. As such, Larry possesses a hands-on knowledge of the industry, the Metropolitan market, and he enjoys a broad base of customer relationships. Larry joins Senior Thacker sales representative, Bob Cullen, in providing attentive sales and merchandising support to our valued customers in New York & New Jersey. In 2011, Larry was awarded with Thacker's first ever "Rookie of the Year" award. Larry has been married to his wife Kathleen since 1995. They have 2 daughters. Larry attended the University of Delaware. When he’s not working or coaching his daughter’s sports teams, Larry plays golf and enjoys rooting for the New York Giants.
RYAN KIESER
Ryan Kieser joined the Thacker Sales Team in February 2011. Ryan went to college at the University of Southern Indiana located in Evansville where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education with a minor in Health and Safety. Following college, Ryan taught Physical Education at Elizabethtown High School in Elizabethtown, KY. He also served as Assistant Football Coach, and he was Head Coach for Freshman Baseball in Elizabethtown. After trying his hand at teaching, Ryan turned to business and became Operations Manager for Bebco Hardwoods, Inc. in Tell City. Ryan’s responsibilities were many and varied ranging from outside sales, training, employee supervision and development, market research, inventory control, scheduling & transportation, and development & implementation of both short term and long term business plans. Ryan will provide Thacker sales coverage to our valued customers and prospects in Central Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Ohio, and Western West Virginia. In his spare time Ryan enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and spending time with his girlfriend Jennifer.
BEN HARDY
Ben Hardy has been providing sales coverage to our valued Funeral Home accounts and prospects in the State of Georgia since July of 2011. Ben is a native of North Carolina. He relocated to Macon, GA so he is centrally positioned to provide exceptional sales attention to his customers. Ben is a June, 2011 graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Ben earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. Ben is no stranger to Funeral Service. His father, Jim Hardy, is the owner of Custom Air Trays. Ben began helping his father at an early age and he has worked at many levels with the company from factory manufacturing and product distribution to trade show management. Ben has participated in Funeral Director conventions in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, etc. and comes to Thacker with a strong understanding of and appreciation for the funeral industry. In his spare time, Ben enjoys fly fishing.
JUSTIN QUINN
Justin Quinn joined Thacker Caskets, Inc. in the October of 2011 to represent the Central and Western portions of Michigan for Thacker. Justin graduated from the Western Michigan University in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Finance major and minors in Economics and General Business. Also while in college, Justin was a member of the Big Brothers organization. Prior to joining the Thacker team, Justin worked for MEDLINE, a medical supply company. He sold medical equipment and supplies to hosptials, clinicians, etc. Prior to MEDLINE, Justin was an Account Manager for Cintas where he achieved membership to the President's Club. Currently, Justin is a member of the Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity. Outside of work, Justin likes to spend most of his time in the outdoors kayaking, camping, hiking, and golfing.
ANDREW McGRANAGHAN
Andrew joined the Thacker sales team in March of 2012. Andrew attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2009 majoring in Marketing with concentrations in Corporate Marketing and International Business. While attending the University of Tennessee, Andrew also studied abroad for a summer at the John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. Following graduation, Andrew worked as an Account Manager and was later promoted to District Manager for the Healthcare Services Group where he sold and managed third-party outsourcing of housekeeping and cleaning services at Nursing Homes. Andrew is excited to be the sales representative for Thacker's Tennessee territory and will cover the entire state of Tennessee west of Knoxville. Andrew is currently engaged to his fiance Julie. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys going back to his alma mater, University of Tennessee for football games and also taking care of his rescue dog, Kinko.
