On March 19, 2025, Jack E. Lechner, Jr. resigned from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, effective immediately.   President Lechner has served in his role since January 2016.  During his tenure, President Lechner helped to expand and enhance the CCMS curriculum, transforming death care education.  The mortuary science program at CCMS grew to offer training in hands-on cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, hospitality management, and pet loss.  A new Educational Cremation Center was constructed and now serves as the beacon for excellence in death care education.  We thank Jack for his incredible vision and leadership during his tenure.

The Board of Trustees has appointed Poul Lemasters as interim President and Chief Executive Officer and will begin the process of searching for a replacement.  Me. Lemasters had served on the Board of Trustees since August 2019, resigning that position temporarily to serve in this role.  Mr. Lemasters, a 1996 alumnus of CCMS, has worked in the funeral profession for over 30 years and holds funeral director and embalmer’s license in several states.  As an attorney, he is admitted to practice law in several states as well. His work has focused in deathcare advising on funeral home, cemetery, and crematory issues across the country. He is a renowned Keynote speaker who has addressed audiences across North America. As an author, he has published hundreds of articles covering all aspects of deathcare. Mr. Lemasters works directly with practitioners, and also serves as counsel for several associations including the National Concrete Burial Association, the Catholic Cemeteries Conference, and General Counsel for the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association.

The Board is excited to have Mr. Lemasters lead the college in this interim period.  He will be on campus beginning on Thursday, March 20, 2025. 

 

www.ccms.edu

 

“Transforming Death Care Education”