New Jersey Dignity Memorial(R) Providers First in Industry to Partner With J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Metrics Applied to Funeral Homes and Cemeteries in New Survey TOMS RIVER, N.J., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dignity Memorial funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers of New Jersey have partnered with global marketing research giant J.D. Power and Associates to understand what makes the Baby Boom generation tick. This notoriously demanding and unconventional generation is now making final arrangements for their parents -- as well as planning in advance for their own celebration of life -- and the Dignity Memorial provider network believes extensive customer satisfaction metrics are essential to helping them meet this group's needs. At the same time, the data will provide additional insight into the diverse cultures and generations who utilize the services of Dignity Memorial providers. "We have found that a professional survey is one of the best ways to measure the performance of firms that provide services, even though we often think of auto makers and similar businesses when we think of consumer surveys," said Michael A. Hogan, Market Manager. "By partnering with J.D. Power and Associates, we are emulating other progressive, consumer-oriented service companies who believe this well-known research firm is one of the best ways to gain extensive data regarding customer preferences. The survey will strongly enhance our knowledge of how to best serve those who come to us in need, and also benefit consumers and our industry as a whole," added Hogan. The J.D. Power and Associates survey represents the second generation of the Dignity Memorial network's quest for customer metrics. The network launched its first customer survey in 2000, which made it one of the first in a slow-to-change industry to use professional survey methods. The move to a partnership with J.D. Power and Associates is in keeping with the network's interest in obtaining extensive customer metrics to help them meet the needs of today's families. This focus has been driven by the Boomer generation, which has shown less interest in polished caskets and engraved markers, and more concern in celebrating the lives of loved ones with unique end-of-life events. "The Dignity Memorial network has stated that they intend to re-invent this category. Our work with the Dignity Memorial group (a first for this industry), should allow them to understand their performance across the families they serve, and provide a road-map to improved customer satisfaction and stronger customer loyalty," said George Owens, Director at J.D. Power and Associates. "We want to take care of our customers, like any good company. To do so we will refine what constitutes the best possible customer experience and develop appropriate processes to meet this goal, something that has long been an objective of the Dignity Memorial network and is a primary reason for our continued success," said Hogan. J.D. Power and Associates has a 36-year history of helping companies improve the quality of consumer goods and services. The research firm conducts more than 350 major tracking studies each year for some of the world's largest companies, including numerous Fortune 500 firms. A staff of more than 600 associates conducts quality and customer satisfaction research across a variety of industries including automotive, commercial vehicles, telecommunications, travel, real estate, finance, marine, healthcare, utilities, sports, retailing, office products, and professional services. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP). The Dignity Memorial providers of New Jersey include the following firms: Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home 3010 Ridgeway Road Manchester, NJ 08759 (732) 657-5700 Mark D. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3882 Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home 703 Main Street Toms River, NJ 08753 (732) 349-5700 John C. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3700 Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home 115 Lacey Road Whiting, NJ 08759 (732) 350-5700 Wallace T. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 3646 Becker Funeral Home 219 Kinderkamack Road Westwood, NJ 07675 (201) 664-0292 Martin O. Seitz, Manager- N.J. License No. 3889 Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel 68 Old Short Hills Road Livingston, NJ 07039 (973) 422-0600 Mark Harris, Manager- N.J. License No. 3284 Biondi Funeral Home 540 Franklin Avenue Nutley, NJ 07110 (973) 661-2800 Anthony A. Biondi, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 3893 Blake-Doyle Funeral Home 226 Collings Avenue Collingswood, NJ 08108 (856) 854-2570 Eric G. Vanderslice, Manager- N.J. License No. 4308 Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels 44 Wilson Avenue Route 527 N Manalapan, NJ 07726 (732) 446-4242 Albert Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 4074 Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels 2130 Highway 35 Ocean, NJ 07712 (800) 247-5235 Leslie Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 3357 Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Funeral Chapels 1300 Vermont Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 (800) 247-5235 Leslie Bloomfield, Manager- N.J. License No. 3357 D'Elia Funeral Home Highway 70 and Vermont Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 (732) 363-1987 Jason C. Campagna, Manager- N.J. License No. 4207 Goble Funeral Home 22 Main Street Sparta, NJ 07871 (973) 729-5530 Lawton J. Matthews, Manager- N.J. License No. 3505 Gutterman-Musicant Funeral Directors 402 Park Street Hackensack, NJ 07602 (800) 522-0588 Arthur Musicant, Manager- N.J. License No. 2544 LaMonica Memorial Home 299 Bloomfield Avenue Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-4434 Josette LaMonica, Manager- N.J. License No. 3747 LaMonica Memorial Home 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue Livingston, NJ 07039 (973) 992-5581 Josette C. LaMonica, Manager- N.J. License No. 3747 Leber Funeral Home 2000 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, NJ 07087 (201) 863-1100 James Leber, Manager- N.J. License No. 3599 Mack Memorial Home 1245 Paterson Plank Road Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 865-2250 Michael W. Mittenzwei, Manager- N.J. License No. 3940 McCracken Funeral Home 1500 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 (908) 686-4700 Jason Oszczakiewicz, Manager- N.J. License No. 4167 Michael Hegarty Funeral Home 3377 Highway 9 Old Bridge, NJ 08857 (732) 679-4422 John Hassler, Manager- N.J. License No. 3813 Neary Quinn Funeral Home 39 South Street Manasquan, NJ 07036 (732) 223-0003 James G. Coakley, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 3281 Quinn Hopping Funeral Home 26 Mule Road Toms River, NJ 08755 (732) 240-3800 Angelo B. Brugno, Jr., Manager- N.J. License No. 4106 Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home 145 East Mount Pleasant Avenue Livingston, NJ 07039 (973) 992-1414 Gary T. Harris, Manager- N.J. License No. 3922 Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home 10 Hilliard Drive Manahawkin, NJ 08050 (609) 597-7740 Richard C. Polhemus, Manager- N.J. License No. 4000 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: MICHAEL A. HOGAN DIGNITY MEMORIAL PROVIDERS OF NEW JERSEY (732) 505-5445 DATASOURCE: Dignity Memorial Network CONTACT: Michael A. Hogan of Dignity Memorial Providers of New Jersey, +1-732-505-5445 Web site: http://www.sci-corp.com/

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