Lee Leikam
Mr. Leikam left an advertising agency and began working in the Funeral/Cemetery business in 1980 for a private funeral home and cemetery in Portland Oregon. He learned about sales through service and became committed to the profession. His decision to make it his life's work was based upon the desire to completely serve the families 'in the families best interest'. "If we help families get what they need we will stay in business and get what we need." The open honest approach to families was so successful that after 3 years he moved on to another operation in Southern California. Within the year he was 'recruited' by Service Corporation International the largest owner of funeral homes and cemeteries in the world. Within a few years Mr. Leikam was setting records for starting up new operations for the company and was promoted to Vice President of Sales for the Northwest Region of the company. This area included the Canadian operations and everything west of Colorado except southern California. After more than a decade of operations Mr. Leikam left the corporate world. When he read about the 'green burial movement' he said "this is where the baby boomers are going.." and he called the leaders of the Green Burial Movement and invited them to his home. After a meeting and dinner he told them. "Someway, someday I will help you develop this green funeral business" and he has.
Joe Sehee began the Green Burial Council a non profit council which has set the standards for levels of Green Burial certification. Mr. Leikam has helped by consulting with Joe over the past years. He has also helped many people gain a proper understanding of their markets and what is required to become a green cemetery. In some cases the decision has been not to move forward and in others it has been to open the doors to a new cemetery.
