About Us
NextGen Legacy Planning
Led by Rachel Moring, a second-generation funeral professional with over 20 years’ experience, NextGen Legacy Planning develops customized marketing programs that secure future market share for our partner funeral homes.
Additionally, NextGen provides backend support for funeral homes in need of staff placement, consulting services, lending partnerships, and acquisitions.
But that’s not all. NextGen’s staff and partners comprise a spectrum of expertise across the funeral profession, allowing us to provide solutions for everything you need: preneed marketing, aftercare, final expense, private appraisals, and much more. (See below for a full list!)
When you partner with NextGen, your needs are covered in every way. There’s no need to deal with a variety of partnerships, because whatever you need, we have you covered. Everything we do is targeted to benefit your funeral home’s bottom line.
At NextGen, we foster a positive work environment where passion drives our efforts, allowing like-minded colleagues to collaborate in an open space and adapt to evolving changes in our industry. Our focus is on supporting funeral homes in a multitude of ways while paving the way for the next generation.
OUR TEAM
RACHEL MORING
Founder/CEO
Rachel, a native of the region spanning Mississippi and Louisiana, commenced her career at age 21 by working for funeral homes in Hammond, Albany, and Ponchatoula.
Following in her father’s footsteps as a second-generation preneed specialist, Rachel later embarked on a journey abroad, engaging in volunteer work in Mexico and volunteering while running ministry projects and sitting on the board for the Maadi British Woman’s Association in Cairo, Egypt.
Upon her return to the United States, Rachel’s passion for the funeral industry persisted as she reentered the workforce at funeral homes in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi, achieving the distinction of being the first non-family member female to reach upper management at her former company, in addition to becoming the first female regional manager within another organization. Rachel’s dedication to her work is immeasurable. In addition to her professional commitments, she is involved in estate jewelry and enjoys crafting jewelry for pleasure. She resides in New Orleans with her husband Parker and their three children, relishing activities such as hunting, fishing, traveling, and bonding as a family.
Additionally, Rachel actively participates on various boards throughout the city and state and generously volunteers her time with numerous organizations in the community along with NFDA, LFDA and MFDA.
Among Rachel’s many honors, in 2025 she received an award by the LFDA for “outstanding excellence, superior performance, and dedicated service.”
Michael P. O’dwyer
Consultant / Funeral Director
Michael was born and raised in New Orleans and currently resides on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With over 40 years of experience in Preneed Marketing, he has worked across the United States and has played a key role in expanding Preneed services in Canada. He was involved with one of the first travel Preneed marketing companies in the industry and has dedicated his career to building high-performing teams across the country. Throughout his professional journey, Michael has mentored numerous agents, exemplifying the qualities of a true leader and role model.
Michael and his wife, Avra, enjoy life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They have three children and three grandchildren, who are the joys of their lives. In his free time, Michael enjoys fishing, boating, shooting, playing cards, and Friday night dinners with friends, all while cherishing moments spent with his grandchildren.
Richard Martin
Chief Growth Officer
Richard has dedicated himself to understanding what makes funeral homes and preneed professionals successful. He’s built systems that helped hundreds of funeral homes operate more efficiently, allowing them to focus on what matters most: serving families.
Supporting funeral professionals taught Richard an important lesson: behind every dashboard, every metric, and every system is a funeral professional trying to serve families during their most difficult moments. Technology and data aren’t ends in themselves. They’re tools that free up funeral professionals to do what they do best: care for their communities with dignity and compassion.
As Chief Growth Officer at NextGen Legacy Planning, Richard brings that philosophy to everything he builds. Whether he’s establishing performance analytics, designing onboarding processes, or optimizing operational infrastructure, the question is always the same: “How does this help our partners serve families better?”
Richard is a full-stack digital marketing expert with proven experience in EOS implementation, process optimization, and growth strategy. He’s based in Alabama and believes that the best technology is invisible: it just works, so funeral professionals can focus on what matters most.
Olivia Graugnard
Chief Financial Officer/Preplanning Advisor
Olivia, a proud native of Southern Mississippi, began her career in public accounting before shifting her focus to family life. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and has spent the last 20 years in New Orleans, where she raises her four children. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys traveling, cooking, and creating lasting memories with her family.
Allyse Worland
Director of Professional Funeral Services
Allyse Worland, CFSP, is a licensed embalmer and funeral director with over 16 years of experience in all aspects of funeral service. Known for her technical mastery, captivating seminars, and servant leadership, she brings precision, passion, and care to every aspect of her work.
Her career spans from small town to metropolitan funeral homes, regulatory and compliance training, and state and national board-level leadership. As a mentor, Allyse is committed to supporting her colleagues in the field. She believes in building teams that lead with integrity and offering families the deepest level of care and education about decisions regarding final arrangements.
Allyse is now serving as Skilled Funeral Service Concierge with NextGen Legacy Planning, guiding families, fellow professionals, and the community. Whether she’s developing training courses, trade embalming, or educating families, Allyse leads with authenticity, resilience, and a quiet revolution of care.
MICHELE COLLINS
Director of Operations
With more than 30 years in the public sector, Michele brings a wealth of experience and expertise to NextGen, providing management and operations support to all aspects of the company. Michele excels in building relationships, engaging stakeholders, and leveraging technology to deliver impactful solutions for both short-term and long-term objectives.
Michele’s background and experience in data analysis, strategic planning, performance management, and operational leadership enable her to anticipate challenges, implement solutions, and support executive decision-making that fosters innovation that aligns with NextGen’s mission to revolutionize funeral planning.
DANIEL GRIFFIN
Preplanning Advisor
Daniel was born in Raceland, Louisiana, and raised in LaRose, Louisiana. He and his wife, Karen, recently relocated to the Baton Rouge area. Daniel is a proud graduate of Nicholls State University, where he earned his degree in History and Government.
After completing his education, Daniel served in the Navy, undertaking two tours overseas. Upon returning home, he worked as a machinist for Weatherford before transitioning into the funeral industry in 2013. Since then, he has dedicated his career to assisting families with preplanning their funerals and providing support to funeral homes through preplanning and internal assistance.
In his free time, Daniel enjoys attending baseball games and spending quality time with his family and fur babies. Daniel and Karen have been happily married since 2002 and continue to make Baton Rouge their home.
AMY THOMAS
Preplanning Advisor
Amy relocated to New Orleans in 1982 and has been a resident of Jefferson Parish since Hurricane Katrina. Since 2011, she has dedicated herself to helping families with preplanning services, guiding them through important life transitions.
Amy is actively involved in her community as a board member of the Congregation Gates of Prayer Sisterhood, where she co-chairs the Sisterhood Book Club. She is also a committed member of the University Park Lion’s Club. In her free time, Amy enjoys traveling, relaxing at the beach, and reading.
Laura Lamandre
Preplanning Advisor
Laura, a native of New Orleans, is a certified prearrangement specialist with over 15 years of experience in all aspects of funeral and cremation prearrangement. Before entering the funeral industry, Laura was a dedicated schoolteacher and administrator at a local Catholic school in Metairie for 18 years. She is committed to helping families navigate the difficult decisions that arise at the time of death. Laura has extensive knowledge regarding funeral regulations and requirements, including Social Security benefits, veteran eligibility, and Medicaid spend-down procedures. Over the years, she has consistently guided families in preparing for funeral and cremation services, ensuring they are well-prepared when the time comes.
DAPHNE HONEA
Preplanning Advisor
With over seven years of experience in the funeral industry, Daphne has dedicated her career to guiding families through one of life’s most challenging moments with compassion, care, and clarity. Her true passion lies in advance funeral planning, where she aims to alleviate the burden on loved ones by ensuring that every detail is thoughtfully arranged ahead of time.
Daphne is proud to be licensed in both Louisiana and Texas and feels honored to serve families across both states with professionalism and heartfelt dedication. Originally from DeRidder, Southwest Louisiana, Daphne carries the values of community, faith, and family into everything she does.
Outside of her professional life, Daphne is truly blessed to share her life with her husband and best friend, Larry. Together, they have four wonderful children and seven beautiful grandchildren who are the center of their world. In her spare time, you’ll often find Daphne surrounded by family or relaxing by the lake, her happy place.
STACEY TROY SMITH
Preplanning Advisor / Final Expense & Indexed Universal Life Specialist
With a passion for helping families secure their financial future, Stacey specializes in final expense, preneed planning, and advanced market insurance solutions. As a dedicated insurance broker, she guides clients through tailored coverage options, ensuring peace of mind and financial protection for their loved ones.
Stacey’s expertise extends to indexed universal life insurance, asset protection strategies and annuities, offering personalized solutions that align with long-term financial goals. Whether assisting with funeral planning, estate preservation, or wealth transfer, she takes pride in providing compassionate and knowledgeable service to every family she works with.
Jessica Fuselier
Preplanning Advisor / Aftercare Specialist
Jessica is a passionate advocate and experienced professional dedicated to serving children and families for over 27 years. With a diverse background in education, advocacy, and marketing, she has developed a unique skill set that enables her to provide exceptional support and resources to those in need.
Throughout her career, Jessica has made significant contributions in various roles, including writing preschool curricula, serving as a preschool director, and volunteering for camps designed for children in foster care. She has also played an active role on the Board of Directors for One Hope.
As a current ER Patient Advocate, Jessica draws on her deep understanding of healthcare systems to provide compassionate support to patients, ensuring they receive the guidance and resources necessary during challenging times. Her experience as a Life Insurance Field Underwriter has equipped her with the knowledge to educate families about advance planning in funeral services.
In addition to her professional roles, Jessica has volunteered extensively, serving as a volunteer advocate for Hearts of Hope, a Center for Sexual Trauma, and playing key administrative and leadership roles at Royal Family KIDS Camp.
With a solid educational foundation that includes continuing education from Colorado Christian University and Southeastern Louisiana University, along with various training certificates in family advocacy, child development, and trauma-informed care, Jessica is well-equipped to empower individuals and families in her community.
Hilary Feisenberger
Preplanning Advisor
Born and raised in Winter Park, Florida, Hilary pursued her passion for culture and history at Tulane University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art History in 2006. She spent 15 years in New Orleans’ service industry, delivering memorable experiences and hospitality with a client-centered mindset.
In 2019, she transitioned to real estate, bringing deep local knowledge, effective communication, and a collaborative approach to help clients buy and sell homes. She is also a proud member of Dames de Perlage and involved with the krewe March Free Today, reflecting her commitment to culture, community, and service. Today, she guides clients through meaningful real estate journeys in the New Orleans area and beyond, and she looks forward to helping families navigate their next chapter.
Lori Simoneaux Ponville
Notary & Estate Planning
Lori is a lifetime resident of Laplace, Louisiana, and a dedicated mother to her high school senior son. A proud graduate of St. Charles Catholic High School, Lori furthered her education at Southeastern Louisiana University, earning a B.A. in Office Administration and a B.A. in Business Management, complemented by a minor in Marketing.
Since 2004, Lori has served as a Louisiana Civil Law Notary, holding a statewide commission that enables her to assist clients with a wide range of notarial services. In addition, she has been a background-checked Certified Signing Agent since 2013, ensuring that clients receive trustworthy and professional services.
After a successful 23-year career as the Business Development Manager for Southeast Louisiana’s largest gaming company, Lori made the empowering decision to transition to full-time notary work. This transition allows her to spend more quality time with her son while pursuing her passion for helping others in her community.
Lori finds great fulfillment in her role as a notary, dedicated to providing valuable services to her clients at rates that are often more affordable than hiring an attorney. Her commitment to serving the needs of the community reflects her desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those around her. Lori is a member of the Louisiana Notary Association (LNA) and the National Notary Association (NNA).