Join us on The DMV Business Show with Otto Sevilla as we share the journey of Michelle Reese-Wiseman, Owner and Principal Mortician of Wiseman Funeral Home and Chapel. Michelle shares her journey from growing up in Landover, MD, to becoming a master barber and eventually finding her calling in mortuary science, a profession she describes as truly a “calling” rather than just a career.
Michelle discusses what sets Wiseman Funeral Home apart as a full-service provider serving Maryland, DC, and Virginia, offering burial, cremation, and even international shipping of remains. She emphasizes the importance of preplanning for end-of-life services and forming relationships with local funeral professionals before a crisis occurs.
Listeners gain an inside look at what it takes to become a mortician, the challenging nature of mortuary school, and the critical qualities needed for the profession. Michelle shares her entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of starting her own funeral home in 2008 and struggling to get just a handful of calls per month, to gradually growing the business through networking, referrals, and community involvement. She is candid about the ten-year timeline it took for her business to become steady and successful.
Michelle outlines the financial realities of the funeral industry, including costs, payment challenges families face, and the necessity of life insurance or savings for end-of-life expenses. The conversation also covers the significance of ethical service, strong reputation, and the importance of community outreach.
She opens up about her personal growth, the key role family plays in her business, and the importance of cash flow, persistence, and adaptability as a business owner. Michelle also talks about her biggest current challenge: finding experienced morticians, drawing a parallel to the nursing shortage in the healthcare field.
Looking ahead, Michelle is excited about the prospect of eventual retirement, traveling, and spending more time golfing. She leaves listeners with advice about resilience, expertise, and believing in yourself when pursuing entrepreneurship.
For those interested in learning more or connecting with Michelle, she invites them to visit the Wiseman Funeral Home website or reach out directly, highlighting her dedication to being a “friendly neighborhood mortician.”
This episode is packed with practical advice for aspiring business owners, a candid behind-the-scenes look at funeral service, and a testament to perseverance and community service.
This episode is brought to you by: SEVI - The first commercial real estate company committed to the four C’s: Commercial Real Estate, Community, Content, and Culture
https://seviproperties.com/
LET'S CONNECT!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.