Executive Director & CEO
Jesse M. Gomes 

Jesse M. Gomes, MA, CFSP, CPC, CCO, Certified Celebrant, MBIE, MBIFD, NAFD is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and a past CFDA Board member who was named the Association's Member Services Director and in 2024, its Assistant Executive Director. In addition to his CFDA leadership role, he is the Program Director and Assistant Professor of the Funeral Service Department at Goodwin University in East Hartford, Conn. He also is the Director of Operations at the Human Anatomy Laboratories and Director of the Anatomical Gift Program at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University in North Haven, Conn. 
Gomes became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 2014 after completing his professional mortuary sciences education from Lincoln College of New England (now Goodwin University). He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biomolecular Sciences and a Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology & Physiology from Central Connecticut State University. Recently, Gomes expanded his interest in funeral service by being accepted as a Member of both the British Institute of Embalmers (MBIE) and the British Institute of Funeral Directors (MBFID), enabling him to expand his professional expertise internationally.

Assistant Executive Director
John F. Cascio

John F. Cascio is a respected leader in funeral service association management, having served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Funeral Directors for nearly four decades. In January 2025, he transitioned to Assistant Executive Director to support the Association's new Executive Director Jesse M. Gomes. 

Over the years, John has been recognized nationally and locally for his management of the CFDA. In 2023, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Northeast Funeral Service Partnership with four other states. John and CFDA have long been very involved with Lincoln College of New England and, before that, Briarwood College (now Goodwin University) and he was the honorary commencement speaker at Lincoln's 2018 graduation ceremony. In 2017, he was honored with the Brass Apple Award, presented by the Council of Funeral Association Executives (CFAE) and his peers across the U.S. In 2013, the Connecticut Society of Association Executives (CSAE) presented him with its Executive Director of the Year Award – one of the highest forms of recognition bestowed upon an executive director. Under his leadership, the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association also received the CSAE’s annual Community Service Award in both 2010 and 2006. And, in 2013, the CFDA was named “Business of the Year” by the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce.

John's first job was as an Elementary Education Teacher and he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Eastern Connecticut State University and studied for a graduate degree in Education from Southern Connecticut State University. But in 1987, he transitioned his career into the association management of funeral service, a profession that was dramatically expanding its outreach and visibility. The active community volunteer continuously served in the Wethersfield, Conn. Government for over 35 years on the Town Council and the Board of Education.