Celebrating Our Staff on International Programmer’s Day

September 12, 2024

Q&A with Our Chief Technology Officer Matt Powell

Today is International Programmer’s Day, which celebrates the masterminds behind the code— those who turn ideas into reality, make technology seamless, and keep the digital world running smoothly. 


Our Chief Technology Officer Matt Powell leads the employees on our tech teams, who work hard every day to create even better products and software for funeral directors like you and the families you serve. 

Check out this Q&A with Matt to learn more about him and our team. 


As we celebrate International Programmer’s Day, what message would you like to share with our programmers at Tribute Technology?  


You're the beating heart of our business. The work you do truly matters. Never forget who we are serving — grieving families — or how important you are! 


As a leader in the tech space, which qualities do you think are essential for a successful tech team? 

This is an easy one: alignment, teamwork, empowerment and psychological safety. I'm very focused on getting the right talent in the right structure with the right focus and incentives and the right way of working. I see my role largely as org design, way of working design, product vision, and craft mentorship. 


What inspired you to join the team at Tribute Technology?  



I'm a softie and most interested in building things that add real value to the world. I don't want to build tech that "hacks" dopamine systems to waste peoples' time or distracts them from real life or reduces human connection. I want to build things that improve people's lives — things that make life more interesting, more connected, more fulfilling. I want to do work that matters. 


It's hard to imagine something that matters more than helping people say their final goodbyes to their loved ones with dignity and grace in a way that honors their lives. And it’s hard to imagine something that matters more than empowering the funeral and cremation professionals who provide direct care and guidance to families in one of the hardest moments of their lives. 


In terms of the technical aspects, it's very exciting to be working on modernizing and integrating well-loved classic systems while bringing to life new solutions that address new areas of need for families, funeral homes, and the broader community. We're doing incredibly interesting work using the latest tools: genAI, events, k8s, etc, etc. 


If you’d like to learn more about Matt, check out this article he wrote for American Funeral Director: “Is There a Thing as Too Much Technology?”  


Read More from Matt
August 27, 2026
Obituaries can now air on radio alongside television — reaching a quarter of a billion monthly listeners with one click. Plus the Legacy Touch PIN integration, upcoming events, and an on-demand webinar on AI for funeral homes.
July 30, 2026
A year after integrating with Chptr, Tribute Technology customers can now reach a quarter of a billion monthly radio listeners through the same one-click workflow that already powers televised memorial announcements. WAUNAKEE, Wis. — July 30, 2026 — Tribute Technology today announced that its integration with Chptr now extends beyond local television to include radio through Chptr's expanded partnership with iHeartMedia. Already adopted by more than 100 funeral homes, the expanded integration gives funeral homes access to the television and radio audiences most likely to learn about a passing, attend a service, and support grieving families, all through the same one-click obituary workflow. One year ago, Tribute Technology embedded Chptr's broadcast memorial technology directly into its platform, making it possible for funeral homes to transform an obituary into a professionally produced television memorial announcement without leaving the system they already use every day. Today, that same integration includes nationwide radio distribution alongside television, giving funeral homes access to all 210 U.S. television markets and more than 90 percent of U.S. radio stations reaching a quarter of a billion monthly listeners, all without additional software, data entry, or training. More than 100 funeral homes have already enrolled in the new radio service, reflecting the success of Chptr's existing television integration and the continued demand for trusted broadcast memorial announcements. For funeral homes, the value of broadcast isn't simply reach. It's reaching the right audience. Adults 55 and older remain among the most loyal local television viewers, while radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, more than any other single media platform. Together, television and radio continue to be among the nation's most trusted sources of local news and information, making them uniquely effective channels for community memorial announcements. "This is exactly what we look for in a partnership," said J.B. Showalter, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Chptr. "Tribute Technology already sits inside the daily workflow of thousands of funeral homes. Bringing our production platform, media partnerships, and nationwide television and radio distribution into that same workflow means families get a meaningful new way to share the news of a passing, without asking funeral professionals to change how they already serve families." For families, the expanded integration means memorial announcements can now reach more of the people whose lives were touched through the trusted local media they already know. For funeral homes, it provides another meaningful way to serve families while reinforcing their role as a trusted community resource. "Over the last year, we've seen that families truly value having their loved one's obituary shared on local television," said ​Anthony Harris, Location Manager at Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services. "No single place reaches everyone. Some people watch the news. Others hear the local radio station on the way to work. Adding radio gives us another trusted way to help families reach more of the people who would want to know. It's another meaningful service we can provide with every arrangement." The addition of radio builds on a year of successful television distribution through the existing Tribute Technology integration. "Our responsibility is to continually strengthen the platform funeral homes depend on every day," said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. "When we can bring meaningful new capabilities into that workflow without adding complexity, our customers benefit. Expanding our integration with Chptr is another example of our commitment to helping funeral professionals better serve families through the technology they already trust." The expanded integration is now available to all Tribute Technology customers. Learn more at Tribute Spotlights | TV Obituaries | Tribute Technology .  About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for the death care profession, helping funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and online publishers better serve families through connected technology. Its integrated platform simplifies operations, strengthens family engagement, and powers one of North America's largest digital obituary networks. More than 9,000 funeral homes rely on Tribute Technology solutions to support the families they serve. About Chptr Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is building the distribution network for community storytelling. The company's Broadcast, Social, Video, and Slideshows offerings help funeral homes extend the reach of remembrance, connecting families with the communities that knew and cared about their loved ones. By partnering with funeral homes and media organizations, Chptr ensures life's most meaningful stories reach the people who matter most while keeping funeral professionals at the center of the experience.
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Most funeral homes know they need a marketing strategy, but figuring out where to start is another matter. In this on-demand webinar, Tribute Technology's Lacey Serrago, Marketing Agency Director, breaks down the core building blocks of a clear, actionable marketing plan built for funeral professionals.
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Stay ahead in funeral service with Tribute Technology's Tech Insider — your source for industry events, marketing strategies, tech tools, and innovations helping funeral homes serve families better.
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Tribute Technology's Trend ReCON 2026 brought funeral directors together in Nashville for two days of peer learning, real connections, and hands-on sessions.
May 19, 2026
Technology built around care. See how Tribute Technology is helping funeral homes streamline operations, write better obituaries, and extend their reach — without adding work for your staff.
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Stay up to date on the latest in funeral service technology — from a national Times Square campaign to new software partnerships, a fresh case study, and events you won't want to miss.
April 8, 2026
Tribute Technology partners with Life Celebration to help funeral homes deliver personalized memorial products quickly, with next-day turnaround and streamlined operations.
February 18, 2026
Discover the 10 expectations families have for funeral home websites in 2026—from modern obituaries to mobile design and online tools that build trust.
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Families are planning funerals online. Learn how Tribute Technology supports NFDA’s Arranger Training to help funeral professionals adapt and serve families better.
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