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
May 1, 2025
Trend ReCON to feature data and insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Partnership with Tribute Technology
April 24, 2025
Anthem Partners, a leading operator of funeral homes and cemeteries throughout North America, is excited to announce the company has recently developed a strategic partnership with Tribute Technology, a leader in digital solutions for the funeral profession. As the first step in this partnership, all websites for the Anthem Partners’ locations have been updated and moved to the Tribute Technology platform.
April 21, 2025
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to head to Nashville—consider this your sign.
April 21, 2025
We were flooded with questions during and after our recent Tribute Technology webinar, “ Why Obituaries Should Be Your #1 Focus This Year. ” The session explored a powerful shift in how obituary pages can drive long-term value—and introduced a new opportunity: Tribute Technology’s partnership with Chptr , a company that broadcasts death notices on local TV as part of nightly news segments. Joining us live was Chptr’s Founder and CEO, Rehan Choudhry , who helped funeral professionals understand how this partnership—and the new Tribute Spotlights offering—can strengthen their brand, serve families better, and reconnect with their communities in a meaningful way. If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here . We’ve also rounded up the top questions from attendees—along with expert answers—to help you quickly get up to speed. 1. Can Tribute Spotlights video announcements be shared on our funeral home’s YouTube channel? Absolutely. Both the funeral home and the family receive the finished video, which means you can post it to YouTube, add it to your website, or share it across your social media channels. It’s an easy, shareable way to extend the obituary’s reach. 2. Are some funeral homes paying for the service themselves to grow market share? Yes—and they’re seeing it as a smart investment. Many funeral homes are covering the cost of Tribute Spotlights to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. It’s an added-value service that leaves a lasting impression with families and builds long-term brand recognition in the community. 3. Is it broadcast over-the-air (OTA) and on linear TV? Yes, in most markets. Death announcements air on both: Over-the-air (OTA) : Free, local channels accessible via antenna Linear TV : Scheduled programming via cable or satellite This dual approach ensures maximum exposure, especially for audiences that may not use streaming platforms. 4. Are Tribute Spotlights videos only on-air, or are they also online? Both. Announcements are featured during designated TV broadcast times and published on the station’s memorials webpage, offering families and communities multiple ways to engage. 5. How long are the videos? Each segment is 30 seconds , with individual obituaries typically receiving 3–5 seconds per airing. 6. Does Tribute Spotlights work with CFS websites or only Tribute sites? Tribute Spotlights integrate with all website platforms—including CFS —so you don’t need to change your provider to take advantage of this service. 7. How do families know when and where to watch the broadcast? Each participating market has set channels and air times. Your funeral home will receive all the relevant details, so you can easily pass them along to the families you serve. 8. If we have multiple obituaries, do they split the 30-second segment? Yes. If you submit four obituaries, for example, each typically receives around 7 seconds . In some markets, your funeral home may even qualify for exclusive broadcast segments. 9. Who owns the obituary video? You and the family do. Both parties receive copies with full rights to use, post, or share the video however they’d like. 10. Does each announcement get a full 30 seconds? No, but frequency matters. Each announcement usually gets 3–5 seconds , and they’re aired multiple times —often 10 or more—to maximize reach and visibility. 11. Can we get reporting from the local station? Yes. Tribute Spotlights and Chptr provide pre- and post-airing reports with full analytics, so you can track performance, exposure, and community impact. 12. What’s the average cost per TV spot? Thanks to Tribute Technology’s negotiated pricing , the full announcement package—which includes TV broadcast, video production, and social media distribution—is just $225 on average. Volume discounts are available for funeral homes bundling multiple announcements. Ready to Learn More? Tribute Spotlights is a unique and affordable way to elevate the services you offer while helping families feel honored, seen, and remembered. Whether you're interested in expanding your reach, enhancing your brand, or simply offering something new and meaningful, this tool was designed with your funeral home in mind. Have more questions? We’re always here to help.
A close up of a bouquet of flowers on a white plate.
April 16, 2025
Sympathy gift spending sees rapid growth, and Tribute Store delivers.
April 10, 2025
What your staff needs to know
April 10, 2025
The funeral profession is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation — and the numbers speak for themselves.
April 10, 2025
In funeral service, every minute matters.
April 8, 2025
How Heartfelt Obituaries Draw Attention, Build Trust, and Expand your Business
April 8, 2025
Equipping your business for today’s tech-driven families
More Posts