Our Staff
The folks you see below have, combined, over 400 years of service in the Cemetery and Funeral Industry
President
and
General Manager
Michael Ondina
After spending 14 years in professional baseball, first as a player and then as an administrator, Mike started in the cemetery and funeral home industry in 1985. Soon after, he purchased and operated several cemeteries both in Jacksonville and in South Florida.
After being selected to be the General Manager of Evergreen Cemetery in 2012, he put his entrepreneurial experience to work, directing many improvements to the cemetery and expanding services including the addition of the Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory.
Mike and his wife, Janine, have been married for 41 years and they have two sons and two grandsons. He enjoys sports, automobiles and restoring the beauty of historic places.
Funeral
Director
Rick Swanson
Rick is a graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree. He has extensive managerial experience and has been a funeral director since 1980. Rick accepted a position with Evergreen Cemetery in 2012 as Funeral Director/ Director of Sales. He enjoys working for a privately owned and operated company.
He has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 32 years. They have two children. Rick enjoys travel, fishing, and most importantly helping families through difficult times.
Funeral
Director
Arlen Lesatz
Arlen began his funeral service career in 2007. He graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science. A 53-year native of Michigan, Arlen and his wife Patti relocated to Florida in 2018. Arlen worked in Palm Coast, Florida before accepting a position at Evergreen Funeral Home as a Funeral Director/Embalmer. He takes pride in serving families and helping them honor their loved ones.
Arlen and his wife have been married for 10 years. They enjoy exploring new areas of Florida, frequenting a local gym, visiting grandchildren, and lounging by the pool with their 5 Shih Tzu dogs.
Funeral/Cemetery Assistant
Dominic Ondina
Dominic graduated from Palm Beach State College and has worked in cemeteries for over 15 years. He is a third-generation cemeterian. He began his cemetery career in Riviera Beach and Belleglade, Florida. He started working at Evergreen in February 2016.
Controller
Charles Grant
Charles W. Grant Jr. (Charlie) came to Evergreen Cemetery Association in January of 2018. Charlie was born and raised in Jacksonville. He graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 1988. He attended Florida State University and he graduated from FSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Charlie is married to Corinne Grant. They have two sons, Charles W. Grant III and Jackson C. Grant. Charlie enjoys spending time with his family and friends, running, sports and investing.
Administration
Louis Schwartz
Louis is a second generation cemeterian, with over 30 years’ experience in the cemetery and funeral home industry. In 1999 he was awarded the designation of Certified Cemetery Executive by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association. He attended Colorado State University and the University of Kentucky. His hobbies include beekeeping, gardening and distance running. Family time is an important time of his life, spending time with his wife, Jeri Lynn and three sons, Maxwell, Samuel, and Adam.
Special Projects Consultant
Richard L. Mueller, CCE
Richard is a fourth-generation cemeterian who was born in 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised in Birmingham, Alabama and was a member of the class of 1971 at the University of Alabama, where he was a French major. He an Elder of the Orange Park Presbyterian Church and a member of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. In 1976, he began working for Evergreen Cemetery where he continues to consult on special projects. He is married to the former Deborah Riordan. They have a daughter, Amy and two sons, Jonathan and Ryan.
Administrative
Consultant
Freda Parker
Freda works as an Administrative Consultant at Evergreen. She began her career at Evergreen in September 1987. Her hobbies are scrapbooking, photography, and travel. She raised two boys, Travis and Tracey with the help of her husband, Gene. Even though she was born in Georgia she is an avid Gator fan.
Family Service
Counselors
Jackie Grant
Jackie was born in Great Lakes, IL and is the oldest of four children however she grew up in Bradenton, FL. She entered the cemetery/ funeral home business as a family service counselor over 30 years ago.
She is passionate about ministering God’s grace and hope to others. Jackie is married to Greg, a minister in the United Methodist Church. They have four children and one grandson. They enjoy spending time with each other, their family, friends and church family.
Chris Scalf
Chris was born in Tennessee and moved with his family as a teenager to Daytona Beach. He has been a resident of Jacksonville for the past 5 years.
He joined the Evergreen staff in 2019 bringing with him 5 years of experience in the Cemetery and Funeral Home industry.
Chris is married and is an active member of his church. He also enjoys fishing and hunting.
Jessica Carroll
Jessica is a Jacksonville native who attended the University of North Florida and the University of Southern Queensland Australia. She has worked in the industries of travel & tourism and international education. Jessica has lived in three other countries and was contracted overseas with the Department of State prior to her position as a Family Services Counselor at Evergreen.
Jessica joined the Evergreen team in December of 2016. She is both delighted and humbled to be of service to families.
George Lomax
George was born in Phoenix Arizona and was the second oldest of 4 children. He was raised in several states as part of a Marine Corps military family.
At the age of 26 he moved back to Phoenix and in 1993 started his career in the cemetery and funeral home business.
George brings to Evergreen 27 years of professional experience in serving families both at their time of need or with their pre-planning arrangements.
George and his wife Sharon, have for daughters. He enjoys golf, fishing and music. He also attends Church on the west side of Jacksonville.
Dianne L. Conner
Dianne is a self-proclaimed military brat who has been exposed to mortuary and burial detail services her entire life. Following in her Dad’s footsteps, she has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for decades and feels honored to have served the central Florida and North Florida areas. Her family is listed on the Founding Florida Pioneer Settlers website, showing roots primarily from Nassau County, Florida and Charlton County, Georgia.
Dianne comes to Evergreen Cemetery with an associate’s degree in mortuary science, a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on bereavement counseling.
She has volunteered for years with Community Hospice of Northeast Florida as well as the Humane Society of Jacksonville and is an ongoing supporter of No More Homeless Pets.
Dianne has 2 children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, with 5 generations still living.
In her spare time Dianne enjoys doing Irish genealogy research, going to the gun range and RV-ing in the great outdoors.
Receptionist
Belinda Barber-Moore
Belinda started her career with Evergreen in June of 2018. She brings with her 11 years of experience in the Cemetery and Funeral Home business.
Originally from Pompano Beach Florida, Belinda has lived in the Jacksonville area for the past 11years. She has 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Belinda enjoys travel and meeting new people and she is an active member of her church.
Accounts Administrator
Marilyn Johnsen
Marilyn started here career in administration at Evergreen in July of 2004.
Overall, she has 22 years of experience in the cemetery administration field and her knowledge and experience have been an important part of the operation of Evergreen.
Marilyn grew up in North Carolina and has called Jacksonville home since 2000.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters, traveling, and collecting light house related souvenirs.
Maintenance
Barbara Mc Queen
Barbara has been employed at Evergreen Cemetery since 1978. She is in charge of the maintenance of the administration offices and the mausoleum complex. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading her Bible, and spending time with her close family and friends. One of her greatest acts of altruism was helping her two nieces complete their college education.
Ground Crew Supervisors
Travis Nelson
Travis and his staff are responsible for the daunting task of maintaining Evergreen’s 167 acres.
Travis joined the Evergreen team in 2015.
He has made his home in Jacksonville for the past 16 years and currently lives in the Springfield area.
Travis is a Navy veteran, and he has a daughter.
In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and riding his motorcycle.
Randy Rolando
Randy has lived for the past 21 years in the Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville with his wife, Jenifer. He has an MBA from Jacksonville University. Randy first worked for Evergreen from 2004 to 2007 as grounds supervisor. He returned to Evergreen in 2014 to become the Superintendent.
Ryan Cupp
Ryan is a 5th generation cemeterian who started working at Evergreen in 2011. He has worked his way up to Supervisor in charge of the installation of memorials. He also does everything else necessary to help Evergreen run smoothly. Born in Tallahassee, he loves the Seminoles and Jaguars and enjoys playing video games.
Maintenance Team
From left to right
Kathleen Peneguy, Larry Cooper, Kenneth Workman, LaFayett Bland and Adam Schwartz
Service Team
From left to right
Raymond Hudson, Zachary Creamer, Joey Smith, Ralph McKenzie and Jonathan Cupp
Awards & Accolades
