Melissa Howsare

Melissa Howsare

What do you do at Pinnacle? As the Chief Accounting Officer, I work with the accounting team and assist locations. 


What are you known for professionally? What do you have a knack for? Problem solving and finishing what I start. 


Who have you worked with in the past? And what have you done for them? I have worked for Keystone Group Holdings, SCI, and Foundation Partners Group. My experience crossed both the funeral and cemetery sides of the industry. I have worked directly with assisting locations, reconciling accounts, budgeting, leading annual audits, and training location administrators and accountants. Prior to working in the funeral industry, I was a Mutual Fund Accountant.


What most excites you about your work & the contribution you can make? Helping others succeed. Though we do not work directly with a family, we make it easier for the location to assist and care for the family’s they serve.

What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? I love to travel and visit new places I have never been to before. One of my and my husband's favorite places to travel is the northern Georgia mountains. One thing I really enjoy is watching a good sunset whether on the beach or in the mountains.


Where can we find you when you’re not working? I enjoy reading a good book, swimming in the pool, spending time with family, and attending Tampa Bay Rays baseball games, and any other sports-related activity. 


How long have you been doing what you do? I have worked in the accounting field since 1999. 


Where did you grow up and why aren’t you there now? I grew up in Central Indiana. Moved to Florida in 2001 to escape the cold winters. 


What would be impossible for you to give up? Chocolate and my new air fryer, which can also be used as a dehydrator. I was able to make beef jerky using my grandpa’s recipe!