As a business owner in the death care industry for over 30 years, Garland has extensive knowledge of the funeral home industry and possesses a deep understanding of Non-transplant Anatomical Donation Organizations, or NADOs. Currently working as Founder and Chairman for Research For Life, Garland is widely known for his integrity, compassion, and whole body donation expertise.
Like you, Garland recognizes that every donor and their family is unique. His work focuses on making certain that Research For Life offers programs and services that promote the ethical use of human tissue for the advancement of medicine and disease research. He speaks publicly regarding these important issues throughout the U.S. and internationally. He supports and has advocated for reasonable oversight and legislation of non-transplant tissue banks for the protection of donors and the industry from bad actors.
Research For Life, through Garland’s direction, has supported many charitable causes and organizations over the last 10 years. He has served on the board of several non-profit organizations that support community activities.
Garland is the youngest of nine siblings, is married, the father of four children and the very proud grandparent of two grandchildren. Three of Garland’s children work at Research For Life in different departments, continuing their family tradition of caring for families in grief. He has a strong commitment to family and loves that fact that his children care about those in need and are involved in the daily operations at Research For Life.
Even though Garland’s work requires that he travel both nationally and internationally, he is a native of and calls Phoenix, Arizona home. One of his favorite ways to relax is enjoying the spectacular southwest desert sunsets with a glass of red wine.
Laurie’s passion for helping others at what is one of the most difficult times of their lives is woven throughout the path of her career. For more than 15 years Laurie worked with her husband in the funeral business. During that time, she managed the operations of four different funeral homes that served thousands of families each year. Her experience helping families deal with grief and directing business operation and personnel matters have led her to the role she fills today as Director of Family Services at Research For Life.
Laurie oversees all aspects involved with the daily operation of the entire Family Services division for both the Arizona and California Research For Life locations. She works directly with families that are experiencing grief. She also provides guidance and counsel to those families who are in the process of having to make extremely personal and difficult decisions about what to do when a death occurs. She also coordinates the return of cremated remains to families, often delivering them herself in the Phoenix area.
Laurie strives for perfection and understanding in all aspects of her daily routine and is a deeply compassionate person. Her dedication to the mission of Research For Life and deep belief that people make a difference cause her to be on call 24/7.Outside of the office, she is committed to her family, loves to travel, and enjoys experimenting with wine tasting with her husband.
Laurie is the anchor for the family and, along with her husband, opened their home to care for her elderly parents. Traveling to Mexico for vacations and trips to Legoland and the beach with her two grandchildren are always high on the list of her favorite things to do. She is a faithful friend and still makes time for annual get-togethers with friends from grade school.
Laurie was raised in Tucson, Arizona for most of her young life and lived for 12 years in Casa Grande, Arizona. She now calls Phoenix home where she enjoys spending time visiting botanical gardens and touring all things dedicated to nature in the area.
Amanda Rodgers is a seasoned leader and subject matter expert with more than 16 years of experience in non-transplant tissue banking and over 18 years in leadership roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and continues yearly CEU’s in the tissue banking field. Amanda has built a distinguished career grounded in regulatory expertise, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to advancing ethical standards in whole body donation.
Amanda has played an active role in shaping the industry at both the state and national levels. She has served on multiple committees in Arizona and across the United States, contributing to governing bodies that regulate non-transplant tissue banking. Her collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health has been particularly impactful—she has not only advocated for regulatory improvements but has also helped draft and implement rules for the Bureau of Special Licensing that oversees whole body donation programs.
Her professional expertise spans a wide range of regulatory and compliance domains. Amanda has extensive experience navigating inspections and accreditation processes, including those conducted by the FDA, OSHA, NIOSH, national accrediting organizations, and state regulatory agencies. Her comprehensive understanding of quality systems and compliance frameworks has made her a trusted leader in ensuring operational integrity and safety.
Within her organization, Amanda has developed a uniquely integrated perspective, having worked across all major departments of Research For Life. Her experience includes leadership and hands-on involvement in quality assurance, family services, laboratory operations, client services, bioskills programs, and finance. This cross-functional knowledge allows her to drive collaboration, improve efficiency, and align organizational goals with regulatory requirements and client needs.
Outside of work, Amanda lives in the greater Phoenix area and enjoys being an avid sports fan. She’s also a passionate saltwater aquarium hobbyist with over 10 years of experience, bringing the same dedication and curiosity to her reef tanks as she does to her professional life. She fully embraces the Arizona lifestyle—especially the summer heat—and brings that same energy and enthusiasm into everything she does.
“Today is a great day, I have never seen any day like it before.” Maya Angelou
Born and raised in North Central Ohio, Kent Volkmer moved with his wife, Kristy, to Arizona in the summer of 2007. Following his graduations from Malone University and the University of Akron’s School of Law and School of Business, Kent began his professional career as an associate attorney in a small-town general practice law firm located in Casa Grande. After five years of practice, Kent helped found a multi-partner law firm where he practiced civil, criminal, dependency, divorce, juvenile, guardianship, mental health, and probate law. Feeling pulled to public service in 2016; he successfully challenged the incumbent, won the election, and took office as the Pinal County Attorney on January 1, 2017. Serving two full terms, Kent guided Pinal County to a substantial reduction in the number of people placed in jail and sentenced to prison, while simultaneously seeing a dramatic, year over year, reduction in crime in his community. Additionally, Kent and his civil team helped steer Pinal County through an unprecedented economic and population boom, while negotiating tens of billions of dollars in economic development projects.
Having faithfully served his community for eight years, Kent has now transitioned back into the private sector where he recently promoted to co-CEO and General Counsel at Research for Life, LLC. Eager to build upon the solid foundation established at RFL, Kent is excited to help advance medicine and improve the quality of life by facilitating and expanding transparent, ethical, and life-giving donations. Through collaboration, ingenuity and hard work, Kent’s goal, regardless of his position, is to focus on making his community safer, stronger, and sustainable. Throughout it all, he relies upon the basic principles of Act Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly.
Andrew Shreves serves as Vice President of Digital Strategies and is an owner of Research For Life, where he has dedicated more than 15 years to supporting the organization’s mission and the families it serves. Born and raised in Arizona, he was shaped by a lifelong connection to the death care profession through his family’s funeral home background, bringing both personal understanding and professional experience to his work.
Much of his career at Research For Life has been spent in the Family Services Department, where he worked closely with families during some of life’s most difficult moments. That experience continues to guide his leadership today, grounding his work in compassion, respect, and a deep awareness of the emotional challenges that come with the loss of a loved one.
As part of a family business built on service, dignity, and purpose, he is proud to carry forward the values and vision established by his father and to help advance the company’s mission of benefiting humanity through science and education. Through his leadership, he remains committed to easing the burden on families and helping ensure they feel supported with care, professionalism, and understanding.
Michael Collins is a seasoned leader in the death care industry, bringing over 15 years of dedicated service and compassionate expertise to his role as Vice President, Controller at Research for Life. A native of Arizona, Michael began his career in family services, working directly with individuals and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. This early experience shaped his deep commitment to empathy, dignity, and personalized care.
Over the years, Michael has grown within the organization, earning a reputation for his unwavering focus on serving others. His unique blend of operational leadership and heartfelt understanding of family needs allows him to guide his team with integrity and purpose. As VP Controller, he plays a critical role in ensuring the organization’s stability and long-term ability to serve families with excellence while supporting our fiscal team.
Michael’s career reflects a profound belief that care extends beyond services—it is rooted in compassion, trust, and respect. His leadership continues to strengthen Research for Life’s mission to support families with professionalism and humanity during their most sensitive times.