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September 10, 2026
3:00PM - 7:00PM

District Meeting - Pittsburgh

CORE


2026 District Meetings


SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
Pittsburgh
CORE
204 Sigma Drive RIDC Park
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

ALL MEETINGS 3PM-7PM

PFDA Members can earn 3 FREE CE credits!


NEW THIS YEAR!
Join your fellow PFDA members for a complimentary Social Hour following the last CE Session at each of our 2026 District Meetings!
Included with your registration - enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and pizza while connecting with colleagues from across your district. It's the perfect opportunity to share ideas, build relationships, and enjoy an evening with your PFDA community!

 

2026 District Meeting Speakers

Headshot Jennifer Lares

Jennifer Lares

CFSP, Funeral director/Embalmer
Mulling Mortician, LLC

Prof Headshot Benjamin Schmidt

Benjamin Schmidt

Community Engagement Coordinator
Frigid Fluid Company

“Sweat the Small Stuff!”
1 CE credit

“Difficult Conversations”
1 CE credit

“Everybody Chill: The Effects of Cold Temperature on Tissue”
1 CE credit

"Sweat the Small Stuff" 
Participants will explore application of quality assurance measures and the value of attention to details. Topics explored will go full circle from initial receipt of a decedent to placement for viewing and services. Communication and best practices will be described that lend themselves to consistency and providing the highest level of customer service from both the preparation side of the firm to the funeral directors interfacing with the client families.

"Difficult Conversations" 
Participants will explore topics and circumstances that can often result in challenging interactions (with client families as well as within their organization). The identification of what constitutes a “difficult” conversation with be explained, as specific scenarios presented for context and examination. Recommended phrases, verbiage, and manner will be discussed, as well as tactful FTC compliance.

The purposeful use of cold temperatures to prevent decomposition has existed for a long time. But what happens to the tissue itself? In this seminar we will explore the underappreciated postmortem change of algor mortis, the effects of cold on cells, dehydration induced by cold, and ways embalmers can address it.

  • A brief history of human understanding and use of cold temperature for funeral purposes
  • Differences between natural and anthropic sources of cold temperature
  • The effects of cold temperature on cells
  • Embalmer solutions for the effects of cold temperature

BIO:
Dr. Jennifer Lares, CFSP is a licensed funeral director and embalmer with more than 30 years of experience in funeral service. She has been licensed in multiple states including Florida, Texas, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

She earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2019 and holds an MBA and BBA in business administration. Dr. Lares began teaching shortly after completing her doctorate and currently serves as a funeral service educator and instructor at Northeast Texas Community College’s Funeral Service Education program.  She also joined the Kates-Boylston Publications team as the new Editor of Funeral Service Insider (FSI).

From 2021 to 2024, she served as a civilian Mortuary Officer in the U.S. Army Regional Mortuary for Europe and Africa in Landstuhl, Germany, helping coordinate the dignified preparation and return of fallen service members and other eligible persons to their families. Her military-related work builds on earlier service as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman specializing in Mortuary Affairs from 2007–2012.

In 2024 she founded Mulling Mortician LLC, a company that provides hands-on and virtual training for funeral professionals covering topics such as embalming techniques, funeral operations, leadership, and business management in funeral service.

Dr. Lares is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and educational programs, including ICCFA DeadTalks, state funeral director association conventions, and professional continuing education programs. She has also published research related to the funeral profession and has presented academic work at conferences in Detroit and Princeton.

She holds the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation and continues to mentor funeral professionals while developing innovative training programs to strengthen the profession.

BIO:
Ben Schmidt is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, educator, and industry speaker known for his work in advancing embalming education and professional engagement within the funeral profession. He currently serves as Community Engagement Coordinator for Frigid Fluid Company, where he develops educational content, teaches continuing-education courses, and conducts professional outreach for funeral directors and embalmers across the United States.

Ben began his career after serving seven years in the United States Navy. Following his military service, he earned bachelor’s degrees in Natural Science and Psychology from Thomas Edison State University before attending Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where he graduated in 2011. He subsequently earned his MS degree and moved on to teaching full time.

Throughout his career, Ben has been deeply involved in funeral service education. He has taught embalming, restorative art, chemistry, anatomy, and funeral service history at three mortuary colleges over the last 11 years. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Northeast Texas Community College and an adjunct Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota.

In addition to teaching, Ben is widely recognized for his contributions to industry education and media:

  • Host of “The Funeralcast” podcast, where he interviews professionals and discusses emerging topics in funeral service.
  • Co-author of the textbook Creating Natural Form: Restorative Art Theory and Application used in mortuary science programs.
  • Co-creator of the MorTraqr app, designed to help mortuary students track and store their graduation requirements.
  • Embalming consultant for Raven Plume Consulting, providing technical training and professional development programs.

Known for his engaging speaking style and practical approach to embalming and funeral service education, Ben frequently presents seminars, webinars, and continuing-education programs for funeral professionals both locally and internationally, including at The Cremation Association of North America's first embalming CE event, the Belgian Institute of Thanatopraxie’s 50th Anniversary, and the Indiana Soybean Tour.

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