12/09/2025

Funeral Industry Issues - A Roundtable Discussion

By: Adam Shaffer, PFDA Executive Director

The goal of this course is to present issues facing todays funeral directors and funeral home owners with a brief overview of what problems each situation is causing for funeral directors and funeral home owners. After this brief overview is provided the attendees will be separated into smaller groups (roundtables) to discuss how they handle these situations in their funeral homes and to brainstorm other potential solutions. This will continue until all the issues have been presented and discussed. The session will conclude with all the groups reconvening to share their groups answers. This sharing will facilitate additional discussion and will ultimately allow the attendees to collectively decide on the best solution for their respective funeral home. With input from PFDA's General Counsel.

Adam's Bio: Adam Shaffer became the Executive Director of PFDA and Unichoice Cooperative Inc. in May of 2025. Adam joined PFDA after an extensive career in the Pennsylvania Funeral Industry. Adam attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated with honors before enrolling in Point Park University to finish his degree. In early 2006 he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Point Park University and immediately began serving his internship at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home. When his internship was complete Adam accepted a funeral directing job with the Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory (at that time HoffmanRoth) where he served as a funeral director, manager, and supervisor until January of 2024.

Adam also spent one year in the Philadelphia area working for Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company as a select producer for seven funeral homes in four counties.