WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING SPEAKERS DURING THE 2023 SEMINARS.
Please see the Speakers below for this year's conference! Please click on each box for more details. See you there!
KAHLEN M. KNAPIK | National Mortuary Shipping
abc's of shipping
Kahlen Knapik | Vice President of National Mortuary Shipping
Kahlen Knapik is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and serves as part of National Mortuary Shipping and Cremation leadership team as Vice President. He has been with NMS for over 22 years and has worked in almost every segment of the company. Kahlen is a PIMS graduate has a diverse background in engineering, business management and marketing and a passion for funeral service. He has been instrumental in the development of NMS’s proprietary software system, various marketing campaigns, and employee development to
help propel.
National Mortuary Shipping:
NMS to the worlds largest and most respected mortuary shipping and trade services. Kahlen and the NMS teams goal is provide funeral service professionals the greatest customer service experience possible and assist with out-of-town removals, embalming, cremations, or any need, anywhere in the world.
OBJECTIVES
1. Who we are (NMS)
2. Domestic Shipping of remains
3. 1st call; Call from family – RFH- What information is needed
4. What should the RFH advise the family-what kind of guidance (should not)
5. Schedule services, advise of potential delays, paperwork & other items
6. Preparation and related considerations for embalming
7. Air Try and Shipping Container Considerations
8. Tendering of remains and Liability concerns
9. Cremation Considerations
10. Urns
11. Embalmers Affidavit and Consulate Paperwork
12. International Shipping
13. Condition of the Remains including: Potential problems & solutions
14. Scheduling of services
15. Q&A period
This presentation is 2 CEU's.
APFSP Accredited Seminar | NY, PA, OH, W.VA Academy Approved
JUNE 20th, 2023
TUESDAY 8:45am-10:45AM
Sponsored by The Wilbert Group.
CONOR DAWLEY | Highmark Caring Place
taking the first step
Conor Dawley | Outreach and Education Coordinator / Highmark Caring Place
Conor Dawley has an extensive background in counseling services. Conor obtained a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Gannon University. His additional licensure and certifications include Certification in Thanatology – Death, Dying and Bereavement (CT). Since November of 2020, he has given a variety of presentations about grief. His most recent presentations include two Grief Talks Education Webinar Series, Highmark Caring Place programs from 2022.
Since August of 2017 to present, Conor is the Outreach and Education Coordinator at Highmark Caring Place in Erie, PA. He provides consultations, presentations and training for many people. He is an Education Team Lead across the Caring Foundation and has held that role since January of 2020. Additionally, he oversees peer support model program and has developed and manages strategic community partnerships within the region.
SUMMARY
Funeral Directors and staff are often the first professionals that grieving families interact with. For many families, planning the funeral or memorial service is one of the first steps in their journey of grief, making this a very vulnerable time.
Adults and children alike may feel a host of difficult feelings, and with so many unique expressions of grief, may wonder if they are grieving correctly. Join us as we discuss how to provide support that allows both adults and children to express their grief in their own way, without feeling disenfranchised. Learn how you can create a safe space for all grievers to express their feelings while supporting them through the planning process.
OBJECTIVES
1. Participants will analyze grief spiral & various ways people express their grief.
2. Participants will identify 3 reasons grief can be disenfranchised.
3. Participants will discover strategies to alleviate disenfranchised grief and support grievers.
JUNE 20th, 2023
TUESDAY 11am-noon
Sponsored by The Wilbert Group.
DR. JOSEPH A. MARSAGLIA | CFSP
child abuse: recognition & Mandated reporting
Dr. Joseph A. Marsaglia, EdD, CFSP, PIMS, Dean Emeritus
Starting in 1995, Dr. Joseph Marsaglia served as the Dean of Faculty and Students Instructor, Clinical Embalming Supervisor at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
Prior to his time at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Dr. Joseph Marsaglia served as a Sargeant in the United States Marine Corps. He was also a police officer on the Philadelphia Police Force, and a participant in recovery efforts of US Air Flight 427 in 1994 and an earthquake in Kobe, Japan in 1995.
He has an extensive teaching experience and background that includes coursework in business, sociology, psychology, Thanatology, and funeral service law. He also has written multiple articles and presented all over the United States.
This presentation will include issues and protocols associated with the funeral director's role as a mandated reporter. Identifying and reporting child abuse by funeral directions has become law in most jurisdictions. His presentations are always enlightening.
Child Abuse
Abused children are in urgent need of an effective child protective service to prevent them from suffering further injury and impairment. Recognizing suspected child abuse and providing a more complete reporting of suspected child abuse is essential to ensure the child’s well-being and to preserve the integrity of the family.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
• Identify the categories of child abuse
• Recognize the signs of child abuse
• Understand the reporting requirements for suspected child abuse
• Discuss the role of Mandated Reporter as related to the Department of Human Services and Bureau of Professional and Occupation Affairs; Act 31 of 2014
COURSE DESCRIPTION
To provide comprehensive training to funeral directors and other mandated reporters relating to child abuse recognition and reporting requirements under Act 31.
COURSE OUTLINE
1. Description of Child Welfare in State of PA
2. General Protective Services – non-serious injury or neglect
3. Present the Department of Human Services hierarchy; responsibilities of the Office of Children; Youth and Families; Purpose of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
4. Define Components of Child Abuse; All categories of child abuse; Exclusions of Child Abuse
5. Provisions and responsibilities for reporting suspected child abuse including types of reporters; the Reporting Process; Protection for Reporters; Penalties for Failure to Report; Mandated Reporters Right-to-Know
6. Recognition of Child Abuse
JUNE 20th, 2023
TUESDAY 4pm-6pm
Sponsored by WPFDA
SHERRIE DUNLEVY | Author, Renown Speaker, Podcast Host
how can i help?
Sherrie Dunlevy | Author, Renowned Speaker, Podcast Host
Sherrie Dunlevy is a former TV news anchor and radio talk host turned best selling author, inspirational speaker, host of the Graduating Grief podcast and founder of the Graduating Grief Academy.
She is also a bereaved mother, and daughter.
She has presented at the at NFDA international conferences, the OHDA conference, Presented continuing education online workshops for the OFDA and has participated in numerous global grief summits. As an inspirational speaker, Sherrie has presented many keynotes, and workshops based on personal and professional development.
SUMMARY
Believe it or not, at a time when they need the support of family an friends the most, some grieving people get ghosted.
These are the people those grieving thought they could count on and somehow they just disappear from their lives.
This is what happened to Sherrie Dunlevy and her husband following the death of their son and she found out they are not the only ones. Many others who are suffering from loss have also lost close relationships.
OBJECTIVES
1. In this presentation, Sherrie shares 3 reasons why this may be happening and offers specific actions people can do and say to help their loved ones through the most difficult times of their lives.
2. In addition, she will provide resources you can offer or share with loved ones, friends, colleagues and clients who are grieving and those who love them.
JUNE 21st, 2023
WEDNESDAY 9AM-10Am
Sponsor: WPFDA
LEE GOHMANN | LFD, EdD
ftc: yesterday, today & tomorrow
Lee Gohmann | LFD, EdD
Lee Gohmann is a working funeral director, and has been in funeral service for over 20 years. She started out on the cemetery side of things, selling cemetery plots and pre-need funerals. A few years into her career, she attended mortuary school online through the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
In addition to being a licensed funeral director she is an educator. She is passionate about funeral service and mortuary education, and the many options online learning has to offer, so much so that she got a Master of Education degree with a concentration in online teaching and learning. Lee teaches at two colleges online.
“it is a pleasure to provide continuing education to our profession, on a number of topics ranging from those required for licensure to some a little lighter.”
FTC: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
This two hour course examines the Federal Trade Commission from its foundation in 1914, it’s effect on the funeral industry with the introduction of the Funeral Rule in 1984, and it’s ongoing impact with the proposed changes that they hope to enact.
OBJECTIVES
1. Why do we need the funeral rule anyhow? A few bad apples did spoil the whole bunch.
2. What must be on the GPL to keep it legal? The required disclosures.
3. A triggering event has nothing to do with the 2nd Amendment. When do I have to give out a GPL?
4. They want to make me do What? Proposed changes to the Funeral Rule.
Conclusion: Times change, and so must we.
JUNE 21st, 2023
WEDNESDAY noon-2 pm
Sponsor: WPFDA