PFDA Annual Convention & Expo

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS: Understanding the Importance of Effective Nonverbal Communication in the Funeral Service Industry

By: Jan Hargrave - Jan Hargrave and Associates

Body language expert Jan Hargrave teaches you the ways YOUR body communicates with the world around you. As the nation’s leading behavioral authority and body language expert, Jan can teach you the skills you need to “read” your families, your associates, and everyone around you. Jan is the author of 5 best selling books, Let Me See Your Body Talk, Freeway of Love, Judge the Jury, Strictly Business Body Language, and Poker Face. 

“When it comes to success or failure, what you say often matters far less than how you say it.”

Bio: She has shared her expertise about body language, persuasion and influence with the New York Times, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, Fox Television, the Steve Harvey Show, The Lifetime Channel, E-Entertainment, Television and dozens of popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Glamor, People, InTouch Weekly, Us Weekly, Life & Style, First for Women, The Forensic Examiner, Golf Magazine and others. Jan has consulted with fortune 500 companies like Starbucks, Hanes, Noble Oil, and more. Jan describes the “hidden messages’ you use in your everyday life and shows you how to stop the lies and uncover the truth-in any conversation or situation.

Active Shooter Training

By: Trooper First Class Nathan T. Branosky - Public Information Officer, Pennsylvania State Police

Trooper Branosky retired from the Army National Guard after 20 Years of Service. Veteran of both Afghanistan and the Middle East. He is a graduate of DeSales University with a Bachelors’ Degree in Nursing. With over 20 Years of Service in the Pennsylvania State Police his past assignments include: Troop K, Philadelphia / Troop M, Fogelsville (Lehigh County) / Troop M, Belfast (Northampton County) / and current assignment Troop M, Bethlehem as the Troop M Public Information Officer.

Past details have included the Governors Convention Security Detail in Philadelphia, and Civil Unrest details in both Baltimore, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Trooper Branosky is happily married to his wife Rose for 23 Years. They have a son in his final year in college and a daughter who will be attending college in the fall.

In his free time, trooper Nathan Branosky enjoys being a high school basketball official.

Child Abuse Requirement

By: Dr. Joseph A. Marsaglia - Dean Emeritus of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

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. This course will fulfill your Child Abuse CE requirement for License Renewal. 

Bio: Dr. Joseph A. Marsaglia is currently Dean Emeritus of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science as well as Chairman of the North American Division of the British Institute of Embalmers.  In addition to his administrative duties, he was Chief Operating Officer, taught numerous courses in the curriculum, and supervised the clinical embalming practicum.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in education, and a doctorate degree in education.

In 2013 and 2014, Dr. Marsaglia served as Dean of the College of Embalming, Restorative Art, and Other Care at the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association University in Memphis, TN.  He has presented at numerous funeral directors’ association meetings and conventions throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New Jersey.

In addition to being a licensed funeral director for 40 years, he is also a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner; Certified Funeral Celebrant: and Certified Crematory Operator.  He is a past president of the Allegheny County Funeral Directors Association (1990) and served as the delegate leader on several professional related exchange trips to the Soviet Union, Middle East, Far East and Europe.

Having completed a disaster management course in1985, Dr. Marsaglia participated in the recovery of the U.S. Air Flight 427 crash in Pittsburgh in 1994, and participated in recovery at Kobe, Japan earthquake in 1995. In 1987 he received certification in eye-enucleation through the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Before entering funeral service, Dr. Marsaglia served four years in the United States Marine Corps achieving the rank of Sergeant and served on the Philadelphia Police force for 4 and 1/2 years.

“Gaining the Edge” Perfecting the Little Things That Make a Big Difference in Decedent Care

By: Wallace P. Hooker CFSP, MBIE - Family and Friends Funeral Home

This presentation covers the cases we face daily in our embalming rooms…many of which are becoming more difficult, as a result of medical interventions, diet and other extrinsic factors. The importance of quality body presentation to the future of funeral service should be of utmost concern to us all in funeral service.  We will cover the value of the ‘pre-case analysis’, cover difficult case embalmings, as well as problem management and mitigation.  Soft tissue repair and facial restoration allowing for open-casket viewing will be covered in depth.  We will also cover ‘minimal body treatment’ for un-embalmed bodies, allowing families an opportunity to appropriately say goodbye prior to a direct disposition.  This lecture is designed for all levels of experience with tips and techniques that can be taken back to your embalming rooms and used.   

Bio: Wallace P. (Wally) Hooker CFSP, MBIE, is the owner/funeral director/embalmer of Family & Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, IN.   Wally attended Purdue University and a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, IL.   He served as 2015 - 2016 President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association and serves on the Advisory Board of Worsham College of Mortuary Science.      

   Wally has done a significant amount of trade embalming in his career.  He is routinely called on by other professionals, for technical consultation, to assist with their problem cases, restorative work, and for their family members.  Wally has a passion and reputation for quality no-nonsense embalming and facial reconstruction.  As an ‘in demand’ lecturer, Wally has shared his professional knowledge and experience with professional colleagues at eight International, 30 State, Regional Association, Canadian conventions and meetings, as well as several mortuary colleges. He is a featured writer, Embalming 101’ in Nomis Publication’s Funeral Home & Cemetery News 

He has served Fountain County, Indiana for 29 years, as deputy coroner, the past 24 as chief deputy coroner/investigator.   Wally earned his designation as a Medico-Legal Death Investigator through the Indiana Coroner Training Board in 1998. 

Wally and his wife Janet live on their family farm and have two adult children and four grandchildren.  In his spare time Wally enjoys gardening and his collection of vintage farm tractors and equipment. 

OSHA Compliance/Training

By: Paul Harris - President/CEO of Regulatory Support Services

This presentation presents the annual OSHA required training elements on blood borne pathogens and hazardous communication for formaldehyde as well as revisions to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard.  Also included for this presentation is a section that focuses on the annual Needlestick Safety requirements. The presentation utilizes OSHA standards, the workplace safety program, personal protective equipment and work practices and engineering controls to remove or minimize the risk of exposure, injury, and illness.

Bio: Regulatory Support Services was founded in 1994 to assist funeral homes with OSHA compliance. Shortly following our founding, services were expanded to include compliance assistance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule as well as state’s funeral laws and regulations. Along the way, several dental and medical clients joined our client family.

Paul received his North Carolina Funeral Service license in 1982. He worked for a funeral home in Durham, North Carolina from 1983 until 2004 when he was named Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. In 2012, Paul and his wife Theresa purchased a majority interest in Regulatory Support Services and finalized purchase of all interest in the company in 2016. Outside of serving Regulatory Support Services’ clients, Paul’s interests include collecting vintage wristwatches, reading and spending time with his family. Paul and Theresa make their home in Durham and have one adult son, Pearce.