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 Anthony Petroski III - Public Information Officer, Pennsylvania State Police

The Pennsylvania State Police, Community Services and Public Information Office will be providing an Active Shooter Presentation by discussing the different mental strategies, as well as response tactics, individuals will be better prepared to not only act, but react during an active shooter event.  The discussion will cover associated behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, which may be indicators that someone is disgruntled in their personal life or with society.  Triggering events that may cause individuals to become an active shooter will also be discussed.

Will provide active shooter statistics, trends, and real incidents will be discussed, along with why it is vitally important for individuals to have a plan.  Audio and video clips are utilized to get everyone in the mindset of why may occur during an active shooter situation and try to realistically have them feel involved.

Bio: Trooper Anthony Petroski has been in the Pennsylvania State Police for 18 years.  He worked 10 years as a  Patrol Trooper, and the past 8 as a Public Information Officer / Community Services Officer, all in Troop N, Hazleton.  He is the liaison for his Troop to the 4 Counties they serve: Lower Luzerne, Carbon, Columbia and Monroe Counties.  As a Public Information Officer, he is tasked with educating the community and providing Media information to keep the public informed on high profile and active cases.  Outside of the Pennsylvania State Police, he and his Wife have been married 15 years and have two Children, a 10-year-old Son and 8-year-old Daughter. 

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: David Hall - Senior Field Consultant 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.

 As a former longtime instructor, as well as chair of the funeral service education department at Fayetteville Technical Community College, David is a wonderful presenter and brings a wealth of knowledge to any setting.

David has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1981. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he began a teaching career at Fayetteville Technical Community College which spanned 28 years. There he taught Funeral Law & Ethics; Funeral Directing Management; Funeral Merchandising; Funeral History and Restorative Arts in addition to clinical embalming and pathology. In 2015, he became an inspector for the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. In 2018, David joined Regulatory Support Services as a compliance consultant. On a personal level, David has served his church – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – where he sings in the choir and is serving as Senior Warden. He lives on 25 acres and is an “unapologetic car freak.” He collects cars including old 4-door limousines, high-top ambulances, and side-service hearses which are coveted! David’s other interests include antique key-wound clocks, old fountain pens, and basically, any and all vintage funeral paraphernalia.