Expand, Integrate, Connect: Register for the 2025 PLPA Pet Loss & Integration Short Course

STERLING, Va. (June 4, 2025) – As more families view pets as members of the family, the demand for compassionate, professional pet loss care continues to grow. The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) is proud to host the 2025 Pet Loss Professionals Alliance (PLPA) Pet Loss & Integration Short Course, taking place July 18–20 at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. This intensive, two-day course is designed to equip deathcare professionals with the tools, strategies, and knowledge needed to establish and elevate pet loss services within their businesses.

Led by PLPA Committee Chair Lauren Blevins Hogan, CCFE, CPLP, the course will feature a diverse lineup of expert instructors and engaging sessions. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your existing pet program, this event offers actionable strategies and real-world guidance you can bring back to your business right away.

Educational sessions include:

• Developing a Pet Program
  Andrew Parsell, Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium & Parsell Pet Crematorium
  Learn how to identify market needs, establish a pet program from the ground up, and effectively serve the growing “pet parent” community.
• Legal Matters with Pet Burial and Cremation
  Poul Lemasters, Esq., ICCFA General Counsel
  Explore liability risks, regulatory challenges, and how historical trends can help you prepare for the future of pet deathcare.
• Embracing Pet Loss: Bringing Families Back
  Tony Armogida, Global Atlantic Financial Group
  Discover how to transition pet cremation experiences into conversations about human funeral preplanning and deepen family relationships.
• Best Practices in Pet Loss Integration
  Lauren Blevins Hogan, CCFE, CPLP, Park Lawn Corporation
  Hear firsthand strategies and lessons learned from integrating a successful pet program into an existing funeral home model.
• Pet Cremation 101: Tips, Tricks, and Operational Best Practices
  Larry Stuart Jr., Raven Plume Consulting
  Enhance your crematory operations with actionable insights on equipment maintenance, respectful handling, eco-conscious practices, and more.
• Creating Spaces for Pets in Your Cemetery Development Plan
  John Bolton, CCE, CCrE, CXE, CSE, Park Lawn Corporation
  Learn how to design and implement pet memorial areas in cemeteries and understand the ROI of this growing service offering.
• Phone Etiquette for the Pet Loss Profession
  Nicki Wiedeman, CSE, Dead Ringers
  Improve your team’s communication with pet families by mastering tone, empathy, pricing discussions, and call follow-up through real call examples.
• Practical Technology in Today’s Business
  Pierce Dempsey, Leaf Cremation
  Get a hands-on look at how to use AI and accessible tech tools to enhance efficiency and deliver more personalized pet aftercare services.

In addition to classroom instruction, attendees will enjoy networking opportunities including a welcome reception, shared meals, and a student night trivia event — all in conjunction with the ICCFA University. It’s the perfect setting to connect with peers and build lasting professional relationships.

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome attendees to this year’s Pet Loss & Integration Short Course,” said Lauren Blevins Hogan, CCFE, CPLP. “This program is so important because it gives professionals the knowledge and tools that they need to serve families with the same level of compassion and care we provide for human loss. Serving pets is always about serving people, and by supporting pet families through their grief, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in our communities—and set our businesses apart through thoughtful, professional care.”

Thanks to the generous support of ICCFA Educational Foundation donors, four individuals have been awarded scholarships to attend the PLPA Pet Loss & Integration Short Course without the registration fee. These scholarships help remove financial barriers and expand access to education for professionals committed to serving pet families with care and compassion. The 2025 recipients are:

1. Dorothy Bothwell, Ivy Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home | Ventura, CA
2. Brittany Morgan, Springfield Funeral Home | Kelowna, BC
3. Ashley Nicks, Peaceful Paws Mortuary & Crematory | Lugoff, SC
4. Danny Santiago, Memorial Reefs International | Ocean View, NJ

Registration is open now through July 9, 2025. To learn more or secure your spot, visit iccfa.com/pet-short-course.

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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.

Charting the Future of Funeral Service: Register Now for NFDA’s 2025 Leadership Conference

Brookfield, Wis. – This summer, current and aspiring leaders in funeral service will gather in California’s Wine Country for one of the profession’s most inspiring and energizing events – the 2025 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Leadership Conference, taking place August 3-6 at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa. This conference will offer a rich blend of forward-thinking education, peer-to-peer connection and meaningful dialogue aimed at building and strengthening leadership skills. 

Expert-Led Sessions 

The NFDA Leadership Conference will empower funeral service leaders to build strong associations that can navigate challenges and play a role in shaping a vibrant future for the profession. Speakers will provide practical strategies, leadership insights and forward-thinking approaches to navigate shifting consumer expectations, regulatory changes and emerging opportunities for innovation.

Participants will also explore what leadership actually looks like on the ground; they will hear from leaders who are in the thick of it, sharing the moments that shaped their growth, the tools that helped them shift and the lessons they’re still learning. Attendees will also benefit from the ever-popular “Breakout by Office” sessions, which provide a forum for state association leaders to dive into the unique responsibilities of their roles. These peer-led discussions promote meaningful dialogue, idea-sharing and collaboration around pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. Pending approval, NFDA Leadership Conference participants can earn up to 10 CE hours from APFSP and most state licensing boards. 

Networking & Special Events Beyond the educational sessions, the Leadership Conference offers ample opportunities for networking and rejuvenation in one of the country’s most scenic destinations. Participants can kick off their experience with a golf outing at Eagle Vines Golf Club the morning of August 3. Co-designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Johnny Miller, this pristine course offers both a challenge and a peaceful retreat into nature. This event requires additional registration and includes a golf polo shirt, transportation credits, range balls, golf cart, box lunch and on-course beverages. 

The Welcome Party the evening of August 3 will set the tone for the week, inviting attendees to gather for a relaxing evening amid rolling vineyards and golden hills – a perfect setting to reconnect with colleagues and forge new relationships. On August 5, the Cask & Vine Closing Party will offer an unforgettable evening at Artesa Winery, hailed as one of the best wineries to visit in Napa Valley. Attendees will enjoy exclusive access to this architectural gem, with sweeping vineyard views, curated wines, hearty hors d’oeuvres and the warm camaraderie that defines the NFDA community (additional registration required). 

Registration is Now Open 

Funeral service professionals interested in attending this essential leadership experience can register and find more information at NFDA.org/Leadership or by calling 800-228-6332. Registration includes presentations, handouts, continental breakfasts and the Welcome Reception. Early-bird pricing is available through June 1; registration closes July 25. Tickets for the golf outing and Closing Party may be added to your registration. 

About the Meritage Resort and Spa 

Among sprawling vineyards and sun-kissed hills, the Meritage Resort and Spa offers a serene escape at the gateway to Wine Country. This expansive, mission-style resort spans 36 acres – including nine acres of active vineyards – and features luxury accommodations, world-class amenities and immersive experiences. 

Guests can enjoy a daily bottle of water, a bottle of signature wine, in-room coffee and tea, access to a 24-hour fitness studio, vineyard walking trails, complimentary Wi-Fi, shuttle service to downtown Napa and more. The resort’s unique Village area also offers on-site tasting rooms from local craft winemakers and breweries. Rooms in the NFDA block are available for a discounted rate of $379 per night plus taxes and a reduced resort fee of $25 per night. Reservations must be made by June 30; see NFDA.org/Leadership for details. 

Thank You 

NFDA thanks the following companies for their support of the 2025 Leadership Conference: Johnson Consulting, C&J Financial, Federated Insurance, Homesteaders Life Company, Carriage Services, Argent Trust, ASD – Answering Service for Directors, Tribute Tech, National Guardian Life (NGL), Foresight, Nomis Publications Inc., Ring Ring Marketing, Tukios and Byline Bank. 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org.