Community Calendar

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.

• 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.