Michael Nicodemus
Michael Nicodemus is a licensed funeral director with over 34 years of experience, including serving as Vice President of Cremation Operations at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Homes & Crematory in Virginia. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and a member of its Board of Directors, Mike is a respected leader in cremation education. He is a past president of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) and chaired CANA’s Operations Certification Program for seven years. Since 2013, Mike has served as the lead instructor for NFDA’s Cremation Certification Program and regularly writes and speaks on cremation best practices at national conferences.
Dr. Jennifer Lares
Dr. Jennifer Lares, CFSP, is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 30 years of experience and active dual licensure in Florida, Texas, and Colorado. A U.S. Navy veteran, she served as a Hospital Corpsman in Mortuary Affairs and later as a civilian Mortuary Officer for the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa. After earning her Doctor of Business Administration in 2019, Jennifer began teaching at NTCC and has since spoken at national conferences including ICCFA DeadTalks and OFDA. She is the founder of Mulling Mortician LLC, which provides accessible funeral service training, and is a CE provider in Texas, Florida, and through APFSP. Jennifer is also a regular contributor to American Funeral Director and an active mentor, educator, and advocate within the profession.
Thomas Tierney
Thomas Tierney is a third-generation funeral director and owner of John F. Tierney Funeral Home in Manchester, Connecticut. He is also the founder of The Green Cremation, the first alkaline hydrolysis facility in Connecticut and the surrounding region. Dedicated to blending tradition with innovation, Thomas has guided countless families through grief with compassion while pioneering sustainable death care solutions. He is committed to equipping funeral professionals with knowledge and tools to meet families where they are, both understanding and choice in today's evolving landscape of funeral service.
Darren Crouch
Darren Crouch is the President and CEO of Passages International, which he co-founded in 1999 to better serve families seeking cremation, scattering, and natural end-of-life options. Under his leadership, Passages has become a leading provider of eco-friendly funeral products. A recognized thought leader, Darren has been published in major industry publications and quoted in national media including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. He has spoken at top industry events worldwide and currently serves as President of the Green Burial Council. In 2022, Passages was named a finalist for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas in the Enduring Impact category.
Mandy Stafford
Mandy Stafford brings nearly 15 years of experience as a licensed funeral director, dedicating her career to compassionate, personalized death care. As Preneed Coordinator and National Partnership Manager at Return Home, Mandy helps families and funeral professionals navigate meaningful, eco-friendly end-of-life planning. Now living on her family farm in southern Minnesota, she blends rural life with her professional mission to advance sustainable practices in the funeral profession.
Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer, General Counsel for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), has been advocating for and advising funeral professionals for over 20 years. He previously served as in-house counsel for SCI and later founded The Farmer Firm, where he represented funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories across North America. Chris has also held long-term roles as General Counsel for both the Texas Funeral Directors Association and the Cremation Association of North America, where he also served on the board. At NFDA, he advises members on litigation, regulatory compliance, business transactions, employment law, and other legal challenges facing the funeral service profession.