FSAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SPEAKERS
This year's conference will deliver 15 speakers delivering 4 presentations and 3 expert panel discussions. Learn more about your speaking lineup below:
Jeff Mowatt
Bestselling Author, Customer Experience Specialist, and Hall of Fame Business Speaker
Jeff Mowatt helps teams shift their focus from simply responding to co-workers and customers; to instead becoming Trusted Advisors. His “Influence with Ease” column, has been syndicated and featured in over 200 publications. Jeff’s developed and produced 13 coaching tools, and is the author of the bestselling books, Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month, and Influence with Ease. Jeff’s clients are most often small and mid-sized companies that bring him in to do on-site seminars. This session is phase one of his 3 phase seminar series. At his home, Jeff claims to be king of his castle. He admits though, he’s often over-ruled by the household’s FOUR females… which includes ONE wife, TWO teenaged daughters, and a lazy old dog named Cassie.
Jeff's Session:
Become a Trusted Advisor, Keynote Presentation
Thursday, June 2nd @ 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT
ADELE WARNER
Director of Human Resources, SCI
Since 2018, Adele has been the Director of Human Resources with SCI and prior to joining the Death Care Service Industry she spent 15 years in the Forestry sector with her last role being the Director of HR Shared Service. Prior to joining the Death Care Service Industry she spent 15 years in the Forestry sector with her last role being the Director of HR Shared Service. She lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia, and with oversight of 220 locations in her area of responsibility, she calls Canada her workplace.
Adele's Session:
How to Recruit & Retain During COVID: Human Resources Expert Panel Discussion
Wednesday, June 1st @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
ESTRELLA FRIAS
Director of Talent Acquisition, MaxPeople
As a partner with MaxPeople, Estrella Frias is a Talent Leader with more than 20 years of experience building and leading high-performance teams and re-imagining leadership and talent acquisition practices that create work environments that differentiate in the markets they represent. Estrella spent the last 10 years of her career leading the complete transformation and rebuild of the Global Talent Acquisition function for a reputable film tech company driving innovative and highly valued strategic sourcing efforts targeting relevant talent communities. She is a strong advocate for a positive candidate experience as a game changer in attracting talent and strengthening the employer brand. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Kinesiology and a minor in Anthropology from York University.
Estrella's Session:
How to Recruit & Retain During COVID: Human Resources Expert Panel Session
Wednesday, June 1st @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
NATHAN MCKINLAY
Owner/Operator, McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd.
Nathan McKinlay is the owner/operator of McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd., with three family funeral homes in the rural community of Chatham-Kent. Nathan graduated with Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University, majoring in Communication Studies and Philosophy before entering the death care profession. He loves funeral service almost as much as he loves his wife, Amanda, whom he has the pleasure to run the business with.
Nathan's Session:
How to Recruit & Retain During COVID: Human Resources Expert Panel Session
Wednesday, June 1st @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
JULIE RUBEN
Founder and CEO of MaxPeople
Julie Ruben Rodney M.Ed., CHRL is the Founder and CEO of MaxPeople, a consulting firm specializing in HR Services, Training, Recruitment and Employment Law. A proud Maritimer to the core, Julie truly values people and relationships which led to her start in organizational behaviour early in her career. She has always been a trailblazer and her company inception, and its structure is no exception. She founded MaxPeople 15 years ago after dealing with the loss of a very close friend and realizing that she wanted to build a business that prioritized family and making time for the important things in life. She also teamed up with her husband to become one of the first boutique HR firms to provide in-house employment law services. Julie has been quoted and contributed articles in publications such as The Globe and Mail, The HR Professional and Dialogue Magazine. She is also a dynamic and accomplished presenter who is invited to numerous speaking engagements each year.
Julie's Session:
How to Recruit & Retain During COVID: Human Resources Expert Panel Session
Wednesday, June 1st @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
JANINE ALTAMIRANO
HR Team Member, McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes
Janine was born and raised in a small community in Alberta and was intrigued with funeral service as a child after attending a relative’s funeral and seeing the care and professionalism of the funeral director leading the funeral. She moved to Calgary in 1991 and worked for an accounting firm before joining our team in 1993. In 1995 Janine became more involved in the day-to-day business operations of McInnis & Holloway Funeral. Her desire to learn, has been an asset to the many changes we face in our industry. Janine attended Mount Royal College Funeral Director Program receiving her funeral director’s license in the Province of Alberta in 2006. Janine became a partner of McInnis & Holloway Funeral Home in October 2011.
Janine's Session:
How to Recruit & Retain During COVID: Human Resources Expert Panel Session
Wednesday, June 1st @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
MARC KANAPAUX
Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, and PreNeed Insurance Agent
Marc Kanapaux, Training Specialist, Batesville Casket Co., Marc is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and preneed insurance agent from Charleston, South Carolina. Since he was a teenager, Marc has worked in funeral service. A career that now has spanned 33 years. He is a graduate of Gupton – Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, GA and a member of Pi Sigma Eta, National Morticians Honors Fraternity. Marc joined Batesville Casket Company in 2011 as a Cremation Division Consultant working with funeral homes across the United States to develop marketing tools and train funeral directors on how to have an informative conversation with the families they serve. His current position is focused on training from A-Z. From the basics of nomenclature to the refined professional looking to keep their edge. Most recently Marc has authored numerous online courses for funeral professionals available through Batesville University.
Marc's Session:
Change in Attitudes: Information Seekers
Wednesday, June 1 @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
JEFF HAGEL
Partner & President, McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes
Jeff Hagel graduated with his applied degree in small business and entrepreneurship and his diploma in international business from Mount Royal University. He worked outside of the funeral profession until 2004 when he made a career change, went back to Mount Royal University and took their distance learning funeral directors certificate program while obtaining his funeral director and embalmers licenses in Edmonton, AB. Jeff joined McInnis & Holloway in June of 2007 and became a partner in October 2011 and President in 2020. In 2015 Jeff was voted onto the Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board where he contributed to the working relationship between the board and the profession and various government ministries.
Jeff's Session:
So Much Tech, So Little Time: Advice from the Trenches
Wednesday, June 1 @ 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
JOSH DENNING
Manager of Media Services, Dennings Ltd.
Josh Denning works with his brothers Bill and Brett to oversee operations at Denning’s Ltd. which operates funeral homes in Southwestern Ontario. The Denning brothers are 4th generation operators of the family business. Josh’s primary responsibilities are as Manager of Media Services. Josh is responsible for the majority of tech related programs and offerings at Denning’s including live-streaming, memorial tribute videos, memorial photobooks, Denning’s proprietary Lifescape experience, drone photography and videography, onsite and offsite audio/visual needs, and video editing to name a few. Josh feels that to personalization of a room and experience for a family using as many senses as possible can greatly help with the grieving process and greatly enhance experiences in their facilities. Josh lives in Watford, Ontario with his wife Lindsay and sons Samuel and Clark. Josh is also an Advanced Care Paramedic and works part-time in Elgin County as a paramedic supervisor.
Josh's Session:
So Much Tech, So Little Time: Advice from the Trenches
Wednesday, June 1 @ 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
SIMON DUBE
Market Director, SCI Canada
Simon Dube was born in Amqui, Québec but moved to a small community near Ottawa, Ontario at a young age. He began working in the funeral industry at the age of 16. Passionate about helping people in his community, he decided to enroll at College Boreal to pursue a career in funeral services. Simon has been part of the Dignity Memorial Family since December 2003. In is role of Market Director at Service Corporation International Canada, Simon leads a team of 37 funeral homes in the province of Quebec.
Simon's Session:
So Much Tech, So Little Time: Advice from the Trenches
Wednesday, June 1 @ 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
DR. BILL WEBSTER
Grief Counsellor, Author, and International Speaker
Dr. Bill Webster is a grief counsellor, author, and well-known international speaker. He brings a unique blend of personal experience, academic education and many years of practical application to his work. Dr. Bill combines his own stories of loss with his knowledge and sense of humour to effectively communicate his message.
Dr. Bill Webster's Session:
Less Theory, More Action! Real-life stories on Compassion & Covid Fatigue
Thursday, June 2 @ 11:15am-12:30pm EDT
ADAM ROGALSKY
VP of Sales and Marketing and Southwestern Sales Representative, The Dodge Company Canada
Adam Rogalsky is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing and the Southwestern Ontario sales representative for The Dodge Company Canada. After completing the Funeral Service Education Program at Humber College in 2005, Adam worked as service director at one of the largest independently owned funeral homes in Toronto for 3 years, the same funeral home that he also apprenticed. Before starting with Dodge in 2010, Adam embalmed at a central care preparation facility and following that, managed a high volume prep room in East Toronto. Since becoming a Dodge Representative, Adam has done programs for regional and national associations throughout North America and is life time member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Practice Inc.
Adam's Session:
Embalming of the Skin & Long Bone Donation Case
Thursday, June 2 @ 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT
HELEN LONG
CEO, Dying with Dignity
Helen Long has a long track record of informed engagement and empowering leadership in the not-for-profit, health and wellness sector, with a strong focus on advocacy, public and media relations, and organizational excellence. Since joining Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) in March 2020, Helen has guided the organization through a transformational period in end-of-life rights – engaging staff, Board Members, volunteers, and stakeholders through the passage of Bill C-7: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying). Prior to her tenure as CEO of DWDC, Helen served as President of the Canadian Health Food Association, and volunteer with the ALS Society of Canada. She has a keen interest in medical assistance in dying legislation, and the significant challenges facing many Canadians who are looking to access their end-of-life rights.
Helen's Session:
MAiD Program: What Funeral Directors Need to Know
Thursday, June 2 @ 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
JULIE CAMPBELL
Lead, MAiD Access for Home & Community Care Support Services South West
Julie Campbell is the Lead, MAID Access for Home and Community Care Support Services South West, Care Connector Nurse Practitioner for the Provincial MAiD Care Connection Service and a MAID assessor and provider. She is a Board Member of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers, a member of the Dying with Dignity Clinical Advisory Committee and presented at both the Senate of Canada and House of Commons during the development of Bill C7 in 2020/2021.
Julie's Session:
MAiD Program: What Funeral Directors Need to Know
Thursday, June 2 @ 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
LINDSAY BACALA
Registered Social Worker
Lindsay Bacala has been a registered social worker since 2014. After completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of North Dakota Lindsay started work in Long Term Care supporting clients and their families through the journey of Dementia and end of life. Lindsay completed her Masters of Social Work at the University of Manitoba and is currently a Psychosocial Program Specialist with the Manitoba Medical Assistance in Dying team. Lindsay also works in private practice providing therapy services to children, adolescents and adults in Winnipeg and northern reservations.
Lindsay's Session:
MAiD Program: What Funeral Directors Need to Know
Thursday, June 2 @ 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Thank you to FSAC Conference Supporters: Canadian Funeral News, Canadian Funeral Director & The Funeral Chronicle.
