Funeral Services Program

Lares, Jennifer

mrussell@ntcc.edu — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 21:01:01 +0000

Lares, Jennifer

mrussell@ntcc.edu Wed, 08/28/2024 - 4:01 pm

Jennifer

Lares

Funeral Service Instructor

Funeral Services Program

jlares@ntcc.edu

Funeral Director, Embalmer, Certified Celebrant, Traveler, Dog Mom, Research Nerd/Industry Obsessed

Jennifer Lares (MBA, DBA) has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in FL since 1998 and also holds an active dual license in TX (2017). Over the course of her career spanning 30+ years, she has been licensed in WA, NV, TN, and NC. She also served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in Mortuary Affairs from 2007-2012.

Jennifer began teaching after graduating in 2019 with her Doctorate of Business Administration (UIW). She has been an Adjunct Instructor with 91�ֿ�'s funeral service education program since 2021, where she has taught a variety of courses. She has published research pertaining to the funeral industry, which she has presented at social science conferences in Detroit, MI, and Princeton, NJ. Jennifer has presented various industry topics at events in TX (Emerging Leaders, South Texas Funeral Directors Association).

Most recently, prior to becoming a full-time Instructor with NTCC, Jennifer served as a Mortuary Officer (civilian) at the US Army Regional Mortuary, Europe & Africa, located in Landstuhl, Germany. She specialized in returning fallen service members and other eligible persons home.

Student Testimonials

spitts@ntcc.edu — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:33:24 +0000

Student Testimonials spitts@ntcc.edu Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:33 am

Funeral Services Program

Scotty Meade

spitts@ntcc.edu — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:30:31 +0000

Scotty Meade spitts@ntcc.edu Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:30 am

The funeral service program at NTCC is top notch. I was never a big fan of remote/online based learning but between the setup of the program and the excellent staff, it was easy to keep up with everything that needed to be done. Every staff member of the program has a great passion for teaching and helping you grow into the next generation of funeral service professionals. They have all the info to help you grow as a person and learn the information needed to pass your boards. You will have the opportunity to study with and learn from people from all over the country and the world. Not only does this open the chance to see different perspectives but also add colleagues when you are out in the world. If you put in the effort and listen to the fine staff at NTCC, it is possible to pass your National Boards on the first try. Ask me how I know.

Funeral Services Program

Krystal Parham

spitts@ntcc.edu — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:26:44 +0000

Krystal Parham spitts@ntcc.edu Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:26 am

Becoming a Funeral Director was not my first career choice even though my family has been in the business for over 60 years. What started as a one-year sabbatical, turned into a complete career change and I decided to pursue my Funeral Director’s License.

Graduated May 2023

Becoming a Funeral Director was not my first career choice even though my family has been in the business for over 60 years. After high school, I wanted to make my own path, so I decided to pursue a career in mental health. For 10 years I worked as a Marriage and Family Therapist in a Community Mental Health Crisis Center with the most chronically underserved and at-risk population in San Antonio, Texas. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I made the decision to support my family as they fought to keep up with the staggering increase in demand placed on the death care industry. What started as a one-year sabbatical, turned into a complete career change and I decided to pursue my Funeral Director’s License in 2022.

I attempted to enroll with other funeral certificate programs but as waves of COVID continued to hit, I did not have the time to jump through all the hoops of the application and enrollment process. At the 2022 TFDA Convention in Galveston, I had a chance encounter with Mrs. Olga Scott and Mr. Manuel Osorio at their booth for 91�ֿ�. I had never heard of the program, but I knew Mr. Osorio from working with him in the funeral industry and I knew he would be a great professor. Mrs. Scott’s enthusiasm for the program was contagious and I knew this was the opportunity I needed. The application and enrollment process could not have gone any smoother. I applied online in late June, right after the conference, and got a response so fast that I was able to start classes in August, complete the certificate program in May and passed the board exam in June of 2023. It is hard to believe I went from applying for the program to provisionally licensed in less than a year.

Funeral Services

Funeral Services Program

Kelby Dayley

spitts@ntcc.edu — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:27:13 +0000

Kelby Dayley spitts@ntcc.edu Tue, 09/26/2023 - 9:27 am

The funeral service program at NTCC was a great program that helped me become confident in the field. I learned great skills that will benefit me from being a funeral director to an embalmer. This program worked for me, being able to do it online remotely. I was able to work full-time; and gain knowledge from being able to work hands on doing an apprenticeship. The courses here at NTCC were beneficial and important to help us be successful as we go and serve the families in the areas where we reside. My experience here was amazing, the Funeral Service Professors were amazing and willing to help in any way to help us become successful.

Funeral Services

Funeral Services Program

Carrington, Brittany

mrussell@ntcc.edu — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:24:44 +0000

Carrington, Brittany

mrussell@ntcc.edu Wed, 08/23/2023 - 3:24 pm

Brittany

Carrington

Funeral Service Education Instructor

Funeral Services Program

903-434-8157

bcarrington@ntcc.edu

Brittany Carrington has served in the funeral profession for over 15 years. She considers it a great honor to have gently guided countless grieving families through their most difficult moments. Brittany has served in funeral homes across New Mexico and Texas, gaining experience in small family-owned and large corporate firms. She deeply appreciates this aspect of her journey, giving her a multifaceted understanding of the funeral industry.

In 2016, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from New Mexico Highlands University with her BBA. She obtained her Mortuary Science degree from Dallas Institute of Funeral Services. While attending the Institute, she was voted Chaplain of the Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity and the Psi Epsilon Class Chaplain. Upon graduation, she was the valedictorian of her class and was voted the recipient of the prestigious Bill Pierce Award by her peers. In her continued pursuit of excellence, she earned the SCI Funeral Director of the Year award in 2022 for the DFW area and the top JD Power score in one of the largest markets in the company.

Brittany enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with her toddler son. They are often found together playing hide-n-seek, reading books, and eating chicken nuggets.

Davis, Brant

mrussell@ntcc.edu — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:23:00 +0000

Davis, Brant

mrussell@ntcc.edu Wed, 08/23/2023 - 3:23 pm

Brant

Davis

Funeral Service Education Instructor

Funeral Services Program

903-434-8397

bdavis@ntcc.edu

Brant Davis is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 24 years of experience in the funeral profession and a decade of teaching. Actively engaged in his local community, Brant assists family-owned funeral homes and is deeply grateful to the mentors who guided him throughout his career. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge to the next generation of funeral directors.

Brant's teaching philosophy is centered on student engagement and learning efficiency. After transitioning to education, he was inspired by the book Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning, which transformed his approach to instruction. This shift led him to develop strategies that help students study and work smarter through the use of technical resources, collaborative sessions, and customized learning methods. By recognizing that everyone learns differently, Brant focuses on helping students retain information in a way that best suits their individual learning styles.

Schmidt, Benjamin

mzuniga@ntcc.edu — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:58:42 +0000

Schmidt, Benjamin

mzuniga@ntcc.edu Thu, 03/02/2023 - 10:58 am

Benjamin

Schmidt

Assistant Professor of Funeral Services

Funeral Services Program

903-434-8337

bschmidt@ntcc.edu

Ben Schmidt, MBIT, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in two states. He has been a funeral service educator for 9 years at two mortuary colleges, where he focuses on funeral sciences. He is an author and the host of two podcasts and plays the role of judge for the NFDA's Funeral Face-Off Trivia. He has presented locally and internationally, including at the Cremation Association of North America's first embalming CE and the Belgian Institute of Thanatopraxie's 50th Anniversary.

Blake Penrod AAS Funeral Service Education Graduate

spitts@ntcc.edu — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:43:25 +0000

Blake Penrod AAS Funeral Service Education Graduate spitts@ntcc.edu Mon, 02/27/2023 - 9:43 am

The funeral service education program at NTCC enabled me to become a confident funeral director and embalmer. Because it is a distance education program, I was able to work full-time; provide for my family; and gain a thorough understanding of the scientific, business, and social aspects of funeral service. My experience in this program has been exceptional!

Funeral Services Program

Scott, Olga

mzuniga@ntcc.edu — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:45:01 +0000

Scott, Olga

mzuniga@ntcc.edu Tue, 01/25/2022 - 12:45 pm

Olga

Scott

Program & Student Coordinator of Funeral Service Education

Funeral Services Program

903-434-8313

oretana@ntcc.edu

Olga Retana Scott was raised with strong values of hard work and a deep respect for God, family, and country. She began her journey in the funeral service profession in 2007, transitioning to Mortuary Education by 2016, and in 2022, she became the Program and Student Coordinator for the Mortuary Program at 91�ֿ�. Throughout her educational career, Olga has remained an active and licensed Funeral Director in Texas.

Her dedication to the funeral profession shines through her volunteer work and leadership roles. Olga is a proud member of professional organizations such as CANA, TFDA, NFDA, ICCFA, and NFDMA. She is currently serving as Past-President of the North Texas Chapter of TFDA, contributes to various TFDA committees, and currently serves on the TFDA Services Inc. board. Olga's passion for her community extends beyond the profession, as she has also been involved with Women in Black and as Master Artist of Pi Sigma Eta. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to children’s spiritual education at her church.

In 2019, Olga’s commitment was recognized when she was awarded the Young Funeral Professional of the Year, an honor bestowed upon her by her peers. With her combination of experience, warmth, and dedication, Olga is a trusted advisor and an invaluable resource for anyone seeking guidance in funeral service education or support during life’s most challenging moments.