MID-WINTER SPEAKER BIOS AND SESSION DETAILS

2023 and Beyond – Funeral Service Updates and Best Practices

Earned Master’s in Public Administration from Penn State University
Have worked for BHSR for the last seven years, assumed the role of director in June 2022

Course Description: 
General death statistics and reporting trends, overview and instruction “how-to” of the transition from DAVE to eVitals, and veteran's death reporting updates and “how-to".

Coroner Relations and Updates

By: Scott M. Grim, D-ABMDI
Scott M. Grim, D-ABMDI has served at the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office since 1993, first as Deputy Coroner, then in 1995 promoted to Office Supervisor in charge of Investigations and Training. Since 1997, Grim has served as the Coroner of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining the Coroner’s Office, Scott was a Police Officer for 15 years with the Boroughs of Macungie and Slatington Police Departments.

Since 1993, he has investigated and/or supervised more than 10,000 investigations including natural, accident, suicide, and homicide related deaths. He has testified before numerous Grand Jury Panels and in more than 100 criminal trials, where he has been certified as an expert witness.

Scott has now retired after 26 1/2 years as the Lehigh County Coroner and is currently serving as the Executive Director of the PA State Coroners Association for the past 2.5 years.

Course Description:
PA Coroner Updates and best practices

Cultural Diversity in the Funeral Service Industry

By: Jayson Choi, Choi Funeral Home, Inc.,
Phong Jayson is a 1994 graduate of Temple University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Strategic Managements, and a 1995 Graduate of The American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He has achieved his National Board Certificate and is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, and Pennsylvania Licensed Funeral Director. Phong Jayson is a Proud member of the Pennsylvania and National Funeral Directors Association, the Pennsylvania Chinese Senior Citizens Association, the Teo Chow Association in Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Oversea Chinese Association, the Onleong Business Association of Philadelphia, Chinese Benevolent Association of Philadelphia, Hoyu Association of Philadelphia, Fujian Association, Nin Yung Association, and host of other Vietnamese associations, Buddhist Temples, and Catholic and Christian churches.

Philip Furman, Furman Home for Funerals
Leola, PA resident; husband and father
Franklin & Marshall College BA 1982
In 1983, Philip W. Furman graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. After serving his apprenticeship with his father in the family business, he became a licensed funeral director. In 1992, Alfred Furman retired and the reins were passed to Philip as the owner and director of the funeral home.
Philip is also the Secretary/Treasurer of Lancaster County Funeral Directors Assoc.
Member of: PFDA; NFDA; Lions Club; Zion Lutheran Church
Phil enjoys old movies; golf; motorcycles; fishing; beach-time; reading German

Jason Lloyd, Jason Lloyd Funeral Home
Funeral Home Supervisor since 2013 and Licensed Funeral Director since 1996.
Master Embalmer, Exceptional Reconstructive Embalmer Dedicated and Compassionate Funeral Director with over 20 years’ experience with comprehensive and expansive expertise directing all aspects of funeral services. Jason has the exceptional ability to cultivate a comfortable environment for families by providing information, resources, and consistently superior care with a personal touch. Effectively identifies and responds to family’s needs through exemplary communication, displays diligence in all endeavors with attention to detail for optimal end results.
Jason cares about all families and caters to all faiths and beliefs. Specializing in traditional funerals as well as Janazzah's and cremation services.
Jason is well involved in the community, participating in and supporting most community events from basketball and football teams to churches and schools. Jason is strongly involved and is an advocate for Stop the Violence and Putting Guns Down campaigns.

Milian Rodriguez, Rodriguez Funeral Home, Inc.
Milian E. Rodriguez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. At age 19, after studying mathematics and science in the University of Puerto Rico, she relocated from the tropical island to Syracuse, New York where she continued studying at Simmons School of Mortuary Science obtaining a degree in Mortuary Science in 1988.
In a decade where funeral homes were mostly owned and operated by generations of the same family, Milian started looking for an opportunity to complete her internship she was advised that in the city of the “Brotherly Love” had no funeral home owned or operated by a Hispanic funeral director.
After immediately moving to Philadelphia, no funeral home provided an opportunity to practice her internship, not even in those two funeral homes that mainly served the Hispanic community in the city. Without hesitation she continued looking in the surrounding counties until finding a place to practice her internship in Kenneth Square, Chester County, an area dominated by Hispanic laborers in the “Mushroom Capital of the World”. Even though she drove 39 miles to her place of practice, and 39 miles back home late at night she took advantage of every experience possible in funeral service.
Immediately after obtaining her funeral director license, the word of a first and only Hispanic licensed funeral director started to expand in the Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Upon the support of the clergy, the community, and funeral directors her demand for service grew faster than expected by her.
What made her career more successful was not the language, but the knowledge of different cultures and traditions among the Hispanic Countries and obviously the embalming and funeral directing skills.
Currently she oversees all operations and funeral services of Rodriguez Funeral Home with over 9 supporting staff members, and per diem funeral directors.
She supports funeral service education, serves as preceptor, and serves as professional member with the PA State Board of Funeral Directors.
She continues actively involved with Hispanics organizations, American Legion Auxiliary, churches, and schools.

Course Description: 
Four, thirty-minute presentations on the knowledge and understanding of various cultures and communities within Pennsylvania. Presenters will give a deeper awareness and education with their expertise surrounding diverse procedures.  The focus will be on topics such as ; notifications of death, embalming recommendations, graveside procedures, family expectations and requests as well as other culturally specific needs. 

Succession Planning for the Funeral Industry Professional

By: Bob Buhrig, CFSP, Buhrig Funeral Home, Crematory & Celebration Center
Bob Buhrig is well-versed in all aspects of funeral service and active as a funeral director, embalmer, and owner. He began his funeral service career washing cars in 1987, transitioning over the years to positions at the state, regional, and national levels. He has served as a consultant and trainer to funeral professionals throughout the United States.

His love of caring for people extends beyond compassionate funeral service at his own funeral home and crematory. Bob enjoys speaking to his community, small business owners, health care providers, and other funeral professionals; presenting programs both locally and across the country on a wide variety of funeral service, end-of-life, and business-related topics.

He is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner; a Certified Pre-planning Consultant; a Certified Funeral Celebrant; an ambassador and lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice; a member of the British Institute of Embalmers; an adjunct faculty member and clinical embalming instructor at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; a licensed funeral director and embalmer; and a licensed life insurance and annuity agent. Additionally, Bob enjoys membership in numerous local and national funeral service and community organizations, where he has served in various leadership positions over the years.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in business administration, management and finance from Robert Morris University and an Associate in Specialized Business degree with high honors in funeral service management from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Course Description: 
The Lifecyle of our Funeral Homes