Young Funeral Directors
About
Objective:
"Creating opportunities for professional and social development while encouraging communication and collaboration between young funeral professionals."
CO-CHAIRS:
Bailey R. Byrd, Columbus
Jenn M. Schlosser, Wapakoneta
MEMBERS:
Kyle Brubaker, Bellevue
Lauren M. Buzzard, Gahanna
Brittany Chandler, Hillsboro
Holly R. Colwell, Columbus
Jacob Eldridge, Troy
Megan J. Estep, New Carlisle
Geoffrey H. Gompf, CFSP, Crestline
Alexys Gribble-Manning, Cincinnati
Mika G. Kill, Cincinnati
Joshua L. Majors, Springfield
Elizabeth "Liz" A. Mencke, Parma
Nicholas R. Nester, Cincinnati
Dr. Tyler J. O'Brien, CFSP, Oregon
Kurt A. Seeley, West Liberty
Young Funeral Directors Events
YFD CE Event and Reception - November 20, 2025
Registration:
- Members: $30.00
- Non-Members: $50.00
- Mortuary Students: Complimentary registration available through CCMS
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, the OFDA office must be notified at least 24 hours prior to the start of the scheduled program. Refunds will not be granted for cancellations made within 24 hours of the program or for no-shows.
Photo/Video Consent
By registering for this event, you consent to the use of your image and likeness in photographs and videos taken during the seminar. These may be published in print, online, or in digital photo albums; on photo/video-sharing platforms such as YouTube; on social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn; and in other web-based media at the sole discretion of OFDA.
Continuing Education:
- 1 CE Hour, Laws & Rules, pending approval with the State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
- This is a Public, In-person Only CE Event and open to all licensees.
Schedule:
- 4:00 - 5:00 PM: “Can We Please Not Fight?” - Learning How to Resolve Conflicts from a Lawyer
- 5:00: YFD Reception
Program Summary:
"Can We Please Not Fight?” - Learning How to Resolve Conflicts from a Lawyer
Wait. Don’t lawyers like to fight? What can a lawyer teach you about resolving or even avoiding conflicts? The truth is that death care is a tough profession. There is no easy part of helping a family plan the funeral of their loved one. And as hard as this can be, somehow it can always get worse – like when the family fights. They fight with you; they fight with themselves. But why do they fight? And more importantly, how can you help resolve those conflicts? Actually, maybe the first question is asking if you should help resolve the conflict! This seminar identifies some common conflicts in death care, analyzes, and proposes solutions. Program highlights:
- Identify some conflicts that death care providers face.
- Analyze the reason for the conflict – including human nature.
- Propose solutions to mitigate and solve conflicts.
- Share tools that can be implemented to help resolve conflict.
Presenter:
Poul Lemasters, Esq.
Founder and Principal, Lemasters Consulting
ICCFA Cremation Counsel
Poul Lemasters is a well-known presenter to the deathcare profession. He uses his unique background in both deathcare and law to provide resources and counsel to other deathcare professionals. He assists in risk management, daily operational conflicts, form and contract reviews, valuations, and regulatory matters. Poul advises several funeral home, crematory, cemetery, and trade associations across the United States including ICCFA, PLPA, CCC, and the NCBVA. He is also the author of Cover Your Ass – The ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Business.
Venue:
Venue generously sponsored by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS)
645 W. North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45224
Annual Distinguished Service Award
Eligibility:
- Nominee must be an OFDA member in good standing and under 40 years of age in the year nominated.
- Nominee may not have previously received this award.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
- It is the nominator’s responsibility to summarize the nominee’s achievements, accomplishments and impact on others in sufficient detail to document why this nominee should be recognized for outstanding service in the funeral service profession.
Criteria:
This annual award is to be presented to the Ohio Funeral Directors Association Young Funeral Director who meets the following qualifications:
- Exhibits outstanding citizenship in the community; serving the community by assisting with activities or organizations that strengthen and improve the community.
- Exhibits a level of professionalism that exemplifies the attributes of a professional funeral director and maintains the confidence of the personal and business relationships with those served.
- Supports professional organizations in their efforts to improve the standards of funeral service and to lend a voice in censure against those who would deter these efforts.
Submission Instructions:
- All nominations must be received by OFDA prior to March 1, 2026, during the period December 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 for consideration.
- Nominations must be submitted through our online form.
- Only one candidate nomination per submission form.
We suggest you draft your answers in a Word document before submitting your nomination online. For your convenience, the nomination questions are listed below and we ask that each response is 150 words or less:
- Describe how the nominee has demonstrated outstanding citizenship in the community. This answer should reflect previous or ongoing contributions of service to their residential community and provide examples of involvement within activities or organizations that strengthen and improve the community.
- Describe how the nominee has displayed an exceptional level of professionalism and leadership qualities within funeral service and has maintained the confidence of the personal and business relationships with those served.
- Describe how the nominee supports professional organizations in their efforts to improve the standards of funeral service and lends a voice in censure against those who deter these efforts, citing specific examples and/or situations.
- Describe any additional supporting information that you believe important when reviewing this nominee for consideration for this award.
Should you have questions or prefer an alternate submission method, please contact Andrew Allman at andrew@ofdaonline.org
For examples of ideal submission content, please
Rules of Procedure and Operation
Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award can be made to OFDA by colleagues, mentors, managers or supervisors of nominees. Award winner is selected by members of the following:
- OFDA Young Funeral Directors Committee
- The OFDA Board of Directors
- Executive Director of OFDA
*If nominated, members of the YFD Committee and OFDA Board of Directors must recuse themselves from group that selects award winner.
- The top three (3) scored candidates will receive a complimentary OFDA convention single-day registration in the year selected and will be recognized during the Awards Ceremony.
- Award will be presented and announced at the OFDA Convention and Exhibition during the Awards Ceremony each year at the annual convention to the selected recipient, and the recipient’s name will be added to the permanent Distinguished Service Award Plaque on display at the OFDA office.
- The selected recipient will receive $500 towards an OFDA continuing education course or funeral industry convention in hopes of encouraging their continued growth as a funeral professional.
- A press release will be prepared and made available to award recipient and will be shared within OFDA media network.
Disclosure
Awards are provided at the discretion of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. OFDA has the right to deny applicant an award if qualification standards are not met.
The Ohio Funeral Directors Association treats all distinguished service award applicants without regard to race, sex, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, political affiliation, veteran status, disability or handicap, affectional or sexual orientation, or marital status.
Nominations will be accepted December 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026.
THE 2024-2025 SUBMISSION PERIOD IS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOUR NOMINATIONS!
Award Recipients
2025: Jennifer "Jenn" M. Schlosser of Schlosser Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Wapakoneta
2024: Dr. Tyler O'Brien, Ed.D. of Freck Funeral Chapel, Oregon
2023: Roger D. Carson, Jr. of The House of Day Funeral Services, Toledo
2022: Katie V. Mackoway of Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home, Waynesville
2021: Elizabeth J. Woodward of Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon
2020: Jay J. Foster of J.E. Foster Funeral Home, Toronto
2019: Stephanie R. Dyer of Cahall Funeral Home, Mt. Orab
