Meet The Management Team
and our Board of Directors

Mike was born in Transconia, Manitoba and moved to Ottawa in 1976. He attended St Pius X High School, then Algonquin College. He has worked in the funeral service industry for 26 years as a Funeral Director’s Assistant and will be attending Humber College in the Fall of 2019 to become a licensed Funeral Director.

Part of “Proud To Be Me”, a youth charity that deals with bullying in our communities. He also initiated Reach Up Ottawa, a local mental health charity focusing on teenagers and young adults.

Involved with Partners for Mental Health, a national charity where he served as the Ottawa chapter Chairperson.
Michael has addressed the House of Commons and Provincial legislative committees concerning mental health issues in our country. He also underlined the need for governments to treat mental health issues as a rising problem in our schools, workplaces, cities and towns.
Michael is currently a member of the volunteer events board of the Royal Ottawa hospital.

Lisa C. Smith is an experienced NSCC Faculty member with 24 years of demonstrated history of working as an adult educator. She is skilled in Educational Technology, Team Building, Facilitation, Fundraising, and Leadership. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Honours from Mt. St. Vincent University, a Diploma focused in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science from Simmons Institute of Funeral Service Inc., and a Community College Adult Educator Certificate.

Lisa is a fourth generation licensed Nova Scotia Funeral Director and Embalmer who started her career serving families in the Parrsboro area where her family still operates a funeral home. In addition to her faculty role at the NSCC, she develops and facilitates seminars and workshops for licensed funeral professionals and allied health professionals in Atlantic Canada.

A Valley Women’s Business Network member, Lisa is the founder of the Atlantic Network of Women in Funeral Service, Vice-Chair of the Nova Scotia Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, Chair of the Inglis Education Foundation Board for King’s-Edgehill School, King’s-Edgehill School Board Member, FSAC Education Committee member; Past President of the Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia and the Annapolis Valley VON Community Corporation Board. She has served as Vice President for Professional Development for the former Community College Local of the NSTU and Chair of the planning committee for the Atlantic Provinces Funeral Directors and Service Convention and the NSCC Faculty and Professional Support Conference.

Lisa is a life long learner whose interests include health and wellness, networking and supporting student success.

Kim is currently a licensed funeral director working in Harford County, Maryland with the McComas Funeral Homes. Kim was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She is a 1988 graduate of Dallas High School, attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and received her AAS in Mortuary Science from Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY in 1991.

After graduation, Kim served her apprenticeship in Norristown, PA and obtained her Pennsylvania funeral directors license in March 1993. After moving to Maryland in 2001, she fulfilled the requirements to secure her Maryland funeral directors license.  In 2014, she received her AA from Harford Community College in Paralegal Studies.

Kim is active in the Harford County, Maryland community currently serving as Vice President for the Chesapeake Professional Women’s Network (CPWN), and an at-large member of both the Welcome One Emergency Shelter and Citizens Care Center.  She had previously served on the board of the Geriatric Assistance and Information Network (GAIN) and also served on the CPWN fashion show committee and served as its chairperson in 2011 and 2012. She is a former member of the Mason-Dixon Business Association, BNI, and the planning committee for the ARC Northern Chesapeake Region’s annual After D’Arc event.  Currently, she is heading the End of Life Caregiver’s Group, which is a group designed to  bring together people who represent various organizations that work with people during each stage of the later segment of one’s life to share experiences and educate one another.

Kim lives in Abingdon with her husband, Jeff and her children, John and Zoe.  She has 2 dogs, Sadie and Dollie.

Rick joined the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2010, after graduating with honours in 2008 and earning his funeral director and embalmer’s licence in Manitoba. Before obtaining his licence, he earned his Adult Education and Marketing Diploma and taught marketing at Assiniboine College. After becoming licensed, he managed Minnedosa Funeral Service. Rick’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his CFSP designation and his role as Grief Recovery Specialist. Rick empowers students by teaching funeral service courses and plays a crucial role in developing online professional development courses.

Allyse R. Worland, CFSP is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the states of Indiana and Kentucky. She was born and raised in Greensburg, Indiana and is proud to be a first-generation funeral service professional.  

She is dedicated to the enrichment of funeral service and to the presentation of continuing education requirements to her fellow funeral directors. 

Allyse holds a bachelor’s degree in Funeral Service Management, is an Insight Certified Celebrant, and holds a certificate in Thanatology for End-of-Life Professionals. 

Allyse is a 2019 & 2021 Professional Women’s Conference Scholarship Recipient, has been featured in The Director Magazine, was previously selected by the NFDA to participate in the 2022-2023 National Emerging Leaders Program and was a part of the 2023 Meet The Mentors Program.

Allyse is on several committees within funeral service, including The Membership Advisory Committee for CANA, The Scholarship Review Committee for The Funeral Service Foundation, the National Board Exam Committee, the Leadership Development Committee for NFDA, and a member of the NFDA Spokesperson Team. She is also the past Vice President and Past President of Marion County Funeral Directors Association. She is past Treasurer for Vermillion County Funeral Directors Association, as well as being their current President. Finally, she is a trustee with the board of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. 

Allyse presented at the 2023 NFDA National Convention & Expo in Las Vegas and travels to numerous funeral service events throughout the year.

Her greatest joy is being a part of funeral service and devoting her time to contributing to the advancement of the profession. 

With over four decades of experience as a licensed funeral director, Jeff Holcomb established Continuing Vision in 2006 with a clear mission: to provide high-quality, affordable continuing education tailored to funeral professionals. His unwavering dedication has helped countless industry professionals enhance their expertise, meet licensing requirements, and better serve their communities.

Jeff’s vision continues to grow, expanding the reach of Continuing Vision to professionals nationwide. His passion for education and industry advancement ensures that funeral directors, whether seasoned experts or newcomers, have access to the knowledge and resources they need to succeed.

Brian graduated from Blackford High School in 2001 and Vincennes University in 2003 with a degree in Funeral Service Education.  He earned his funeral director’s license in 2005.  Brian has lived in Eaton since 2004.  Brian is the youngest child and works with his family at Waters Funeral Home.  Brian resides in Eaton with his wife Paige and their children Sarah and Charles.

Andrea Greig has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 20 years. 

She has a background in Medical Laboratory Technology which has given her the opportunity to work in pathology departments in both hospitals and with the Medical Examiner.

Most recently she has been facilitating a few classes in the Funeral and Allied Health Health Services program at Nova Scotia Community College. 

She has started a podcast called ‘Death Talk Canada’. She has also written a novel, ‘A Walk Beside Death (A Haven Pickering Story)’

Dwight has over 20 years of experience as a Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and mental health professional. His theoretical orientation integrates a systemic, developmental, attachment and emotionally focused approach to individual and relational problems. His passion for his work helping clients accomplish their goals and students and health care professionals develop their professional competencies is demonstrated in his commitment to ongoing learning and continuing education in the field of marriage and family therapy.

Originally from Ottawa, Dwight was a former funeral director and embalmer, licensed in Nova Scotia and Ontario.  He currently holds a Class 2 (Inactive) Funeral Directors license in Ontario.  He is now a Registered Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist in Ontario and Nova Scotia,  Settled in Ottawa, he works as the Director of Veterans Services with Ottawa Psychotherapy Services.  Dwight oversees the work of 15 mental health professionals who work with PTSD, Grief, Depression and Anxiety within the Veteran Community.  

Dwight has a strong passion for the mental health of funeral directors and other death care professionals.  His vision is to map out the specific mental health challenges that funeral professionals face, and equips funeral directors to find their voice within the community of essential service providers.  Dwight is helping FPPS by growing its ability to become a pivotal knowledge builder and provider to the funeral profession across Canada in regards to the impacts on mental health.  Currently he is engaged in helping other mental health providers become more aware of the impact of occupational grief injuries with funeral directors, cemetery and crematory workers. 

Jennifer Muldowney, born in Dublin, Ireland, graduated from Dublin City University with a Bachelor of Business Studies and has earned multiple post-graduate diplomas in Public Relations, Event Management, Digital Communications, and most recently Bereavement and Grief Studies. In 2024, she enhanced her expertise with a certification in Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation from MIT.

​Jennifer’s journey in the funeral industry began in 2010 with the founding of Farewell Funeral Planners in Ireland, which later evolved into Muldowney Memorials in New York City. She has since become a celebrated author, speaker, and modern Memorial Planner, known for her innovative approach to memorial planning. Her first book, “Say Farewell Your Way,” was published in 2013, and she is currently working on her fourth book. In 2016 she wowed on stage in her thought provoking TEDx Talk called Grief: As Unique as your Heartbeat.

​Jennifer, affectionately dubbed The Glam Reaper by the British media, stands out for her unique perspective in the often-traditional funeral world. She hosts The Glam Reaper Podcast and Blog, contributing regularly to media discussions on funerals and memorial planning. Jennifer is dedicated to mental health, both in grief and within the funeral profession, serving as an advisor to the Board of Funeral Professionals Peer Support (FPPS).

​Her expertise spans personalized planning, digital legacy, and the environmental impact of deathcare. Jennifer has also partnered with Frank E. Campbell – The Funeral Chapel in NYC, creating a successful offsite memorial program that continues today. She has officiated the New York State Funeral Directors Association Annual Remembrance Service since 2020, earning recognition for her compassionate and modern approach.

​Jennifer splits her time between Florida, New York City and Dublin, bringing her passion and expertise to these places she calls home. She is an award-winning Memorial Planner, Celebrant/Master of Ceremonies, and a positive advocate for the funeral profession.

Petite Ng’ang’a is a certified Mortician from the University of Nairobi Chiromo campus and works at Muriranjas Sub-County Hospital in Murang’a County, Central part of Kenya. I’m also a National Executive Committee official and member of Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya and Co-ordinator of Peer Support group MAPAKe in partnership with Funeral Professionals Peer Support from Ottawa, Canada.

Glenda Henneberry, CFSP. Funeral Director with Atlantic Funeral Homes (Halifax Chapel). Glenda is a graduate of the Funeral Service Program at NSCC Kingstec Campus, class of 2012. Glenda started working in Funeral Service in 2006 at McArthur Bros. & MacNeil Funeral Home in Cornwall, Ontario, first as a Funeral Director Assistant, then as a Funeral Director Apprentice to F.X. Curry. In 2010 Glenda and her husband (late Don 2018), returned to Nova Scotia where she continued her apprenticeship. A Licensed Funeral Director since 2011, she is employed with Atlantic Funeral Homes (Arbor Memorial) in their Halifax Chapel. Glenda joined the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice in December 2012 and has successfully earned her Certified Funeral Service Practitioner designation in November 2013. Glenda is a past president and Vice President of Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia (President 2016 – 2017) (Vice President 2015-2016 and 2017-2019). An active member of Atlantic Network of Women in Funeral Service. She was a member of the Life Bundling Project Bereavement Advisory Group with Nova Scotia Dept. of Vital Statistics. Glenda has 4 sons, 4 grandchildren and is involved in her community.

Joseph’s career started in Real Estate in the Ottawa Region in 1984, which turned into a Banking career shortly afterwards. I grew throughout the banking network ranging from Bank Teller associate, then Securities and Investments associate, Lending officer, Financial Planner, General Manager, then Regional Manager with two leading Chartered Banks. 

In between, I moved to Vancouver with my wife and 2 children, July 1997.

By April 2013, I decided to become Independent and made one final move to a Leading Financial Planning firm.

Today, I continue to grow my business as a Certified Financial Planner and a Personal Financial Planner.
I also hold my Insurance License and enjoy helping clients with all their Financial Planning needs.
My hobbies are centered around the household: carpentry, automotive restorations and building homes in my spare time.

My children are now older, and we have been blessed with a grandchild.

Edith C. Churchman, Ph.D., CFSP is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in New Jersey, and is manager at her family funeral home, The James E. Churchman, Jr. Funeral Home in Newark, NJ. She is the 4th generation licensed funeral service professional in her family business which was founded by her great grandfather, Rev. James E. Churchman in 1899.

​A member of many state, national, and local funeral service organizations including the National Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Garden State Funeral Directors Association, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, Edith has been published in many funeral service publications. She has also lectured extensively on funeral service topics in the United States and internationally, in addition to being a sought-after Continuing Education provider for funeral service professionals. Edith serves as the International Ambassador for NFD&MA.