2026 FSAC Summit & Exhibitor Showcase

Thriving Under Pressure: Strategies for Mental Health, Balance, and Resilience

Tyler Smith, Mental Health Advocate

In today’s fast-paced world, managing mental health, stress, and work-life balance has become more critical than ever. Tyler Smith, mental health advocate and survivor of profound trauma from the Humbolt Broncos Bus crash, shares his insights on recognizing the signs of burnout, building healthy habits, and prioritizing well-being in demanding environments. Drawing from his personal experiences with PTSD and overcoming adversity, Tyler offers actionable strategies for managing stress, fostering resilience, and creating sustainable routines that enhance performance and personal fulfillment. 

This presentation equips attendees with tools to navigate the pressures of life and work while maintaining emotional and mental well-being. Tyler emphasizes the importance of addressing trauma, creating boundaries, and cultivating habits that promote balance and long-term success. Participants will leave with practical insights and the inspiration to prioritize mental health, prevent burnout, and build a foundation for thriving both personally and professionally. 

Creating One-of-One Experiences: A New Narrative for the Modern Memorial​

Christina Andreola, New Narrative Events

Funeral professionals are navigating big changes when it comes to memorial services. More families and community groups are choosing to host Celebration of Life events that feel different from what their parents were used to. As these personalized and non-traditional gatherings become more popular, families are now looking to their funeral providers for guidance, structure, and creative recommendations.

In this session, Christina Andreola shares her original “One-of-One Framework:” a practical and accessible approach to create a tailored gathering that looks, sounds, and feels like the person being honoured.

Based on over 500 celebrations of life she has planned, Christina takes her vast array of event experience and will break down the questions to ask, the vendors to partner with, and the possibilities available to create an immersive and truly unforgettable memorial experience. Attendees will leave with practical tools, real-life examples (all shared with permission), and a greater understanding of how to serve the families who are looking for an experience that is “not your grandma’s funeral.”

Panel Session

This panel explores funeral service through the full continuum of care: pre-need, at-need, post-need, and cemetery—grounded in the latest consumer research from GFD. By bringing together research, practitioner, cemetery, and post-service perspectives, the discussion examines how societal expectations around death are changing, what families are actually asking for at each stage, and where gaps in understanding and support persist. A central theme is that across all stages, families often “don’t know what they don’t know,” creating confusion, stress, and missed opportunities for guidance. The panel’s goal is to help funeral professionals better understand the connected family experience beyond individual transactions, and to consider how education, continuity, and care can evolve across the entire journey.

The Value of Viewing – Marketta’s Legacy

Amanda King, Embalmer and Funeral Director

This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the process of a full cranial reconstruction for viewing, utilizing the real-life case of Marketta, an eight-year-old girl who tragically passed away with severe facial and head trauma in front of her family and siblings. The focus will not only be on the technical aspects of cranial reconstruction, but also on the crucial interpersonal dynamics with the funeral home as a trade reconstructionist and with the family during the arrangements. The session will delve into effective communication strategies and explanations of the restorative process for families, along with practical guidance for supporting the family during their initial viewing after such a traumatic experience. Additionally, it will highlight how this service adopted a “child-centric” approach, as Marketta’s parents aimed to shape the perception of death for the children in their family and community through their decisions for Marketta’s funeral service. In the spirit of generosity, Marketta’s parents advocate for sharing her reconstruction to provide other families with the opportunity to view their loved ones when it might otherwise seem impossible.