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.
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.
Graduated May 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Northeast Texas Community College. Throughout her educational career, Olga has remained an active and licensed Funeral Director in Texas.
