Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar

Advocacy Summit Call to Submit Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar International Convention & Expo Leadership Conference Meet the Mentors Professional Women’s Conference
May 4- 6, 2026 or May 6-8, 2026 at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in Pittsburgh, PA. Join Mike Burns and Nick Ricci LIVE on May 4/5 and May 7/8 for HANDS-ON Skullzo and Headzo demonstration and Chris Farmer, Mike Burns and Nick Ricci on May 6 for Embalming Risk Management and LIVE embalming demonstration.

Seating for Headzos is limited, so register early.
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Agenda

10 – 10:30 a.m. Registration/Check-in

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. The Importance of Restorative Art
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nick Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.  The Anatomy of the Facial Features (1.5 hrs)
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIM
Nick Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

1 – 1:15 p.m. Break

1:15 – 3 p.m. Live Application Part 1 – Cranial Reconstruction: Skullzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

3:15 – 5 p.m. Welcome Reception
8 – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10 a.m. Live Application Part II- Wound Filler and Wax Application: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

10 – 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Live Application Part III – Cosmetic Techniques: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students,
PIMS Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

12:15 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Live Application Part IV – Hair Placement Techniques: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Live Application Part V -Finishing Touches: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Ask the Experts Panel
7:30 – 8 a.m. Registration/Check-in

8 – 9:30 a.m. Embalming Risk Management

9:30 – 11 a.m. Live Embalming Lecture: Part 1

12 – 12:45 p.m. Refreshments

12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Live Embalming Lecture: Part 2 (1.5 hrs)

2:45 – 3 p.m. Break

3 – 5 p.m. Live Embalming Lecture: Part 3 (1.5 hrs)
7:15 – 8 a.m. Registration/Check-in, Continental Breakfast

8 – 9 a.m. The Importance of Restorative Art
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nick Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

9 – 10:30 a.m. The Anatomy of the Facial Features
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nick Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Live Application Part 1 – Cranial Reconstruction: Skullzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Live Application Part II- Wound Filler and Wax Application: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Live Application Part III – Cosmetic Techniques: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

3:45 – 5 p.m. Reception
8 – 8 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Live Application Part IV – Hair Placement Techniques: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Live Application Part V -Finishing Touches: Headzo
Michael Burns, Dean of Faculty and Students, PIMS
Nicholas Ricci, Instructor, PIMS

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Ask the Experts Panel

11:45 a.m. Thank you and send off
This conference provides licensed funeral directors/embalmers up to 15.5 CE hours and is approved by APFSP and most state licensing boards. CE hours vary by state. It is the individual participant’s responsibility before registering for any NFDA course or event to verify that it is currently approved for CE in the state/province in which the individual is licensed. Schedule subject to change.
Registration Type and Fees Embalming Demo Only $399.00
  • Embalming Demo & Headzo Combo MON-WED $459.00
  • Embalming Demo & Headzo Combo WED-FRI $459.00

Speakers

Headshot of speaker
Headshot of speaker

Michael Burns

Michael Burns

CFSP, Dean of Faculty and Students at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

Michael has been licensed for over 30 years and spent a large portion of his career in the field as a funeral home manager. After earning his masters in adult education and training, he joined the PIMS staff in administration. During the last few years, he has taught numerous online and on campus courses at the school. In addition to his responsibilities as the Dean, he is the school’s Care Center supervisor, manages the team of instructors and facilitated the redesign of the new Restorative Art lab at the school. Dean Burns is also the InSight Institute Certified Celebrant trainer at PIMS. He was recently certified to present on Child Abuse Recognition by the state of Pennsylvania.
Michael has been licensed for over 30 years and spent a large portion of his career in the field as a funeral home manager. After earning his masters in adult education and training, he joined the PIMS staff in administration. During the last few years, he has taught numerous online and on campus courses at the school. In addition to his responsibilities as the Dean, he is the school’s Care Center supervisor, manages the team of instructors and facilitated the redesign of the new Restorative Art lab at the school. Dean Burns is also the InSight Institute Certified Celebrant trainer at PIMS. He was recently certified to present on Child Abuse Recognition by the state of Pennsylvania.
Headshot of speaker
Headshot of speaker

Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer

General Counsel, NFDA

Chris has been serving funeral service for almost 20 years. He was in-house counsel for SCI from 2003-2008 before he started in private practice representing funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories of all sizes across North America. Chris was General Counsel for the Texas Funeral Directors Association and General Counsel and on the Board of Directors for the Cremation Association of North America for over 7 years each. Chris founded The Farmer Firm eight years ago and served as outside general counsel to many successful businesses. As NFDA’s General Counsel, Chris provides counsel on litigation, regulatory matters, business matters, buying and selling, employment law, and any other legal matters our profession faces.
Chris has been serving funeral service for almost 20 years. He was in-house counsel for SCI from 2003-2008 before he started in private practice representing funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories of all sizes across North America. Chris was General Counsel for the Texas Funeral Directors Association and General Counsel and on the Board of Directors for the Cremation Association of North America for over 7 years each. Chris founded The Farmer Firm eight years ago and served as outside general counsel to many successful businesses. As NFDA’s General Counsel, Chris provides counsel on litigation, regulatory matters, business matters, buying and selling, employment law, and any other legal matters our profession faces.
Headshot of speaker
Headshot of speaker

Nicholas Ricci

Nicholas Ricci

Instructor, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

Nick has been an instructor at PIMS since February of 2016 and moved into the position as a full-time faculty member in July of 2019. He teaches several business courses at PIMS and specializes in the Arts portion of the curriculum. Nick is a 2010 graduate of Woodland Hills High School; January 2014 graduate of Duquesne University School of Business (Finance); January 2015 graduate (Class 150) of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; and is currently enrolled in Concord Law School, an online law program through Purdue University Global. Nick is also an instructor in the clinical embalming and restorative art lab experiences at PIMS.
Nick has been an instructor at PIMS since February of 2016 and moved into the position as a full-time faculty member in July of 2019. He teaches several business courses at PIMS and specializes in the Arts portion of the curriculum. Nick is a 2010 graduate of Woodland Hills High School; January 2014 graduate of Duquesne University School of Business (Finance); January 2015 graduate (Class 150) of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; and is currently enrolled in Concord Law School, an online law program through Purdue University Global. Nick is also an instructor in the clinical embalming and restorative art lab experiences at PIMS.

Nearby Hotels

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You are eligible for one of two flight discounts:
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Or 
• 5% discount on other fares 
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Book online or call Delta Meeting Network at 1-800-328-1111 Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (CT) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY4JQ. 
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