Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Join us for this fast-paced session which will include both classroom and hands-on instruction in the Miami Dade College's state-of-art anatomy lab.
Formaldehyde is an effective embalming chemical, but it works better in a team! In this seminar, Ben and Mel will discuss navigating common embalming challenges using supplemental chemicals such as triethnolamine, alcohols, and lanolin. Mel will also share some of her trade secrets on how to put the finishing touches using some of her favorite accessory chemicals.
In this seminar, we will cover:
Ben Schmidt, MBIT, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in two states and has been a funeral service educator for ten years at three mortuary colleges. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Northeast Texas Community College as well as an adjunct Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota. In addition to his teaching role, he serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Frigid Fluid. He is also a textbook author, the host of two podcasts, co-host of the NFDA’s Funeral Face-Off Trivia, and an active member of the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Ben has presented both locally and internationally, including at The Cremation Association of North America's first embalming CE event, the Belgian Institute of Thanatopraxie’s 50th Anniversary, and the Indiana Soybean Tour.
Madeline Lyles is a native of Memphis, TN. She’s a graduate of Hamilton High School, University of Memphis (where she created a degree in Funeral Services and Management), and Northwest MS Comm. College. Madeline has been caring for decedents her entire career, from mortuary and funeral services to forensics. Madeline has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of TN for 19 years now. She’s also been dual licensed for the state of Arkansas for 15 years, and lastly became dual licensed for Mississippi 4 years ago and dual licensed for Texas in September last year. Madeline is an Embalming Specialist for Frigid Fluid Co., an Advisory Board member for Kates-Boylston and the NWCC Funeral Services Tech. Program, the Founder and Co-Owner of After Life Mortuary Services, LLC. in Memphis, TN and affectionately known in the profession and throughout the Mid-South as Mel the Mortician.
