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.

Jennifer began teaching after graduating in 2019 with her Doctorate of Business Administration (UIW). She has been an Adjunct Instructor with Northeast Texas Community College's funeral service education program since 2021, where she has taught a variety of courses. She has published research pertaining to the funeral industry, which she has presented at social science conferences in Detroit, MI, and Princeton, NJ. Jennifer has presented various industry topics at events in TX (Emerging Leaders, South Texas Funeral Directors Association).  

Most recently, prior to becoming a full-time Instructor with NTCC, Jennifer served as a Mortuary Officer (civilian) at the US Army Regional Mortuary, Europe & Africa, located in Landstuhl, Germany. She specialized in returning fallen service members and other eligible persons home.