PLPA Webinar: Pet Aftercare Trends & Staying Ahead with the PLPA

Join us on May 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET for Pet Aftercare Trends & Staying Ahead with the PLPA, a PLPA Webinar led by PLPA Committee Members Pierce Dempsey, CCrE, Gia Kondakor, Anna McClain, PGSS-C, and Marygleen Warnock.

Explore the current state of pet aftercare and the trends shaping its future. This session covers the growth of pet cremation, evolving consumer expectations, and the rising importance of grief support services. You’ll also gain insight into key challenges—including operational complexity and compassion fatigue—and learn how the Pet Loss Professional Alliance can support you in staying ahead. 

Gia Kondakor joined the McAlister-Smith family in 2022 and brings compassion and understanding to families navigating pet loss. A licensed Veterinary Technician with five years of experience in large and small animal medicine, she also serves on the board of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance. 

Pierce Dempsey, CCrE,  holds a degree in Entrepreneurship and Family Business from Auburn University and serves at Leaf Cremation as the Vice President of Operations & Marketing. He is a certified crematory operator, cremation arranger, and cremation administrator, with a strong focus on serving families. 

Anna McClain is a Certified Pet Loss Grief Support Specialist (PGSS-C) with a background in veterinary care and a BA in Sociology from Cal State Fullerton. She is the founder of PAWS Pathway, where she supports individuals through the grief of pet loss with compassion and professional guidance. 

Maryglenn Warnock is the founder of Paws to Remember, a certified pet bereavement counselor, and an ordained pet funeral officiant and chaplain. She holds a BA in English from Vanderbilt University and brings over 20 years of experience in animal rescue, including service on the executive board of the Nashville Humane Association.