The Indiana Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators

The 12th Annual Fire Investigation Confrence - 2010

August 22 - 25, 2010

Brochure:
Printable information document available - click here. (Will open in a new window - Adobe Acrobat file)

Location:
The Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Same location as in the past. To make hotel reservations call the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites, 8787 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46240 at 317-846-2700 or 800-325-3535. Note: To receive discount room rates, identify yourself with IAAI. Register before July 24, 2010 .

Registration information:
Click here to register online. Complete registration information is available on the conference information document. Registration fee is $200. Registration is limited to 175 people, so please register right away. Registration fee includes hand-outs, conference materials, lunch, refreshment breaks, and certificate of completion. Register online here.

Cancellation Policy:
The last day to cancel and received a refund is August 3, 2010. The billing agent will be responsible for the full conference fee if any cancellations are made after this date or if the registrant is a “no show” to the conference.

The Lawrence William Tuck Fire Investigator of the Year Award will be presented during the conference. Click here for information on this award.

The CFI testing will be held at the hotel on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 5:00 P.M. All who wish to take the test prior to the conference need to have had already sent in your paper work to the International Office and have to have received a letter of eligibility to take the test. You then must to contact Jesse Storey at CFIK9 [at] aol [dot] com or 812-430-3976 by July 24, 2010 so the testing materials can be ordered. Click here for more information on the CFI test.

Presenters:

Megan Kelly & Dave Meadows - The Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force is a multi-disciplinary committee designed to raise awareness about the problem of juvenile firesetting, prevention and intervention through training and advocacy. The Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force was formed to identify and help those juveniles that have begun to experiment with fire-setting, and supports the intervention efforts available in the community. The Allen County Juvenile Firesetters Task Force is convened through the Fort Wayne Fire Department and includes membership from juvenile probation, mental health agencies, law enforcement, foster care agencies, department of corrections, other professional fire service agencies and other social services agencies.

Bill Watson - Bill is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and received his Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and currently holds Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator and Fraud Claims Law Specialist designations. Bill joined State Farm Insurance in 1985 as a Fire Claims Representative. In 1992 he joined the company’s SIU and has investigated claims under all the various State Farm Companies and Coverage’s. He has successfully testified as an expert witness in both criminal and civil cases involving arson and insurance fraud and currently has over 1200 hours of training in arson and insurance fraud issues. Bill has instructed classes on arson and fraud investigation techniques for multiple organizations.

David P. Utt - Mr. Utt is President of Fire Forensics & Safety Consulting LLC in Indianapolis and provides expert consulting services for fire investigation and product safety. Knowledge, training and experience encompass 28 years as an electrical engineer in the consumer electronics industry specializing in product safety, design, manufacturing, and product liability investigation. With over 1000 consumer product fire investigations, expertise includes failure analysis, safety standards, origin and cause determination and related expert testimony. Mr. Utt is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Product Safety Engineering Society of the IEEE, NFPA, IAAI and is a IAAI-CFI, ProBoard and Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

John Wood - Presently a Senior investigator with Liberty Mutual Insurance. John attained his CFI in 1992 while a detective with the Indianapolis Police Department. During his twenty five years with IPD John attended classes at the National Fire Academy, FBI academy and the National Law Enforcement Academy.  On retirement from IPD he was a member of the Nation Fire Response Team of a Major Insurance Company. John has taught classes throughout the country in the field of fire investigation.

Matthew Smith - Mr. Smith is President of Smith, Rolfes & Skavdahl Company, LPA. Since 1989, Smith, Rolfes & Skavdahl has been recognized as one of the mid-west’s premiere insurance defense and insurance investigation law firms and assists major insurance carriers across the United States in investigating property and medical insurance fraud. Mr. Smith graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1983 with a Juris Doctor Degree. Mr. Smith is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, and state and federal courts in Ohio, Florida, Kentucky and Michigan. Mr. Smith is a past state and national president of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, past Chair of the Joint Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association and the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine and is a frequent lecturer across the country on insurance fraud.

Schedule:

Sunday, August 22, 2010
5:00 p.m. CFI Testing

Monday, August 23, 2009
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Introduction
9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Tom Egler—Meth Lab Fires / Recognition
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Investigator Of The Year Award
11:45 a.m.—1:00 p.m. Lunch Provided
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Megan Kelly Dave Meadows—Allen Co. Juvenile Task Force

Tuesday, August 24, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Bill Watson—Stove Fires, Accidental or Incendiary
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Provided
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. David Utt—Electrical at the Fire Scene
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Michael Vergon & John Wood
4:00 p.m. IAAI Indiana Chapter Annual Meeting

Wednesday, August 25, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Lisa Swaim - Jeopardy
9:00 a.m.—11:45 a.m. Panel - Lisa Swaim, Michael Vergon, Matthew Smith
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Provided
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Matthew Smith - Combating the CSI Mystique
4:00 p.m. Course Evaluation and Certificate Presentation

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