PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
MEMBERSHIP DUES INCREASES STARTING ON JANUARY 1, 2025.
$5.00 INCREASE FROM $25.00 TO $30.00 ANNUALLY.

Welcome to the MNIAI website!

Chartered in 1964, the Minnesota Division of the International Association for Identification (MNIAI) holds an annual educational conference devoted to continuing education for the forensic sciences, crime scene investigation and identification fields. Typically held in the fall, the conference is two-three days long.

Courtroom Testimony Training in Anoka County presented by TriTech Forensics Training

Anoka County Sheriff's Department is hosting courtroom testimony training for forensic science professionals on February 24-26, 2025. Please click this registration link for full details and see the flyer included here.
courtroom_testimony_flyer.pdf
File Size: 551 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Asking for support for one of our own

Please help imprisoned ex-Minneapolis Police Officer rebuild his life. Click this link to donate today.
https://alphanews.org/fundraiser-launched-to-help-imprisoned-ex-minneapolis-police-officer-rebuild-his-life/

Thank you!
North Carolina Division needs our help! A number of North Carolina IAI members have been devastated by hurricane Helene and the flooding that impacted much of the state. Please consider giving a donation, if you wish to support the NCIAI members in their storm relief efforts.

​Click HERE to help. Thank you!
​Devastating news about our law enforcement and fire department families in Burnsville! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the slain and everyone at the Burnsville Police Department and Fire Department.

Click here for the story from Alpha News.
Fundraiser launched for the families of the fallen.
                      We're on Facebook!
  • Click the Facebook icon found in the upper right corner of this page.
  • Log into Facebook and you'll be there! (The group name is MinnesotaIAI)​ ​
​                                        Check it out!
Click here to see information on other Division's 2025 Educational Conferences.

SAVE THE DATES!!

Conference dates and location for our 2025 Fall Educational Conference have been confirmed!

Dates: September 24-26
Location: Breezy Point Resort

Conference Registration is now available!

Confirmed Course Content
More to come so, check back often!

Wednesday, September 24
  • Case Study on the Fanta Xayavong and Manijeh Starren Homicides, presented by BCA Agent Laurie Finnegan and St. Paul PD Forensic Scientists Rascheal Ellering and Ebonee Townsend
​
Thursday, September 25
  • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis used as a form of Crime Scene Reconstruction, Detective Shane Werneke with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office
  • BREAKOUT SESSION CONCURRENT with below: Alternative Light Source Workshop, presented by Nathan Carey with Foster and Freeman
  • (Concurrent) BCA Investigations – Technical Recourses presented by William J. Bennett, Special Agent with the BCA
  • ​BREAKOUT SESSION CONCURRENT with below: Alternative Light Source Workshop, presented by Nathan Carey with Foster and Freeman
  • (Concurrent) ATF, Detection/Identification of Explosives, Special Agent Joshua Szondy , ATF St. Paul Field Division
  • Arson Homicide Case Study, presented by Teryn Richsmann – Supervisor Forensic Science with Minneapolis PD, Steven Swenson – Forensic Science Supervisor with the BCA, and Minneapolis PD Detective Scott Olson
​
​If anyone has a presentation they would like to provide to our conference attendees, please contact President Jessica Slavik by clicking here and selecting her contact button. Thank you!
Conference course titles, instructors, content and schedule are subject to change.
LOCATION:   Breezy Point Resort
PHONE:         218-562-7970
ADDRESS:    9252 Breezy Point Drive
                       Breezy Point, MN 56472
DATES:         September 24-26, 2025

SLEEPING ROOMS are located in the Breezy Inn.
ROOM RATES:
Double Queen: $218.50 plus 7.375% tax
King Leisure: $218.50 plus 7.375% tax
King Executive Suite: $250.70 plus 7.375% tax

Rates are per person, per night, and include lodging, buffet breakfast and Thursday's lunch for all guests. Guaranteed Check-in time is 5:00 PM. If the room is ready, guests can check in early. Check-out time is 12:00PM. Go to the Convention and Registration Building to check in.
 
Online reservations are MANDATORY.
​Go to https://breezypointresort.com/. Click 'Online Reservations' then select the arrival date, number of nights and number of adults. Enter Group ID 460574. This Group ID Number must be used when making your room reservation and it should book a room at the Breezy Inn. Click check now, select the room and proceed with the reservation. The cost of one-night's lodging (plus tax) is required as a deposit when making your reservation. Major credit and debit cards are accepted. The above rates apply Sunday-Friday of the week of the Conference. The payment method used when reserving a room is the method Breezy Point will use at check-out. Only one payment method per room is accepted. 

If reserving more than one room, guests should make two separate reservations. Guests can add special notes and requests when making their reservations, including requests for rooms to be next to each other or connecting. Only King Executive Suites and Double Queen rooms connect to each other.

All guests will be asked to present their one method of payment at check-in. Those guests arriving late or departing early by one or more days will be charged the full rate for the entire length of their reserved stay. There are limited exceptions to this policy. Refunds are at the discretion of the resort.

Special room rates expire on August 24, 2025. SORRY, NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED.

Buffet breakfast is provided Thursday and Friday morning between 7:00-10:00 AM in the Marina II dining room located in the Breezy Center. Meal tickets will be provided by Breezy Point at check-in. Thursday's lunch buffet location is TBD. It will be either in the Marina II dining room or in the Whitebirch Conference area.

01-17-2025
The Conference area at Breezy Point that will be used is located on the Second Floor of the Registration & Convention Center in the Whitebirch rooms area. 
​Breezy Point has a complimentary shuttle service to all resort owned properties and it runs every day 7:00 AM-Bar Close: 218-562-7147. Call 10-15 minutes before the shuttle is needed. This can also be used to get to the following restaurants for dinner on Wednesday and lunch on Thursday:

RESORT RESTAURANTS
In addition to Dockside, Antler’s, Palmer’s and The North Star; *Marina II will be open for dinner on Wednesday night. Marina II will not be open for lunch on Thursday.
 
Here’s a summary of all restaurants at the resort: https://breezypointresort.com/resort-dining/
 
If you click on a restaurant logo, it goes to that restaurant’s page on their website. Scroll down to the option to make reservations through Open Table. Phone numbers are also listed to call and make a reservation.
  • Antler’s (218-562-7162) and Palmer’s (218-562-6270) have the option to make both lunch and dinner reservations
  • *Marina II is open for dinner reservations only (218-562-7161)
  • Dockside and North Star are walk in only-NO RESERVATIONS TAKEN
  • The Coffee House is not recommended for meals

COMING SOON!
Sponsors with displays at the
​2025 Fall Educational Conference.
​​THANK YOU SPONSORS!

​Click on the images to visit their websites.

Conference Sponsorship Options

To register your presence at our Educational Conference, please click here to go to our Sponsorship Registration page. Complete the form and click on the Submit and Pay button. Payment is made via PayPal and the cost per Sponsor is $300.00.

Another option for Sponsorship is Monetary Only. Click here to go to that page. Complete the form and select your preferred option then click on the Pay Now button underneath your choice. Options range from $100.00-$500.00.

The MNIAI thanks our Sponsors for their participation in whatever capacity they choose to use!
And now...a word from one of our Advertisers!
​
Purchase ad space by clicking here. Options are 12-month ads, 6-month ads and 3-month ads.
Click the image to visit Air Science's website
March 27, 2024 - March 27, 2025

MNIAI Online Store

MNIAI Challenge Coin
                                 Heads                            Tails
MNIAI Coin

News and Info From the IAI

Begun in 1915, the International Association for Identification (IAI) is the oldest forensic science organization in the United States and one of the oldest in the world. The IAI is dedicated to the development of the forensic sciences and to the continued education and certification of practicing forensic scientists and crime scene investigators.

The IAI  
Keeping You Informed  

IAI 109th Annual Conference News!

The IAI 2025 Conference will be
August 10 - 16, 2025 
FULL EDUCATIONAL SESSION DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL, 2025.​

The IAI Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a full week of professional, scientific, and technical lectures in the disciplines of Biometric, Bloodstain Pattern, Crime Scene, Digital, Facial Identification, Footwear and Tire Track, Forensic Art, Photography, DNA, Ten Print and Latent Print Evidence.

The IAI conference is the best place for experts in these fields to stay up to date on the latest techniques, technologies and issues in forensic science, and to learn more about quality assurance, standards developments, and the most comprehensive forensic certification program in the world.

More than being the Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando offers an unparalleled mix of unique experiences and endless options for excitement. There are more than 5,000 restaurants featuring celebrity chefs and local favorites at every price point and for every taste. Orlando is also home for terrific nightlife and entertainment, world-class shopping and great outdoor opportunities, as well. All that and a lot more is awaiting you in Orlando!!
 
Hope to see you in Orlando!!
Call for Presentations!

The call for presentations is now open! The links for submission of a lecture or workshop can be found on the homepage of the IAI website (theiai.org).

The online submission for Lecture, Workshop, and Poster proposals is OPEN!

Consider taking some time (21:14) to watch Episode 5 of The Real IAI Podcast which features the IAI Educational Program Coordinator, Heather Conner. She shares several insights about the conference and some guidelines for lecture/workshop submissions. Find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIdIUn_vfyc 

The IAI conference will be held in Orlando, Florida August 10th, through August 16th, 2025.
 
Do you have a great case or research project that you would be willing to share? How about a management strategy or casework technique you have worked hard to develop? Do you have a skill that those new in the field could practice, or a new way of doing something that all professionals should hear about? 
 
If so, It is time to submit your idea to the IAI for consideration as a presentation to be included in the 2025 IAI Educational Conference.
• Consider a lecture if your information can be shared visually in 30-60 minutes.
• Consider a workshop if your information is best conveyed through hands-on experience in 2-4 hours.
• Consider a poster if you are more comfortable having one-on-one discussions with attendees about your information and/or for topics with a very specific focus.
 
Lectures and Workshops proposals may be submitted until February 7th, 2025. 
For more information regarding, Lectures, Workshops, and Posters/Photos Contest, go to the IAI Website. 
  
Book your hotel now!
 
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN ENGAGE IN IS PASSING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON TO OTHERS! 

IAI IDNews

With continued efforts, the IAI is going green.  As of January 1, 2025, printed copies of the the IDNews will no longer be available. 
 
The current issue of the new, IDNews ebook is now available online.  Please go to https://theiai.org,  login and go to the Member Menu, then click on the 

IDNews Current Issue eBook (January-March 2025) link to read the issue online.  To download the current issue as a PDF, go to Publications in the Member Menu and click on IDentification News - Download current issue as a PDF.
 
Thank you for your continued patronage, and happy reading!!
 
Regards,
 
The IAI

Regarding Publication Submissions for 2025

​Here is your initial notification that if you plan on submitting an article for the next issue of Identification News, Kelly Ayers ([email protected]) will need your submission before March 1.

ID News is published quarterly; therefore, the first 2025 issue will be for January/February/March 2025. This will also be our first digital issue.

For those overseeing IAI Committees or Boards, please let your respective chairs and secretaries know the importance of disseminating any developments and/or changes via ID News! 

For your convenience, the following is a working schedule for each quarterly issue of ID News:
Issue 1 Jan/Feb/Mar: deadline for submissions: December 10
Issue 2 Apr/May/Jun: deadline for submissions: March 1
Issue 3 Jul/Aug/Sep: deadline for submissions: June 1
Issue 4 Oct/Nov/Dec: deadline for submissions: September 1

Technical notes: Approximately 520 of your typed words are equivalent to 1 full page within ID News. If your submission includes photos, please send each separately from your article.

IAI Forms the Division Interaction and
​Affairs Committee

​My dear friends and fellow members of the Minnesota Division of the IAI,

The IAI has decided to make the “Division Affairs Committee” a permanent standing committee, per the By-laws:
 
Section 8.20 Division Interaction & Affairs Committee.
(a.) Purpose. This committee shall advise the President on the support of and advocacy with the
divisions.
 
(b.) Composition. The committee shall consist of an odd number of members with a minimum of three
(3) to a maximum of seven (7) members. The Chairperson shall be the Division Representative. All other
members shall be appointed by the President by October 1 after assuming office. The term of
appointment for the appointed members shall last until September 30.
(c.) Voting. All the members of the committee, to include the Chairperson, shall have the right to vote at committee meetings.
(d.) Other duties. The Committee shall perform such other duties as the President shall prescribe.
  
2022-2023 Appointed members
Kelly Ayers, WV, USA - Chair                 
Larry Stringham, FL, USA      
Mike Wisniewski, OH, USA
Jason Cole, VA, USA
Brian Dew, NC, USA
Penny Dechant, AZ, USA
Kasey Gizler, PA, USA

 It is my pleasure to have the Minnesota Division to be one of my appointed Divisions to provide outreach too as a member of this committee.
 
As you can see, the Division Representative (Kelly Ayers) has been assigned as the chairperson for this committee and appreciates your communication with her to include completing the yearly survey of your Division operations, as it is shared with the IAI Board of Directors and Officers at the yearly IAI conference.  As the chairperson, Kelly is always happy to provide any communications between the IAI and your Division. Also, as your assigned committee member, I hope to add a more personal touch providing you with any assistance and being an advocate for your concerns to the IAI parent body. Please feel free to reach out to either of us at any time to assist the Minnesota Division in any way we can.                       
 
So, what’s new?
With the success of the Inaugural 5k Race/ Fun Run in Omaha, we were able to make a little bit of money to give back to the Divisions.  While my initial intention was to assist some Divisions in having a representative attend the IAI Annual Conference, it was thought these funds could better assist the Divisions as their needs dictate. It maybe a few hundred dollars to bring in a special speaker to your conference, or maybe cover a loss due to unforeseen circumstances like COVID, Hurricanes or other natural disasters.  Using these funds as more of a pool of money that Divisions can request similar to a Grant process to further your Division in whatever your needs. The process to get these funds is still TBD but we are hoping to have guidance before the new calendar year.
 
We are currently working with the Chesapeake Bay Division to plan another 5k Fundraiser at next year’s conference In National Harbor.  With a more extensive planning timeframe, we are hoping to get more sponsorships and awareness.  We still attempt to keep the costs down for participants and want to make sure our liabilities and required cost don’t outweigh the benefits, so this event is still tentative.
 
At the same time we are attempting to be creative and come up with other fundraising ideas such as “dunk your favorite/or not so favorite, IAI personality” in a dunk tank at the conference.  Your input is important to us and we appreciate any constructive feedback or ideas.
 
So what’s been done?
Beyond monetary support, we are still interested in your concerns and ways to improve the IAI/ Division relationship.  In the past year we have also taken the feedback from so many of the Divisions by adding links to how a Division can apply to host the International conference on the conference website, https://www.theiai.org/conference.php

If a Division wants to consider hosting an IAI conference in the future… https://www.theiai.org/docs/Annual_IAI_International_Educational_ConferenceR.pdf
 
In addition, the IAI Conference Planner, Candy Murray has offered her services to assist any divisions by reviewing any hotel/conference center contracts and provide guidance back to your division.  She can be reached at: [email protected]. The IAI Educational planner Heather Connor is also available to provide suggestions for your speaker program: [email protected]
 
Hopefully the fact that this Special Subcommittee has become a Standing Committee is also a demonstration of the IAIs dedication to improving your Division.
 
I look forward to continuing assisting your Division in the coming year.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with and questions, concerns or comments.  I will always do whatever I can to assist your Division.
 
All the best,
Jason Cole