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.
Special message from Xuyang He,
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Sponsors that provided door prizes at the
2024 Fall Educational Conference.
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
Click on the images to visit their websites.
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A special THANK YOU goes to
Five Rocks Distillery for providing samples used at our President's Reception. 
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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!
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.
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
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
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!!
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!!
IAI IDNews
The current issue of the ID News is now available online. You must be an IAI member in order to access this publication.
Please go to https://theiai.org, login and go to Member Menu > Publications and click on
IDentification News - Download Current Issue -October - December 2023 link to download and read.
Thank you for reading online!!
Regards,
The IAI
Please go to https://theiai.org, login and go to Member Menu > Publications and click on
IDentification News - Download Current Issue -October - December 2023 link to download and read.
Thank you for reading online!!
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 December 10.
ID News is published quarterly; therefore, this next 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.
ID News is published quarterly; therefore, this next 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
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