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.
Asking for support for one of our ownPlease 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! 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 here to see information on other Division's 2025 Educational Conferences.
SAVE THE DATES!Information regarding the MNIAI
2026 Fall Educational Conference Dates: September 9-11
Location: The Inn on Lake Superior aka: The Inn at Canal Park 350 Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802 
Click the image to go to their website.
Sleeping room rates:
Reservations are made by calling the Inn directly at 218-729-1111. Request the MN Association of Identification Group Rate. The cut-off date for reservations is August 10, 2026. Reservations made after this date will not enjoy the special rates. 2025 Fall Educational Conference photos!
The Conference was a major success with close to 100 people in attendance! Below are some pictures for your enjoyment.
Wednesday night's President ReceptionPresentationsBanquet Buffet and Door PrizesTHANK YOU SPONSORS!
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Sponsors who provided door prizes and/or monetary support to the
2025 Fall Educational Conference.
Anoka County Crime Prevention Coalition's website is under construction. No link is provided here.
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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.
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
Click the image above to go to the IAI home page.
IAI 110th
Annual Conference
The IAI 2026 Conference will be August 16-22, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri
SAVE THE DATES!
Click the image above to go to the IAI Conference web page. More information is forthcoming.
IAI IDNews
If you wish to submit to upcoming editions of IDNews, the deadlines for submissions are as follows:
- 2026 Issue 1 - December 7
- 2026 Issue 2 - March 1
With continued efforts, the IAI is going green. As of January 1, 2025, printed copies of 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, go to the Member Menu, then click on the IDNews Current Issue eBook (October-December 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.
Featured Articles:
Regards,
The IAI
The current issue of the new, IDNews ebook is now available online. Please go to https://theiai.org, login, go to the Member Menu, then click on the IDNews Current Issue eBook (October-December 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.
Featured Articles:
- Message from the IAI’s Chief Operations Officer
- Forensic Certification Management Board Update
- International Representative Update
- Forensic Certification Management Board Update
- Membership Spotlight - Stephania Treibar
- Crime Scene Certification Board Update
- 5k Run Highlights from Orlando
- Digital Signatures vs. Traditional Pen & Paper
- Minutes of the 2025 Business Meeting
- Bibliothèque
- Certification Board Reports
- IAI Employment Opportunity - Editor
- Poster Presentation Selections
Regards,
The IAI
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