Moving IAMI Forward: Board Strategy, Training Wins, and How to Get Involved

Earlier this month I spent several days in Tulsa with the International Association of Marine Investigators Board of Directors, planning how we can continue to move IAMI forward. As Second Vice President, I am incredibly proud of the momentum around membership growth, education, and collaboration with partners across the marine industry.

What we worked on in Tulsa

Our discussions focused on a few practical themes that make a difference in the field:

• Member value that shows up on the job: More hands-on training, better tools, and faster knowledge sharing between investigators, insurers, law enforcement, lenders, surveyors, and manufacturers.
• Clear pathways for new investigators: On-ramps for early-career members, including curated training sequences, and regional meetups.
• Partnerships that scale impact: Aligning curricula and resources with the topics that investigators are actually encountering, from complex fire scenes to fraud involving identity, titles, and HINs.

Training highlight: Marine Fire Investigation in Baton Rouge

A special thank you to Carmen Stoepker (GEICO), Bob Collins (MARFIC Marine Fire Investigations & Consulting), Glen Lawson (Southern Forensic Services), and Jay Pragman (IAMI Past President) for delivering an outstanding Marine Fire Investigation Training in Baton Rouge this week. The course earned immediate requests to offer it on an ongoing basis, which speaks to both the content and the instruction.

Why this matters:

• Safety and scene integrity: Proper scene management and evidence handling protect investigators and preserve facts.
• Root-cause clarity: Distinguishing between electrical faults, mechanical failures, human factors, and environmental conditions leads to better prevention and better claims decisions.
• Shared language across stakeholders: When investigators, carriers, and public agencies use consistent methods, everyone reaches clearer conclusions faster.

Why join IAMI now

If you work in marine investigations in any capacity, joining IAMI delivers real, practical value.

• Training that tracks real-world cases: Courses are designed and taught by instructors who know the realities of the field.
• A network that solves problems: Members share case patterns, vendor insights, and technical references that shorten your time to answers.
• Professional development that sticks: Certifications, conference labs, and working groups help you build skills you will use immediately.

If you are doing any sort of investigative work in the marine industry and you are not part of IAMI, you are missing out on both education and community. Reach out with questions and we will connect you to the right resources.

Learn more at http://www.iamimarine.org

Have an idea for training or want to host a regional session? Let us know, we would love to collaborate.