Midstates Investigations and Technical Services, Inc. (MITS) creates a formidable partnership with your company to assist in your claim defense or to support your subrogation action. Staff at MITS is highly trained and experienced. With over 30 years of fire investigation experience, 10 years in law enforcement, including Deputy State Fire Marshal, Crime Scene Analyst and certification in the world’s major fire and insurance fraud fighting organizations, the staff at MITS is well qualified to partner with your claims representatives. We have been to court. We know that the road to successful litigation depends on our training, education and experience. MITS brings over 3900 hours of specific arson, fraud and law enforcement training to assist your investigations. Staff at MITS has investigated and supervised the investigation of thousands of fires. In addition, MITS is teamed with experts and engineers in all aspects of fire and fraud investigation. Call MITS today for investigation into your fire losses and SIU operations.


Education and Certifications:

• B.S. Secondary Education, Univ. of Wis., Platteville.
• M.S. Business Management, Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, WI.
• Graduate degree work in materials testing and measurement Univ. of Wis., Platteville. (8 graduate credits in a Federally sponsored program + 20 credits toward MS in Technical Education )
• Fraud Claim Law Specialist, (FCLS) American Education Institute.
• Certified Fire Investigator, (CFI) International Association of Arson investigators since 1983
• Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator, (CIFI) Int’l Association of SIU’s (IASIU).
• Licensed Private Investigator DBA Midstates Investigations and Technical Services, Inc
• University of California at Riverside for the Investigation of Environmental Claims.
• Certification through American Education Institute for the Investigation of Environmental Claims.
• Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator CFEI National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)

Experience:

• Teacher, Secondary Ed., Industrial Technology, Lodi HS., Lodi, WI 1966 - 1970
• Special Agent, Wisconsin Department of Justice, DCI, Vice/Narcotics Bureau, Crime Lab Bureau and Arson Bureau, 1970 through 1979.
• Manager of SIU for a large Regional Insurer, fire investigator, field supervisor, manager, Oct., 1979 to Apr., 2000.
• Owner / Operator of Professional Investigations business in fire and insurance fraud investigation and SIU assessment since 2000.

Teaching and Books/Articles written:

• Adjunct Instructor, Cardinal Stritch University, teaching Management of Organizational Behavior, Management and Leadership, Ethics
• Instructor in fire investigation for IAAI and AVCAW, Wisconsin.
• Instructor in vehicle fire investigation for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
• Instructor in vehicle fire investigation and insurance fraud for Madison Area Technical College.
• Instructor/Speaker: Insurance Fraud and related topics, IASIU, IAAI, Insurance Industry and civic groups in the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Denmark.
• Co-Author, Investigation of Fires, Brady – Division of Prentice hall, 1988
•  Author, Vehicle Identification Marking as a Deterrent to Auto Theft, Thesis, Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, 1986
• Author: Auto Insurance Fraud, American Educational Institute, Basking Ridge, NJ Sept., 2001
• Author, Life Insurance Fraud, American Educational Institute, Basking Ridge, NJ Sept., 2002
• Author, Vehicle Fires, Volume 2, NICB Fire Investigation Guide, 2005
• Speaker/ Consultant, Formation, Function and Utilization of Special investigation Units
• Has testified as Expert Witness in fire related cases for law enforcement and insurance

 Associations:

•  International Association of Arson Investigators, Wisconsin Chapter, Life Member, past President.
• International Association of Arson investigators, International member 25 years.
• International Association of Special Investigation Units, Founder, Past President, Life Member.
• International Association of Special Investigation Units, Wisconsin Chapter., Vice President
• Wisconsin Arson Insurance Council, Director
• Anti Vehicle Crime Association Wisconsin, Director
• National Association of Fire Investigators, member
• National Fire Protection Association, member

Served on the Boards of:

• International Association of Special Investigation Units, Past President, Vice President, Director
• Insurance Committee for Arson Control
• National Association of Independent Insurers, Insurance Fraud Subcommittee
• International Association of Arson Investigators, Wisconsin Chapter. Past Pres., Director, Editor
• Wisconsin Arson Insurance Council, Director. Past President

Specialized Training:

• Has received over 1703 hours of fire investigation training
• Has received 1346 hours of police investigative training
• Has received over 822 hours of insurance fraud investigation training
• Evidence collection and preservation training at FBI academy, Quantico, VA
• Materials Testing and Measurement, 8 credit graduate school, UW, Wisconsin Platteville
• General Motors Training Institute, Milwaukee, WI. for GM engine, transmission, electrical systems and brakes

Special Projects:

• 1979 to 1983, formed one of the first Special Investigation Units in the U.S. handling fire investigations from inside the company. Supervised the Unit from 1980 to 1982.
• 1982 – 2000 Managed the Special Investigations Unit for large regional Property Casualty insurance company.
• 1983 to 1985, Founded the International Association of Special Investigation Units. Served as first President and 13 years as a director and VP of IASIU.
• 1986: Completed a Master's degree with a thesis on Vehicle Identification Number marking on window glass as a deterrent to theft. The Thesis was used as evidence in Congressional hearings on the validity of VIN marking on auto parts which was one of the foundations for the current VIN marking laws.
• 1996: Managed a Unit that was responsible for the development of a Low Velocity Impact protocol which was dubbed by engineers as best in the industry.
• Served as Associate Director on the North Central Regional Chapter of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.
• Served as President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators 1990 - 1992
• 1997: Was responsible for the development of a computer based fraud identification system
• 2001 to current: Developing computer based, web based insurance claim fraud identification system
• 2000 to current: Owner/operator of a professional Investigations agency handling insurance related investigations such as fire, vehicle theft, fraud, technical investigations including photography of damaged structures, parts and vehicles, consulting with insurers and defense counsel on fire claims and consulting on formation and function of Special investigation Units
• 2005 Edited the NICB publication, Fire Investigation Guide, Vehicle Fires Volume II