INDEPENDENT FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS CORPORATION - Key Persons
Bret earned his associates degree in Fire Science from Hutchinson Community College in 2009. He has spent the last 8 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic in the City of Papillion, Nebraska attaining the rank of Fire Apparatus Engineer.
Bret is a FAA Licensed Commercial Drone Operator and is an experienced remote pilot, specializing in aerial photography. He is currently working towards his Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and assists the other Fire Investigators with their origin and cause investigations.
Chelsea Sawyers is certified in Smartphone Forensics and Cellular Technology and handles the cell phone investigations for IFIC. She performs cellular data extractions on smartphones and maps cellular phone records as received from cell phone providers. Chelsea is the Evidence Technician and handles entering, billing, disposal authorizations and overseeing inspections when needed. Chelsea is also a licensed private investigator in Iowa.
Job Titles:
- Electrical Engineer
- Professional
Gary Hong is a Professional Electrical Engineer and has been involved in Forensic Engineering since 1999. Gary received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Gary has a diverse amount of forensic experience including electrical fire /explosion investigation, product failure analysis, interpreting electrical code issues, product testing, and reviewing of engineering protocols and processes. Gary also teaches an advanced forensic electrical investigations class for the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's office.
specializes in the area of fire origin and cause investigation and also has experience with explosives-related investigations. He has over twenty years of investigative experience. George started his career as a firefighter with the Des Moines Fire Department. He then served nineteen years in the Iowa Department of Public Safety where he held positions as a Trooper in the Iowa State Patrol Division, Special Agent assigned to the Arson and Explosives Bureau of the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Assistant State Fire Marshal and Iowa State Fire Marshal. Since 2002 George has conducted fire origin and cause investigations in the private sector. Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.
Kelly LaFollette earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Psychology from the University of South Dakota in 1991. He then accepted employment with a large national insurance company, where he worked as a claim representative for more than six years. Eventually progressing to the Special Investigative Unit where he investigated claims with indicators of insurance fraud for more than seven years.
Kelly earned his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Claims, Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator, Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigators designations. Kelly is also a Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa
Job Titles:
- President and Senior Fire Investigator With IFIC
Lonn Abeltins is the President and Senior Fire Investigator with IFIC. He has over 33 years experience and has conducted over 4,500 Origin & Cause investigations. Lonn is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, as well as a Certified Fire Specialist. He also holds a degree in Fire Science Technology. Lonn has testified as an expert in both federal criminal and civil courts, as well as in various state courts throughout the Midwest. Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.
Mark Sloup earned his Associates of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Southeast Community College in 2003. Mark began his career with the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office in 2003 where he performed Life Safety Code inspections before spending nearly eleven years as an investigator with the agency. Mark earned his Nebraska Law Enforcement Certification in 2006 and has since conducted nearly eight hundred fire and explosion scene investigations. Mark has testified in numerous Nebraska Criminal Court cases. Mark is a National and Nebraska Chapter member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI). Mark is also a Licensed Private Investigator in Iowa.
Meredith administers the file management, billing and the day-to-day operations that keep IFIC running smoothly. She can help you get an investigation started or put you in touch with one of our investigators.
Job Titles:
- Electrical Engineer
- Vice President of IFIC
Todd is the Vice President of IFIC and has been involved in forensic electrical engineering since 1996. Todd has earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Experienced with investigations of residential and commercial wiring, vehicles, HVAC, consumer electronics and industrial process controls, Todd draws from a diversified knowledge base. Todd also serves as the Chaplain for the Iowa chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.