The Americas Incident Management Group, LLC

MISSION STATEMENT:

The members of The Americas Incident Management Group LLC (“AIM”) have been responding to major incidents throughout the United States for more than 25 years, incidents including accidents involving vapor release, fire, explosion, structural collapse, geotechnical (subsidence/landslide), and natural disasters.

In addition to the Interested Parties (IPs), the Agencies and the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) and other stakeholders at a loss scene, the aggregate may be more than 15 teams of experts seeking entry, each with diverse objectives and personal agendas. The management of the IPs, Agencies, PRPs and stakeholders is but a part of what AIM coordinates.

Further, the emergency response units, environmental responders (air quality/sewer/waterways), and the remediation companies provide additional chaos during the initial stages of investigation. Efficient and cost-effective coordination of these parties—emergency response, investigation, remediation, and the resulting environmental issues—is the assigned task for AIM.

The complex issues and the involvement of Interested Parties (IPs), including owners, agencies, brokers, insurers, adjusters; and the number of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) and stakeholders necessitate the management of the multiple parties responding to the loss. AIM is a management company with pre-qualified vendors comprising a team that provides emergency response, environmental services, remediation services, and management for the following:

• Agribusiness

• Chemical Facilities

• Petrochemical

• Pharmaceutical Facilities

• Heavy Manufacturing

• Leisure (Hotel/Casino)

• Waste Facilities and Recycling

• Health Care Facilities and Places of Assembly

• Power Generating/Distribution Facilities (Energy)

• Weapons of Mass Destruction

• Natural Disaster (chemical remediation, structural collapse – e.g. Hurricane Katrina, Rita)

		ELDON C. BLANCHER II, Ph.D. Toxicological and Environmental Associates, Inc., Baton Rouge , Louisiana
		Dr. Blancher is Manager of Southeastern Operations for TEA. He has been qualified as an expert in the impacts of man's various activities on surface water issues, including environmental biology and ecology, environmental chemistry and toxicology, and has extensive experience in all Gulf Coast States.
		NICK CAREY, RFP, GIFireE London Fire Brigade
		Nick Carey is a London Fire Brigade (LFB) Fire Investigator based out of Acton , West London . He started his career in the LFB 22 years ago and has been a specialist fire investigator for over 10 years. He is a Registered Forensic Practitioner as well as a City & Guilds qualified electrician and registered on the UK register of electricians. He is the holder of the Forensic Science Society's (post-graduate) Fire Investigation Diploma and an IAAI Certified Fire Investigator. Nick is one of the founding members of the UK- International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). During the summer of 2003, he joined the SPE - UK team as an electrical investigator. He will be conducting electrical investigations in England , Wales , Scotland and Ireland . Nick has put his electrical background to use by giving input on the LFB's internal fire investigation course since 1997 as well as for the Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms Advanced Cause and Origin program in the United States . In the last six years he has given electrical input (with practical demonstrations) for a number of other Fire Brigades and Police Forces in the UK , Forensic Science Service, Gardiner Associates fire investigation courses and the National Forensic Laboratory in Istanbul , Turkey . He has also spoken at seminars and conferences in the UK , US and Australia.
		PETER DAHL, CFEI Schroeder Fire, Inc.
		Peter Dahl performs investigations specifically in the areas of fire and explosion analysis, civil litigation and first party insurance defense, witness location and development, and background inquiries and analyses. He is accomplished in the areas of construction and mechanical applications. Peter is a former firefighter for Chanhassen , Minnesota . He also has a background in underwater salvage and recovery. Peter is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		BRADLEY F. DROY, Ph.D. Toxicological and Environmental Associates, Inc., Baton Rouge , Louisiana
		Dr. Droy is co-founder, President and CEO of TEA with 25 years of experience in teaching, literature review, research, and litigation support and has published extensively on various aspects of toxicology and remediation. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Droy has served as an expert in approximately 45 environmental cases, including activities in the states of Louisiana , California , Texas , Illinois , Alabama , Oklahoma , and Mississippi . Dr. Droy is a recognized expert in the fields of toxicology, bioremediation, risk assessment, environmental forensics, and phytoremediation.
		MATTHEW DUBBIN P.E. - B.S.E.E.
		Matthew Dubbin has been active in the field of consulting and forensic engineering since 1995. He graduated from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Matt has taught numerous electrical investigation classes for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as well as other state, local and private organizations. Matt's investigations include examinations of electrical equipment failures, electric shock, electrocution and fires. Matt is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		LONNIE EDWARDS A Clean Environment
		Lonnie Edwards has spent twenty years in the environmental industry developing a one-man/one-truck operation into a multimillion dollar operation working in 22 states in the last five years alone. Lonnie is a Nationally certified Firefighter 1, firefighter trainer and volunteer firefighter, and is trained in Proboard hazardous materials ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) , Hazwoper, waste operations and emergency operations, including those related to explosives, acid, mold, tank car, breathing air compressor, haz-mat and bloodborne pathogens. Lonnie is certified in confined space entry, incident command, swift water rescue, SCBA, first aid and CPR. He is a member of the National Fire Prevention Association, the Diver's Alert Network, and the Oklahoma Fire Chief's Association, Emergency Management Association, State Firefighter's Association, Trucking Association and Wreck Owner's Association.
		JOHN FARLEY, CCEMP A Clean Environment
		John Farley is the full-time Critical Care Paramedic at A Clean Environment and has responded to thousands of emergency medical calls during his career as a “street” medic. He has over 14 years experience as a medic, 12 years as a hazardous materials technician, 4 years as a Special Weapons and Tactics Paramedic, and 15 years as a firefighter. John also performs standby services for confined space entries. He is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) and is skilled in the disposal and recycling of hazardous materials and industrial projects.
		JAY FREEMAN, MS, PE Advanced Engineering Investigations Corp.
		Jay Freeman has over 30 years of forensic engineering experience and is a nationally-recognized expert in natural gas and propane explosions and fires. He is a licensed mechanical engineer with expertise in carbon monoxide incidents, flammable liquid fires and explosions, and scald cases. Jay is the author of several technical publications and is the President of Advanced Engineering Investigations Corp.
		GERALD A. HAYNES, P.E. Forensic Fire Analysis, LLC
		Gerald Haynes has served as a Fire Protection Engineer with the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) in Washington DC . He has provided technical assistance to ATF special agents, certified fire investigators and the National Response Teams in the areas of fire growth and fire dynamics. Gerry has an M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a Professional Engineer. He has worked as a fire protection engineer for the U.S. Department of Commerce – Large Fire Research Group, and served as a fire sergeant, fire fighter, fire safety inspector, fire investigator and fire protection engineer in the State of Virginia . Gerry is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the National Fire Protection Associations, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Technical Committee on NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. He is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) . Gerry is co-founder of Forensic Fire Analysis, LLC.
		WILLIAM B. JOHNSON, P.E. Core Engineering
		Bill Johnson is the President of Core Engineering Corporation in Charleston , South Carolina . He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and specializes in fire and explosion origin and cause, property loss documentation and analysis, and mechanical and electrical systems evaluation and testing. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Bill has taught dozens of courses, including live burns, on fire behavior, dynamics, chemistry, and origin and cause.
		BLAINE KECK A Clean Environment
		Blaine Keck has ten years experience in the Breathing Air industry, and has worked train derailments in six states providing breathing air and monitoring for up to 30 people for 37 days. He performs transfers of 80,000-gallon oleum tanks and standby services for confined space entries. Blaine is also accomplished in the disposal and recycling of hazardous materials and industrial projects, as well as the managing and cleaning of transportation incidents.
		THOMAS KEEFER, Hazardous Material-Emergency Response Coordinator DuPont
		Tom Keefer is the Emergency Response Focus Team Leader for DuPont Global Emergency Response Program. He is a National Pro-Board Hazardous Materials Technician and has served with DuPont HAZMAT for 26 years. He has extensive experience in fire protection, safety, emergency response, and incident command. He has served as bomb and explosives devices technician assistant and is skilled in arson investigation.
		BARRY LINDLEY, Senior Chemist DuPont
		Barry Lindley has spent 24 years at DuPont as a HAZMAT responder and instructor. He is a National Pro-Board Hazardous Materials Technician and is a member of the DuPont Corporate Integrated Emergency Response Team and the leader of the Chemical Incident Response Team. Barry also serves as a fire instructor, an industrial hazardous materials responder, and a bomb and explosives devices technician assistant. He is the co-author of the Street Smart Chemistry textbook.
		PETER MANSI, GIFireE, RFP, MFSSoc, IAAI-CFI London Fire Brigade
		Peter is a Fire Investigation Officer with the London Fire Brigade, part of the management team that supervises 40 fire investigation officers in London . Peter helped develop Fire Investigation National Occupational Standards within the UK , is part of the UK South East Region Fire Investigation Group and also sits on several committees of the International Association of Arson Investigators Fire Investigation. He has given presentations at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre in Georgia , USA on the Advanced Origin and Cause Fire Investigation Training Programme (2002) and also in Washington on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Certified Fire Investigator Re-certification Programme (2005). Peter is serving his fourth year as President of the International Association of Arson Investigators United Kingdom Chapter, which now has over 400 fire, explosion and arson investigation practitioners. He is in his third year of an MPhil Degree researching the methodology of arson investigations. He is in the process of transferring to a PhD.
		JACK MALOOLY, Retired ATF Senior Special Agent CFI Malooly & Associates
		Jack Malooly was a Senior Special Agent CFI with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) from 1974 through his retirement in 2005. Jack also served as a member of ATF's National Response Team for 25 years and International Response Team since 1991. In recent years, he has taught explosives classes for the Iraqi Police in Baghdad , held training lectures in the United Kingdom and Indonesia , and taught courses at the International Law Enforcement Academies in Budapest and Bangkok , as well as for the Romanian Intelligence Service Bomb Squad and the Romanian National Police Bomb Squad. Jack is also Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician). He has formed his own consulting company and currently works out of the Chicago area.
		RUSSELL MELTON, Attorney Foley & Mansfield PLLP
		Russ Melton is schooled in Nuclear Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, and Human Factors Engineering. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching product safety, as well as serving as adjunct faculty at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center teaching advanced fire and arson investigation. Russ is a 16-year leader of the Catastrophic Loss Group at Foley & Mansfield, a team of engineers and scientists/attorneys. He has presented more than 200 lectures, both nationally and internationally, on spoliation of evidence, gas migration and ignition, vapor release, and incident command, and authored such publications as the Employee Right to Know Act (RTK) – Chemical Hazards, Vibration Analysis for Blasting Activities and NFPA 921, Fire & Explosion Investigations: Study Guide Chapter 18, Explosions. Russ is also Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		JOE MURABITO Consultant
		Joe Murabito serves as a private contractor to DuPont Corporation as a consultant for program evaluation in the area of Hazardous Materials  and National Accreditation.  He is the retired Director of the Delaware State Fire School , served as the State Fire Defense Coordinator for 25 years, as Chairman of the finance committee for the State Emergency Response Commission, member of numerous national fire service organizations and has 40 years of fire and law enforcement experience. He is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified (29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician)
		RICHARD PEHRSON, PE Futrell Fire Consult & Design, Inc.
		Dr. Richard Pehrson is a former Deputy State Fire Marshal with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division and a firefighter. He is a registered Fire Protection Engineer in four states, with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Fire Protection Engineering. He is a primary member of the NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems technical committee. For more than a decade, Rich has provided consulting on a wide variety of fire protection engineering topics with an emphasis on the application of fire modeling to performance-based design. Rich is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) . He currently serves as a Fire Protection Engineer for Futrell Fire Consult & Design in Osseo , Minnesota .
		LESTER RICH, CFI Forensic Fire Analysis Inc. Charleston , SC
		Lester Rich is a former Senior Special Agent Certified Fire Investigator with the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is now working as a fire consultant. He is an IAAI Certified Fire Investigator and a Certified Fire and Explosives Specialist and has served with the National Response Team. As a member of the NRT, he responded to such incidents as the Oklahoma City Bombing and the 9/11 Attack on the Pentagon. He has over 3,500 hours of classroom instruction and practical instruction in fire and arson-related matters. His classes have included fire science, fire behavior, fire dynamics, fire modeling, fire technology, fire pattern analysis, fire chemistry, hazardous materials, flammable liquids, and origin and cause. Lester is also highly trained in the field of explosives, including the identification and recognition of commercial, military and illegal explosives; safe handling; response to explosives incidents; investigating post-blast sites; chemistry of pyrotechnics, and booby trap identification and removal. Lester's expert testimony regarding evidence on fire causation—accidental and incendiary fires—has been provided in both State and Federal courts. Lester is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) . Lester is CEO and co-founder of Forensic Fire Analysis.
		ROBERT SCHROEDER, Ph.D. Schroeder Fire, Inc.
		Dr. Robert Schroeder has a background in catastrophic fire and explosion analysis, including industrial, agricultural, commercial, high rise (mixed occupancies and hotels) residential structures, grain elevators, fuel gas complexes, pipelines, offshore marine structures and aircraft. Robert has conducted investigations related to cause and origin, fire spread/materials science, product failure, acts of arson and fraud. Dr. Schroeder's serves as an international expert retained by insurers and insureds to determine the area of origin and causal relationships to major fires and explosions and chemical releases on an international basis. Robert is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		JOHN SCHUMACHER, MCHE , PE , CFI Advanced Engineering Investigations Corp.
		John Schumacher has over 13 years of forensic engineering experience. He is a licensed chemical engineer who specializes in determining the origin and cause of fires and explosions, investigating carbon monoxide and chemical-related incidents and performing failure analysis on fire suppression systems. John is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) . . He is the vice-president of Advanced Engineering Investigations Corp.
		MARK SVARE, P.E. Svare Professional Engineering
		Mark J. Svare, Svare Professional Engineering,  is a licensed Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, and Professional Electrical Engineer who has been involved in Forensic Engineering since 1990. He has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota .   Mark has taught numerous electrical courses for international, federal, state, local and private organizations, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) advanced fire investigation program located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) – Brunswick , Georgia . Mark's practical experience and hands-on approach to investigations has qualified him as an electrical expert in both federal and state courts.  His presentation will discuss the basic elements within electrical distribution for industrial/commercial structures and the methods utilized to investigate and analyze major fire and explosion incidents. Mark is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		JOE TOSCANO, C.F.I. Chilworth Technology, Inc.
		Joe Toscano has more than 34 years experience involving the investigation and handling of fire losses. He has been involved in all aspects of the field of fire investigation and case management and is an internationally known lecturer and author on effective investigation techniques and solutions for the insurance industry, law enforcement, fire service, and legal professionals. His expertise includes fire origin and cause, large loss investigation management, curriculum development, claim division and SIU training, subrogation and fraud investigation. Joe is a 20-year veteran police inspector from the Division of Criminal Justice, State of Connecticut . He served as Fire Investigation Specialist with American Reinsurance Co. for 10 years, leaving as Vice President-Claims. Joe is c urrently a consultant with Chilworth Technology, Inc as a Fire Investigation & Litigation Support Specialist. Joe is a pioneer in establishing the use of K-9's in the investigation of arsons. He is a founding member of the Advanced Arson for Profit school and course developer in four state and local training programs developed by the ATF, as well as a 12-year member of the National Fire Protection Association's Technical Committee "Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations" (NFPA 921).
		LUIS VELAZCO, CFI, CES Luis Velazco Investigations, Ltd.
		Luis Velazco is a retired ATF Senior Special Agent, with 27 years of experience and served as a member of the National Response Team from 1987 to 2002 and the International Response Team from 1991 to 2002. From 1997-2004, he served as Arson and Explosives Program Manager at the ATF National Academy . Lou has conducted over 500 Origin and Cause Fire and Explosion scene investigations, including high profile cases such as the DuPont Plaza Fire, UNABOMBER Investigation, the LA Riots, TWA Flight 800, Birmingham Abortion Clinic Bombing, and the US Pentagon Incident on Sept. 11, 2001. He has been involved in all aspects of the field of fire investigation, post-blast scene investigation, and critical incident scene for the past 30 years. He is a nationally and internationally known lecturer on effective investigative techniques and solutions for law enforcement, fire service, the insurance industry, and legal professions. His expertise includes fire origin and cause, post-blast scene investigation, large loss investigation management, curriculum development, SIU training, subrogation and fraud investigation. In 2005, upon retiring from the ATF, Lou established Luis Velazco Investigations Ltd., created to provide investigative solutions for the insurance industry and legal professions in the field of origin and cause determination.
		JEFF WASHINGER, CFI Investigative & Loss Control Services, Inc.
		Jeff Washinger began his career in the fire service in 1970, serving as a firefighter in Shippenberg , Pennsylvania . During his 20 years of service, he served in all positions including Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief. In 1986, he was elevated to the position of Fire Chief. Jeff has an Associates Degree in Applied Science, Fire Protection Engineering, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rowan Technical Institute in North Carolina in 1977. Since 1988, Jeff has served as Chief Fire Investigator with Investigative & Loss Control Services of Prior Lake, Minnesota. He has conducted fire investigations in all 50 states. He has also served as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor of the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy , Harrisburg Area Community College , Williamsport Area Community College , Minnesota State Fire School and the National Fire Academy . Jeff is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified ( 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician) .
		ANDY WAYMIRE A Clean Environment
		Andy Waymire provides site management, risk management and safety awareness to all technical level personnel while managing hazardous and/or non-hazardous projects in effort to maintain a clean environment.  He served thirty-two total years with the Oklahoma National Guard and has Military Training in chemical, biological, and nuclear detection and  decontamination.  Andy is a Certified Combat Life Saver and First Responder.  He is Hazwoper and Pro Board Hazardous Materials certified (29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Materials Technician).