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SPEAKERS

Meet our team of experienced forensic experts, including foster+freeman staff and experts from other agencies.

Rebecca Nick

Rebecca Nick is the North American Sales Manager at Foster + Freeman USA.  She has been with the company since 2017.  She received a Bachelors of Science in Forensic and Investigative Science and a Bachelors of Art in Criminology as well as a Masters of Science in Forensic and Fraud Investigations from West Virginia University.  She completed a comprehensive internship with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Her roles at Foster + Freeman include sales, installation, and training for various company products. She specializes in crime scene investigation, laboratory analysis and processing of evidence, and latent impression development and capture. She has presented at multiple divisional and national International Association for Identification educational meetings as well as numerous other professional conferences on the topic of crime scene investigation, forensic photography, and latent fingerprint imaging.

Jason Cole

Jason Cole is a Senior Technical Sales Specialist for Foster + Freeman. Jason began his Law Enforcement career as a police officer for the Sandy City (Utah) Police Department. Later he was reassigned to the Investigations Division as the detective over juvenile crime and domestic violence crime. He also began receiving training in crime scene investigation and began to process major crime scenes for the department.

In 2001 Jason left the Sandy City Police Department and began working as a Forensic Investigator for the West Valley City (Utah) Police Department. Job duties included responding to crime scenes, working in the laboratory to chemically develop latent prints, and latent print examination. In 2007 he was promoted to be the Forensic Director of the West Valley City Police Department Forensic Services Unit.

In 2010 Jason left the West Valley City Police Department and accepted a position as a Latent Print and Footwear Examiner with the Henderson (Nevada) Police Department.

Jason served on the Board of Directors for the Utah Division of the IAI for over 10 years, including serving as President. He was awarded the Utah Division of IAI Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005.

Jason served on the Board of Directors for the Nevada State Division of the IAI for 8 years, including 6 years as President. Jason works part-time as a Latent Print Examiner for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Jason serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association for Identification. Jason is a member of DMORT region IX.

Alexis Dodson 

Alexis Dodson is a Senior Technical Sales Specialist and has been with foster+freeman since 2021. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Investigative Science with a minor in Psychology from West Virginia University. She’s had the opportunity to speak and teach at multiple forensic conferences, to include the IAI and regional trade shows. Growing up in a military family, Alexis has experienced living in various locations which include California, Missouri, and Okinawa, Japan. Born to travel, Alexis felt that foster+freeman would allow her to continue her love for traveling while still being involved within the forensics community. 

Walter Hiller 

Walter Hiller is an employee of the Foster & Freeman of Ashburn, VA. Walter has worked with law enforcement agencies since 2006 and has trained many departments, at all levels of government, in the use of Forensic Light Sources, RUVIS, IR and basic photography.  Walter has held numerous lectures and workshops on the subjects of Forensic Light Sources and RUVIS and IR at regional IAI meetings and International conferences.  Walter has acquired an extensive sales and public speaking background throughout his career and is a graduate from Montclair State University.

Nathan Carey 

Nathan Carey is a Technical Sales Specialist with foster+freeman. He began working there in September of 2022. Nathan previously worked at the Lake County Crime Laboratory in the Trace Evidence Section for four years. He completed casework in glass, paint, footwear, and fire debris. Additionally, Nathan assisted with crime scene examinations. He has a Bachelor of Science in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University in 2018. Nathan was previously a member of the following organizations: International Association for Identification, Ohio Identification Officers Association, and the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists.

Nathaniel Weston

Nate Weston graduated from West Virginia University in December 2023 with a M.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science, where his thesis involved assessing how accidental features in forensic footwear change with continued wear. Prior to this, he graduated from WVU with a B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science with an examiner emphasis, and a minor in psychology. He started with foster+freeman as a Technical Sales Specialist in 2023 and is always looking to continue learn more about the wide range of forensic science fields. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and enjoys all things outdoors.

Amanda Silva

Amanda obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Investigative Science, with a minor in Anthropology from West Virginia University before joining foster+freeman USA in August of 2022. She supports the Southern Region of the U.S. and is based in Florida. Aside from her education, she is bilingual, as Spanish was her first language and she’s an avid Disney lover. In her free time, she enjoys going out for runs with her golden retriever, Mia, and reads mystery/thriller books. 

Cameron Hartwig 

Cameron Hartwig has over five years of experience training on photography systems at Foster and Freeman. He holds a Master’s degree in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University, where his coursework focused on advanced image enhancement techniques and image informatics.

Brian Turner 

Brian Turner is a Crime Scene Technician for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Brian holds certifications from the International Association for Identification (IAI) as a Crime Scene Investigator and Tenprint Examiner.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven.  He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Forensic Science program at Oklahoma State University with anticipated completion in May 2025.

In addition to being a Crime Scene Technician, he is an Adjunct Professor at Broward College, teaching both the Introduction to Criminalistics and the Advanced Forensic Investigations courses.  He is also an instructor with Tritech Forensics teaching a variety of tenprint classes and webinars.  

Brian serves as a member of the Tenprint Identification Science and Practice Subcommittee for the International Association for Identification. He is currently the Region 5 Director and on the Crime Scene Subcommittee for the Florida Division of the IAI. 

Matthew Marvin 

Matthew Marvin CLPE, CFWE is the Laboratory Director for Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.  He is also the Director of the International Latent Print Examiner Training Academy, where he teaches five of the twenty weeks of instruction.  Matthew has over 22 years of forensic experience, and has worked cases from forty-five states and seven countries.  Mr. Marvin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with graduate work in biochemistry.  He has been published five times in peer-reviewed journals, and also in the International Symposium on Human Identification News.  Mr. Marvin has lectured on numerous occasions regarding both latent print and footwear examinations.  As a board-certified latent print examiner by the International Association for Identification (I.A.I.), he currently serves on the Latent Print Certification Board and the Science and Practice Subcommittee on Latent Print Development.  Mr. Marvin is also a board-certified footwear examiner by the I.A.I. and previously served on the OSAC Footwear and Tire Subcommittee, as well as the ASB Footwear and Tire Consensus Body. He has been qualified numerous times as an expert witness in court.

Dave Ackerman

Crime Scene Investigator Delray Beach Police Department May 2007 through July 2016.
Crime Scene Supervisor Delray Beach Police Department July 2016 through current.
Bachelor of Science – Florida Atlantic University 2000.
Masters of Science – University of Florida 2004.
Certified Crime Scene Analyst International Association for Identification March 2016.
Have worked and solved two cold cases utilizing Forensics. Actively still working coldcases.

Lawrence Stringham 

Larry has been connected with law enforcement since 1985 when he joined the US Air Force as a Security Policeman. Working with the USAF and later with the Air National Guard, Larry became a certified Police Officer in Little Rock Arkansas. Retuning to Hernando County, Florida, where he was raised, he was hired by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office as a 911 dispatcher and in 1991 became a crime scene technician. Larry worked here for 6 years, during which time he attended basic and advanced courses in crime scene, arson investigation and fingerprint technology.
 
In 1997, Larry became a Forensic Technician for the Cape Coral Police Department. At that time, this assignment was a one-man position. He worked hard to grow the department and its forensic section. Being promoted to supervisor of the Forensic Section in 2005, Now retired since 2020 Larry worked hard to increased the Department’s viability by creating latent, computer, video, and lab units within the forensic section.  In 2017 Larry oversaw the accreditation of the crime scene/Latent units and the lab to ISO/IEC 17020 standards.
 
Larry has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and has testified as an expert in the fields of latent print identification, 10-print identification, and crime scene procedures to include forensic light sources, photography, scene processing, crime scene reconstruction and Evidence procedures and Management. He presently sits on the Board of Directors for the IAI and is the Chairs the Management Committee.  He is presently serving as the Conference Educational Planner for the Florida Division of the International Association for Identification (FDIAI) and is a past president of the FDIAI.  

Erik Malz  

Erik Malz is a forensic consultant and latent print examiner for Ron Smith and Associates, a private forensics laboratory located in Mississippi. He is an IAI Certified Latent Print Examiner and Certified Crime Scene Analyst, with a decade of experience in forensic science and scene investigation. Additionally, he acts as an instructor for the International Latent Print Examiner Training Academy, with specializations in digital photography and latent print development.

Philip Hess 

Philip Hess is a Criminalist IV for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Laboratory of Forensic Services where he has worked for over twenty years. He is the Technical Lead for the Firearms and Toolmarks Unit, Impressions (Footwear and Tire Tracks) Unit, and the Crime Scene Response Team. He is a Past President of the California Division of the IAI, is certified in Forensic Photography with the IAI, and has extensive experience teaching law enforcement officers and forensic scientists from around the world. He is also a part time Lecturer at the California State University Sacramento and University of California Davis.

Erin West 

Erin West has experience as a crime scene investigator, a latent print examiner, and several supervisory positions. She obtained her B.S. in Criminal Justice from UCF and her M.S. in Forensic DNA and Serology with a graduate certificate in Forensic Toxicology from the UF. She is currently the Crime Scene Manager at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and oversees the Forensic, Latent Print and Evidence Units and is the co-owner of Gap Science, a company that provides training and resources to forensic leaders.

Ashley Church

Ashley Church is a Certified Crime Scene Analyst through the International Association of Identification and has experience as a crime scene investigator and a Forensic Unit Supervisor. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Forensic Science from the University of Central Florida and her Master’s of Science degree in Entomology from the University of Florida.  She is the co-owner of Gap Science, a company that provides training and resources to forensic leaders.

Michael Kessler 

Michael P. Kessler, PSM-FS, FCSFS, IAI-CCSA, is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Forensic Science at Texas Tech University. He holds a Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science from Florida International University, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensics from The American Public University, and an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Holyoke Community College.

With over two decades of experience in forensic science, crime scene investigation, and forensic education, Michael has held leadership positions as Forensics Manager for the City of Denton and Director of Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction for Forensic Veterinary Investigations. His expertise includes forensic methodologies, crime scene reconstruction, forensic exploitation and intelligence, and the advancement of forensic science standards.

Michael is actively engaged in national and international forensic standards development. He serves as a Member of the Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), Chair of the OSAC Scene Examination Scientific Area Committee, Chair of the Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board, and as a Member and AAFS-ASB Representative to the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 272 on Forensic Science. His work focuses on the development and implementation of forensic standards, best practices, and quality assurance measures to improve the reliability and accuracy of forensic evidence.

A certified Crime Scene Analyst with the International Association for Identification (IAI) and a certified Basic Property and Evidence Technician with the Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technicians, Michael is committed to the advancement of forensic science education and professional development. He serves as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for leading forensic journals, including the Journal of Forensic Identification, Journal of Forensic Sciences, and Forensic Science International: Synergy. Recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to forensic science and law enforcement, he frequently presents at professional scientific meetings and provides expert training and consultation on forensic standards, crime scene investigation, forensic leadership, and evidence management.