The International Association of Interviewers (IAI) kicked off its newest chapter last week in Charlotte, North Carolina on the campus of UNC-Charlotte. IAI’s first Southeast Chapter Meeting had approximately 50 attendees who were able to network, receive continuing education opportunities, and work on their own professional advancement as part of the inaugural event. This regional chapter will support the continued education, networking, and career advancement initiatives for IAI members in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The IAI Southeast Chapter Board provided a presentation on the inception of the chapter, upcoming events, and information on how to account for the CFI CEUs the attendees earned for the meeting.
Additional speakers included Tony Paixao, executive director of IAI, who informed the group on recent updates in the W-Z interviewing method. Following his presentation, a CFI scholarship was awarded to Mary Floyd with Food Lion. Jeff Mangold of EPIC Brokers also took the stage, offering insights on how his company conducts general loss interviews.
An important partner in the region, the Carolina Organized Retail Crime Alliance (CORCA), was in attendance as well, sharing information on some of the upcoming initiatives for the year. Rounding out the speakers, The Loss Prevention Foundation’s Mat Schreiner educated the group on LPQ and LPC certifications. Scholarships were offered to the attendees and Curtis Stoves with Books-A -Million was awarded a full ride.
Protos Security sponsored the refreshments, which included pastries and coffee to keep the blood sugar up in the room.
Recognizing the need for ongoing education and collaboration among individuals whose job responsibilities include interviewing, interrogation, and investigations, IAI was created to become a knowledge and skills development resource for its members. Through the Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) designation, all members gain the ability to raise their level of expertise while connecting to the robust experience of CFI-certified thought leaders. However, a CFI designation is not required for IAI membership.
IAI’s Southeast Chapter also has plans for future meetings this year, with the next stop scheduled for Atlanta in August.
You can learn additional information on this chapter by joining its LinkedIn page. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events as IAI looks to reach out to members in various locations across the Southeast.
