Leading Technologies, LLC                   

Our Premises Liability experts offer comprehensive investigations involving the design, construction, operation and maintenance of residential, commercial, institutional, government, industrial, and manufacturing facilities.

Click here to review further aspects of our Premises Liability Discipline.

Paul Albanese, ASGCA
Golf Course Design Management Expert

Mr. Albanese has more than 15 years experience involving golf course design, construction, management, operations, and maintenance; resort master plans; clubhouse planning; residential planning; public park planning; practice facilities; ski mountainside design; maintenance crew management; mowing operations; permitting and financing; turfgrass science; landscape architecture; golf course grading and draining; and brownfield design.   

Paul is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects; the Publinx Golf Association; the Donald Ross Society; the Special Olympics Habitat for Humanity; and the Harvard University Alumni Association.

Mr. Bade has more than 35 years experience involving building construction including water intrusion; work zone safety; building site plans and permits; bid specifications; field construction supervision; site development; soils; wetland and floodplains review; utilities installation; drainage; docks; traffic control; environmental assessments; and reinforced concrete structures.

Dave is a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers).  He has extensive experience with MIOSHA (Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations with respect to underground construction; building construction; construction safety/code compliance; and construction equipment and tools operation, maintenance, and safety.

Douglas B. Baumgarten, CHFD, CMES, CPES
Exercise and Fitness Expert

Mr. Baumgarten has more than 30 years experience in exercise and fitness, including recreational facilities, design, operation, and maintenance; exercise equipment; codes and standards; sports risk management; incident reconstruction; warnings liability; supervision liability; standard of care liability; personal coaching/training; fitness testing; and instructor training.

Doug is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Health and Fitness Professionals, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the International Association of Fitness Professionals.  He is also a Certified Health/Fitness Director, and a Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, and a Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist.  Doug serves as Editorial Columnist for Boardroom Magazine and as an Advisory Board Member for Fitness Management Magazine.  He is a four time winner of Boardroom Awards' Excellence in Achievement Award as top Fitness Company/ Consultant.  Doug enjoys weight training, competitive baseball, golf, skiing, cycling/racing, running, hiking.

Dr. Blickenstaff has almost 20 years experience related to environmental, occupational, and industrial health and safety, including chemical exposure; premature mortality assessments; indoor air quality (Sick Building Syndrome); mold; disability and worker fitness-for-duty assessments; worker sensitivities; epidemiology; cancer causation; risk assessments; and MSDS’s.

Theron is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (FACOEM), a member of the Tennessee College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and is Board Certified in General Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine.
He has provided support for Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability, toxic tort, and product and premises liability cases.  His involvement has included review of records, verbal and written reports, affidavits, depositions, and expert testimony. 

Mr. Borillo has more than 15 years experience as a medical doctor and has held a Doctor of Jurisprudence for more than 10 years.  His experience includes aerospace medicine, including human factors, medical certification, sudden incapacitation, time of useful consciousness, aviation accident investigation; occupational medicine, including IMEs, Med Review Officer drug screen questions; hyperbaric medicine, including carbon monoxide exposure and treatment and dive accidents; wound care, including decub wound prevention/healing, chronic wound care, diabetic wound care; and FAA training and evaluations.

Donato received much of his training in the US Air Force, where he was awarded the Julian E. Ward Memorial Award by the USAF Society of Flight Surgeons.  He is an Associate Fellow in the Aerospace Medical Association; a member of the Undersea Hyberbaric Medical Society, the American College of Occupational and Environ Medicine; the Airplane Owners and Pilot Association, the Ohio State Bar, and the Toledo Bar Association.

Mr. Brown has more than 20 years experience involving agriculture and farm equipment, materials, and operations.  His expertise includes land drainage, erosion control, irrigation methods, soil and water management, land use assessment, and environmental surveys. 

Larry's professional memberships include:  the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; the Soil and Water Conservation Society; the Water Management Association of Ohio; the Ohio Academy of Science Membership; Sigma Xi; and Tau Beta Pi.

Mr. Butcher has more than 35 years experience in horticulture, including trees and landscaping.   His experiences include tree felling safety procedures, timber trespass, tree valuations, landscape restoration plans and cost, comprehensive land use planning, pest and disease control, stump removal, hazard tree identification, landscape design, installation, and maintenance.

Jack is certified with the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture and is a registered member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists.  He is a member of the Tree Care Industry Association, the American Society of Consulting Arborists, and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Mr. Carter has more than 20 years experience in water recreation.  His experience includes water recreation including personal injury, facilities and equipment design, operation, and maintenance; personnel safety training; drownings, near-drownings, and spinal cord injuries involving boats/jet skis, pools, spas, lakes/beaches, and water parks; recreational facilities practices, procedures, and policies; equipment evaluations and testing; federal, state, and industry-consensus codes and standards assessments; incident reconstruction; supervision and standard-of-care liability; risk control and safety;  teaching lifeguard certification classes; swimmer education (beginner through advanced); pool equipment, products, and chemicals; CPR Instructor; advanced SCUBA diver; boating skills and seamanship.

He holds numerous certifications, including States of Texas and Michigan Basic Emergency Medical Technician; NASDA Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diver; NASDS  International Certification of Safe Scuba Diving; Paramed Hazardous Materials Safety Training; National Pool and Waterpark Program Lifeguard Trainer; National Spa and Pool Institute Certified Pool Operator; and many certifications from the American Red Cross including Head Lifeguard Trainer, CPR for the Professional Instructor, Adapted Aquatics Instructor, and AED and Oxygen Therapy Instructor.

Mr. Copeland has more than 20 years experience involving building and facilities design, construction, and maintenance.  His expertise includes parking lots, restaurants, food courts, condominium developments, malls, cemeteries, and water/fire damage estimates and repairs.

Steve's professional memberships include:  the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the International Code Council (ICC).

Mr. Creighton has more than thirty years experience in the electrical contracting profession. His expertise includes electrical design, specification, installation, maintenance, renovation, and troubleshooting in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

Mike holds Electrical and Fire Alarm Licenses from the State of Ohio, and Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor Licenses from the State of Michigan.

Mr. Davis has trained more than 6000 students and 30 instructors in SCUBA.  His experience includes certified SCUBA diver; SCUBA services including operations, repairs, training and rescue operations; CO, CO₂ and O₂ poisoning; air embolism; nitrogen narcosis; equipment techniques; search and recovery; public sector training; navigation; dive control specialist.

Jeff has conducted rescue operations resulting in the location and retrieval of two diver fatalities, as well as emergency operations to rescue divers suffering from the bends.  He operates one of the top repair facilities in the country with state of the art testing and tools.  Jeff holds certificates as an Open Water and PADI Master Instructor as well as an SSI (SCUBA Schools International) Instructor Certifier.

Todd D. Feliks, PE

Civil Engineer
Licensed Engineer in Michigan

Mr. Feliks has more than 20 years experience in construction project management.  His expertise includes hospital, healthcare, and educational building design and construction, including flooring, painting, lighting and ceiling replacement; building standards and code compliance, including ADA, ANSI, NFPA, BOCA, IBC, and OSHA; Professional Liability issues and Standards of Practice; clean rooms and operating rooms; and  project contracts, including shop drawings, submittals, bid and project documents, and change orders.  

Todd is a Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan, and is a member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers. 

Mr. Glidden has more than 35 years experience related to buildings and building systems/equipment operation, maintenance, and safety.  Bill’s experience includes management of waste materials; air and water environmental control; fire systems and safety; equipment failure evaluation; building construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance; building plumbing and HVAC; and hospital mechanical and electrical systems and equipment.

Bill's professional membership includes ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers), ASHE (American Society of Hospital Engineers), NAFEI (National Association of Fire and Explosion Investigators), and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). 

Bill has been involved with structural fire and explosion origin and cause litigation, providing site investigations, evidence examination, reports, and expert testimony.

Richard Gregory
Elevator/Escalator Expert

Mr. Gregory has more than 35 years experience related to elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and similar equipment.  Dick’s experience includes ANSI/ASME A17 Code interpretation and compliance; elevator/escalator design, maintenance, and repair; inspections and assessments; electrical and control systems; and installation/construction, including modernization.

Dick is a member of over a dozen organizations and committees related to elevator/escalator design, installation, operation, maintenance, and safety.  Dick is also a nationally known lecturer and course instructor on vertical transportation systems, and has 2 elevator-related patents.

Mr. Hayslip has more than 16 years experience in construction and construction related safety, including  health-training; developing, maintaining, and enforcing safety policies and programs; OSHA compliance; hazardous material transportation; field safety inspections; Workers Compensation claim management; and corporate safety issues.

Michael is a Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the American Bar Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American National Standards Institute; and is a Certified Safety Professional.

Mr. Heyl has more than 30 years experience involving building electrical system and equipment design, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.  His experience includes residential, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities and their appliances/equipment.  Jim has been involved with automation and robotic systems; computers and PLC programming; low and medium voltage distribution systems; code compliance; and standby and prime power generators.

Jim’s experience also includes controls and instrumentation systems as well as investigations of electrical systems and components as the origin or cause of fires.  Jim is a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and IES (Illuminating Engineering Society). 

Mr. Hill has more than 30 years experience involving building HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and electrical systems and components.  His experience includes design, installation, code compliance, damage, defects and personal injury.

Jim is a member of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers) and NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers).  Jim is a Registered PE in 7 states and has expert witness courtroom experience. 

Jim’s past projects have included bakery and food processing equipment and facilities; commercial and industrial refrigeration/freezer systems; hot water and steam boilers systems; turbines, compressors, pumps, fans, and vacuum systems; kitchens, locker rooms, dining rooms and restrooms; and code and safety compliance, including ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

Mr. Hochfeld has almost 25 years experience involving building electrical system and equipment design, installation, operation and maintenance.  His experience includes consumer electronics; control systems; material handling systems; fiber optics; computers and PLC’s; robotic systems; process controls and instrumentation; metal processing operations; HVAC systems; hydraulic elevators; security systems; automatic fire systems; dust and fume collection systems; roofs and pavements; and plant safety.

Norm is a member of NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and ISA (Instrument Society of America).   He has extensive experience with NFPA, ANSI, NEC, UL, ISA, JIC, and IEC codes and standards. 

Dwight Keith Hoffman, PhD
Adhesive/Sealant/Coatings Expert

Dr. Hoffman has more than 30 years experience involving adhesives; sealants; coatings including water-based coatings; organic chemistry; homogeneous catalysis; epoxy resins; polyurethanes; ring opening polymerization; micro encapsulation; vinyl polymerization; foams including polystyrene foam products and processing, automotive seat foams and isocyanurate foams; modular windshield adhesives; copolymer polyol processing; and high surface tension emulsion polymerization. 

Dwight has received numerous awards for his research including being the first recipient of the Central Research "Excellence in Science" award for Dispersion Polymerization and the Recipient of the Dow Future New Products award for Copolymer Polyols.  He holds more than 30 patents for techniques involving various adhesives, sealants and coatings. 

Dwight is a Member of the Society of the Plastics Industry; the American Chemical Society; and the Controlled Release Society.

Ronald W. Inman
Real Estate Appraiser

Mr. Inman has more than 20 years experience as a real estate appraiser.  His experience includes real estate transactions; property devaluations; property inspections; and US Department of HUD compliance regulations. 

Ron is a Certified Residential Appraiser and a Licensed Real Estate Broker.  He is a Designated Realtor for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors and is on the HUD Lender Selection Roster of Appraisers.

Mr. Kennedy has more than 30 years experience involving security and safety issues including planning, implementation, training, and evaluation.  His expertise includes forseeability; standards of care; pursuits, use of force, and confinements; correctional reform; loss prevention; home and workplace violence; profiling; crowd control; lodging security; and victimization.

Dan's professional memberships include: the Academy of Behavioral Profiling (Chair of Ethics Committee); the American Society for Industrial Security; the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners;  the International Council of Shopping Centers; the American Hotel and Motel Association; the Sociological Practice Association;  the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences; the American Society of Criminology;  the International Association of Chiefs of Police;  the American Correctional Association; the American Jail Association; the Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics; the American Association of Suicidology (Co-Chair, Jail Suicide Task Force); the National Crime Victim Bar Association; and the International CPTED Association.

Theodore D. Kessis, PhD
DNA and Biology Expert

Dr. Kessis has more than 25 years experience in biology, including DNA and biology issues; Molecular Microbiology; Immunology; Gynecologic Pathology; Infectious Disease; Virology; and Pathobiology.                                                

John W. Koshak, QEI, CEI
Elevator/Escalator Expert 

Mr. Koshak has more than 30 years experience including elevator and escalator damage, malfunction, and personal injury/death; risk analysis facilitation; code compliance; elevator system design, including design of a machineroom-less elevator system; designed the LifeJacket� hydraulic elevator safety device; direct and indirect hydraulic elevators; geared and gearless traction elevators; escalators; moving walks; wheelchair lifts; and dumbwaiters.

John is a Member of the Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation, and has been a Trustee and on the Board of Regents.  He is also a Member of the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International; the Canadian Standards Association; the B44 Associate Committee; the International Association of Elevator Engineers; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; the A17 Standards Committee; the A17 Mechanical Design Committee; the A17 New Technology Committee; the A17 International Standards Committee; the A17 Code Coordination Committee; the A17 Alternate Member of Hydraulic Committee; the International Standards Organization; and the National Association of Elevator Contractors. 

John holds six patents for elevator safety and control devices, and has his Private Pilot Certificate.

John Kyes
Insurance Expert

Mr. Kyes has more than 30 years experience in the insurance industry, including insurance policies for families, individuals and businesses including auto, home, business, umbrella, life, farm, health, long-term care, disability insurance and annuities; policy form and format; coverage; risk management; ethics; EandO loss control; Medicare/Medicaid; business interruption; workers compensation; bonds; crime; estate protection; charitable giving; no-fault; claims; standard of care; special relationships; bad faith; field underwriting; agent/agency fraud investigations; statutory insurance law; and insurance case law. 

John has served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Agents Association of Michigan and Chaired its Personal Lines Committee for five years, as well as serving on various other committees.  He has also served on the Executive Board of the Independent Agents of Greater Kalamazoo; and promoted and participated in insurance related education programs.  He is an instructor for the nationally accredited Customer Service Representative and Certified Insurance Councilor Programs, and is active as a teaching consultant, providing continuing education programs for insurance professionals and in-service workshops for agency and insurance company personnel.

Mr. Lauhoff has nearly 30 years experience as a safety engineer.  His experience includes injuries, damage, malfunctions, and personnel issues related to machinery and equipment design, fabrication, maintenance, operations, procedures, training, and safety procedures; accident investigation/reconstruction; slips, trips, and falls; industrial vehicles; machinery/equipment guarding; hand/power tools; work-related injuries; safety grievances; safety training programs; monitor outside contractors.

John is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and is a Certified Safety Professional.  He is a Licensed Pilot: Multi-engine, Instrument, Commercial License and a Certified Scuba Diver.

Thomas J. Lekan, C.P.P.; Product and Premises Security Expert

Mr. Lekan has 25 years experience in security and safety.  His experience includes security systems design and evaluation; crime foreseeability; standards of care; causation issues; executive protection; assault; security guard operations; sexual harassment; negligent deaths; corporate fraud; security vulnerability and countermeasures; due diligence investigations; food and product tampering; product infringement/counterfeiting; security training; security management; economic crime; and police excessive force claims. Expertise includes educational institutions (elementary, high school, and colleges), restaurants, hospitals, lodging facilities, banks, residential communities, commercial and retail establishments, industrial facilities and manufacturing plants.   

Tom is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and is a member of the Faculty for the Graduate School of Retail Banking and the Graduate School of Bank Operations at the Bank Administration Institution; a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, serving on the Investigators, Physical Security, and Utility Committees; a Chairman of the Board of Security Commission of the Bank Administration Institution; and a member of the American Hotel and Lodging Security Committee.

Norman S. Miller, MD, JD, PLLC
Medical Expert

Dr. Miller has more than 25 years experience in the medical field, including psychiatry; addictions; medical malpractice; product liability; medications; neurology; criminal responsibility; independent medical evaluations; detoxification; and alcohol and drug addition, abuse and treatment.

Norm has been named as one of America's Top Doctors by The Best in American Medicine numerous times.  He has completed residencies in psychiatry, neurology, pathology, and internal medicine, as well as a fellowship in clinical pharmacology and has received his Jurist Doctorate.  He is licensed to practice both law and medicine in Michigan and has been certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Forensic Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Psychiatry, and Neurology.

He is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the Michigan State University Department of Psychiatry Medical Education Committee and is a past member of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, the Assoc. for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse, the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, and the American Psychiatric Association.  Norm currently sits on the admissions interview board for the College of Human Medicine, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Curriculum Development Group, and the Faculty Search Committee for Michigan State University.

Mr. Moylan more than 30 years of experience in engineering geology and hydrogeology.  He has 27 years of experience in remedial design on major Superfund and RCRA projects.  His environmental experience is supplemented by many years of engineering geological and hydrogeological support of conventional civil and military projects.  He has directed hydrogeological investigations and studies which focused not only on the degree and extent of contamination but also on the site characterization needs for effective remedial design and remedial action.  He prepared Engineering Issue:  Data Gaps in Remedial Design at the request of the EPA Engineering Forum for use by EPA Project Managers and On Scene Coordinators.

Joseph P. Mulville, PE
Senior Civil Engineer

Ms. Murry has more than 25 years experience as a nurse, including more than 10 as a Family Nurse Practitioner.  Her experience includes patient care; nursing practices; medical facility "standard-of-care" procedures; OSHA compliance; school health; family care including pediatrics, gynecology and gerontology; occupational injury assessment and treatment; child abuse and neglect screening; communicable diseases including STD's; community health education; pharmacology; and pathophysiology.

Sue is an Advanced Practice Nurse with Prescriptive Authority (Ohio registration), a Certified Nurse Practitioner, and a Nursing Doctorate Candidate.  She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau; the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses; the Medical College of Ohio Alumni Association; and The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

Ethan Parker, PE
Civil Engineer
Licensed Engineer in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia

Mr. Parker has more than 25 years experience in Civil Engineering including vehicle crash reconstruction, including automobiles, trucks, buses, trailers, motorcycles, water craft, and trains; analysis of mechanical and structural failures, including foundation, wall and roof collapses; vehicle defects and failures, including hydraulic/air brakes, steering and suspension, drive trains, and tires; mold remediation in homes, schools, and commercial buildings; vehicle fires and explosions, including arson; product defects, including mechanical and electrical failures; water infiltration, hail, and wind damage; roadway incidents, including road design and visibility analysis; design analysis; building code compliance; fire investigations; steel structures; glazing and roofing systems; conveyance systems; crane runways; traffic flow and accident patterns; signage and traffic signals.

Ethan is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Miami Valley Association of Traffic Collision Investigators and Reconstructionists; the National Society of Professional Engineers; the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers; the Society of Automotive Engineers; and the Structural Engineers Association of Ohio.  He is ACTAR accredited Traffic Accident Reconstructionist, and an ASE Certified Technician for automobiles, trucks, and school buses.

Mr. Peters has more than 35 years experience related to electricity and electric power lines, including equipment/material malfunctions; review of wood pole maintenance programs; single pole design (wood and steel); antenna support analysis (lattice steel towers, tubular poles and wood H-frame structures); tubular steel poles design; double circuit guyed lattice tower design; transmission line routing; distribution line design projects and mapping; and substation design. 

Bob has extensive class room instruction experience, having taught numerous courses, and presented numerous seminars regarding power systems.  He is a member of the Life Member American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); the Conference Internationale des Grands Reseaux Electriques a Houte Tension (CIGRE); the National Society of Professional Engineers; the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Subcommittee 5, Loading and Strength; the  American National Standards 05 Committee on Wood; the IEEE Transmission and Distribution Committee; the IEEE Towers Poles and Conductors Subcommittee Steering Committee; the IEEE Working Group on Coordination of Changes to the NESC ; the IEEE Loading and Strength Working Group TPandC Subcommittee; the IEEE Loading and Strength Working Group TPandC Subcommittee, and the ASCE/IEEE Committee on Foundation Design for Transmission Structures (and author of section on anchors).  He is chairman of the IEEE Overhead Line Structural Materials and Hardware working group, TPandC subcommittee and the working group 5.2 , subcommittee 5 NESC; and Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 

Mr. Putney has more than 30 years experience conducting police and criminal investigations.  His experience includes: security systems and procedures; crowd control; major event security issues; building break-ins; evidence procurement and safeguarding; and safety/emergency procedures.

Richard is a member of the American Arbitration Association, the Society of Human Resources Management, and the Industrial Relations Research Association.  Richard’s Client list includes Pickerington Security; Detroit Public Schools; Michigan Department of Labor; Henry Ford Hospital; 38^th Judicial Circuit Court; Michigan State Police; Michigan Department of Corrections; Michigan Department of Consumer Services; and the Jackson National Life Insurance Co.

Mr. Robert has more than 30 years experience involving the electrical design, construction, and maintenance of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and manufacturing buildings and building equipment/facilities.  His experience includes robot, stamping press, and welding cell ANSI compliance; underground tanks; electrical power, controls, and instrumentation; safety procedures and incident reports; AandE professional liability issues; electrical substations; illumination requirements; communication and security systems; and hazardous facilities operations. 

Rollie has authored over 20 papers and has prepared and conducted over 40 workshops on Construction Safety, 100 Workshops on Machine/Equipment Safety, and 60 Workshops on Risk Assessment.

Donald E. Sanders, DVM, Dip ACT, PAS
Veterinarian Expert

Dr. Sanders has more than 25 years experience as a veterinarian.  His expertise includes animal reproduction; animal welfare; animal biotechnology; animal embryo transfer; livestock water supply; bovine mastitis; animal production; milk production; artificial insemination; farm management; animal parasitism; euthanasia; malpractice; animal environment; dairy management; animal nutrition; animal diseases; stray voltage; and toxicology. 

Thomas H. Sawyer, Ed.D., NAS, AAHPERD
Recreation, Exercise, and Sport Safety Expert

Dr. Sawyer has more than 25 years experience in Recreation, Exercise and Sport Safety.  His expertise includes sports, exercise, recreation, physical education, amusement, and fitness activities and equipment; facilities operation; sport finance; sport governance; sport law; sport management; sport marketing; sport sociology; facility design including skate parks, aquatics parks, swimming pools, hot tubs/saunas/steam rooms, campus recreational sport facilities, parks/recreation areas; golf courses; and coaching and training.

Tom is a member of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, the Sport Management Council, the Indiana AHPERD, the Midwest District AAHPERD, the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation, the Council on Facilities and Equipment, the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the Sport Lawyers Association, the International Sport Law Journal, the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, and is a reviewer for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.
 

Mr. Smith has more than 30 years in maritime and aquatic safety, including more than 20 years in the US Coast Guard.  His experience includes marine and water recreation including personal injury; vessel and equipment design, construction, operation, and maintenance; search and rescue; boat collisions and groundings; rules-of-the-road; diving; personnel safety training, including life guarding and supervision; drowning progressions - signs of drowning; cervical spine injuries due to diving; pool/beach design and construction; water skiing and tubing; jet skis/wave runners; white water rafting; incidents at, in, or below hydro electric plants and low head dams; alcohol and environmental stressors/factors including hypothermia; signs and warnings; reconstruction of water and boating incidents; PFD's (personal flotation devices); towing incidents; and fire fighter water safety.

Dave has authored numerous publications and articles, and given multiple media presentations and lectures, including the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Boy Scouts of America; the National Association for Search and Rescue; the National Safety Council-Congress; and the US Army Corps of Engineers.  He has been named Emergency Services Instructor of the Year by the Illinois EMT Association, and received the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Honor Recognition, and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators National Award, as well as several US Coast Guard Medals.  He is a member of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, the National Safety Council Safety Training Institute, and various State Nursing Boards.

Mr. Smith has more than 30 years experience as a Mechanical Engineer, including more than 20 years working with thermal, energy and combustion systems, including boilers, furnaces, and ovens.  His experience includes industrial power plants and processes; thermal and combustion systems; CFC management; HVAC systems; air pollution control; process and power piping and equipment; cathodic protection; pump failure analysis; heat and fluid transfer processes, including energy conservation. 

Rick is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, as well as a Stationary Engineer, 3^rd Class in Ohio.  Some of his clients include Anheuser Busch, the State of Ohio, Honda America Mfg., and Nestle.

Jack Spadaro
Mining Engineer

Mr. Spadaro has more than 25 years experience in mines and mine equipment; geotechnical engineering; drilling operations; blasting; day-to-day mine operations; noise and dust control; surface haulage safety; electrical hazards; inspection methods; roof control; training for metal, nonmetal and coal mine inspectors; unsafe dump and fill sites; vehicle maintenance; mine and safety hazard abatement; landslide stabilization; subsidence control; mine fires; coal refuse fires, underground mine subsidences; valley fill construction, coal waste disposal; mining reclamation; coal waste embankments; excess mine spoil fills; dam construction; surface mine drainage systems; slope stabilization; mine sediment control structures; hydrology pertaining to earth and coal-related structures; underground coal mine design and surveying; roof control and ventilation plans; and  underground and surface mining inspections. 

Mr. Spiller has more than 20 years experience in toxicology and research, including coordination of international projects with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization on pesticide safety, among others. He has more than a decade of experience in training toxicologists and specialists in Poison Information as well as writing for the national certification exam for Specialists in Poison Information.  

Henry has been published in more than 200 publications on toxicology related subjects, including peer review medical/scientific journals, comprehensive toxicology textbooks and abstracts from scientific meetings. He has directed, as principal investigator, more than 35 multi-center national studies in toxicology. He has been recognized by Courts in; Malpractice, Toxic Tort claims, Cause of Death, Workers compensation, DUI, including interpreting drug and/or toxicology screen, blood alcohol results, Dram shop cases, post-mortem drug and or toxicology results. Henry has experience in more than 40,000 clinical cases and hundreds of post-mortem evaluations. 

He is a Registered Professional Nurse in NJ and KY; is Director, AAPCC Certified Regional Poison Center; is a Diplomate, American Board of Applied Toxicology and a Diplomate, American Board of Forensic Examiners; is a Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners; a Member, Society of Forensic Toxicologists; and is on the Board of Directors, American Board of Applied Toxicology.  Henry is a member of American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC); American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT); American Board of Applied Toxicology  (ABAT); Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT); and a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners.

Theodore M. Streit, PE
Registered Petroleum Engineer; Natural Resources Expert
Licensed Engineer in West Virginia

Mr. Streit has more than 30 years experience in natural resources, including gas, oil and coal; the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of gas and oil pumping, piping, and delivery systems; drilling and production technology; lease and contract negotiations; oil and gas mineral property valuations; energy development programs; oil and gas regulatory policy and implementation; disputes between natural resource (gas, oil and coal) operators and owners. 

Ted is a Registered Petroleum Engineer in West Virginia.  He is the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Committee of the West Virginia Land and Mineral Owners Council; the Past Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission Energy Resources Committee, the Coalbed Methane Review Board and the Shallow Gas Review Board; and a past member of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Michael R. Tillotson, CIH, CHMM
Industrial Hygienist

Mr. Tillotson has nearly 30 years experience in Environmental/ Occupational Health, including occupational safety; industrial hygiene; radiation safety and health; hazardous waste management; hazardous waste sites; emergency response; pesticides/ pesticides management; asbestos; lead; noise and hazardous materials/ waste management. 

Mike is a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association; the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene; the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; the Hazardous Materials Managers Institute; the Michigan Industrial Hygiene Society; the Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals; the National Lead Abatement Council.  He is a Registered Sanitarian (Michigan); a Certified Industrial Hygienist; a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager; an EPA AHERA accredited Inspector/Management Planner, Contractor/Supervisor, and Project Designer; and a Certified Lead Paint/Hazards Inspector/Risk Assessor and Abatement Supervisor.

Mr. Tolles has more than 20 years experience involving electrical design, installation, operation, and maintenance of industrial and manufacturing facilities and equipment.  His experience includes machinery; material handling systems; automation and robotic systems; control and instrumentation; programmable logic controllers; computers and networking; personnel safety systems; and communication technologies.

Eric is a Member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Technical Society of Toledo.

Mr. Van Doren has been involved as a Fire Investigator for more than 30 years.  He is a member of IAAI (International Association of Arson Investigators), CJCC (Criminal Justice Co-Ordinating Council), and on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Ohio Arson Seminar, Inc.   George has attended over 30 Fire/Arson Seminars since 1981 and has given over 20 courses and presentations during this time. 
 

George’s experience includes structures, vehicles, and marine, including fraud fires, conspiracies to commit arson, and subrogation.  George has extensive deposition and trial experience. 

Mr. VanDorpe has more than 25 years as a fire fighter.  His experience includes determining the origin and cause of fires; fraud fires; arson and conspiracies to commit arson; fire science technology; safety engineering; electric and gas appliance fires; auto theft fires; bomb scene investigations; clandestine drug labs; criminal/terrorist incidents; interviews and interrogations; and bomb disposal.   

Bruce is a Certified Fire Investigator; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator; an Auxiliary Coroner's Investigator; a Fire Safety Inspector; and holds a Peace Officer Certification.  He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association; the Columbus Claims Association; the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators; the Dayton Claims Adjusters Association, the National Association of Fire Investigators; the International Association of Arson Investigators; the International Association of Arson Investigators, Ohio Chapter; and the Miami Valley Fire Investigators Association. 

He has received the Fire Safety Commendation Award from the Sons of the American Revolution; and the Fire Chief's Commendation, and Unit Citation for Outstanding Service from the Dayton Fire Department.

Chad Walker
Safety Expert

Mr. Walker has more than 15 years safety and operating experience.  His experience includes construction and industrial equipment operation, procedures, malfunctions, damage, and personal injuries.  His expertise includes cranes, loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, fork lifts, skid steers, and aerial lifts; safety program training and maintenance; safety equipment requirements and orientations; employee safety and health issue investigations, reviews, and responses; OSHA and JSHA compliance; unsafe working conditions; safety audits; emergency response drills; and emergency action plans.   

Chad holds numerous safety and OSHA certifications, including Accident Investigation I and II; Vehicle Dynamics; Mechanical Maintenance; Skid Steer Loader/ Rough Terrain Fork Lift/ Industrial Fork Lift/ and Aerial Lift Certified Trainer; OSHA 500 Certified Trainer for Construction Industry; and OSHA 501 Certified Trainer for General Industry.

Michael T. Williams, PE
Civil/Environmental Engineer
Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Indiana, New Mexico

Mr. Williams has more than 30 years of Civil/Environmental Engineering experience, including water distribution, sanitary and storm water sewer systems, pump stations, and wastewater treatment plants; administration, inspection and testing for construction of storm sewers, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, activated sludge systems, aerated lagoons, oxidation ditches, sequencing batch reactors, and secondary/tertiary treatment systems; inspector/technician training; site surveying and safety plans; project certifications; failures and malfunctions including foundations, retaining walls, roofs, structural failures, appliances, furnaces, swimming pools, spas, saunas, plumbing systems, hydraulic systems, fire suppression systems, environmental releases, and environmental remediation systems; hydrogeological investigations, aquifer tests, design and permitting.

Mike is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Water Environment Federation, and the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

Mr. Yano has more than 30 years experience involving the design, installation, and operation of mechanical systems and components for residential, institutional, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing facilities.  His experience includes: HVAC systems, including boilers; natural gas, propane, and oil furnaces, heaters, stoves, and dryers, including CO exposure; manual and automatic doors; machinery equipment and personal safety systems; material handling systems; water piping and plumbing; dust and fumes collection; ergonomics; noise attenuation systems; and explosion investigations.

Bob is a Member of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers), SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).

Lance R. Youles, LNHA
Nursing Home and Long Term Care Expert

Mr. Youles has practiced, managed, or consulted in long term care since 1978, and has served as an expert witness and legal resource since 1993, providing both plaintiff and defense deposition and courtroom testimony.

His experience includes long-term standards of care; abuse/neglect; state and federal regulation compliance; standards of practice for Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administrators; facility staffing levels; facility policies and procedures; compliance and/or effectiveness of employee orientation, training, and in-service education; ownership and corporate responsibility for institutional care and services; fiscal issues; resource allocation; safety and effectiveness of medical equipment and supplies, alarm systems/devices, fire safety, and building components; resident rights; day-to-day facility operations; and facilities for the mentally challenged, disabled, and foster care. 

Lance's long term care background ranges from high school experiences as a nurse's aide, to post-college roles as a licensed administrator, multi-facility manager, consultant, staff educator, and facility owner. His responsibilities have included receivership, administration, management, and monitoring appointments for the State of Michigan. He also served as a nursing home expert for the State of Indiana, Office of the Attorney General, to evaluate the competency of nursing home administrators under review for receiving substandard quality of care violations. He has extensive facility administrative and operations experience, including senior management positions with long term care organizations that owned and operated nursing and assisted living facilities. 

He is a member of the American Health Care Association, the Health Care Association of Michigan, the Michigan Center for Assisted Living, the American College of Health Care Administrators, the National Fire Protection Association, and is a Certified Eden Alternative Associate.