

| John Agosti,
CFEI Fire and Explosion Investigator |
Mr. Agosti has more than
30 years experience involving fire investigations and prevention. His
experience includes structure fires; vehicle fires; fire deaths/injuries:
evidence collection and spoliation; witness interviews; still and video
photography; building and fire codes, including fire/building code violations;
life safety code violations; smoke, fire, carbon dioxide detector and alarm
issues; fire spread issues; fire sprinklers, walls, and doors; fire exits and
illumination; fire prevention analysis; fire department practices, including
fire department operations/ practices/ management; firefighter
deaths/injuries/safety; origin and make initial determination of cause including
structures, vehicles, equipment, and marine; insurance claims and criminal cases
involving theft, fires, fraud, and conspiracies to commit arson; electrocutions;
investigation of bombings and incendiary fires; boiler and furnace
fires/ explosions; LP and natural gas fires/explosions; kitchen range fires;
spontaneous combustions; electrical fires, including automobile, truck, boats,
and equipment; fireplace, flue, and chimney fires; home appliance fires;
industrial fires and explosions. |
| David A.
Bade, PE Civil Engineer Licensed Engineer in Michigan |
Mr. Bade has
more than 35
years experience
involving highway construction, including asphalt/concrete paving, underground
construction, bridges, drainage, traffic control and assessment, concrete packing
structures, concrete restoration, illumination, work zone safety, and construction field
supervision. He is a member of ASCE (American
Society of Civil Engineers) and NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers). Dave has performed numerous projects for MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) and has extensive experience with MIOSHA (Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations with respect to highway construction and safety. Dave also has experience with vehicle crashes and vehicle crash reconstruction. |
|
John G. Barnes; Trucking Industry Expert |
Mr. Barnes has over 25 years experience in the trucking and
insurance business with special expertise in truck insurance
underwriting; coverage form and claims; trucking operations;
driver manuals; driver hiring practices; FMCSA compliance;
safety audits; monitoring of safety and maintenance programs;
driver training; commercial insurance; trucking practices;
trucking policies and supervision; over-the-road truck driving
and operations; truck and parts purchasing; truck repair and
towing; and snow removal. |
|
James E. Barnhart, PE; Civil Engineer and
Bridge Expert Licensed Engineer in Ohio, West Virginia |
Mr.
Barnhart has more than 35 years experience as a Civil Engineer with over 25
of these years specializing as a highway and bridge investigator and
inspector. His experience includes the design, construction, repair,
maintenance, inspection, and demolition of highways and bridges, including
all aspects of masonry and concrete technology. Jim is a member of the American Concrete Association; the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers; the Engineers Club of Columbus; and the American Association of State Highway Engineers. |
| Kenneth
W. Berchak, PE Mechanical Engineer and Vehicle Crash Expert Licensed Engineer in Ohio |
Mr. Berchak has more than
25 years experience involving mechanical engineering and
design. His experience includes
accident reconstruction and motor vehicle
failure analysis; vehicle brake and suspension systems; engines and
turbines; vehicle fire investigations; seat belt analysis; highway
trucks and tractors; construction, industrial, and commercial
equipment; power transmission machinery; drills, pumps and mixers;
hard rock mining machinery; textile production machinery; product
failures; design and failure analysis; engineering standards and
procedures; marine
equipment; conveyors; semi-automatic
and automatic precision machinery and tooling (jigs and fixtures);
environmental control equipment; and tanks and tracked type
vehicles. Ken is a Registered Professional Engineer, and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and an Associate Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. |
| Duane
F. Dunlap, PE; Mechanical Engineer and Roadway and Railway
Expert Licensed Engineer in Michigan |
Mr. Dunlap has over 40 years of experience related to vehicles
and highway safety, with special expertise involving railroad
crossings. His expertise includes roadway and railways including
design, installation, maintenance and usage; highway and
railroad safety; operations research; mechanics; accident
reconstruction including large trucks; railroad/highway crossing
accidents; driver sound detection capabilities; roadside signage
and signals; roadside structures including guardrails,
signposts, impact attenuators, earthen median dikes and barrier
curbs; tire/road traction research including studded tires;
influence of highway curves and grades; vehicle handling
characteristics; collision avoidance maneuvers; conspicuity and
lighting systems; vehicle and locomotive braking
characteristics; train crew actions; traffic engineering; human
factors; warnings; locomotive whistle characteristics; driving
task analysis; and pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle safety
and accidents. Duane is a member of The American Society of Civil Engineers; The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE); The ITE Committee Activities: Committee 4M-7: Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Signs, and Guidance for Drivers, Passengers, and Pedestrians Within and Between Travel Modes, Committee 4E-A: Experimental Traffic Control Devices, Committee 5B-1: Design of Truck Escape Lanes, Chairman, Committee 4A-29: Accident Impact of Converting Stop Signs to Yield Signs; The Michigan Society of Professional Engineers; The National Society of Professional Engineers; The Professional Engineers in Private Practice; The National Academy of Forensic Engineers; The Society of Automotive Engineers; The National Association of Railroad Safety Consultants and Investigators; and a Past-Member of The Advisory Panel C-22, Vehicle Barrier Systems, National Cooperative Highway Research Program; and The Committee A2A04, Safety Appurtenances, Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences. |
| George
T. Eldis, PhD Metallurgical and Materials Expert |
Mr. Eldis has more
than 30 years experience with metals and materials. His experience
includes product and premises damage, malfunction, and personal
injury resulting from mechanical and/or metallurgical material
failures; failure analysis; thermal and mechanical processing of
metallic materials and alloys; wrought steels, cast irons and
steels, aluminum alloys, and magnesium alloys; high-strength
low-alloy (HSLA) steels; carburizing steels; and the phase
transformation behavior, microstructures and mechanical properties
of low-alloy steels. George is a member of the American Society of Materials International; the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers; the American Society for Testing and Materials, the American Welding Society; and the Society of Automotive Engineers. |
| Lisa
Ferrara, D.Eng Biomedical Engineer |
Mrs. Ferrara has nearly 20 years experience in
biomedical engineering, including several years in the Department of
Neurosurgery with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Her
expertise includes musculoskeletal injuries, brain injuries,
soft tissue injuries, trauma induced injuries, spinal disorders and
the biomechanics of spinal trauma. Biomechanical behavior of the
brain, head injuries, defective helmets and associated brain
injuries, spinal injuries, etiologies that affect the central
nervous system, sensory loss, child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, and
the effects of substance abuse on the brain. Lisa is a member of the American Society for Testing Materials; the North American Spine Society; the International Biomechanics Society; and the Biomedical Engineering Society. She has nearly 20 years' experience in presenting lectures or articles regarding Biomedical Engineering, especially spinal issues. Lisa has authored more than 60 book chapters. |
|
Seth Francis, HPET; Engine and Vehicle Management Systems |
Mr. Francis's vehicle and engine
experience includes: engine and vehicle graphical user interface
systems; knock control systems; fine tuning
engine management systems; designing engine calibration systems;
hexadecimal engine coding, chip addressing, and vehicle
communication protocol; modifying ECU/ADM's for street cars and
race cars;
high
performance engine tuning; vehicle and engine performance and
repair; parts fabrication; vehicle emission inspection machines;
chassis dynamometers; five gas analyzers; and
controlling and reducing vehicle emissions. |
| William
H. Glidden, PE, CFEI, PI; Mechanical Engineer, Certified Fire
and Explosion Investigator, Licensed Private Investigator Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Ohio, Texas |
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. Bills' 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. |
| Marc
Green, PhD Human Factors and Visual Expert |
Dr. Green is an experimental
psychologist with more than 32 years experience in basic and applied
research involving human factors, conspicuity/visibility, warnings, and
man-machine interactions. Marc has been a faculty member and research
associate in psychology, physiological optics, and computer science at
several large universities. Marc's research background includes grants and contracts from the National Eye Institute, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Science Engineering and Research Committee. He has been interviewed by The New Yorker, CTV National TV Network in Canada, the National Post of Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio, the US National Public Radio, and the Los Angeles Times. He has also served as a consultant to NBC Dateline. Marc is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomic Society (the Transportation Technical Group, the Aging Technical Group, the Safety Technical Group, and the Forensic Professional Technical Group); the Society of Risk Analysts (Risk Science and Law Specialty Group); and the Toronto Chapter of the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Human Interaction. He has authored more than 85 publications and has given more than 60 professional presentations. |
|
Dave Harris, ACTAR Crash Reconstruction Expert |
Mr. Harris has over 20 years experience performing
vehicle crash reconstruction including: autos, trucks,
tractor-trailers, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and off-road
vehicles; crash retrieval systems; energy crush deformations;
railroad crossings; total station mapping; computer-aided
diagramming; insurance fraud; drug- interdiction; and
breathalyzer operation. Dave is ACTAR (Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction) accredited; is a certified Secondary Breath Analyzer Operator; and is a Certified Crash-Data-Retrieval Systems Operator. |
|
Thomas J. Hern Automotive Consultant |
Mr. Hern has over 30 years experience in the
automotive dealership business including automotive dealership
sales, service, and operations; automotive dealership
evaluations; relationships between dealers and manufacturers;
dealership and vehicle valuations; dealership training;
technology consulting; accounting systems; cost segregation
studies; and benchmark reviews. Tom was a recipient of the 1997 Dow Searle Fellowship and a winner of the 1997 Faculty Excellence Award. |
| James
R. Heyl, PE; Electrical Engineer Licensed Engineer in Michigan |
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. Jims 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). |
| 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. |
|
Blaine J. Hoffmann, MS, OSHM; Safety Expert |
Mr. Hoffman's experience includes workplace safety, training,
investigations, accident investigations and audits;
legal aspects of safety and health; training and
development programs; written program development;
interpretation of OSHA general industry and construction
industry, healthcare industry standards; VPP program management;
MSHA training and regulatory interpretations; 40-hr HAZWOPER;
and Arc-Flash (NFPA 70E). |
| George
R. Hoffman Insurance Industry Expert |
Mr. Hoffman has more than 35 years experience as an Insurance Professional handling claims involving property damage, punitive damages, "bad faith" claims, and property appraisals. George has experience with major catastrophe claims and claims adjustments, including inland and ocean marine claims and business interruption claims. |
| George
Levosinski, PE; Mechanical Engineer Licensed Engineer in Michigan |
Mr. Levosinski has more than 30 years
of automotive, machine tool, and construction machine analysis,
design and testing experience. This experience includes HVAC; FEA
analysis; DOE by Taguchi; vibration and noise analyses; airbag
systems; gas inflators; filter systems; vibration and tool chatter
analysis; and load, stress, and strain analysis of off-highway
machinery and components, including axles, drivelines, and front end
loaders. George holds six U.S. Patents for various modules, assemblies and guardings. He is a Registered Professional Engineer, and has received the TRW Chairman Award for Innovation in Engineering. |
| Terry
D. Lewis Traffic Safety Expert; Private Investigator |
Mr. Lewis has
more than 25 years experience involving vehicle crashes, traffic
safety, and private investigations, including auto, truck,
tractor-trailer, bus, motorcycle, train, boat, and bicycle
incidents; highway and traffic design, including pedestrian injury;
driver perception and response; human factors and vision; vehicle
"black box" analysis; seat belts and air bags; biomechanics of
occupants; skip tracing-missing persons; and serving legal
documents. Terry is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists. He is a Security and Private Investigator, and is a court accepted expert in traffic accident reconstruction in Ohio and Michigan. He is also trained as a police officer, a semi tractor-trailer driver, and in traffic accident investigations and event data recorders (vehicle black boxes). |
| Gary A.
Mattiacci, CAP, CTAI, LPI Crash Reconstruction Expert |
Mr.
Mattiacci has more than 15 years experience performing crash reconstruction
for autos, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, off-road vehicles, and
pedestrians, as well as black box information recovery and evaluation. Gary is a licensed pilot and performs aerial
photography to assist in evaluating highway and road defects. Gary is
also experienced in witness interviews, background checks, and skip trace
assignments. Gary is a member of the Michigan Association of Traffic Accident Investigators, and is a Certified Accident Reconstructionist, Certified Traffic Accident Investigator, and a Licensed Private Investigator. |
| Randy
D. Merillat, MAT Forensic Vehicle Expert |
Mr. Merillat has more
than 25 years experience as a vehicle mechanic for autos, trucks,
buses, and agricultural equipment. Randy's expertise
encompasses all vehicle systems including engines, drive lines,
suspension, steering, electrical systems, computer systems,
heating/cooling systems, black box information recovery, and brakes. He also teaches vehicle
mechanics at several institutions in Ohio and Michigan. Randy is a Member of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and holds a Master Automobile Technician (MAT) Certificate from that organization. He also holds Auto Technology Teaching Certificates/Licenses from the states of Ohio and Michigan. |
| Lawrence W. Moriarty Product and Materials Expert |
Mr. Moriarty has more
than 30 years of product design and materials engineering
experience. His experience includes product design and
testing; failure analysis; chemical, physical and metallurgical
testing; manufacturing operations; quality control; materials and
fasteners; corrosion protection; responses to banned substances
(asbestos, lead, cadmium, PVC, mercury and hexavalent chromium);
FMVSS, SAE and ISO requirements; evaluation and testing of cloths,
carpets, leather, plastics, metals, rubber, glass, lubricants,
paints, sealers, and adhesives; development of advanced automotive bumpers, body structure, and hardware; heat treating
operations.
Lawrence is a member of the American Society for Metals (ASM); the ASTM B-8 committee on Electroplating; and the SAE Wrought Aluminum subcommittee. He has taught courses in metallurgy, materials science, physics, mathematics, and strength of metals. |
| Ethan
Parker, PE; Civil Engineer Licensed Engineer in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, 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. |
| Duane B.
Priddy, PhD Materials and Chemistry Expert |
Dr.
Priddy has more than 35 years experience involving the analysis, design,
manufacturing, and testing of organic materials and products, notably
plastics. Duane has served as an expert for litigation involving
product defects, premises damage, and personal injuries. His area of
expertise also includes medical implants (e.g. hip/ knee/ shoulder/ elbow). Duane is a member of ACS (American Chemical Society) and has 65 U.S. patents. He has authored more than 100 publications, including 5 encyclopedia articles and 8 book chapters, and has written more than 200 Dow Plastics Internal Research Reports. He has also written and published a book entitled "Modern Styrenic Polymers" (Wiley, 2003). |
| William Gary Rogers, CFI, LPI; Fire Investigator |
Mr. Rogers has more
than 30 years experience involving the investigation and "chemistry"
of fires and explosions. His experience also includes
environmental assessments and remediation, mold and asbestos
abatement, structural collapse evaluations, and hazardous materials
management. Gary is a member of the American Institute of Planners, the Society of American Foresters, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and a past member of the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), and the Michigan Water Pollution Control Association. |
| C. Shawn Saunders, PE Mechanical Engineer Licensed Engineer in New York, Pennsylvania |
Mr. Saunders began performing vehicle crash reconstruction investigations in
1983 and since that time has performed investigations for autos, pick-up
trucks, large commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and
bicycles. He has also investigated incidents involving highway and
traffic design, vehicle fires, and seat belt usage and failure. He is
experienced in black boxes in both commercial and passenger vehicles. He has
provided expert witness testimony for depositions, arbitrations, and trials. Shawn is a Licensed Professional Engineer, a New York State Certified Code Enforcement Official, and a member of the International Conference of Building Officials. |
| Rick A.
Smith, PE; Mechanical Engineer Licensed Engineer in Ohio |
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, 3rd Class in Ohio. Some of his clients include Anheuser Busch, the State of Ohio, Honda America Mfg., and Nestle. |
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| Harold
Lynn Stringer, BSME Vehicle Engineering Expert |
Mr. Stringer has more than 25 years experience
in vehicle engineering, including motor vehicle design,
manufacturing, testing, and servicing including: passenger cars,
trucks, buses, trailers, and private/commercial vehicle carriers;
engines; fuel systems; electrical systems; lubrication systems;
cooling systems; exhaust systems; drive trains; brakes; suspension;
steering; wheels/tires; rear drive axles; A/C systems; vehicle crash
safety structures; and laboratory testing procedures. Lynn has more than 280 hours of technical and management courses and seminars including the Dale Carnegie Institute, QS-9000 Internal Auditor, and Process Improvement Leadership Skills. He is a Licensed Residential Builder and the National Director of the Early Ford V-8 Club of America. |
|
Shane Tecklenburg, AAEM; Engine and Vehicle Management Systems |
Mr. Tecklenburg has
over 15 years experience in spark and diesel engines; data
systems and sensors; turbochargers and superchargers, Bosch K/KE
Jetronic and Motronic Systems; MoTec engine management systems;
nitrous oxide systems; fuel injection systems; suspension
systems; and engine team management. Shane is certified in Advanced Automotive Engine Management (AAEM). |
|
Kevin R. Theriault, ACTAR, CFC, CDS; Vehicle Crash
Reconstruction Expert |
Mr. Theriault has over 25 years experience in law enforcement
with special expertise in vehicle crash investigations and
reporting. Expertise includes vehicle crashes (auto, truck,
tractor-trailer, bus, motorcycle, bicycles, and off-road
vehicles); FMSC regulations; vehicle and equipment inspections;
documents research; DOT safety compliance; audit reviews; event
data retrieval systems; alcohol and drug detection; emergency
vehicle operations; air brake systems; ABS/FMVSS regulations;
vehicle barrier crash testing; computerized accident
reconstruction; biomechanics; railroad crossing incidents;
driving fatigue; motor fleet safety principles and practices;
fleet training; tractor trailer underride analysis; fleet risk
management; police crash investigation procedures; traffic
signal analysis; teaching accident investigation; and robotic
scene mapping. |
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Dennis A. Toaspern, MAR, MCI Motorcycle, ATV, and Snowmobile Expert |
Mr. Toaspern has over 30 years of experience in
motorcycle accident
reconstruction and injury mechanisms; operator performance
evaluations; assembly, inspection, trouble-shooting, and
performance evaluations; racing facilities; motorcycle mechanics
instructor; motorcycle operator training; mechanical and
electrical system malfunctions; speed determinations;
skid/scrape analysis; and deformation/penetration patterns. |
| George W. Van Doren, Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) and Insurance Expert |
Mr. Van Doren has been
involved as a Fire Investigator for over 30 years.
He
is a member of IAAI (International Association of Arson Investigators), CJCC
(Criminal Justice Coordinating 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. Georges experience includes structures, vehicles, and marine, including fraud fires, conspiracies to commit arson, and subrogation. George has extensive deposition and trial experience. |
| Bruce
E. Van Dorpe, CFI, CFEI Fire and Explosion Investigator |
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. |
| Wim J. Van Ooij, PhD Materials and Chemical Expert |
Dr. Van Ooij has more than 30 years experience involving materials failure analysis
with specific expertise related to tire design, manufacturing, and failure.
This expertise includes tire steel cord corrosion, separation, and bonding
to the rubber interface. Wim is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Materials Research Society, the China Ordnance Research Society, the Adhesion Society, the Royal Dutch Chemical Society, the American Society for Materials, and NACE (The National Association of Chemical Engineers). He has more than 300 technical and scientific publications and numerous patents. |
| Douglas J. Van Sweden,
PE Mechanical Engineer Licensed Engineer in Michigan |
Mr. Van Sweden has more than 25 years as a
mechanical engineer, with the majority of that time in vehicle crash
investigations. His experience includes vehicle crash reconstruction including
cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and personal
watercraft; biomechanical injuries; vehicle inspections and testing; vehicle
dynamics; vehicle crash demonstrations; seat belt and airbag restraint systems;
black box data interpretation; vehicle systems and structures including: engines, fuel systems, electrical
systems, cooling systems, exhaust systems, drive trains, brakes, suspension,
steering, body corrosion, interior components, and seats; vehicle and stationary
equipment fires and explosions; fire origin and cause; injury causation;
reconstruction of non-transportation related accidents, including elevators and
hoists; durability testing; certification testing; emergency driver training
instructor. Doug is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers; the National Society of Professional Engineers; and the International Association of Arson Investigators. |
| Robert P. Walson, PhD Metallurgical and Materials Expert |
Dr. Walson has more
than 25 years experience in materials and metallurgical engineering.
His expertise includes mechanical and material failures;
structure and component analyses including metals, plastics, glass,
ceramics, wood, and construction materials; nondestructive,
microscopic, and surface chemistry testing; industrial equipment;
construction equipment; consumer products; chemical processes;
Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray failure analyses; engine and
power system components and materials including turbines; ceramic
valve seat inserts; machine elements and design; and high
temperature cast irons alloyed with aluminum. Bob is a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials; the American Society for Materials International; the Society of Automotive Engineers; and the Indiana Microscopy Society. He holds a patent for the "Cutting of Germanium Semiconductor Materials used in Computers". |
| William J. Warfel, PhD,
CLU, CPCU Insurance Industry Expert |
Dr. Warfel has more
than 15 years in the insurance industry.
His experience includes insurance losses involving property
damage, punitive damage, and personal injury; breach of contract;
bad faith; agent/broker liability issues representing policyholders,
insurers, and third parties; general liability; homeowners; personal
and commercial auto; commercial property; business income;
individual life and disability; professional liability; employee
dishonesty; workers compensation; financial institution bond; inland
marine; and surety bond policies.
William has taught Property/Liability Insurance, Heath Insurance, Life Insurance, Introduction to Risk and Insurance, Commercial Liability Insurance, and Insurance Seminars. He has been awarded the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research/Creativity Award and the State Farm Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Award. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter, and a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter. William is a member of the Editorial Board of Standard Publishing�s Risk Management Reports, the Indiana Department of Insurance Agent Licensing Initiative, is the Past President of the Western Risk and Insurance Association, is an Assistant Editor for the CPCU eJournal, and was a panelist at the 2008 American Risk and Insurance Association Annual Meeting. |
| C. Dennis Wylie, CPE Human Factors Expert |
Mr. Wylie has
more than
30 years experience involving Human Factors and Ergonomics Research.
He is a Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics
Society, the International Ergonomics Association, and is a Board Certified Professional
Ergonomist. Dennis was a Principal Investigator and Manager of a U.S. Department of Transportation Study, completed in 1997, entitled Driver Fatigue and Alertness Study: Rewriting the Rules. Dennis was also the Principal Human Factors Scientist involved in vehicle and license class definitions, rules, and regulations, made part of CFR Title 49, part 383.9. Dennis wrote, The Model Drivers Manual for Commercial Vehicle Driver Licensing, used by all states for commercial driver licensing, in addition to Instructors Manual, National Commercial Driver License Examiner Training Program. Dennis has given over 12 Human Factors/ Ergonomics/ Transportation-related presentations, and has over 60 related publications. |
| Robert A. Yano, PE Senior Mechanical Engineer Licensed Engineer in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, California |
Mr. Yano has
more than
30 years experience involving the analysis, design, fabrication,
testing, and maintenance of automotive systems and components. He is a member of SAE
(Society of Automotive Engineers), NSC (National Safety Counsil), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), ASHRAE
(American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers), and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). Bob's previous clients have included Ford, Diamler-Chrysler, Catepillar, Cummins, John-Deere, Visteon, Detroit Diesel Allison, GE Electrical Division, TACOM (Tank Automotive Command), and NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration). Bob's work for Ford included developing state-of-the-art component test facilities for their Crash Barrier Test Facility and their Body Test Lab in Dearborne, Michigan. Components included seats, doors, windshields, roofs, wipers, bumpers, brakes, airbags, and steering/suspension components. Bob's earlier work for NHTSA included testing the safety of proposed air bag systems. Bob collects and restores antique and classic vehicles. |