WORLD ASSOCIATION OF DETECTIVES ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Drake Hotel

Chicago, Illinois, USA • September 2 – 6, 2025

Registration

  • Register on or before June 1 $650 per member

  • Register after June 1 $695 per member

  • A la Carte pricing and registration will be available for select events, NCISS and pre-conference seminars.

Schedule

TUESDAY

SEPT 2

Pick one of the three pre-conference events below - registration required.

9:00AM – 5:00PM - Track 1 - NCISS Annual Meeting – Venetian Room

9:00AM - 5:00PM - Track 2 - Pre-Conference - Jimmy Mesis - How to Double Your PI Income and Client Base

Jimmie Mesis, BAI is recognized as one of America’s most successful private investigators. He has been a licensed PI for more than 40 years and has trained more than 15,000 professional investigators in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Jimmie is a PI marketing consultant and coach and has helped thousands of private investigators generate millions in revenue. He created the PI Income Accelerator System that when followed can easily double or triple PI agency income and clientele.

He is the creator and previous owner of PI Magazine, PI Gear.com, and the PI Directory.com. He is also the Founder and Director of USAbugsweeps.com, the largest TSCM electronic detection company in the United States.

Jimmie’s career as a professional investigator has resulted in numerous national and international PI awards including The WAD Hal Lipset Truth in Action Award. His media appearances include CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox News, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Associated Press, and many radio interviews and podcasts. He is often a featured speaker internationally at various conferences and seminars, and he continues to provide mentoring programs and private consulting. 

Join him for his PI Income Accelerator Presentation where attendees will learn the specific steps required to significantly increase PI agency income and clientele.  This 45 minute fast-paced presentation will be loaded with insider secrets and tips you don’t want your competition to know!

9:00AM - 5:00PM - Track 3 - Pre-Conference - Amber Schroader - End to End Digital Investigations: OSINT, Computers, Smartphones, Cloud

Amber Schroader - CEO & Founder, Paraben Corporation

Over the past three decades, Ms. Schroader has been a driving force for innovation in digital forensics. Ms. Schroader has developed numerous software programs, courses, and guides in the areas of recovering data from smartphones, computer hard drives, cloud, email, and gaming systems. Ms. Schroader’s established protocols for the seizure and processing of digital evidence that has been used by numerous organizations throughout the world. Ms. Schroader has coined the concept of the “360-degree approach to digital forensics” and “Forensics of Everything-FoE” with her focus to unique problems in digital evidence and solutions. Ms. Schroader has been a huge industry influence in pushing for a big-picture consideration of the digital evidence. Ms. Schroader continues to support through book contributions and other industry speaking engagements.

The exponential growth of digital data necessitates an expanded investigative approach. Mastering OSINT and digital forensic techniques allows for comprehensive data capture and analysis, revealing deeper insights into complex cases. Incorporating artifact discovery across computers, smartphones (iOS and Android), and cloud-based social media data enhances your firm's service offerings. This training will guide you through the digital investigation process with OSINT data to digital forensic data, enabling you to construct a holistic digital fingerprint for your clients.

6:00PM – 8:00PM NCISS Cocktail Hour

(NCISS / WAD Registrants All Welcome)

WEDNESDAY

SEPT 3

9:00AM – 3:00PM WAD Board of Directors Meeting

  • Chuck McLaughlin

    CHAIRMAN

  • Wes Bearden

    PRESIDENT

  • Philip Ryffel

    1st VICE PRESIDENT

  • Juan Giraldo

    2nd VICE PRESIDENT

  • Roger Bescoby

    3rd VICE PRESIDENT

5:00PM – 7:30PM  WAD Welcome Reception, Grand Ballroom

Exhibitor Hall Open, Walton Room

THURSDAY

SEPT 4

A mobile exhibit raising awareness about human trafficking across North America

TAT’s Freedom Drivers Project (FDP) is a walk-through mobile exhibit that travels the U.S. and Canada educating audiences about the realities of human trafficking. The exhibit highlights how the transportation industry is helping to end human trafficking, and shares simple action steps anyone can take to make a difference. Learn more.

9:00AM - 10:30AM WAD General Business Session, Grand Ballroom

Please join the President and Officers of the World Association of Detectives, Inc. for their general membership meeting and update. WAD  will also use this special meeting to recognize our members, leaders, and supports.

  • Chuck McLaughlin

    CHAIRMAN

  • Wes Bearden

    PRESIDENT

  • Philip Ryffel

    1st VICE PRESIDENT

  • Juan Giraldo

    2nd VICE PRESIDENT

  • Roger Bescoby

    3rd VICE PRESIDENT

10:30AM - 10:50AM Networking Coffee Break

10:50AM - 12:00PM General Business Session with guest address by Sara Sefried - From Awareness to Action: Combating Human Trafficking with TAT.

Sara Sefried directs strategic partnerships for TAT, a non-profit organization that educates, equips, empowers, and mobilizes members of key industries and agencies to combat human trafficking. In her role, Sara builds public-private partnerships with leaders and organizations across the U.S. to educate them about the realities of human trafficking so they can be activated to make real change in their communities. 

Human trafficking is happening in plain sight, and investigators and security professionals play a critical role in disrupting this crime. This session will provide an eye-opening look into the realities of human trafficking, equipping attendees with the knowledge to recognize the signs and take action. Learn how TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking) is mobilizing key industries to fight back and how you can leverage TAT’s resources and training to make a lasting impact. Walk away empowered to be a frontline defender in recognizing and responding to this crime. 

Be sure to visit the TAT exhibit located outside the Drake Hotel.

12:00PM - 2:00PM - Lunch Break

2:15PM – 4:00PM  Return to General Business Session

7:00PM WAD Ambassadors Dinner, Location TBD

FRIDAY

SEPT 5

9:00AM – 10:30AM  General Business and Elections, Grand Ballroom

Exhibit Hall Open, Walton Room

Join us for the elections of the 101st President, Vice Presidents and Directors.

10:30AM - 10:50AM Networking Coffee Break

Mike LaCorte

Paolo Bourelly

Tony Imossi

Kelly Riddle

10:50AM – 12:00PM  International Investigations Panel - Coming soon

Join us for an interactive panel on International Investigations moderated by Mike LaCorte of Conflict International with panelists Paolo Bourelly, Tony Imossi and Kelly Riddle.

12:00PM - 2:00PM - Lunch Break

2:00PM – 3:15PM Seminar Track A, Grand Ballroom - Peter Gallo

The UN in Gaza - An Open Source Expose into UNRWA and Hamas

Peter Gallo is qualified to practice law in three countries and spent 18 years in Asia as a corporate investigator and consultant specializing in anti-money-laundering/counter terrorist financing before joining the UN as an investigator in OIOS – the Office of Internal Oversight Services – which has been.

His “claim to fame” there is that OIOS management tried to question his competence and instructed him – officially and in writing – that as an investigator he must “never ask questions just to satisfy his curiosity…..”

More that ten years on – this is a story that still earns him free drinks.

At the time, however, the Organizations refusal to recognize there might be something slightly strange about such a directive sparked a chain of events that resulted in his leaving the Organization, and he has since been outspoken in his public criticism of the corruption in the Organization. He has been quoted extensively in the press, appeared in a number of television documentaries and testified in front of a congressional committee. He speaks publicly on the need for serious reform of the UN if the Organization is even to survive.

In January 2024, the UN announced that OIOS was going to investigate the information from the Israeli intelligence services that identified 12 UN staff members as terrorists who took part in the 7 October attacks on Israeli civilians. In an Op-Ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Peter predicted that that investigation would achieve nothing and simply be a cover-up; something that he was subsequently able to confirm, entirely from open source information.

www.peteragallo.com

2:00PM – 3:15PM Seminar Track B, Club International - Reasearch Electronics International (REI) - Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM)

Coming Soon…

2:00PM – 3:15PM Seminar Track B, Club International - Reasearch Electronics International (REI) -

3:15PM - 3:30PM Networking Coffee Break

3:30PM – 4:30PM Seminar Track A, Grand Ballroom - Sara Merchant - Seeking Justice For My Mother; A Journey of Betrayal and Danger

Sara Merchant is a London-based solicitor and has been practising as a civil litigator for over 25 years. Her speciality is catastrophic injuries. Alongside her day job, she also writes as the Secret Solicitor.

Following the suspicious death of her mother in 2014, she began her own inquiry after being shunned by the UK police. She hired private investigators to assist her. This took Sara on a ten-year journey through betrayal and danger to uncover the truth. During the investigation, Sara journaled her experience, which led to her writing a book on the difficulties encountered by the family and the extraordinary challenges they faced.  

Sara also provides support and guidance to victims of crime who face jurisdictional issues. Sara continues writing on issues that intertwine her work as a solicitor and other life challenges, alongside the suspicious deaths of other Britons in Pakistan. Born in London and of Pakistani heritage, she lives with her husband, their two children, and a cat.

secret-solicitor.com/

3:30PM – 4:30PM Seminar Track B, Club International - Buddy Jericho - How the rise of generative AI is transforming the landscape of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).

The rise of generative AI is transforming the landscape of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), offering new tools and techniques that can significantly enhance the work of private investigators. As AI continues to evolve, it’s becoming faster and more efficient at analyzing vast amounts of publicly available data, uncovering patterns, and generating actionable insights. However, with these advancements come new challenges, including verifying the credibility of AI-generated information and navigating ethical considerations. This session will explore how private investigators can harness the power of generative AI  and prompt engineering to improve their investigative processes while maintaining the critical thinking and discernment that the profession demands

Buddy Jericho is a distinguished authority in intelligence operations and technological innovation, whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing national security and empowering others. Over the course of 16 combat deployments, Buddy became a linchpin in counter-terrorism and intelligence missions, earning a reputation for exceptional leadership in high-stakes operations. From Bosnia in 1997 to the global fight against terrorism post-9/11, he has been at the forefront of efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, participating in over 2,500 interrogations and 600 precision operations targeting senior extremist leaders. His expertise and strategic insights have made him an indispensable advisor to senior U.S. Department of Defense officials.

In 2019, Buddy launched Indago Technologies, a company dedicated to revolutionizing intelligence reporting through artificial intelligence. Leveraging advancements in generative AI, Indago Technologies is redefining how intelligence is processed, analyzed, and delivered, reducing the time required for critical decision-making while improving accuracy. This bold initiative underscores Buddy’s ability to bridge traditional intelligence practices with emerging technologies, setting a new standard for the industry and ensuring the adaptability of intelligence professionals in a rapidly changing landscape.

6:00PM – 7:00PM Cocktail Reception

7:00PM – 11:00PM Centennial Gala Celebration, Gold Coast Ballroom

The Board of Directors of the World Association of Detectives invites you to our 100th Centennial Gala in the historic Gold Coast Ballroom at the Drake Hotel. The gala will include remarks from both our outgoing and incoming Presidents and the swearing in of the 101st Board of Directors. During the Gala, we will recognize the recipients of The Norman J. Sloan Memorial Award, The Hal Lipset Truth in Action Award, The Neal Holmes Sr./J.D. Vinson, Jr. Security Professional of the Year Award, and The Investigator of the Year Award followed by some fantastic entertainment with Duluth Transit Authority.

SATURDAY

SEPT 6

9:00AM – 12:00PM  Exhibit Hall Open, Coffee Service, Walton Room

10:00AM – 11:15AM  Seminar, Grand Ballroom - Misty Gillis and Jay Rosenzweig - Investigating DNA

This presentation will focus on combining traditional investigative methods with DNA. We’ll explore how direct-to-consumer DNA testing can not only solve family mysteries, but criminal ones too. We’ll discuss key investigative techniques and how to combine them with the power of DNA testing. 

Misty Gillis is a nationally recognized genetic genealogist specializing in adoptee, NPE and law enforcement cold cases. With 15+ years of genealogy experience, she has helped hundreds reconnect with biological relatives and assisted 20+ agencies in solving cases. Misty works at BirthParentFinder.com and Parabon NanoLabs and is a member of the Vidocq Society.

Jay Rosenzweig has been a licensed private investigator in California since 1988.  He specializes in locating individuals, specifically birth relatives, connecting thousands with their birth families. Jay is the founder and CEO of BirthParentFinder.com. He is a past president of CALI and currently their Chairman of the Board.  Jay was honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award from CALI in June of 2021.

11:30AM – 1:30PM  Past President’s Luncheon with Dr. Jeffrey Simon, Grand Ballroom

Jeffrey D. Simon is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, and consultant on terrorism and political violence.  He is president of Political Risk Assessment Company, Inc., and is a former RAND analyst who also taught at UCLA for twenty years. He is the author of several books on terrorism: America’s Forgotten Terrorists: The Rise and Fall of the Galleanists; The Alphabet Bomber: A Lone Wolf Terrorist Ahead of His Time; Lone Wolf Terrorism: Understanding the Growing Threat; and The Terrorist Trap: America’s Experience with Terrorism. 

His latest book, The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America’s First War Against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists was published in January 2024. His writings on terrorism, political violence, and political risk have appeared in many publications, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Foreign Policy, Jane’s Intelligence Review, and the New York Times. Dr. Simon has also lectured and given workshops on terrorism to university audiences, law enforcement and military personnel, the emergency services, and the medical community both in the United States and overseas. He earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.A. in Political Science from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. Many media outlets have interviewed him, including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.  

https://www.futureterrorism.com/

2:00PM - 4:00PM New Board of Directors Meeting, Parkside Room

ALL ABOARD!! Please join us for farewell cocktails aboard the Spirit of Chicago on Lake Michigan to celebrate a successful conference. Buses will depart from the Drake Hotel.

This schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates. All times listed are local US Central Time.