Executive Committee
Chairman: Peter Psarouthakis
Peter Psarouthakis founded Chelsea, Michigan based EWI & Associates, Inc. in 1995 and has been a licensed professional investigator since that time.
Since 2000 Mr. Psarouthakis has played a major role in legislative affairs impacting the professional investigation and security services professions on both the state and national levels.
During the 2001 and 2002 Michigan legislative session Mr. Psarouthakis helped lead the redrafting of the Michigan Private Detective Act of 1965. In 2008 Governor Granholm signed the second redrafting of the Michigan Private Detective Act, which Mr. Psarouthakis also helped draft and lobby for to become law.
Mr. Psarouthakis has been instrumental in other legislative events that have had a direct impact on the Private Investigation profession in Michigan. With his leadership the MCPI was able to gain exemption status for Licensed Private Investigators from the “restricted zones” of the concealed pistol permits law in Michigan. Additionally, many privacy and anti-surveillance bills were either stopped completely or amended within the legislature, both in Michigan as well as Washington D.C. that would have had a negative impact on the Private Investigation profession.
His most notable legislative moment so far came when he lead Michigan Professional Investigators in a lobbying effort that resulted in the repeal of service taxes on professional investigators and security providers. This repeal occurred in 2007 and is the only known repeal on a tax of this kind for investigative and security professionals.
On March 26, 2009 he provided testimony on behalf of the professional investigative profession to the U.S. House of Representative Committee on the Judiciary, House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Mr. Psarouthakis testimony was regarding the committee’s investigation into public defense reform in Michigan and around the country. Mr. Psarouthakis continues to work with members of Congress and coalition members on this important issue.
Mr. Psarouthakis is the current Chairman of the executive committee for Investigative & Security Professionals for Legislative Action (ISPLA), the first ever national Political Action Committee representing the combined Professional Investigator and Security Guard professions. He is a current board member and Past-President of the Michigan Council of Private Investigators. He continues to serve as their legislative chairman.
Mr. Psarouthakis is a former board of director’s member and served as the 1st. and 3rd Vice President of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services. His service in those capacities was from 2001-2009. He also serves as the current Legislative Committee Chairman for the National Association of Legal Investigators.
Peter Psarouthakis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and an Associates degree in Law Enforcement, both from The University of Toledo. He is also a member of ASIS International (Investigation Council member), INTELLENT, Council of International Investigators, International High Technology Crime Investigation Association, Espionage Research Institute and Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science.
Treasurer: Alan Goodman
Alan E. Goodman, LPI, is President and CEO of Lawyers Investigating Service, Inc., based in Portland, Maine. He is a Past National Director of the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) \ where he also served four terms as Assistant National Director and two terms as Northeast Regional Director. A NALI member since 1996, he has served on various committees and assignments. Goodman is currently the on the Board of Directors of the Maine Licensed Private Investigators Association (MLPIA) after having served as President, Vice-president and Secretary. Goodman joined the association in its infancy and continues his service to this date. Goodman has appeared before Maine Legislative Committee hearings, meetings and work-sessions. He serves as a representative of NALI and the MLPIA at State, Regional and National Conferences and Seminars. Goodman has been a member of NAPPS, INTELLENET, USPSA, LPDAM, NHLI, FALI, LPIA, NAIS & many other Professional Investigative Associations in the past. He speaks at Conferences and Seminars regularly.
Goodman is a founder and an Officer of the Investigative and Security Professionals for Legislative Action organization, (www.ispla.org), the profession's premier group for responsive legislative action. Formerly an Officer and Board member of the National Council of Investigative and Security Services (NCISS), Goodman has represented both his state and national Private Investigative associations on Capitol Hill with Maine Senators Snow and Collins and Maine's Representatives Michaud and Allen. His long history of advocacy for the Professional Investigator in both State and Federal Legislative arenas keep him constantly aware of changing laws, policies and methods. The ISPLA was formed by fellow, dedicated professionals for advancement of the Investigative and Security professions.
Goodman's agency, Lawyers Investigating Service, Inc., offers 36+ years of agency experience, from homicides to contested wills. His company's history in the Maine Justice system dates back to the early 1970's with Lawyers Investigating Service's founder Joseph D. Thornton, Jr's dynamic rise to prominence. Thornton founded the agency on the principals of fairness for all, vehement investigation and superior service for his clients. Those founding principles are the same principles this agency has today! 100% Maine-made!
Goodman, a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Maine Private Investigator, is a registered Maine State Archive Researcher, a Maine Motor Vehicle Commercial Accounts holder and is online with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
He is a certified, registered and fully-vetted proprietary-database researcher with years of experience. His company assists corporations and individuals in locating critical witnesses, locating assets, uncovering fraud; providing tangible proof for prosecution. Goodman's timely investigations have saved Maine businesses countless dollars and time. He offers Investigative Consultations to management on an ongoing basis.
Goodman is a qualified and experienced work place investigator specializing in theft, substance abuse and other employee misconduct. He provides Internet Business Intelligence and Corporate Background Investigations. He offers expertise in the timely-implementation of Investigation, Awareness and Ethics programs for employees, association members and other interested parties. He presents common-sense approaches to solve problems with cost-effective, employer/association-specific programs.
Secretary: Al Cavasin
Founder, President and CEO: Great Northern Sentry Company (Jackson, Michigan) 1991
Past President, Board of Directors: National Council of Investigation & Security Services 1998
Founder and Past President, Board of Directors: Michigan Contract Security Association 2002
Board Member, Board of Directors: Michigan Council of Private Investigators 1996
Past Chair: Security Standards Cmte: National Council of Investigation & Security Services
Member, World Association of Detectives 2006
Member: National Federation of Independent Business 1992
Past Member, Legislative Committee: National Council of Investigation and Security Services 2000
Member, Legislative Committee: Michigan Council of Private Investigators 2001
Member: Legislative Committee, Greater Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce 2007
Advisor: Criminal Justice Program Advisory Board, ITT Technical Institute 1999
Advisor: Criminal Justice Curriculum Advisory Board, Jackson Area Career Center 2001
Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Directors: Catholic Community Credit Union 1994
Member/ Director of Legislative Affairs: Bruce Hulme (See ISPLA Director of Government Affairs)
EC Member: H. Ellis Armistead
Ellis Armistead is President of Heartland Investigative Group, managing their elite team of professional investigators.Ellis was retained within hours of the Columbine High School shootings. Three years before, he worked with the attorneys representing John and Patsy Ramsey after the death of their daughter, JonBenet. Other clients have included Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Ellis has been recognized nationally as an expert witness in crime scene investigation and police procedure.
Ellis holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. He was a police officer for 18 years, before beginning his own private investigative firm in 1991. He has also served as the chief investigator of the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and as a deputy coroner for Routt County, CO. He is a Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) through the National Association of Investigators and has served as the organization’s National Director. He is also a member of Intellent.
EC Member: Nicole Bocra
Nicole Bocra is the President and Founder of Infinity Investigative Solutions. She is a former special investigator for NASD's Member Regulation and Enforcement divisions. Nicole developed her expertise in NASD and SEC rules and regulations. To determine compliance with governing rules and regulations Nicole examined the books and records of publicly traded companies and conducted broker-dealer investigations. While at a plaintiff’s class action law firm, Nicole worked closely with firm attorneys to identify, develop, document, and prosecute cases by gathering documentary and witness evidence for use in civil complaints.
Nicole is a graduate of the University of Hartford with a BS in Accounting, Registered Private Investigator in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Licensed Private Detective in New Jersey, Recipient of NASD President Awards in 2000 and 2003, Woodbridge, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year, 2001. She is a member of the Private Investigators Association of Virginia-Secretary, Former NCISS Regional Director and Board member, National Association of Legal Investigators and Intellent.
EC Member: Jim Carino
Jim Carino is founder and Executive Director of Intellenet, a worldwide association of private investigators and security professionals. Jim began his investigative career with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) in 1956. He served 20 years as a Special Agent retiring in 1976 as a LT Colonel. His last position with OSI was as Director of Criminal Investigations. Since Air Force retirement Jim worked for companies as a security consultant before forming his own investigative and security firm in 1982.
He is the co-founder and immediate Past President of PALI, currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. He served 10 years on the ASIS Investigative Council and will complete 10 years on the NCISS Board in April 2010. He received the NCISS Duffy Award in 2009.
In addition to Intellenet, PALI, and NCISS & ASIS he is a member of the VIDOCQ Society, CII, NALI, USAPI, AFOSISA (founder and former Chairman of the local Philadelphia chapter), among other associations.
Jim has over 50 years of combined military and private sector experience. He has been a leader in battle to protect, preserve and engender legislation favorable to the investigative community.
EC member: Paul Dank
Paul Dank is the owner of Advanced Surveillance Group overseeing and directing investigation for corporate, legal and private clients. His company focus is on computer forensics, insurance defense, corporate investigations, surveillance, background investigations, and employment related background checks Areas of operations include Michigan, Florida, Texas, Indiana and Illinois
Paul is a member and Vice President of the Michigan Council of Private Investigators. He is also a founding member of Investigative & Security Professionals for Legislative Action.
EC Member: Paul Jaeb
CEO of Heartland Investigative Group. Founded in 1991
Licensed in Minnesota since 1991, with offices in Denver, CO.
2009 National Director for the National Association of Legal Investigators (4 yrs as National Secretary)
Member: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; ASIS International; Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals; NCISS; Intellent; CALI; Founding member of the Minnesota Association of Private Investigators
EC Member: Jim Olsen
James H. “Jim” Olsen has been an investigator with Ferret Investigations of Texas (formerly Ferret Investigative Services of Texas) since 1988. He is a member of TALI, ISPLA, INTELLENET and NCISS. He is a licensed insurance investigator in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He serves on the Board of Directors of both NCISS and ISPLA and is the Ad Hoc federal legislation liaison for TALI. He has contacted approximately 8 US congressional offices in East Texas and participates in the NCISS “Hit the Hill” and TALI “Walk the Halls” legislative efforts. He maintains an open relationship with his US Congressional office in Dallas and DC.
EC Member: Edward Spicer
Ed Spicer is the President and Founder of Ocean States Investigative Group. He is a Licensed Private Investigator in MA, ME, NH & RI. Ed holds a Associates degree in Criminal Justice & a professional designation as a Certified Fraud Consultant (CFC). He is the Past President of the Maine PI Association, current VP of the National League of Licensed Investigators, member of Intellent, and is a founding member of Investigative & Security Professionals for Legislative Action (ISPLA).