After serving in the US Army, Eddie joined the FBI in 1972 with assignments in the Pittsburgh, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa offices. Eddie’s thirty-year career afforded him many opportunities to either participate in or lead national and international investigations. Eddie was the lead investigator of the 1993 Polly Hannah Klaas kidnapping/murder investigation in Petaluma, California. Eddie was also a team member, team leader, and tactical Team Commander of the FBI San Francisco SWAT Team. He created and coordinated the High Sierra, SWAT Team Challenge, which later became the Urban Shield exercise offered by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Eddie retired from the FBI in 2002 after leading his team to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Eddie continued his career with numerous instructing assignments in northern California as well as corporate and private industry endeavors. In 2009, Eddie accepted a one-year deployment to Iraq as an embedded Law Enforcement Professional assisting the US Army in targeting and interrogation efforts. He has also instructed for the US State Department and the DOJ before international policing audiences. In 2011, Eddie became the Undersheriff of the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State. In 2014, Eddie returned to California and assisted our law enforcement efforts as a POST consultant, and retired from POST in 2019. Eddie instructed Interview and Interrogation with BATI and currently instructs POST Leadership with On-Base Leadership.

Anne Belden runs the journalism program and advises the newsroom at Santa Rosa Junior College. During the 2017 Wine Country fires, she drove students into devastated fire zones to report on the disaster. Their work won numerous state and national awards and was syndicated globally. Anne now instructs on how to cover wildfires. Before teaching, she spent eighteen years as a journalist, working as a reporter and editor on the San Francisco Peninsula, where the California Newspaper Publishers Association, San Francisco Peninsula Press Club, and Parenting Publications of America recognized her news, feature, and investigative articles. Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from UCLA and a master’s degree in media studies from Stanford University. She lives with her family on the Sebastopol ridgeline, from where she’s had a clear view of six past fires and has only had to evacuate once. 

Paul Gullixson is a seasoned journalist with more than 35 years of experience working for West Coast newspapers, including The Press Democrat in Sonoma County, the San Francisco Chronicle, and other Bay Area newspapers. As a columnist and editorial writer for The Press Democrat, he played a key role in the newspaper winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the October 2017 fires. He has also received numerous individual awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club, and is a past recipient of the New York Times Co. Chairman’s Award for editorial writing. Paul is a past president of the California First Amendment Coalition and taught journalism for five years at Sonoma State University, serving as faculty adviser for the student newspaper. He later worked as Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications for the university and currently serves as Communications Manager for the County of Sonoma. He lives with his family in East Santa Rosa, where they have been repeatedly evacuated due to wildfires, but is thankful that their home has been spared, so far.

For over 30 years, Neil Caddell has honed his knowledge and expertise in the intelligence community by working as an advocate and Expert Data Specialist with some of the largest professional LE organizations and government agencies in the country. With over a decade of experience in the Data Fusion industry and his 20+ years as a licensed private investigator in Florida and New York, he has developed a unique understanding of how actionable insights can fuel more efficient and successful investigations. Mr. Caddell has served on major investigations and insurance boards and is an active member of many country-wide investigator groups. He is now a Director at IDI where he works to help build the best data for the PI community, and to share all the features the idiCORE™ solution offers including mobile access, geospatial technology, and an intuitive interface.  

Jason Cantrell is an experienced professional in the investigative field, specializing in process service for large national clients. As the founder of OmniTrace Investigations, Jason has dedicated his career to providing top-tier investigative services tailored to the unique needs of each client.

At OmniTrace Investigations, Jason and his team have honed their expertise in process serving, ensuring that legal documents are served accurately and efficiently to meet the stringent requirements of their large national clients. Their commitment to precision and reliability has earned them a reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.

With a focus on delivering exceptional results and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, Jason leads OmniTrace Investigations in providing comprehensive process serving solutions that exceed client expectations. Their dedication to client satisfaction and adherence to ethical practices has solidified their position as a leading investigative agency in the field.

Jason's dedication to excellence and his passion for serving the needs of each client drive the success of OmniTrace Investigations. Through his leadership and commitment to quality service, Jason continues to uphold the agency's reputation as a go-to resource for process serving and investigative solutions.

Michael Delaney is the principal partner for an investigative firm specializing in a wide variety of fraud, as well as technology-centered fraud and cybercrime, web-enabled crime detection, cryptocurrency abuse, and dark net activity. Michael brings three decades of conducting and managing large-scale, complex criminal money laundering and financial fraud investigations as a Special Agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), NASA’s Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). While with HSI, he successfully investigated cryptocurrency, dark web, and cyber fraud and money laundering as digital currencies first came online and became exploited by criminals. Michael is also a Certified Fraud Examiner recognized by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a “Big 3” member of CALI, FALI, and TALI.

Jerry Desmond is CALI's legislative advocate who lobbies the decision-makers in Sacramento to protect and promote the interests of our association and members on legislation and regulations that impact the profession. He has served in this role since 1996, working with the government affairs committee and leadership.

Jerry is a legislative advocate and lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of his clients' interests, legal and advocacy skills, and an articulate, professional manner that have earned him the respect and relationships that bring success. It has been said that Jerry displays an engaging, articulate manner that is peppered with an occasional, sly wit.

Desmond & Desmond effectively advocates on behalf of trade associations and businesses before the legislative and executive branches of the State of California as well as local and regional governmental entities. The firm provides comprehensive government relations services that create positive results through the relationships, integrity, and skills it brings to challenging public policy issues.

Jerry leads the firm established by Jerry Sr. in the early 1970s with a practice that benefits from decades of advocacy experience, enhanced by today’s techniques and contemporary relationships. The firm’s unique synergy is created by the combination of Jerry, his sister Claudine Irwin who joined the firm in 1992, as well as Anne Schillig who has been with the firm since 2005.

Jerry joined the firm in 1982 and became a legislative advocate in 1985. He is a member of the State Bar of California and the Institute of Governmental Advocates.

Speaker bio coming soon.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science with a focus in Education, Nicole went on to earn her Master’s degree in Education and Educational Theory. Her love for learning led her into the tax industry. With the ever-evolving tax code and continual education, it was a perfect match for her.

With over a decade of experience in the tax world, Nicole Green holds a federal license as an Enrolled Agent tax practitioner, where she can advise, represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, and any other entity with tax-reporting requirements. Her knowledge in tax has been recognized in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, HomeLight—an online real estate company that matches clients with local agents and provides home loans—and Impact.com, a platform that helps influencers and content creators manage partnerships. Nicole has been featured in these outlets for her insightful tax advice and industry knowledge.

Outside the office, Nicole is an avid traveler. She’s been to all seven continents, spanning 50 different countries. She enjoys cooking and trying new cuisines at food festivals around the world. Some of her other favorite activities include attending sporting events and the occasional shopping spree.

Justin D. Hodson, CPI, is a nationally recognized private investigator, business leader, and industry innovator. With over two decades of experience, he has transformed his investigative practice from a solo operation into Hodson P.I., LLC, a firm generating $8 million in annual sales, with a team of 70 employees and 100 independent contractors. The company is recognized for its cutting-edge techniques and unwavering commitment to excellence.

As a Certified Professional Investigator (CPI) and the 2024 Investigator of the Year, Justin has earned a stellar reputation for delivering top-tier investigative solutions to attorneys, insurance companies, and corporations. His firm is an industry leader in surveillance, social media investigations, OSINT technology, vehicle inspections, and advanced data analytics. Beyond investigations, Justin is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and advocate for ethical business practices in the private investigation profession.

Under his leadership, Hodson P.I. has not only expanded its service offerings but has also cultivated a culture of growth, professionalism, and innovation. Through his expertise in business development, operational efficiency, and client relations, he has helped countless private investigators scale their businesses from small operations to thriving enterprises.

In addition to leading his firm, Justin is the President of the West Pointe Business Center, a commercial property business owner, and an active philanthropist and volunteer. His contributions to the investigative industry and business community have earned him a nomination for the 2025 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Passionate about giving back, Justin remains dedicated to mentoring and educating the next generation of investigators, helping them achieve success in both business and investigative excellence.

Anthony became licensed as a PI in 1986. Anthony served three years as a District Director, two terms as CALI - Vice President of Administrative Services, and one two-year term as Vice President of Investigative Services. Anthony is the CPI Chair, the Listserv Chair, and the CALI-PAC Committee Chair. In 2024, Anthony was awarded CALI’s highest honor of the Distinguished Achievement Award. Anthony’s business is located in the beautiful Sonoma County wine country, where he performs court-appointed Criminal Defense, Civil Personal Injury, Backgrounds, and AOE/COE investigations. Anthony is a solo PI, so seeking technology that creates efficiency and saves time is fundamental to his business.

Frank received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento in 1986. Shortly thereafter, he began working for a licensed private investigator and in 1992 obtained his own license. Frank specializes in criminal and civil investigations and is a certified professional investigator. Frank served as the CALI Chairman of the Board from 2010 through 2020 and currently is the Association President. He has served as the Legislative Day Chair since 2009. He is the proud recipient of the 2013 CALI Presidential Award, the 2015 Legislative Excellence Award, and in 2017, received the Distinguished Achievement Award.

Buddy Jericho is a distinguished figure in the intersection of intelligence operations and technology innovation. With a robust special operations background marked by 16 combat deployments supporting special operations, Buddy has been at the forefront of intelligence and counter-terrorism operations across various global hotspots dating back to Bosnia in 1998. While serving as an operations officer, Buddy participated in over 2,500 interrogations and was involved in over 600 operations targeting the leaders of terrorist groups. Buddy also served and continues to serve as an advisor to senior US Department of Defense leadership in special operations and intelligence. After government service, he pivoted to entrepreneurship, founding Echo Analytics Group in 2013, one of the first companies focused on training open-source intelligence (OSINT) to the special operations community. Recently, Buddy and his team founded Indago Technologies, a pioneering firm in the intelligence software arena. At Indago, Buddy has been instrumental in harnessing the power of generative AI to enhance intelligence reporting, embodying his commitment to #OSINTforGood. His unique journey from the frontlines of national security before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to leading cutting-edge technology initiatives positions him as a bridge between traditional intelligence methodologies and the future of digital investigations.

Francie Koehler has been conducting civil and criminal investigations since 1985. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ms. Koehler provides investigative services for attorneys from the private and public sector. As a licensed private investigator in California, her chief investigative focus is pre-trial and post-conviction criminal defense for both juvenile and adult defendants. Ms. Koehler is committed to the growth of the investigator profession and is an active member of both state and national associations. Her company, Special Circumstances, provides a variety of investigative services ranging from background searches, field investigations, pre-trial preparation to post-trial convictions.

Ms. Koehler’s cases have received attention from both television and print media. The TV show, Unsolved Mysteries, covered one of her cases. Crime authors Val McDermid and Anne Rule both wrote separately on two of Koehler’s cases. She can also be found weekly as host for PI’s Declassified! on Voice America Variety. The show is an internationally recognized internet radio program, designed to profile the role of the private investigator in the legal system.

Ms. Koehler is a past president of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services and of the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI). Awarded by both organizations for her work, she serves on their legislation committees and regularly testifies before the California State Legislature regarding bills concerning PI’s. She chairs CALI’s Government Affairs Committee and formerly chaired the same committee for the National Association of Legal Investigators. Ms. Kohler has been recognized by her state regulatory agency for outstanding service to her profession. She holds memberships in the Council for International Investigators, World Association of Detectives and California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Also, Ms. Kohler works with the Innocence Project and is a Certified Conflict Mediator.

Stacy Lawrence has over a decade of specialized experience in Social Media and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering. Since 2014, she has logged thousands of hours conducting paid OSINT research for clients including private investigators, attorneys, and a nationwide investigative firm. An established presenter for CALI and other professional associations, she delivers practical, ethics-focused training on digital intelligence techniques. Her presentations offer valuable insights and actionable techniques for professionals at any experience level. 

For over 30 years, Joe Mangano has been immersed in applying computing and software solutions that help businesses grow and improve their performance. Prior to TransUnion joining as a Director, he held leadership positions in organizations providing technology solutions in manufacturing, imaging, telecommunications, distribution and research.
 
Now, with his unique combination of business experience and the understanding of technologies that encompass machine learning, data fusion and now AI, Joe focuses on helping Licensed Investigators and Legal Professionals improve their business results and increase the value they bring to their clients using the TLOxp/Trulookup Investigative Database. 

Joe joined TransUnion over 3+ years ago, and leads TransUnion’s partnerships with CALI, TALI, FALI, FAPI and APIA and the thousands of TLOxp/TruLookup users across the United States.

Alison Peacock, J.D., CPI, is a licensed private investigator, Certified Professional Investigator, and the Executive Vice President at Hodson P.I., LLC. With a strong background in law, she brings specialized knowledge to her role as an investigator. Alison leads a dynamic team of professionals skilled in post-verdict jury inquiries, OSINT research, social media analysis, criminal investigations, public record searches, surveillance, and complex legal matters. Her extensive education, combined with four years of dedicated service at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and nearly eight years of experience in private investigation, has played a key role in honing her expertise in the field.
 
Alison holds a Juris Doctor from Western State College of Law, Irvine, CA, where she served as the President of the Student Bar Association and Criminal Law Association. She received her law school’s Alumni Leadership Award in 2017. Additionally, she holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California Baptist University, Riverside, CA.
 
In the insurance industry, Alison is dedicated to staunchly advocating for the rights and interests of her clients through meticulously conducted and principled investigations. Her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact extends far beyond her professional endeavors, as evidenced by her active involvement in various community outreach initiatives. In her spare time, Alison finds solace and enjoyment in golf, reading comic books, and spending time with her family.

Chris Reynolds, a licensed private investigator since age twenty-three, has been a CALI member since 1985 and served on its Board of Directors for twenty years, including four terms as President. Starting in 1984, Chris investigated for various California government agencies, school districts, and colleges, completing over 1200 workplace investigations.

Deborah Stonebarger is a highly experienced criminalistics expert, formerly certified in Comprehensive Criminalistics by the American Board of Criminalistics. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and spent over sixteen years employed as a senior criminalist with the California Department of Justice. Throughout her career, she received extensive training in crime scene analysis, evidence collection/evidence integrity, DNA/Biology, firearms, and controlled substances. She has testified as an expert witness in these forensic disciplines in the California Superior Courts of numerous counties. Deborah served on several Technical Advisory Groups while employed with the California DOJ. Her additional experience in laboratory quality control, laboratory inspections, and case audits contribute to her ability to perform meticulous discovery review as an expert witness. Deborah is also a licensed private investigator in Arizona and currently serves as Secretary for the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators. She is also an affiliate member of CALI and TALI. 

Anna Stowe is the CEO of Proven Private Investigators and a seasoned Mitigation Specialist with extensive experience in trauma-informed interviewing, background investigations, and open-source intelligence. She holds certifications from NASAMS and the National Organization of Forensic Social Work. 

Anna founded Anna Stowe Investigations in 2000, which later became Proven Private Investigators and Downward Departure Specialists, and has since conducted hundreds of criminal defense investigations across California and internationally. She is recognized for her expertise in Hispanic gangs and her commitment to Restorative Justice.

As the District Director for the California Association of Licensed Investigators Sacramento District, Anna mentors new investigators and develops training programs for investigative interns. She is also working to create a mitigation curriculum for Public Defenders to address disparities in sentencing and provide equal access to mitigation resources.

Baber Tufail is a seasoned technology leader with 25+ years of experience delivering enterprise applications and AI-driven solutions for global organizations, including Oracle, General Motors, Bank of America, Honeywell, and more. As co-founder of Hercule, he brings deep expertise in secure, scalable platforms tailored to investigative and law enforcement needs. Baber’s leadership ensures Hercule delivers the speed, accuracy, and trust required for modern, high-stakes investigative work.