S2. Ep.7- Bridging the Gap: Mentorship, Networking, & Getting Involved at IAAI

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In this episode, hosts Scott Kuhlman and Chasity Owens record live from the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) International Training Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With nearly 900 attendees at the conference, the hosts discuss the value of networking and the exciting atmosphere of the event, intentionally keeping background noise to give listeners the authentic conference experience.
 
Scott and Chasity begin by emphasizing the importance of connection in the fire investigation community, encouraging listeners to attend these conferences, bring business cards, and engage with experienced professionals. The hosts share their excitement about upcoming interview segments with industry leaders including Doug Byron and Elaine Pope, which will be released in future episodes.
 
The main segment features an interview with Sawyer Garriques, chair of the IAAI Student Committee, who discusses the vital role of the committee in connecting students with industry professionals. Sawyer, a fire investigator for an insurance carrier who graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, explains how the student committee works to bridge the gap between education and professional practice. He shares information about student memberships ($50 annually compared to the regular $100 fee), the resources available through IAAI, and upcoming virtual events including a career fair planned for September. Sawyer emphasizes that anyone interested in fire investigation can reach out to [e-mail], even if they're not technically students.
 
The episode also includes a brief segment with Tim Costa from Clean Space, who discusses their respiratory protection products designed specifically for fire investigators. The hosts close with their regular segment, "Can You Use It in a Sentence," where they explain fire science terminology, including laminar versus turbulent flames and premixed versus diffusion combustion. Scott introduces "networking" as the word of the week, highlighting its importance at conferences like the IAAI.
 
Throughout the episode, Scott and Chasity emphasize their commitment to connecting new investigators with resources and mentors in the field, making this live conference episode a perfect example of their mission to share knowledge and ignite curiosity in fire investigation.

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