final 3 of acbi august newsletter 2014 founder donald johnson secretary ... download case material,...

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED BACKGROUND INVESTIGATORS

PRESIDENT

ROBERT KUROPKAT

AUGUST 2014 NEWSLETTER

VACANT Director 2

Diane Griffin Vice President

Earl Gould Ombudsman, Founder

Donald Johnson Secretary

Jorge Garcia Treasurer

Alan Stoddart Director 1

Robert Boutang Director 3

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF

CERTIFIED BACKGROUND INVESTIGATORS

PRESIDENT

ROBERT KUROPKAT

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

This newsletter will be about the planned ACBI DC conference, October 28-30, 2014. First, a very passionate plea from the ACBI Officers, BOD and especially myself. This is your organization, we need to hear from you and we need your help if we are going to succeed and provide you with the best service that we can. We need letters, articles, rebuttals, questions and suggested research topics from you. If you’re not the best writer, have no fear, we can edit it for you, spell check also. ACBI also needs you to help on committees, volunteers, liaison, newsletter articles, new members , etc. We really have a need to grow this organization. The more members and the more knowledge we have, the more we can do! !It is rather evident that this is a very diverse group: former military, Federal, State and Local governments; law enforcement, Federal and local; and just some folks getting into the business. There is a plethora of information out there; please share it with your fellow investigators. Sometimes one jewel of information can save the newcomers from pitfalls and days or months of the school of hard knocks. Just a short ‘how to’ or ‘what happened to me’ can save someone else. If you find articles, talk to persons in the industry, old or new contacts, etc., associated with the membership. Please share. !This year we have the VP, Secretary and Director Two position, which is currently vacant, to fill. The Board of Directors has voted to delay the due date for nominations from the members in order to give members an opportunity to make nominations at the national conference. If you will not be at the conference after October 1st, you may submit nominations to the secretary until October 30th. Stay safe out there and see you at the conference.

Letter from the President

Robert A. Kuropkat, President, ACBI


First, there are many variables: retired looking for golf money, food on the table people, contractors vs. employees, city vs. rural, etc. This will look like a generic Contractor’s day. ACBI would greatly appreciate articles from any ACBI member on the “EMPLOYEE” side for inclusion in future newsletters.

What you are selling is your “time.” What is it worth? To get a good idea of your worth, take a 30-day survey, start the clock and end the clock when you turn on TV or retire for a glass of Merlot. From your 30-day billing, subtract car expenses, insurance, gas, phone, office supplies, SS taxes, etc. Then divide your remaining monies by the “REAL” number of hours spent. The real truth is you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. You just need a notebook, a watch and a simple calculator. Surprise???

The following is a “simplified version” of a typical day:

PHASE 1- START CLOCK: Get case/lead by phone call, FedEx or computer search, download case material, scope leads, make folder, enter case into accounting or tracking log, phone calls, appointments, maps, copies of releases, fill out any special or local required forms, i.e. medical/credit/employment forms, requests for police, transcript, court records, etc. Calls as required to companies or Subject to verify information, incorrect telephone numbers, non-existent addresses, people moved, etc. For OPM people, your daily call/log in.

PHASE 2 - THERE AND BACK: car, train, bus, 4x4, fly, etc. Fees, tolls, parking (free, meter, parking lot), driving/walking time, gas, traffic, weather, miles, food, hotels, waiting in foyer for whoever, etc.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



ARE YOU A BUSINESS (?) OR A CHARITY(?)

< AKA< EARL’S FAVORITE QUESTION!

PHASE 3 - The lead: records, courts, employments, police, neighborhoods, number of returns to neighborhood, locked/gated communities, no soliciting; facilities, pass needed, escort, etc.; references/interviews, available, wait, no show; Subject interview, SF-86 correct or multiple mistakes, Credit report (???), problems, police, drugs, arrests, foreign travel, foreign connections, Subject did not bring requested forms, ID, alien registration, etc.

PHASE 4 - Write up lead(s), send in via computer or FedEx, send any ad leads, voucher, close out accounting log, notes to FedEx, if required. Re-opens, I won’t go there, this is an item for future OPM replies.

PHASE 5 - Merlot time, stop clock.

Expenses: Insurance, car & liability, gas, office supplies, phone, fax, GPS, computer, printer, paper, ink, folders, software, accounting and word processing, maps, etc.

All you need to see if you’re a Business or a Charity, is a good time log, accounting statement and a simple calculator. Best of luck!!

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



ARE YOU A BUSINESS (?) OR A CHARITY(?)

< AKA< EARL’S FAVORITE QUESTION!

The ACBI Newsletter would appreciate letters from large Metro and Rural Investigators concerning your trials and tribulations.

Robert A. Kuropkat:

TUESDAY, October 28 REGISTRATION: Overnight Guests & Day Guests must check-in @ NCC Front Desk then go to “ACBI Conference” registration table. 9:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m. - Officers/BOD meet 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Lunch 2:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m. - Members check in 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Companies setup tables 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - BOD and Members meeting, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Dinner 7:00 p.m. – Social - Black Olive Meet and Greet WEDNESDAY, October 29 6:30–8:00 a.m. - BREAKFAST in Dining Room 7:45 a.m. - BOD Conference check in 6:30–8:45 a.m. - Day Guest Registration 8:45–9:00 a.m. - President’s Welcome 9:00-10:15 a.m. - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Mr. Miller - OPM 10:15-10:30 a.m. - Q&A with Mr. Miller 10:30-10:45 a.m. - Break 10:45-12:45 a.m. - Companies, Q&A 12:45- 1:45 p.m. - Lunch 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. - Government Panel, Q&A (1 – 1 1/2 hours) 2:45-3:00 p.m. - Break 4:00-5:00 p.m. - ????????????????????????????????? 5:00-7:00 p.m. - Dinner 7:00-9:00 p.m. - Meet and Greet, open bar

THURSDAY, October 30 08:45 a.m. —— Announcements 09:00-10:00 a.m. - The Honorable Darrell Issa ( not confirmed)// DSS ??? 10:15-10:30 a.m. - Break 10:30-12:00 a.m. - FBI/BICS (not confirmed) 12:00–-1:00 p.m. - Lunch- Dining Room 1:15 –2:15 p.m. - Mark Zaid – Defending Your Security Clearance (Tentative) 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. - 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. - The following are some of the attendees that have confirmed or are in progress: ATF, CBP, FBI, GAO, OPM, ADC, CSC, MSM, OMNISEC, USIS, DSS, FEDS Insurance. Everything is subject to change; updates will be posted on Yahoo.

2014 ACBI National Conference The National Conference Center – Lansdowne, VA

“TENTATIVE” Schedule of Events

AGENDAACBI ASSOCIATION OF

CERTIFIED BACKGROUND INVESTIGATORSDiane Griffin

Vice President


I would like to bring the New Member Application form to your attention. Since most all of you who get the ACBI Newsletter are already members, you may not be aware of the new form. One of the significant changes for me is that the Membership Requirements are included in this form. Previously, I would receive a new member application, and, in many cases, had to guess which of the four Membership Categories they belonged in: Regular/ Associate/ Associate Active Law Enforcement, Military, Intelligence Community/ or Corporate. Perhaps, based on the By-Laws, they did not qualify for membership at all. The new Applicant form has all four membership categories defined, and the applicant indicates which category they belong in. !The most significant New Member Application change that could mean a great deal to you is, when New Members are recommended by an ACBI member, there is a place on the new form to include that information. A program to help “grow” our membership includes an incentive of waiving a members annual renewal fee when they have sponsored three new members. So, if you recruited a new member to join, make sure they put your name in the block as their ACBI recruiter.

Donald Johnson ACBI Secretary

ADMIN/BY-LAWS MATTERS

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



New Yahoo Coordinator !We are always ready to bestow “atta-boys” on those who volunteer and step forward to help the Association. This time it is one of the biggest “atta-boys” we could give. When we found our selves without a Yahoo Group Coordinator in March 2013, Bill Pries was willing to step forward and help us out until we could find someone to take the position. We began to make a concerted effort in October 2013 to find a relief for Bill. Finally, in response to an email sent to the membership a couple of months ago urgently asking for volunteers to take Bill’s place, Danielle DiBruno volunteered. Danielle has a well-grounded background in computer and IT matters, having worked computer crimes for a Law Enforcement agency in the past. During the turn-over briefing with Bill, he said there was very little instruction he could provide, because Danielle seem to understand every aspect of the position. !

Thank you, Danielle. If you have Yahoo Group issues or problems, you may contact Danielle at

[email protected]


ADMIN/BY-LAWS MATTERS

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



mailto:[email protected]


A copy of the ACBI By-Laws can be found in the Members Only Section of the ACBI website. This is a good time to bring the ACBI By-Laws Article VI (Officers and Directors) and Article VII (Nominations and Elections) to your attention. !Article VI (Officers and Directors) outlines the Terms of Office, the criteria for holding ACBI Offices, the order of succession, and the duties of each position on the Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD is composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure, and three Directors. The Executive Board is composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Terms of Office are normally two years, which begin on January 1 of the year after the election. However, the By-Laws were changed in 2011, adding a single three-year term in order to stagger terms where some specific officers begin their terms in odd years and some begin their terms in even years. This enabled the Vice President, generally in charge of planning for the Conference every two years, not to have to start their term of office on the even numbered year, allowing them more time to plan the Conference. It also helped alleviate the break-in period shock when all officers began a new term at the same time. This year (2014) there will be an election held for the positions of Vice President, Secretary, and Director II, and they will assume their positions on January 1, 2015 for a two-year term.

BY-LAWS BYTES

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The Nomination Committee is made up three (3) members appointed by the BOD. The Association Founder and Omdurman Earl Gould has been named by the BOD as the Nomination Committee Chairman. Now is a great opportunity for members who wish to step up and help the Association, without it significantly occupying a great deal of your time. Let the Secretary know you are interested in being on the Nominating Committee, particularly if you are interested in running for one of the three open positions. Your nominating duties will essentially be over by October 30, 2014, when the Committee will provide the Secretary with their list of nominees. !Following receipt of the Nomination Committee list of Nominees, normally, the next step in the Election Process would be to accept nominations from the general membership until October 15, 2014. However, this year the Board of Directors has voted to suspend the October 15th due date, and extend the nomination from the membership end date to October 30, 2014. This will allow the members at the National Conference an opportunity to fully participate in the process.

BY-LAWS BYTES

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



DISCLAIMER: ACBI accepts no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this letter. ACBI

does not endorse this information nor is ACBI responsible for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. ABCI does not participate in, is not, and cannot be a party to any legal issue or claim of liability relating to, or arising from, this letter. Any views or opinions presented in this letter are solely those of the

author and do not represent opinions of ACBI.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF


SUBMITTED LETTERS OF INTEREST


This is both a dynamic and challenging time to be part of the background investigations industry, and we at CSC could not be more excited about what lies ahead. We are partnering with our government clients – CBP, ICE, and DHSHQ to maintain a pulse on industry developments. Challenges always present opportunities for purposeful change, spur innovation, and promote reconsideration of standard operating procedures that may have outlived their usefulness. !We all know the headlines. Government agencies have justifiably reacted by instituting new standards, policies, requirements, system security provisions, and quality and integrity protocols. Moreover, a paradigm shift in our industry is imminent with respect to five-tier security standards, continuous evaluation, and enhanced consistency among agencies. Indeed these are exciting times.

ACBI accepts no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this letter. ACBI does not endorse this information nor is ACBI responsible for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. ABCI does not participate in, is not, and cannot be a party to any legal issue or claim of liability relating to, or arising from, this letter. Any views or opinions presented in this letter are solely those of the author and do not represent opinions of ACBI.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF


Letter submitted by Doug Steele, Principal, Program Management, BI Programs, CSC August 17, 2014


Do you realize that essentially the same background investigations providers have supported government background investigations for almost a decade? During this time, we have seen much rotation in the players and a shifting in contracts, but the lifeblood of the mission has not changed: you, the Investigators, have been the single denominator throughout all of these changes. And I know this is a fact not lost on CSC and our industry brethren. !So, how do we best serve the lifeblood that makes our business succeed? What can we do to make your work rewarding, enjoyable, and free of frustration while maintaining integrity, quality, and timeliness expectations for our clients? !In meeting with many ACBI members over the years, it is clear that you expect open and honest communication, an uncomplicated system for accessing and reporting casework, and an equitable and quick-turn payment structure. Further, you understand the changing needs of our government customers and want to know more about how to meet the new demands of our dynamic industry and our collective vision.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF


ACBI accepts no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this letter. ACBI does not endorse this information nor is ACBI responsible for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. ABCI does not participate in, is not, and cannot be a party to any legal issue or claim of liability relating

to, or arising from, this letter. Any views or opinions presented in this letter are solely those of the author and do not represent opinions of ACBI.



In response, CSC instituted a practice of inclusive leadership and a hand at steering the direction of the Program through your feedback and our outreach. In other words, a cornerstone of our Program is the involvement of our Investigators and staff in shaping our priorities, our vision, and our strategic outlook. After all, end users ultimately determine the effectiveness of our Program and we recognize the value of our Investigators and staff. In applying this practice, we are collaborating with our government partners, our staff, and our Investigators to meet the new demands of the market. Specifically, our initiatives are designed to meet the needs of our current resources while getting ahead of the curve on new government requirements. !In each of the snapshot initiatives below, CSC has engaged valuable Investigator insight as end user prior to the launch of any initiative. We solicited your feedback, recommendations, and suggestions before we launched any initiative or new program. And your feedback has been instrumental in shaping many of our strategic plans.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF






1. Communication - In order to ensure more direct and broader communications, we have established regional case assigners, a case facilitator position, and expanded our Analyst base. Ensuring accountability and communications is our Integrity Assurance Officer (IAO), who works to promote enhanced communication and a “voice from the field.”

!2. Learning Management Center (LMC) - We understand that requirements are fluid and

feedback is critical. Accordingly, we have developed and deployed a new LMC. The LMC is a one-stop platform for all things training and quality. New hires will use this user-friendly application to take our training, while current Investigators have a landing spot for refresher training, customer required training, and updates posted as categorized bulletins or quality tips of the week. Further, and perhaps more exciting, is the live interactive help desk feature, which will give Investigators real-time opportunity to ask case questions on the fly rather than send emails or attempt phone calls.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF






3. Pay structure - In addition to streamlining our investigator invoice process to pay you faster and more accurately, we have adjusted our pay to include premium rates for certain case conditions, extended travel time, or other peripherals. We respect what Investigators provide through your expertise and experience, and this adjustment is reflected in our new payment structure.

!4. Investigative Resources - Finally, in order to get ahead of anticipated growth of the program, we

are adding employee investigators and record technicians to our resource pool. These individuals will supplement our complement of 1099 Investigators in high need area, and position us for organic and inorganic growth moving forward.

!5. Growth - CSC is expanding our market and investing in our future, which will undoubtedly create

more opportunities and work share for our Investigators. Stability, efficiencies, and developmental opportunities for our loyal Investigators and growing resource pool abounds as we pursue a multitude of contracts in our core business and adjacent markets.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF






With a new case management system on the horizon, coupled with new and exciting continuous evaluation exploration as the government requirements take shape, CSC is poised to build the BI Program for size and scale. Is it any wonder we are so excited about the future at CSC and our background investigations program? !We look forward to hearing from you at the ACBI Conference in late October. While we aim to share our ideas about the future, more importantly we view the conference as an opportunity to hear from you, invite suggestions, and offer feedback about how to build CSC into the elite BI provider we aspire to be. See you at the conference! !Interested in being considered for an Investigator position with CSC? We would love to have you! Contact us at [email protected].

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF







ACBI accepts no liability for the content of this advertisement or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The editorial content presented has been developed by the authors and published by the organization. ACBI does not endorse the advertised

product, service, company, or any of the claims made by the advertisement. ACBI has no no commercial involvement with the advertisers.

USISwww.usis.com


http://www.usis.com

FEDS Contractor Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) Insurance policy provides coverage for acts, errors and omissions resulting from or arising out of unarmed professional contract services with the Federal Government. The FEDS policy will also cover state and local government contract work provided that the work is of substantially similar nature to the federal contract work, and the federal government contract work is at least 50% of the total work. !Worldwide coverage is available to 1099 and other federal contractors who: • provide analysis, counsel, design, development, examination, inspection, reconstruction, recovery,

review or screening services, or scientific or technical services via contract with the Government; • provide advice in formulating or implementing programs or services via contract with the

Government; • possess specialized knowledge, experience, or expertise to investigate assigned problems or

projects via contract with the Government; and/or • possess highly technical or unique individual skills or talents requested by the Government.

Annual Premium & Limits of Liability:

$750 for $1,000,000 Each Incident Limit / $1,000,000 Policy Aggregate $825 for $1,000,000 Each Incident Limit / $2,000,000 Policy Aggregate $885 for $1,000,000 Each Incident Limit / $3,000,000 Policy Aggregate $930 for $1,000,000 Each Incident Limit / $4,000,000 Policy Aggregate $975 for $1,000,000 Each Incident Limit / $5,000,000 Policy Aggregate

The FEDS policy is underwritten by one of the highest rated insurance companies in the United States and issued on a group basis by Federal Employee Defense Services, Inc. through the Public Employees Purchasing Group (PEPG) domiciled in Washington, DC. As such, Insured members become members of the PEPG, entitling them to group rates and subject to master policy aggregates, terms and conditions. Please refer to the FEDS Contractor PLI policy for complete terms and conditions. !For additional information, please call 866.955.FEDS (3337) or email [email protected].

FEDS PLI Benefits are secured by a U.S. based A.M. (Best) A+XV (Superior) Rated Insurance

Company

DISCLAIMER: ACBI accepts no liability for the content of this advertisement or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The editorial content presented has been developed by the authors and published by the organization. ACBI does not

endorse the advertised product, service, company, or any of the claims made by the advertisement. ACBI has no no commercial involvement with the advertisers.

Providing Insurance Solutions for Today’s United States Federal Government Employees & Contractors

Independent Government Contractors & Former Feds

Federal Government Contractors Eligible for Coverage Include: !Accountants Analysts Architects Auditors Claims Adjustors Consultants Contract Specialists Contractor Fraud Specialists Contract Management Specialists Engineers / Defense Engineers Examiners – Fraud, Polygraph, etc. Expert Witnesses Financial ManagersHuman Resource Specialists Information Technology Specialists Instructors Investigators – OPM Background, EEO, LEO, Financial Forensic, Fire, etc. Linguists / Translators Marketing Professionals Program Analysts Project Managers Real Estate Professionals Researchers

And More…

There are 3 ways to purchase FEDS Contractor Insurance now:

• Call 866.955.FEDS (3337)

• Enroll online at www.fedsprotection.com

• Mail the attached enrollment form with payment.

http://www.fedsprotection.com

ACBI accepts no liability for the content of this advertisement or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. ACBI does not endorse the advertised product, service, company, or any of the claims made by the advertisement. ACBI has no no commercial involvement with the advertiser.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



WHERE: • The National Conference Center (NCC) • 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, VA 20176 • Phone: (703) 729-8000, Fax: (703) 729-5382 • NCC website: http://www.conferencecenter.com. !WHEN: • Tuesday October 28th (Check-in). • Conference Speakers/ Sessions/ Meetings will be on Wednesday, October 29th and Thursday, October

30th. • Final Agenda/Schedule to be disseminated soon. • Check-in will be late afternoon on the 28th. A Member Meeting/Admin Session is tentatively

scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on the 28th.

ACBI NATIONAL CONFERENCE

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF



http://www.conferencecenter.com

COST: Overnight Guests – $219.00 plus tax, per person, per night, includes: Conference fee, overnight accommodations, three buffet meals daily, refreshment break stations, wired high speed internet in guest rooms, complimentary parking and fitness center. !DAY GUESTS: The daily rate for those not needing lodging will be $75 per day and includes the conference fee, meals and refreshments. !!HOW TO REGISTER: Passkey is the NCC’s online reservations system. To register for the conference as an Overnight or Day Guest, go to: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/28962 !Please contact Julia C. Lumsden, Sales Manager (P) 703.724.5139 [email protected] with any questions regarding registration.

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF




https://resweb.passkey.com/go/28962


TRANSPORTATION: The NCC is located 12 miles from Dulles International Airport (IAD) and 35 miles from Reagan National Airport (DCA). Shuttle service for Dulles Airport is provided daily by the NCC for $20.00 per person each way; however, you must make transportation requests through the NCC 72 business hours (three business days) in advance. The shuttle only runs by the requests that are received. (If you are traveling with others, it is more economical to share a cab).

!IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND: If you cannot attend but would like to address or ask a question of a panelist, please submit your inquiries to Earl Gould --- [email protected], !If you would like to Volunteer to work at the conference, check in, take pictures, notes, etc., please contact: Diane Griffin – [email protected]

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF





DONATIONS: If you would like to donate items for the conference goodie bags, please forward items to: ACBI - Box 5001, 7401 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78739 !INTERESTED IN SPONSORING: Sponsoring a meeting can be an invaluable tool for advertising your company through ACBI !INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN ACBI NEWSLETTER: Business Card:—- $50.00 1/4 page:———— $75.00 1/2 page:——-—-$125.00 Full page:——-— $200.00 Contact: Jorge Garcia — [email protected], !

We look forward to seeing all of you at our 2014 Annual Seminar! BRING YOUR RESUME!!

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF




“Are you too busy to take on another case?”

ACBI ASSOCIATION OF


final 3 of acbi august newsletter 2014 founder donald johnson secretary ... download case material,...

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