MAPI Fall Conference September 17-19th

• August 19, 2014
• by Kimberly Faber
• Associations

For private investigators in Minnesota, the upcoming Minnesota Association of Private Investigators and Protective Agents (MAPI) Fall Conference will be a great opportunity for networking, training, education, and other activities.

The event will be hosted at Treasure Island Resort and Casino on September 17th through the 19th, and Board Member Tim Braatz has taken some time to share his insights as to why investigators should attend. To learn more about Continuing Education and training opportunities, network events, and other events during the conference, check out insights from MAPI Board Member Tim Braatz.

The bottom line is that all licensed private investigators and protective agents in Minnesota need to work together to keep the standards high for everyone doing business in Minnesota, and make our citizens and businesses feel safe in knowing that they are hiring the most well trained and professional private investigator or protective agent that is available to them.

Tim Braatz, Board Member, MAPI

From Tim Braatz, Board Member, MAPI

It is important for Investigators to attend the upcoming Minnesota Association of Private Investigators and Protective Agents Fall Conference at Treasure Island Resort and Casino on September 17-19th, 2014, because it will be the best annual event for Licensed Private Investigators and Protective Agents in Minnesota to not only receive the required Continuing Education credits for their License, but offer the networking time with others in your field, and the chance to meet other Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois Investigators and vendors with additional leads on future work for yourself. The personal friendships that are developed with other Professionals who could assist you someday are priceless.

The Minnesota Association of Private Investigators and Protective Agents are looking forward to not only providing excellent training for the attendees at the upcoming Conference, but also to reach out to all licensed Private Investigators and Protective Agents and ask them to join and actively participate in the organization and its events. We are hoping to increase not only our attendance at the Fall Conferences and the Spring Training Event in May, but also increase the membership of the organization, as a strong united voice of professionals within the field is needed to support or oppose the ever changing legislation of the Private Detective and Protective Agent laws within our state. The state organization also works with and receives valuable information on national legislation from groups like the National Council of Investigation and Security Services, or (NCISS), who monitor all federal legislation affecting our industry.

At the upcoming Fall Conference, we will offer a Bowling Social Event on Wednesday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the in-house Bowling Center at the Treasure Island Resort and Casino. After the Training on Thursday, September 18th, we will be offering a Mississippi River Boat Cruise aboard the Spirit of the Water vessel owned and operated by Treasure Island, which includes a full staff and bar, hot appetizers, and excellent views of the Mississippi River area for over two hours. Finally, there will be plenty of time for attendees to enjoy themselves at the gaming activities within the casino and other things to do around the huge resort, or shopping in the nearby Red Wing, Minnesota area.

There are events occurring on a daily basis that affect our industry and especially the access that we have to information such as with DMV, DNR, Court Records, or numerous other documents or possible information that may be needed and or helpful with an investigation.

In regard to current issues and challenges facing investigators and protective agents in Minnesota, there are events occurring on a daily basis that affect our industry and especially the access that we have to information such as with DMV, DNR, Court Records, or numerous other documents or possible information that may be needed and or helpful with an investigation. In regard to protective agents, they also have ongoing changes in the way that they can operate their business, hire and train their agents, provide specific services to their clients, and document training information to the State Licensing Board. With the ever-changing economy, smaller businesses can struggle to keep up with the large national firms that have been coming into Minnesota in the last few years in our industry, so it is important that all licensed Minnesota investigators and protective agents work together to keep the high standards of professional excellence that our State Licensing Board has established and continues to monitor.

In regard to legislation, we already have mandatory licensing of private investigators and protective agents in Minnesota, and beyond recent privacy issues which are resulting in changing restrictions on information being provided by Governmental Agencies, the other ongoing issue is the high fee structure for licensing in Minnesota and the ongoing sales and use tax issues for all within the industry. Obviously, there are also the high costs associated with having employees, training, taxes, etc. that affect all larger firms doing business within our state.

We normally have had over 50 attendees at past events, and hope to double that amount if not this year, within the next few years.

In reference to attendance, we have sent out over 300 flyers to private investigators and protective agents in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois and are hoping for a good turnout. We normally have had over 50 attendees at past events, and hope to double that amount if not this year, within the next few years as the sources for good quality training and networking events become harder to find.

The bottom line is that all licensed private investigators and protective agents in Minnesota need to work together to keep the standards high for everyone doing business in Minnesota, and make our citizens and businesses feel safe in knowing that they are hiring the most well trained and professional private investigator or protective agent that is available to them.

Thank you,

Tim Braatz, Owner
ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS
Rochester, MN

Current MAPI Board Member