Page 6 - MCT November 2020

Dear Fellow, IAMI Members:

First and foremost, I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for entrusting me with
the honor of being the President of IAMI. As your President, I vow to lead IAMI as a group
instead of an individual because it takes all of us working together to make this organization
succeed.

For those of you whom I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting, I would like to give you some of
my background that led me to join IAMI. I am currently the Lieutenant of the Investigations
section for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), which I have been
employed with for 26 1/2 years. I began my career with SCDNR as a Field Officer before being
selected to become an Investigator. In South Carolina all watercrafts and outboard motors are
processed, titled, and registered through SCDNR. The Investigations Section handles all
boating accidents involving great bodily injury and fatalities. We also investigate Hull
Identification numbers when there isn’t one present, it can’t be located, or if one needs to be
issued for older watercraft manufactured before a HIN was required, or for a homemade
vessel. My department works all stolen boat cases as well. I have worked with many different
agencies from multiple jurisdictions on stolen boat cases which really peaked my interest in the
IAMI Organization.

I joined IAMI 10 years ago when I became an Investigator. I have served as the Training
Director, Vice President, and currently President. I felt joining IAMI would be very beneficial to
my career due to all the amazing training that is held each year which keeps me up to date on
all the changes. The training that is offered has helped me more than I could’ve imagined.
There is always something new to learn even beyond the training. IAMI has a tremendous
network of people from across the world and that diversity creates an amazing display of new
ideas and technology. Beyond the great training, which I thought would be the best part of this
organization, is the lifelong friendships I have made with so many other members.

Lastly, I look forward to working with each one of you and encourage you all to continue your
membership to help us further succeed. Also, please bring any new training ideas to the
table. We are always looking for new topics and instructors to teach at the conferences to stay
up to date on the ever changing trends of thefts, insurance fraud, and arson. I am grateful for
the opportunity to serve as the President of IAMI and looking forward to a great year!

Feel free to reach out to me at any time with your questions or concerns. I can be reached
at spirest@dnr.sc.gov or 843-616-4077.

Thank You,
Tony L. Spires
IAMI President

6