David Miller, assistant vice president, ext. 8265
David joined Grinnell Mutual in 2002 with a background as a workers’ compensation adjuster and a private investigator, and is based in the corporate office in Grinnell, Iowa. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Business Administration, and Economics from St. Ambrose University. He is a member of the NFPA 1033 Technical Committee, a board member on the Insurance Committee for Arson Control (ICAC), and Director of Insurance for the Iowa Chapter of the IAAI.

Professional memberships: International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI); Director of Insurance, Iowa Chapter of the IAAI; National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI); National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII)

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Fire Investigator Instructor, NAFI; Fraud Claim Law Associate, American Educational Institute

Paul Knobloch, manager, ext. 8112
Paul joined Grinnell Mutual in 2005 and is based in the corporate office in Grinnell, Iowa. He has been in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster, special investigator, and claims manager since 1990. In addition, Knobloch has 16 years of experience as a firefighter. Paul has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Millikin University.

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Fire Investigator Instructor, NAFI; Certified Fraud Investigator, International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU); Senior Claim Law Associate, American Educational Institute; Fire Investigator I; Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau; Event Data Retrieval Technician II, Collision Safety Institute

Zack Spykerman, manager, ext. 8439
Zack joined Grinnell Mutual in 2001 with a background in insurance claims adjusting and is based in the corporate office in Grinnell, Iowa. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Buena Vista University. He is a past president of the Iowa Chapter of the IAAI and is currently a Sergeant-at-Arms, IAAI.

Professional Memberships: AAI; Iowa Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI; Fraud Claims Law Associate, American Educational Institute

Kevin Dunkin, supervisor, ext. 5606

Kevin joined Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in 1993 after working as a chief deputy sheriff, assistant police chief and firefighter. He is based in Columbia, Mo. He has an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Indian Hills Community College. Kevin is a past president and life member of the Iowa Chapter of the IAAI, and is president of the Professional Fire and Fraud Investigators Association (PFFIA).

Professional memberships: IAAI; Iowa and Missouri Chapters of the IAAI; NAFI; NFPA; PFFIA

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor, NAFI; Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator, IASIU; Fraud Claims Law Associate, American Educational Institute

Michael Lee, supervisor, ext. 5610

Michael joined Grinnell Mutual in 1998 and is based in Hillsboro, Ill. He brings to the staff broad expertise in all types of investigations, having worked as an investigator for years prior to joining Grinnell Mutual. He also has a background in law enforcement and firefighting.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Illinois Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Arson Investigation I, Lincoln Land Community College; Senior Claim Law Associate (Gold), American Educational Institute

Trace Lawless, lead investigator, ext. 5806

Trace joined Grinnell Mutual in 2014 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trace began his career in the public sector in 1980. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in the areas of fire origin and cause determination and investigations. Trace currently holds the position of Board of Directors and Training and Education chairman with the International IAAI and is past president of Ohio Chapter IAAI.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Ohio Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI; NSPII; and Greater Cincinnati Regional Fire and Arson Seminar Committee Member Training Committee

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator and Evidence Collection Technician, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI

Becky Nelson, senior investigator, ext. 8048

Becky joined Grinnell Mutual in 1998 and is based in the corporate office in Grinnell, Iowa. She previously worked in the Claims department. She is a past president and life member of the Iowa Chapter of the IAAI. Becky earned her associate degree in Criminal Justice from Ashworth College.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Iowa Chapter of the IAAI; National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialist

Certifications: Fire Investigation Technician, IAAI; Crash Data Retrieval Specialist Technician II, Certification and Crash Data Retrieval Analysis, Collision Safety Institute; Senior Claim Law Associate (Gold), American Educational Institute

Josh Ott, senior investigator, ext. 5715

Josh joined Grinnell Mutual in 2007 and is based in Columbia, Ill. Josh has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Blackburn College. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).

Professional memberships: IAAI; Illinois Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI

Cerifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, NAFI; Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI; Senior Fraud Claim Law Associate, American Educational Institute; Remote Pilot license (drone), Federal Aviation Administration

Larry Wyatt, senior investigator, ext.5609
Larry joined Grinnell Mutual in 1979 and is based in Grinnell, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Colorado State University.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Iowa Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI; American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers; American Wood Council

Certifications: Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI; Associate in Risk Management, Insurance Institute of America; Severe Storm Spotter, National Weather Service; Associate in Loss Control Management, Insurance Institute of America

Joe Berg, investigator, ext. 5812

Joe joined Grinnell Mutual in 2015 after working as an investigator in the private sector. He is based in Eden Prairie, Minn. Joe earned his associates degree in Fire Scene Technology, bachelor degrees in Physical Education and Accounting and a Master of Business Administration Degree. He is currently serving as treasurer with the Minnesota Chapter of the IAAI.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Minnesota Chapter of the IAAI; NAFI; International Association of Fire Investigators; IASIU

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Fire Investigation Technician, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI; Fraud Claim Law Specialist, American Educational Institute; Remote Pilot license (drone), Federal Aviation Administration

Dwight Duncan, investigator, ext. 5744
Dwight joined Grinnell Mutual in 2011 and is based in Racine, Minn. Dwight has served on his volunteer fire department for 22 years and has an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Hennepin Technical College.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Minnesota and Wisconsin Chapters of the IAAI; Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (Qualified Instructor)

Certifications: Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI

Bill Fulk, investigator, ext. 5777
Bill joined Grinnell Mutual in 2006 after serving 13 years in the fire service and six years as a police officer in Central Illinois. He is based in Camargo, Ill. Bill earned his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Broadcast Engineering from Parkland College.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Illinois and Missouri Chapters of the IAAI; NAFI

Certifications: Certified Fire Investigator, IAAI; Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, NAFI; Certified Arson Investigator, Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal; Fire Investigator I, Fire Service Training Bureau/Division of State Fire Marshal (Iowa); Fraud Claims Law Associate, American Educational Institute

Curt Glover, investigator, ext. 5672
Curt joined Grinnell Mutual in 2017 with a background of 13 years in law enforcement. He is based in Macon, Mo. During his law enforcement career, Glover has served as a Detective Sergeant, evidence storage manager and as an instructor at the Missouri State Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, Mo. He has an associate degree in robotics from Indian Hills College.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Missouri Chapter of the IAAI; PFFIA

Certifcations: IAAI-FIT; Remote Pilot license (drone), Federal Aviation Administration

Nick Grossman, investigator, ext. 5628

Nick joined Grinnell Mutual as an investigator in the fall of 2018 with a background in law enforcement and is based in Grinnell. Nick earned his BA degree in Visual Design and a minor emphasis in Criminal Justice from Iowa State University in 2001. Nick also earned a Master of Arts with Distinction from the American Military University in Intelligence and Global Studies with a minor emphasis in Criminal Psychology and Homeland Security.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Iowa Chapter of the IAAI; ISPA; LEIN

Sawyer Garriques, investigator, ext. 8282

Sawyer joined Grinnell Mutual as an investigator in the fall 2018 with a background in fire investigations and firefighting and is based in Grinnell. Sawyer has a bachelor’s degree in Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigations and a minor in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Eastern Kentucky University.

Professional memberships: IAAI; Kentucky, New Jersey Chapter IAAI; NAFI; NFPA; IABTI; ASTM; SFPE

Certifications: IAAI-FIT; NAFI-CFEI; NAFI-CVFI; IFSAC-Firefighter II; IFSAC- HAZMAT Operational

Clayton Tiedemann, investigator, ext. 8090

Clayton joined Grinnell Mutual as an adjuster in Crop Hail in 2008. In 2012, he was promoted to Claims Manager of the Crop Hail Division. In December 2018, Clayton joined Special Investigations as an investigator. Clayton brings with him a background in law enforcement having been with the Grinnell Police Department from 1987–2008.

Professional memberships: IASIU; IA-NE IASIU

Shaylin Bryan, administrative assistant, ext. 8010
Shaylin joined Grinnell Mutual and Special Investigations in 2016 with an Associate in Applied Science degree for Administrative Assistants from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). She previously worked at DMACC as office support staff.

Anne Kivi, administrative assistant, ext. 8335
Anne joined Grinnell Mutual and Special Investigations in 2008 after 10 years at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. She has her bachelor degree in Communications from the University of Iowa.

Jan Pinkerton, administrative assistant, ext. 8701
Jan joined Grinnell Mutual in 1998 in Billing and Customer Service. She joined Special Investigations in 2005.

Bobbi Van Weelden, administrative assistant, ext. 8285
Bobbi joined Grinnell Mutual and Special Investigations in 2011 with an Associate of Arts degree from Indian Hills Community College. She has extensive experience in various types of transcription and administrative office duties.