Forensic Leaders Training Center

10/27/2024

To our esteemed members, partners, and the forensic community,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the decision to close Forensic Leaders Training Center®. Since our founding, we have been a private company with a not-for-profit mentality, aiming to reinvest the majority of our profits back into services and support for our members. Our mission has always been to elevate the leadership skills of forensic professionals across the United States, recognizing that strong leadership is the foundation of integrity and effectiveness within forensic laboratories.

Our purpose has been clear: to positively influence the working culture of forensic professionals and drive continuous improvement in managing laboratories, teams, and units. Through our community, leadership programs, and resources, we have provided tools for professional growth for forensic professionals. Together, we have made strides toward a workplace culture rooted in integrity, collaboration, and excellence.

The decision to close was not made lightly. We are deeply grateful for each member, partner, and colleague who has joined us on this journey. Your commitment to the public good and your pursuit of leadership excellence has been inspiring, and the collective achievements we have shared are testament to what can be accomplished when dedicated professionals come together.

Although this chapter is ending, we are confident that the leadership, skills, and connections forged here will continue to serve you in all your professional endeavors. Thank you for your dedication to the mission, and for being a part of Forensic Leaders Training Center®.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Stephen J. Lu
Forensic Leaders Training Center®

09/05/2024

We've got a few drops coming tomorrow and next week!

Check out the publication website, we’ve made a lot of changes and updates: https://companion.csitoceo.com

Lead on, my friends.

09/02/2024

*IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT FLTC*

Dear FLTC Members and Subscribers,

We regret to inform you that, due to extreme and ongoing extenuating circumstances beyond our control, we have had to place an indefinite hold on all FLTC services. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and the rapid changes, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding during this challenging time.

In the meantime, we encourage you to subscribe to the CSI to CEO Companion Newsletter and Podcast (https://companion.csitoceo.com). This resource serves as an evolving guide to support your leadership journey, offering continuous updates, practical advice, and stories from the field. Whether you're just beginning your career or are a seasoned professional, the newsletter is designed to help you grow and apply leadership concepts in real-time.

By subscribing, you’ll receive articles and podcast episodes directly in your inbox, with the option to become a paid subscriber for unlimited access to all content and archives. We’re committed to supporting your professional development and look forward to continuing this journey with you.

*If you are an FLTC subscriber, your subscription will automatically transfer to the newsletter. If you do not wish to receive updates from the newsletter, please click on the 'Unsubscribe' link at the bottom of the email you receive.*

Thank you for your patience and continued support.

Sincerely,
Stephen J. Lu
CEO & Executive Director
Forensic Leaders Training Center®

07/29/2024

Due to insufficient response, the 2024 Retention Survey study has been cancelled.

Thank you to those of you who responded. While your results did offer some valuable insights into workplace culture and its effect on retention this year, an insufficient number of responses were received to write up a relevant, accurate, and representative report. In general, we aim for a minimum of 100 responses in order to sample the population sufficiently and to ensure an accurate reflection of the data. Workplace culture and its effect on retention strategies are complex subjects.

Please look out for the 2025 Retention Survey in March next year.

Thank you!

07/12/2024

As a forensic practitioner, you have a front-row seat to trends and patterns in a wide range of criminal incidents in your community.

Read about InfraGard: https://leb.fbi.gov/bulletin-highlights/additional-highlights/joining-infragard

Apply here: https://www.infragard.org/

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened its application process for a cooperation between the FBI and the private sector, local and state government, and law enforcement. This cooperation works to contribute industry-specific insight and information to advance national security, focusing on the protection of critical infrastructure.

Forensic Leaders Training Center has added a permanent link to the InfraGard Member Portal under the Support menu for easy access should you become a member.

To qualify for InfraGard membership, an applicant must:

- Be employed or formerly employed within critical infrastructure (student internships may be considered).
- Be at least 18 years of age (as of the date of application).
- Be a U.S. citizen (by birth as, defined by 8 U.S.C. 1401-1409, or by naturalization, as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1421-1459).
- Agree to the InfraGard information-sharing policy, privacy act statement, agreements to hold harmless, and code of ethics.
- Consent to and pass a security risk assessment and periodic reconfirmation of the assessment (this does not equate to a security clearance).

The areas of critical infrastructure are:
- Chemical
- Commercial Facilities
- Communications
- Critical Manufacturing
- Dams
- Defense Industrial Base
- Emergency Services
- Energy
- Financial Services
- Food and Agriculture
- Government Facilities
- Healthcare and Public Health
- Information Technology
- Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste
- Transportation Services
- Water and Wastewater Systems

04/10/2024

🚨Is burnout sabotaging your team?

Leaders, learn how to beat burnout and build a resilient, productive workplace. Burnout resilience coach Kayla Sweet guides you through strategies to manage your own stress and support your team in this essential self-paced course.

Enroll in "Managing Burnout: Leadership Challenges and Opportunities" today!

https://community.forensicleaders.org/c/managing-burnout-course/

03/23/2024

*Now Available* - FLTC Forums and Directory for Members and Subscribers

One of our missions at Forensic Leaders Training Center is to create a welcoming and supportive community of forensic scientists and leaders. That means we want you to be able to connect and collaborate with others in the industry just like you.

To get started, click below or head over to https://www.forensicleaders.org and log in with your email address and password.

Forum link: https://community.forensicleaders.org/

Happy posting!

03/19/2024

Forensic Leaders Training Center is currently seeking input on your perspective regarding attrition and workplace culture at your current laboratory. This 3-5 minute survey asks questions about attrition, retention, work environment, and leadership culture. Gathering this information and data will enable us to understand and focus on current issues surrounding work environment and culture in forensic laboratories.

We appreciate your candor, time, and input, as we strive to enhance the working experience for forensic scientists in the United States.

https://apps.forensicleaders.org/annual-fltc-retention-survey/

03/14/2024

https://apps.forensicleaders.org/annual-fltc-retention-survey/

Forensic Leaders Training Center is now conducting its annual survey on what drives turnover in forensic laboratories and your views on your current work environment and culture. Your participation in this quick, 3-minute survey would be of great help, and will enable us to understand and focus on current issues surrounding work environment and culture in forensic laboratories.

Thank you!

https://apps.forensicleaders.org/annual-fltc-retention-survey/

03/11/2024

For true crime fans, author Barbara A. Butcher has written a fantastic book about her time at the NYOCME, What the Dead Know. In an interview with NPR, she also highlighted the mental health challenges that first responders and death investigators must face on the job. This quote struck me in particular:

"And one of the things that I hope this book does is let people know what it's like to be a first responder, what it does to you emotionally, physically. You can't see trauma and death and despair every single day without being adversely affected. It's time to do something about that if we want people to continue to do this work for us."

Barbara is also featured in an upcoming Netflix show, Homicide: New York. It looks pretty intriguing! It releases on March 20.

What the Dead Know: https://a.co/d/7HJC4X3
Barbara's NPR interview: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/17/1182941227/death-investigator-barbara-butcher-knows-what-the-dead-know
Homicide: New York trailer: https://youtu.be/ZsL7lWz1Jbo?si=5znhg9CNf7kyI2wJ

Homicide: New York, a new Netflix documentary series from Wolf Entertainment, the creator of Law & Order. Real cops, real crimes. 5 episodes. 5 different cri...

03/01/2024

Our Forensic Leaders Award applications are now open!
We're in the business of fostering effective leadership.

We are committing to our vision by providing forensic professionals with the resources and tools to develop their leadership potential.

How? Every year, FLTC awards the following to one US forensic professional:

- Free FLTC Membership for one year
- Sponsorship of attendance to one forensic training conference of the applicant's choice. Award includes general registration fees.

Application Requirements

- Applicant must be employed by a US forensic agency/laboratory at the time of application
- Submission of a personal statement or a narrative of demonstrated leadership abilities
- Resume or CV
- Three professional references

Learn more here:

Access the learning you need to level up your forensics career at your fingertips – from the crime scene to the laboratory, day or night.

02/17/2024

Our Leadership Livestream for February 21, 2024 has been cancelled.

Please mark your calendars for our next live session on March 20, 2024 at 11 AM Pacific.