Press Releases

June 2023 – Don C. Johnson, CLI, Receives National Honor
Charlotte, NC – At the annual conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators, Don C. Johnson, CLI, Trace Investigations’ founder, was presented the Julius “Buddy” Bombet Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was established by NALI in 1999 to recognize those individuals who have made substantial contributions to the legal investigator profession throughout their careers. Johnson served on NALI’s executive council and as its chief executive officer from 2015 to 2017.

June 2022 – Trace’ Defense Team Attend Special Webinar
Bloomington, IN – Tina Skirvin, CCDI and Kaytlyn Black, CCII attended a webinar on “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)” taught by Dr. Kathy Wayland. Dr. Wayland is a clinical psychologist who has assisted defense attorneys in identifying “mental health issues and mitigation themes in the lives of clients and their families.”

June 2022 – Don C. Johnson, CLI Attends Investigator Conference
Louisville, KY – In June, Don C. Johnson, CLI, Trace’s founder, attended the annual conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators. Johnson chairs NALI’s Continuing Education Committee.

April 2022 – Trace’s Founder and CEO Attends IT Conference
Jasper, IN – In May, Trace Investigations’ CEO, Don C. Johnson, attended the 2022 TechKNOW Conference, sponsored by Matrix Integration. This year’s conference centered around managed services, technology infrastructure and IT security.

November 2021 – Investigators Complete Defender Mitigation Course
Washington, D.C. – Tina Skirvin CCDI and Kaytlyn Black CCII, two of Trace Investigations’ criminal defense investigators, attended this year’s Fundamentals of Mitigation Certificate program, hosted by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

June 2021 – Don C. Johnson CLI Speaks at National Conference
San Antonio, TX – Trace Investigations founder and CEO, Don C. Johnson, spoke at the annual conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators. Johnson spoke with Jenn Brown CLI, JD and John Lajoie CLI about NALI’s flagship program, the Certified Legal Investigator designation. In 1997, Johnson became Indiana’s first certified legal investigator.

February 2020 – Trace Investigations Sponsors “Night to Shine”
Bloomington, IN – This month Trace Investigations’ joined the local sponsors of the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Night to Shine” at the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, celebrating individuals with special needs.

January 2020 – Tina Skirvin CCDI Joins the Intellenet Board
Gladwyne, PA – Trace Investigations’ Vice President, Tina M. Skirvin CCDI, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Intelligence Network (Intellenet), an international network of professional investigators and security consultants.

December 2019 – Trace Investigations Sponsors FOP Charity
Bloomington, IN – Once again this year, Trace Investigations proudly continues its sponsorship of “Clothe the Child,” the annual charity of Bloomington’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88.

September 2019 – Don C. Johnson CLI Accepts Committee Appointment
Bloomington, IN – Trace Investigations’ founder, Don C. Johnson CLI, was appointed as chairman of the Continuing Education Committee of the National Association of Legal Investigators. The committee oversees the reports of compliance for Certified Legal Investigators (CLI), NALI’s flagship certification program. In 1997 Johnson became Indiana’s first CLI.

June 2019 – Tina Skirvin CCDI Re-elected National Secretary of NALI
Cincinnati, OH – Tina M. Skirvin CCDI, Trace Investigations’ Vice President, was re-elected as National Secretary of the National Association of Legal Investigators at its annual conference.

May 2019 – Trace Investigations a Sponsor at Trial Lawyers Conference
Indianapolis, IN – Trace Investigations was an exhibitor and sponsor at the 31^st Lifetime Achievement Seminar of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.

May 2019 – Don C. Johnson Guest Speaker at Human Resources Luncheon
Bloomington, IN – Trace Investigations’ founder, Don C. Johnson CLI, was the featured speaker at the monthly luncheon of the South Central Indiana Human Resource Association.

April 2019 – Kaytlyn Black Awarded Prestigious Certification
Miami, FL – A member of Trace’s team of legal investigators, Kaytlyn earned the Certified Cyber Intelligence Investigator designation from the McAfee Institute, an accrediting education institution in the area of cyber investigations and open source intelligence gathering.

April 2019 – Tina M. Skirvin, CCDI Attends Annual Conference for Defense Investigators
San Diego, CA– Trace Investigations’ Vice President and Director of Investigations, Tina Skirvin, attended the annual conference and continuing education seminars sponsored by the National Defender Investigators Association, which is “..“ dedicated solely to the investigative arm of indigent defense.”.

January 2019 – Don C. Johnson Attends the Midwinter Conference of NALI
Chandler, AZ – Trace Investigations’ founder, Don C. Johnson CLI, attended the midwinter continuing education and training seminar of the National Association of Legal Investigators, founded in 1967. Johnson is a past National Director of NALI and currently serves as chair of its Advisory Committee.

December 2018 – Tina M. Skirvin, CCDI Attends Public Defender Seminar
Indianapolis, IN – Trace Investigations Vice President, Tina M. Skirvin, attended the annual continuing education seminar for criminal defense investigators and attorneys, hosted by the Indiana Public Defender Council. Skirvin is one of only two Certified Criminal Defense Investigators in Indiana, an academy program offered by the Criminal Defense Training Council of Florida.

November 2018 – Trace Investigations Exhibits at the Fall Conference of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Institute
Indianapolis, IN – Trace Investigations was a sponsor and exhibitor at the trial lawyers’ annual institute and conference held at the Indiana Convention Center.

October 2018 – Kaytlyn R. Black Attends Conference on Social Media Investigations
Las Vegas, NV – Trace Investigations’ staff specialist on open source intelligence gathering and social media investigations attended the annual OSMOSIS conference this fall. The OSMOSIS Institute was founded in 2015 by Cynthia Hetherington. Among the topics featured at this year’s summit were dark web investigations and online identity protection strategies.

October 2018 – Don C. Johnson, Trace Investigations’ Founder, Elected Vice President of International Regulatory Association
Scottsdale, AZ – The International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators represents over 32 regulatory agencies and boards in the U.S., seven Canadian provinces, France and S. Africa. At IASIR’s 25^th annual conference this year, Don C. Johnson was elected First Vice President. Johnson is chairman of the Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, and has been a member of IASIR for several years.

June 2018 – The Trace Team Attends Annual Conference for Legal Investigators
Cincinnati, OH – The National Association of Legal Investigators held its annual conference this month at Cincinnati’s Marriott North. In attendance were Trace Investigations’ team. Speaker topics included digital forensic examinations and mitigating false confidences in witnesses.

April 2018 – Trace’s Investigators Attend Association Meeting in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN – Tina Skirvin and Kaytlyn Black, from Trace’s legal investigation team, attended a seminar hosted by the Indiana Society of Professional Investigators. Featured speaker was Kevin McClain, CCDI of Centralia, Illinois, who introduced the READI Response application that connects attorneys and investigators to accident and incident sites in real time scenarios. McClain is a member of INSPI, which was founded in 1997.

March 2018 – Trace Investigations Attends Regional Meeting of International Council
Arlington, VA – Trace Investigations’ Don C. Johnson and Tina M. Skirvin attended a regional U.S. meeting of the Council of International Investigators in Arlington, Virginia, which featured seminars on human trafficking, FOIA research and asset investigations. Johnson and Skirvin are certified as international investigators by the Council.

January 2018 – Tina Skirvin, Trace Investigations’ Vice President, Attends National Meeting
Orange Beach, AL – Tina Skirvin, CCDI, CII, attended the mid-winter executive board meeting of the National Association of Legal Investigators in Orange Beach, Alabama. Skirvin was elected National Secretary of NALI at its annual general meeting in Alexandria, VA last June.

January 2018 – Trace Investigations Welcomes Kaytlyn Black, Legal Investigator and Paralegal
Bloomington, IN – The newest member of Trace’s team of professional investigators and research analysts is Kaytlyn R. Black. Kaytlyn is a criminal justice major and comes to us after working as a paralegal for a few years. She brings a wealth of experience in not only the legal field, but as an open source intelligence and social media research professional.

November 2017 – Don C. Johnson, Trace Investigations’ President, Attends International Meeting
Chattanooga, TN – In November, the International Association of Investigative and Security Regulators (IASIR) held its annual general meeting and conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Don C. Johnson, CLI, CII, Trace Investigations’ founder and president, serves as an IASIR Director-at-Large, in his role as the chairman of Indiana’s Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board.

August 2017 – Trace Investigations Exhibits at Human Resources Conference
Indianapolis, IN – The Indiana Society of Human Resources Managers held its annual conference in Indianapolis in August. Trace Investigations was one of over four hundred exhibitors at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Representing Trace as a background screening firm were Christine Koryta, managing partner of our background screening division, and Trace’s founder and president, Don C. Johnson.

June 2017 – Trace’s Investigators Attend National Conference
Alexandria, VA – Three members of Trace’s investigation team attended the 50th anniversary celebration and conference of the National Association of Legal Investigators at the Embassy Suites in Alexandria, Virginia; Don C. Johnson, CLI, Tina Skirvin, CCDI and Becca Gieselman, Trace’s newest legal investigator. NALI is a non-profit professional association representing investigators who provide litigation support for civil and criminal defense attorneys. Johnson is NALI’s National Director, its chief executive officer, serving the maximum two terms, from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2017.

April 2017 – Trace’s Founder Attends International Conference
Denver, Colorado – Don C. Johnson, CLI, president and founder of Trace Investigations, attended the annual general meeting and conference of the International Intelligence Network, Ltd. at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Intellenet is a private network of professional investigators and security consultants with backgrounds in law enforcement and military intelligence. Johnson serves on Intellenet’s Board of Directors and edits its quarterly journal, Intellenet News.

November 2016 — Trace Research Analyst Receives FCRA Certification
Bloomington, IN – Linda Duncan, a key analyst with Trace Investigations’ background screening business, has received the FCRA Basic Certification from the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and the states’ counterparts govern the pre-employment and post-employment screening of job applicants. Background Trace provides background investigations and screening services to Indiana’s small business and corporate communities.

August 2016 — Don C. Johnson, CLI Reappointed to Licensing Board
Indianapolis, IN – On August 3, 2016 Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed an order reappointing Trace Investigations founder and CEO, Don C. Johnson, CLI to the Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, a division of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Johnson has served on the licensing board since 2001 and is currently the board chairman.

February 2016 – Rebecca Gieselman Joins Trace Investigations
Bloomington, IN – A recent graduate of Indiana University with a major in journalism, Rebecca Gieselman has joined the investigations division of Trace Investigations as a legal investigator and research analyst. A lifelong resident of Bloomington, “Becca” will specialize in social media research and case support services in civil and criminal investigations.

January 2016 – Linda Duncan Joins Trace Investigations
Bloomington, IN – Linda Duncan of Ellettsville, Indiana, formerly of New York, has joined the pre-employment screening division of Trace Investigations as a research analyst. Linda comes from a background in human resource management and information services.

November 2015 – Local Investigator Panelist at International Conference
Bloomington, IN – Local private investigator Don C. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, Inc., was a panelist at the annual conference of the International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators in New Orleans in November. Licensing regulators and industry representatives from 25 states, two Canadian provinces and Paris, France were in attendance. Johnson is chairman of the Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board. He was part of a panel and roundtable discussion on how threats and disruptors in the regulated sectors threaten public safety.

June 2015 – Local Investigator Achieves National Certification
Bloomington, IN – Tina M. Skirvin, a legal investigator with Trace Investigations, Inc. in Bloomington, has been awarded the Certified Criminal Defense Investigator designation by the Criminal Defense Training Council. The Council “… encourages the philosophical and methodical approach to the investigative process…” and recognizes criminal defense as “… a highly specialized discipline within itself.” A former paralegal and criminal court reporter, Ms. Skirvin has been with Trace Investigations since 2008.

May 2015 – Local Investigator Elected to Lead National Association
Bloomington, IN – Don C. Johnson, Certified Legal Investigator and owner of Trace Investigations in Bloomington, is the incoming National Director of the National Association of Legal Investigators, the nation’s leading professional association providing continuing education and training for investigators who provide litigation support for trial attorneys in the civil and criminal courts.

March 2015 – Local Investigator Recognized in Successful Court Trial
Bloomfield, IN – Tina Skirvin, with Trace Investigations in Bloomington, worked side by side with attorney Kitty Liell in the successful defense and acquittal of a client by a Greene County jury on March 13. Tina’s uncovering of evidence proved critical to the “Stand Your Ground” self-defense in a murder case.

June 2014 – Christine Koryta Joins Trace Investigations’ Background Screening Division
Bloomington, IN – Christine Koryta has joined Trace Investigations as the managing partner of its pre-employment screening service. Christine brings with her several years of experience in organizational administration and resource management. Christine is a member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners, the Indiana Association of Background Screeners and the South Central Indiana Human Resource Association, a division of the national SHRM.

May 2014 – Local Investigator Receives Special Training
Bloomington, IN – Tina Skirvin, with Trace Investigations, Inc. in Bloomington, attended the annual conference of the National Defender Investigator Association, April 24-26 in New Orleans. NDIA is the only national organization dedicated solely to continuing education for the investigative arm of indigent defense.

January 2014 – Trace Investigations Launches New Website
Bloomington, IN – One of southern Indianan’s best known private investigation firms has launched a new website. Don C. Johnson, the firm’s owner said, “Technology moves fast and our new website better reflects the benefits we bring to our market.” Johnson founded Trace Investigations in Bloomington in 1990.

January 2014 – Tina M. Skirvin Joins Trace Investigations, Inc.
Bloomington, IN – Tina M. Skirvin of Bloomington is the latest full time employee of Trace Investigations, Inc. Tina has been with the firm since 2008 as a part-time investigator, in addition to her duties as a criminal court reporter in Monroe County Circuit Court. Previously, Tina worked as a paralegal at a Bloomington law firm.

April 2013 – Trace Investigations Team Praised
Bloomington, IN – Attorneys with the Indiana Public Defender Council praised a team of investigators from Trace Investigations in Bloomington for their work in a criminal defense investigation in Greene County. Tina Skirvin and Don C. Johnson were recognized for “…their help tracking and wearing down people who just really didn’t want to get involved.”

August 2012 – Bloom Magazine Profiles Trace Investigations
Bloomington, IN – Trace Investigations, Inc. was profiled in the fall issue of Bloom Magazine in Bloomington, Indiana. The article, “The Life of a Private Eye Ain’t What You See in Old Movies,” highlighted the firm’s work in its Business and Finance section. Trace Investigations was established in Bloomington in 1990 by Don C. Johnson, a former military intelligence analyst.

July 2012 – IU Graduate Joins Trace Investigations, Inc.
Bloomington, IN – Ashley D. Reger, with a major in criminal justice from Indiana University, has joined Bloomington private investigations firm Trace Investigations, Inc. During her senior year, Ashley worked at Trace Investigation in its background screening division.

December 2011 – Local Investigator Honored for His Leadership
Bloomington, IN – At its annual meeting in Indianapolis, the Indiana Society of Professional Investigators recognized Don C. Johnson, CLI, founder of Trace Investigations, Inc. in Bloomington for his “leadership and dedication” in advancing the private investigation profession in Indiana. Johnson is a founding member and past president of the society.

March 2009 – Local Investigator Recognized by National Group
Bloomington, IN – The National Council of Investigation and Security Services awarded Don C. Johnson, CLI, of Trace Investigations, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana its 2009 “Excellence Award” for his many years of service as editor of NCISS’s quarterly journal, The Report.

January 2007 – Legal Investigator Don C. Johnson Elected Chairman of Licensing Board
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington legal investigator Don C. Johnson, CLI was re-elected as chairman and president of the Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board at its January meeting. The PISG Board, known previously as the Private Detective Licensing Board, is a division of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, Inc., was appointed to the board by the late Governor O’Bannon.

December 2006 – Trace Investigations Moves to New Offices
Bloomington, IN – Local firm Trace Investigations is moving to new offices in downtown Bloomington to support new growth and better serve its clients. For more information on the firm go to www.traceinvestigations.com.

July 2006 – Trace Investigations Recognized for Its Work in the Harper Case
Bloomington, IN – A team of private investigators from Trace Investigations in Bloomington, Indiana were recognized for their work in their criminal defense investigation in the People of Illinois vs. Julie Rae Harper. Ms. Harper was found innocent in the murder of her son. The Trace Investigations team helped establish reasonable doubt by placing a known spree killer near Julie’s home the week of the crime. Her defense was led by attorneys from the Innocence Project at Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern University School of Law.

April 2006 – IU Graduate Joins Trace Investigations, Inc.
Bloomington, IN – Michael J. Koryta, with a major in criminal justice from Indiana University, has joined Bloomington private investigations firm Trace Investigations, Inc. as an investigator. While at IU Michael worked part-time at Trace and at the Herald Times as a reporter.

March 2003 – Local Investigator Receives National Award
Bloomington, IN – The National Council of Investigation and Security Services awarded Don C. Johnson, CLI, of Trace Investigations, Bloomington, Indiana its prestigious Wayne J. Wunder Memorial Award. The Wunder Award is given each year to someone “For dedication, leadership and distinguished service to the private investigation and security professions.”

February 2003 – Local Investigator Article on Gypsies and Irish Travelers Published by National Magazine
Bloomington, IN – PI Magazine, a journal for professional investigators, has published an article by Don C. Johnson, CLI in its January/February issue. “Gypsies, Travelers and Thieves” profiles the Roma and Irish clans involved in criminal enterprises throughout the U.S. Johnson is the founder of Trace Investigations in Bloomington, Indiana.

July 2002 – Local Investigator Presents at National Conference
Bloomington, IN – Certified legal investigator Don C. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, Bloomington, Indiana, was a featured speaker at the Investigators Super Conference in New Orleans last month. Johnson and colleague George Michael Newman of San Diego gave a presentation on “Investigating Suspicious Fatalities,” profiling cases where incorrect determinations were made at death scenes by coroners.

April 2002 – Bloomington Investigator Authors Chapter in Reference Text
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington private investigator Don C. Johnson has authored a chapter in another reference text for attorneys, corporate executives and investigators. Corporate Investigations, published by Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company last year. Johnson authored chapter 11, “The Due Diligence Investigation.” Chapters authored byJohnson appear in two previous publications from Lawyers & Judges, Advanced Forensic Civil Investigations and Advanced Forensic Criminal Investigations.

January 2002 – Local Investigation Firm Launches Pre-Employment Screening
Bloomington, IN – Trace Investigations of Bloomington now provides pre-employment screening and background investigations to a number of area businesses. The firm’s founder, Don C. Johnson said, “Since 9/11 businesses realize how important it is to have an effective program in place for screening job applicants.”

October 2001 – Governor Appoints Local Investigator to Licensing Board
Bloomington, IN – Governor Frank O’Bannon has appointed Bloomington private investigator Don C. Johnson to the Indiana Private Detective Licensing Board, a division of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The licensing board has final approval on all applications for the licensing of private investigator firms and security guard agencies in Indiana. Johnson’s firm, Trace Investigations, was established in Bloomington in 1990.

January 2001 – Becky Johnson Joins Trace Investigations, Inc.
Bloomington, IN – Rebecca Medlock Johnson has joined Trace Investigations as its Chief Financial Officer. Becky has a background in business development and banking. She was an officer with Bank One for a number of years.

November 2000 – Local Investigator Accepted Into International Council
Bloomington, IN – Trace Investigations, a private investigation firm in Bloomington, Indiana, has been granted membership in the Council of International Investigators, an association representing investigators from over two dozen countries. In granting the membership to Trace Investigations, the Council “reposed special trust and confidence” in the firm’s founder, Don C. Johnson.

April 2000 – Bloomington Investigator Authors Chapter in Reference Text
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington private investigator Don C. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, is a contributing author in a reference text for attorneys and investigators. Advanced Forensic Criminal Investigations is published by Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co. Johnson authored chapter 14 in the book, “Suicide Determination in an Equivocal Death Investigation.”

July 1997 – Local Investigator Receives National Certification
Bloomington, IN – The National Association of Legal Investigators presented its distinguished Certified Legal Investigator designation to private investigator Don C. Johnson at its annual conference in Chicago last month. There are less than 100 CLIs in the country. The certification requires publication of a white paper and a day of intensive testing and peer examination. At the same conference, Johnson’s white paper, “Suicide Investigations,” won first place among NALI’s editor/publisher awards.

June 1997 – Bloomington Investigator Authors Chapter in Reference Text
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington private investigator Don C. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, is a contributing author in a reference text for attorneys and investigators. Advanced Forensic Civil Investigations is published by Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co. Johnson authored chapter 32 in the book, “Libel and Slander Investigations.”

May 1995 – Buddy Newlin Joins Trace Investigations, Inc.
Bloomington, IN – Longtime Bloomington resident Nigel “Buddy” Newlin has joined local firm Trace Investigations as a surveillance operative and process server. Buddy is a veteran of the US Army and served with the First Infantry Division, “The Big Red One,” during the Vietnam era.

November 1993 – Owner of Trace Investigations Joins an Advisory Committee
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington-based private investigator Don C. Johnson, owner of Trace Investigations, has joined an advisory committee on the establishment of a digital court records database, in an agreement between AT&T and the Indianapolis/Marion County government.

September 1990 – A New Private Investigation Firm Has Opened
Bloomington, IN – Don C. Johnson, a former military intelligence analyst and insurance defense investigator has opened Trace Investigations in Bloomington, Indiana. Johnson spent the last five years working for private investigation firms around the country before opening his own agency. He is not new to the area, having attended Indiana University after serving in the U.S. Air Force. Johnson is a graduate of the U.S. Defense Language Institute.

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