OKIAAI BOARD MINUTES 10/24/2025

Date: October 24, 2025
Time: 11:14 AM
Location: Choctaw Casino in Durant, Ok
Call to Order: Made by President, Gina Coleman

Board Position Voting results: 

• Two First year board positions: Chad Oubre and Connor Ozment
• Treasurer position will remain Brian Cosner
• 2nd VP Mike Haley

 

Roll Call:

Present	Absent	Position	Incoming Board	Past Board
☒	☐	Pres	Gina Coleman	Steve Rhodes
☐	☒	1st VP	Johnnie Sawyer	Gina Coleman
☒	☐	2nd VP	Mike Haley	Johnnie Sawyer
☒	☐	3rd yr.	Heather Cropper	Connor Ozment
☒	☐	3rd yr.	Matthew Meredith	Chad Oubre
☒	☐	2nd yr.	Tim Reeves	Heather Cropper
☒	☐	2nd yr.	Mike Haley	Matthew Meredith
☒	☐	1st yr.	Chad Oubre	Tim Reeves
☒	☐	1st yr.	Connor Ozment	Mike Haley
☒	☐	Treasurer	Brian Cosner	Brian Cosner
☒	☐	Secretary	Jesse Benne	Jesse Benne
☒	☐	Past Pres.	Steve Rhodes	David VanBuskirk

 

Reading and Approval of Minutes: A Motion was made to forgo the reading of the previous meeting minutes.

** Due to technical difficulties, the voting members were not recorded. **

Membership Report: Jesse gave the following report:

• 93 Returning Members
• 28 New Members
• 4 Members not attending
• 125 Total members

A Motion was made by Heather Cropper to accept the Website report, seconded by Mike Haley, motion approved and carried.

Website Report: Jesse stated that this year the website is set up for member login feature to be enabled, email addresses will be uploaded and users will have to be a member to sign up for the conference. That will require a $20 membership fee, and conference pricing will not include membership fees.

A Motion was made by Matthew Meredeth to accept the Website report, seconded by Mike Haley, motion approved and carried.

Treasurer’s Report & 501(c)3: Brian Cosner gave the following report:

• 501 Exempt status
• Last year after 2024 conference balance was $32,039.33
• Current balance after all payments and costs is $31,677.80
• Burn camp donations Total $5,170
  • $2,610 Tickets
• Direct donations
  • $550 Thunder tickets Fire Marshal Broken Arrow
  • $260 Whiskey
  • $1750 Checks from Hugh Graham and Analytical Forensics
• Last year was $3,328.00

A Motion was made by Jesse Benne to increase the donation to the burn camp amount by $1,000, seconded by Hugh Grahm, motion approved and carried.

A Motion was made by Brian Cosner to add $1,000 of our funds to the Magalassi Foundation, seconded by Jesse Benne, motion approved and carried.

New balance is now $29,677.80.

A Motion was made by Jesse Benne to accept the Treasurer’s & 501(c)3 report, seconded by Steve Rush, motion approved and carried.

CFI: Johnny Sawyer was not present, Chad Oubre stated there were changes to the CFI process, and that the board will be a resource for those that need assistance. There are  new requirements for 1033 JPR skills to be checked by selected individuals. The board has a few that meet the requirements. If others have been selected if they will notify the board we can get people in contact with those as needed.

A Motion was made by Jesse Benne to accept the CFI committee report, seconded by Mike Haley, motion approved and carried.

Training:  Chad Oubre gave the following report:

• OSU-OKC program is up and running, reach out to Chad Oubre if members are having trouble getting in.
• IAAI is going to be regularly hold Basic Fire Investigation courses at the Edmond Fire Department Training Center.
• Training committee has been organized, still looking for some members, especially from SW and NW part of the state.
• We have several programs we’re going to be trying to launch in 2026 including individual training. Main ones we’re focusing on will be a utilities examination/documentation class and compartment fire dynamics class. Also looking to create a mentorship program to connect seasoned members with newer fire investigators.
• If anyone is interested in being on the committee, or helping on any of these projects please email training@okiaai.org

A Motion was made by Jesse Benne to accept the Training committee report, seconded by Blythe Headding, motion approved and carried.

Business from the floor:

• No new business

Next Meeting: The next meeting is TBD with new board members after looking at schedules

Motion to adjourn was made by Mike Haley seconded by Johnny Hoffman, motion approved and carried.