FSIO Meeting Minutes 2026

Meeting Minutes for the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio

A Meeting of the FSIO was called to order at 10:03 am, on March 12, 2026, at the Ohio Fire Academy, Room 2304, 8895 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. President Lynne Strainic (BCI-London) presided over the meeting.

The following Members and guests were also present in person or via Microsoft Teams: Dan Baker (Franklin Co.), Cody Braley (Canton-Stark Co.), Bob Budgake (Canton/Stark-Retired), Morgan Caplinger (Franklin Co.), Catherine Dasenbrock (USFDA), Rebecca DeRienz (Franklin Co.). Brooke Ehlers (Miami Valley), Tim Elliget (Central Ohio Regional – Newark), Kylie Graham (BCI-Richfield), Jennifer Hobbs (Franklin Co.), Crystal Oechsle (BGSU), Abby Schwaderer BCI-London), Brian Scowden (Hamilton Co.), Heather Sheskey (OSHP), Meredith Sweeney (Columbus), Shaena Taylor (Cuyahoga Co.), Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshal) and Mengliang Zhang (Ohio U.). A quorum was present. Thirteen (13) of the eighteen (18) eligible voters attended.

Incoming President Lynne Strainic introduced herself.  She has been a member of the FSIO for 15 years and works in the drug chemistry unit at BCI-London.  Lynne plans to send out a survey to our forensic community, asking for input regarding the FSIO’s future direction.

Secretary Budgake presented the minutes of the December 11, 2025, Annual Meeting. The minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Tim Elliget.  All Members voted in the affirmative.

Chad Wissinger proffered the Treasurer’s report. Chad disclosed that the FSIO has a checking, PayPal and savings account balance of $28,818. The Tong Award’s Fund CD has a balance of $34,439 with a checking account balance of $4,385.

Old Business:

Discussion regarding a future ANAB technical assessor five-day training course was led by Lynne Strainic.  This course is planned for the BCI London facility in July 2026. The cost will be $19,560 for up to ten attendees and $1,300 for each additional attendee, up to a maximum twenty participants. Lynne queried the meeting attendees and there was already sufficient interest to exceed the 10-student minimum threshold.  A discussion ensued regarding the FSIO subsidizing this course and the membership expressed interest in subsidizing doing such. Lynne indicated that she would get an official attendee headcount and a total cost for this course.  Lynne will call an FSIO Board meeting (Dan Baker, Bob Budgake, Tim Elliget, Lynne Strainic and Chad Wissinger) to convene, prior to our June meeting, to decide the amount, if any, the FSIO is willing subsidize this event.

Lynne Strainic revealed that Heather Sheskey and herself started the annual audit of the Treasurer’s records for 2025 but did not have time to complete it.  They will report back to the FSIO at our June meeting.

Chad Wissinger continues to research the possibility of the FSIO hosting a court testimony workshop in central Ohio that meets the ANAB training requirements.  He would like to replicate the course, which was held for BCI employees, with the assistance of Jeff Lynn (BGSU). Lynne Strainic offered to assist Chad in the development of this course.  

New Business:

Lynne Strainic led a lengthy discussion regarding Ohio’s emergency scheduling of mitragynine related drugs as schedule I opiates, but not kratom in its natural vegetation state. This included a discussion regarding the lack of analytical standards for some of these compounds and the sudden need to develop and validated procedures to identify. Shaena Taylor gave the membership insight regarding analytical issues they have encountered.  They recently received a 158-item case regarding this topic, from a business seizure.  The retention times for 7-HO and Pseudo via GCMS are close together. They discussed this issue with other labs, and the consensus was to report their results as 7-HO/Pseudo, since both are Schedule I drugs.  Also, another issue that arose is differentiating mitragynine from Dihydro‑7‑HO.  In the above-mentioned case, they do have mitragynine, but they’re not confident whether it’s one versus the other. For now, they are holding those items and only reporting the 7‑HO/Pseudo positives. With this case they are above 3,000 grams with what they confirmed.  Mengliang Zhang (zhangm4@ohio.edu ) volunteered that they have developed an LCMS procedure for the identification of these compounds and is willing to share their methods. He also indicated that they are working on an LCMS method for the identification of the various THC isomers.

Lynne Strainic informed the group to be on the lookout for the restarting of the DEA drug chemist seminar, which was paused since COVID.

The next meeting of the FSIO will be at 10 am, Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the BCI-London facility, 1560 State Route 56 SW, London, OH 43140, with the option of attending via Microsoft Teams.  Chad Wissinger was unable to host this meeting due to remodeling/construction being done at their facility. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Chad Wissinger.  All Members voted in the affirmative.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am. Motion, Chad Wissinger; Second, Bob Budagke.  All Members voted in the affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert E. Budgake, Secretary, FSIO

Meeting Minutes for the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio

A Meeting of the FSIO was called to order at 10:05 am, on June 11, 2026, at the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy, Room 145, 1650 State Route 56 SW, London, Ohio. President Lynne Strainic (BCI-London) presided over the meeting.

The following Members and guests were also present in person or via Microsoft Teams: Michelle Ball (Columbus), Jacinta Batson (USFDA), Cody Braley (Canton-Stark Co.), Bob Budgake (Canton/Stark-Retired), Morgan Caplinger (Franklin Co.), Tammy Darden (State Fire Marshal), Rebecca DeRienz (Franklin Co.), Brooke Ehlers (Miami Valley), Angela Farrington (Columbus), Kylie Graham (BCI-Richfield), Jennifer Hobbs (Franklin Co.), Laura Kimble (Hamilton Co.), Andrew Kowski (Franklin Co. Intern), Andrea McAllister (Columbus), Zianne Olverson (Franklin Co. Intern), Abby Schwaderer (BCI-London), Heather Sheskey (OSHP), Jamie Spaulding (BGSU), Drew Spindler (Franklin Co. Intern), Meredith Sweeney (Columbus), Shaena Taylor (Cuyahoga Co.), Andrew VanPelt (Columbus), Brandon Werry (OSHP), Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshal) and Mengliang Zhang (Ohio U.). A quorum was present. Eleven (11) of the eighteen (18) eligible voters attended.

President Strainic queried if there were any amendments to the agenda. None were expressed. Motion to accept the agenda as written, Angela Farrington; Second, Brandon Werry. All Members voted in the affirmative.

Secretary Budgake presented the minutes of the March 12, 2026, Meeting. The minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion, Angela Farrington; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.

Chad Wissinger proffered the Treasurer’s report. Chad disclosed that the FSIO has a checking, PayPal and savings account balance of $28,842. The Tong Award’s Fund has a balance of $38,839.

Old Business:

Discussion regarding a future ANAB technical assessor five-day training course was led by Lynne Strainic. She stated that she already has obtained commitments from 15 attendees but would like to reach the ANAB maximum of 25, which will make it cheaper for everyone. She has yet to hear back from 5 to 6 labs. This course is now planned for the BCI London or OPOTA facilties, the week of November 2nd, 2026. The cost will depend on the total number of attendees. The group preferred an August 1st date for final attendee commitments, so proper travel approval can be obtained and the costs calculated. Also, Lynne plans to reach out to the FSIO Board (Baker, Budgake, Elliget, Strainic, Wissinger) to consider subsidizing some of the tuition for FSIO Members, not to exceed $10,000. Lynne stated to be on the lookout for further communication from her regarding this matter.

Lynne Strainic revealed that Heather Sheskey and herself completed the 2025 annual audit of the Treasurer’s records. They found one minor transcription error which has been corrected. Everything else was found in order and accounted for.

A lengthy discussion ensued regarding a future court testimony workshop in central Ohio that meets the ANAB training requirements. Lynne Strainic revealed that Abby Schwaderer reached out to OPOTA, regarding developing such a course, for use on a regular basis. There is no update regarding these conversations. The members expressed some concerns that OPOTA may restrict attendance to police personnel. Also, they want have a say in the course development to make sure that it meets our needs. Lynne indicated that further updates will be forthcoming.

Lynne Strainic shared some of the results of the FSIO survey that she distributed to the membership. She cautioned that the number of surveys returned was small but advised that they still can be completed and returned to her Lynne.Strainic@ohioago.gov . She stated the consensus expressed that quarterly meetings were the right amount, but the FSIO needed to do a better job at fulfilling our mission of providing training/educational programs more regularly. Also, a few expressed concerns sharing some information, since it is recorded in the minutes. Secretary Budgake advised that one can go off the record when speaking of sensitive matters. Lynne promised to send out the survey results to the membership.

Angela Farrington suggested the meeting attendees introduce themselves, which proceeded.

New Business:

Bob Budgake presented the Membership application of Andrew (Drew) VanPelt. Drew is a Forensic Scientist III and DNA Technical Leader at the Columbus Crime Lab. Motion to approve the application, Angela Farrington; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.

A question arose regarding Student membership in the FSIO. Bob Budgake indicated that at one time the FSIO had this category but eliminated it in 2014. Bob will research this matter and report back.

Brandon Werry proposed an Ohio drug analyst meeting in 2027. Meredith Sweeney indicated that Jen Watson (Miami Valley) was interested in organizing a tri-state drug analyst meeting, also in 2027. Brandon stated that he would get in touch with Jen. Brandon also requested that any topics of interest or presenter suggestions be sent his way bwerry@dps.ohio.gov . He will reach out to CFSRE. Meredith suggested Jennie Cox, of NIOSH, as a speaker regarding drug exposure in laboratories.

Angela Farrington strongly encouraged the other disciplines to consider organizing statewide meetings. Also, the group was queried regarding supervisor training suggestions with none offered.

Lynne Strainic indicated it was time for the Board to review the FSIO Code of Regulations. She also praised our academic members for their partnership regarding assistance with validations and other matters. Mengliang Zhang also shared the importance of this organization to their academic mission.

The next meeting of the FSIO will be at 10 am, Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy, 1650 State Route 56 SW, London, Ohio, with the option of attending via Microsoft Teams. Chad Wissinger was unable to host this meeting due to remodeling/construction being done at their facility. Motion, Brandon Werry; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.

The meeting adjourned at 11:10 am. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Brandon Werry. All Members voted in the affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert E. Budgake, Secretary, FSIO