Liz DeChellis Joins Faculty for 2026 AWI Virtual Training Institute
Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation is pleased to announce that Partner Liz DeChellis will serve as faculty for the 2026 Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) Virtual Training Institute for Workplace Investigators, taking place November 1–6, 2026.
The AWI Virtual Training Institute brings together experienced workplace investigators and professionals for an intensive program focused on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct high-quality, impartial workplace investigations. AWI faculty are recognized leaders in the field who bring extensive practical experience to the Institute.
As a member of the 2026 faculty, Liz will share her experience and expertise with participants as they develop and strengthen their workplace investigation skills.
Liz has extensive experience conducting workplace and Title IX investigations and regularly provides training on investigation-related topics. Her participation as faculty reflects Van Dermyden Makus’ ongoing commitment to advancing the quality and practice of workplace investigations.
We’re proud to have Liz represent Van Dermyden Makus as part of the 2026 AWI Virtual Training Institute faculty.
More About the Institute:
The Virtual Institute consists of five days of training, including +10 hours of small group sessions with our experienced faculty, and a series of three tests. Students who pass the tests will receive a certificate indicating that they have mastered the materials and will be permitted to place the designation ‘AWI-CH’ after their name.
Virtual Institute Faculty
AWI Institute Faculty are recognized experts in their fields, have completed the Institute Training, passed all of the assessment tests and hold the designation of Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH). Below is a list of the full-time and part-time faculty that will be present at the Virtual Institute.
Virtual Training Institute Chair
Alex Sperry, Law Office of Alexander Sperry
Faculty
Shannon Anthony, City of Toronto
Susan Arduengo, Arduengo Investigations, PLC
Marisol Arzate, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Robert Beard, Southern Company Services
Carl Botterud, Botterud Law Workplace Investigations
Debbie Brown, Brown Law and Consulting, PLLC
Sandra Bryant, Cisco
Liz DeChellis, Van Dermyden Makus Law Corp.
Monica Jeffrey, JMJ Workplace Investigation Law LLP
Andrea Kelly Smethurst, Andrea Kelly Smethurst Law, P.C.
Tracy Law, Ellis Investigations Law Corporation
Tyler Marik, University of California (Los Angeles)
Amy Oakley, Auto Club Group
George Chris Odom, Mississippi Power Company
Cara Panebianco, Stallard Panebianco PC
Elena Paraskevas-Thadani, EPT Legal, LLC
Carole Ross, Ross Employment Law
Wyatt Ryder, Cisco Systems
Robyn Sembenini, Meyer Nave
Shannon Shrewsbury, Law Office of Shannon Shrewsbury
Lizbeth West, Weintraub Tobin
Sam Wise, Clarity HR Solutions
