Instructors & Investigators

Douglas E. Wicklander

Douglas E. Wicklander received his B.S. degree from Athens College, Athens, Alabama, in 1971 and a M.S. degree in detection of deception from Reid College in 1972.

Mr. Wicklander was employed by John E. Reid and Associates from June 1971 to October 1980 as a Director of the Behavioral Analysis Division, polygraph examiner and instructor of polygraph and criminal interrogation. In October 1980, Mr. Wicklander was assigned as a sales representative with Reid Psychological Systems, which markets paper and pencil honesty tests for job applicants and existing employees.

Mr. Wicklander is a founding partner of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc.  He is a licensed polygraph examiner in the states of Illinois and Indiana. He has personally conducted over 10,000 polygraph examinations and interviews. He has authored a number of papers and has co-authored, with David Zulawski, the text Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, 2nd Edition. Mr. Wicklander also sits on the Advisory Committee of the Center for Interviewer Standards and Assessment and worked to develop the Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) certification examination.

David E. Zulawski

David E. Zulawski is a 1973 graduate of Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.  After college, Mr. Zulawski spent two years with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad as a Special Agent primarily investigating thefts from interstate shipments in northern Illinois.  He then accepted a police officer position with the Barrington, Illinois Police Department. As a police officer, his duties included patrol, investigations and evidence technician.  In 1978, He joined the staff of John E. Reid and Associates as a polygraph examiner, seminar instructor and was later named Director of the Police and Fire Applicant Screening Division at the firm. In 1980, Mr. Zulawski joined Reid Psychological Systems as a sales representative marketing paper and pencil honesty tests.

Mr. Zulawski is a founding partner of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. and is responsible for research and development.   He is a licensed polygraph examiner in Illinois and Indiana and has personally conducted over 9,000 interviews and polygraph examinations.  Mr. Zulawski also is Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Center for Interviewer Standards and Assessment and worked to develop the Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) certification examination.

David Zulawski has co-authored the text Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation, 2^nd Edition, with Douglas E. Wicklander. In addition, he writes, along with Shane Sturman, an ongoing column in Loss Prevention magazine on topics relating to investigation and interviewing. Mr. Zulawski has also authored training programs and acted as a consultant during the writing and filming of numerous interactive computer video programs relating to interview and interrogation.  He has also testified as an expert witness in the areas of interview and interrogation.

Shane G. Sturman

Shane G. Sturman started with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. in 1994 as a seminar speaker and Co-Director of Investigations. In 1999, Mr. Sturman was named Vice President of Operations, and in November 2004 he was named President of the firm. Mr. Sturman is a nationally recognized speaker on Interview and Interrogation Techniques and has presented hundreds of seminars on the topic to federal agencies, law enforcement and the private sector. As an investigator, Mr. Sturman has personally conducted thousands of interviews and interrogations for both private and public agencies.

Mr. Sturman started his career with Target Stores in Southern California as a store detective. With over 22 years of experience in loss prevention, he has held many positions including Director of Loss Prevention for Price Savers Membership Warehouse.

Mr. Sturman received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Sturman is also a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, a member of the ASIS Retail Council, a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI).

L. Wayne Hoover

L. Wayne Hoover started with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. as the Undercover Coordinator. Since Mr. Hoover has been employed at Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc., he has become the Vice-President of CFI Programming for the Center for Interviewer Standards & Assessment Ltd. (CISA), a company affiliated with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. CISA provides the certification process for qualified Interviewers and Interrogators to become a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI).

While working with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. Mr. Hoover has conducted thousands of interviews and interrogations for both the private and public sectors. He has also taught hundreds of seminars on Interview and Interrogation Techniques, both domestically and internationally.

Mr. Hoover was a member of the Illinois Fire & Police Commissioners Association for 6 years. Mr. Hoover was a Police Commissioner for North Aurora, Illinois, Police Department. He is a Certified Forensic Interviewer and a member of ASIS. Mr. Hoover  received a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.  Wayne currently lives in Sugar Grove, Illinois with his wife Stefanie and four children; Brittany, Brett, Greg and Payton.

Brett L. Ward

Brett L. Ward is a renowned speaker for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc., who has led over 750 seminars on Interview & Interrogation Techniques for private, law enforcement and government entities. Mr. Ward, also a consultant for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. has conducted hundreds of investigations throughout the United States for both the public and private sectors. Since employed with W-Z, Mr. Ward has spoken at several national organizations’ annual meetings including the National Retail Federation (NRF), American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), Eye For Retail – Europe, and the Labor & Employment Conference – HR (SHRM). Mr. Ward has extensive training in the government sector including such clients as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS), and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) where courses were taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA.

Brett began his career in corporate investigations in 1988 with the former May Company – Foley’s Division. He held multiple positions throughout his tenure including Area Investigator and Corporate Investigations Manager.  Mr. Ward was promoted to Regional Investigator over multiple states in 1996 before accepting his position with Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. in April 1998.  He currently runs the Private Division for WZ, a responsibility including 240+ clients and 150+ contractual and open registration programs annually.

Mr. Ward graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and received a BS degree in Finance – Business Administration. Mr. Ward currently lives in Houston, Texas with his son Drew Roderick.

Christopher P. Norris

Christopher P. Norris- Director of Webinar Training and WZ Europe and International Training, is a speaker for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc. (WZ). Chris has over 25 years of experience in the loss prevention and investigative fields. He has trained thousands of human resource, audit, loss prevention, security and law enforcement professionals on the art of interview and interrogation and has conducted numerous investigations for both private companies and public agencies.  Chris has provided interview training in North America and internationally, including seminars simultaneously translated into French, Spanish, German and Polish. 

Since joining WZ in 2000, Chris has presented at several national meetings including the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Canadian Association of Police Polygraphists, Retail Council of Canada (RCC), Asociacion Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD), American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) and National Child Advocacy Conference (NCAC).  He is a regular guest instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center providing training to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility (ICE OPR), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Services, and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Criminal Investigator and Audit Academies, among others.  Chris has even had the privilege and unique task of providing training at the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Chris began his career as an Asset Protection Officer for Mervyn’s Department Stores inPhoenix,Arizona. He also held Asset Protection Manager and District Investigator positions with Mervyn’s inTulsa,Oklahoma.  Chris held positions as Loss Prevention Manager forSaks Fifth AvenueinChicago,Illinoisand Corporate Loss Prevention Manager and Director of Investigations for Merchants Home Delivery Service, Inc.  where he was responsible for all investigations, interviews, and awareness programs throughoutNorth America.  He also had the unique task of creating hiring protocol programs and recruiting for the company.

Chris holds degrees in Liberal Arts and Business Management, is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, and is a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI^®). 

Michael G. Reddington

Michael G. Reddington is a featured instructor who has facilitated hundreds of Interview and Interrogation training programs throughout the United States, England, Ireland and Canada. He has facilitated seminars for federal agencies, law enforcement agencies, human resource professionals, auditors and loss prevention professionals. Since being employed with WZ, Mr. Reddington has presented at several national conferences including the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and has provided training for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).  In addition, Mr. Reddington is responsible for conducting and coordinating investigations for both the public and private sectors for WZ.

Mr. Reddington began his career with Sears in loss prevention, as a detective in their Manchester, New Hampshire location and continued with Sears in Connecticut and New Jersey. Mr. Reddington’s career in LP management continued with Bloomingdale’s in the metropolitan New York City region where he earned their loss prevention National Investigative Excellence award for two consecutive years prior to joining Wicklander-Zulawski.

Prior to his career in Loss Prevention Mr. Reddington spent five years teaching disabled children. During that time he spoke to groups of teachers from around the country regarding innovations in the field of educating the disabled. Mr. Reddington graduated with honors from Southern New Hampshire University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Angela M. Nino

Angela M. Nino conducts interviews and investigations as a consultant for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates. She is also a seminar speaker for Wicklander-Zulawski Interview and Interrogation training programs.

Angela attended Temple University where she graduated with honors and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. While attending, Angela rowed for the varsity women’s crew team where she was recognized as First Team Mid-Atlantic All Region and team MVP.

After graduating college Angela planned and organized a major fundraiser for the Police Athletic League in Abington Township which raised over $100,000 in two years. She continued her career as a dispatcher with the Montgomery Township Police Department and the Abington Township Police Department in Pennsylvania.

Angela moved to the private sector as an Executive Team Leader – Asset Protection for Target in the Philadelphia area. Angela was responsible for employee investigations and interrogations for multiple stores as well as external theft and Organized Retail Crime investigations. At Target she was an instructor for Employee Interviewing techniques, Shoplifter Apprehensions and Retail Environment Investigations. Angela also facilitated training for new executives.

Angela continued her career as the Asset Protection Area Manager for Ralph Lauren in New York City where she was responsible for 9 stores, including 3 flagship locations in the Manhattan area. Angela developed training for Asset Protection supervisors and employees that included composing a question and answer review to verify comprehension of company policies and role play exercises to demonstrate understanding of policies in realistic situations.

Angela utilizes her strong background in retail to provide resolutions for a variety of internal issues to the clients of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates.

John J. Guzman

John J. Guzman, CFI, graduated from St. Xavier University in 1973 and received a Master of Science degree in 1984 from Chicago State University. After attending the Reid College in 1977, he was employed by Robert E. Cummins, Inc. as a polygraph examiner and behavioral analysis interviewer. Mr. Guzman worked in the private sector administering polygraph examinations and conducting interrogations until he accepted a position with the Chicago Police Department in 1978. While working with the department, he continued to conduct polygraph examinations for Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc.

Mr. Guzman was assigned as a uniformed patrol officer until 1981, when he became a member of the elite Special Operations Group and Gang Crime Unit. His assignments included uniform patrol and plainclothes tactical operations. In 1986, he was promoted to the rank of Gang Crime Specialist and investigated gang related criminal activity, including homicides, drive-by shootings, and narcotic trafficking. Mr. Guzman has been qualified as an expert witness and has lectured on street gangs before national gang conferences, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood groups and civic organizations. Mr. Guzman wrote the Gang Reference Book for the Chicago Police Department and was a gang awareness instructor for the department.

After retiring from the Chicago Police Department, Mr. Guzman moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and continued his law enforcement career by joining the New Mexico Mounted Patrol as a trooper. In 2005 he was promoted to Lieutenant. His duties include uniformed patrol, special investigations and training.

In 2004, Mr. Guzman was elected to the Board of Trustees for the New Mexico Crime Prevention Association. He belongs to the following professional organizations: Toastmasters International – CTM, National Major Gang Task Force, International Association of Latino Gang Investigators, National Association of School Resource Officers and the New Mexico Sheriffs and Police Association.

Lou Tessmann

Lou Tessmann, CFI, graduated from the Northeastern Illinois University in with a BA degree in English and Physical Education. Lou recently retired in 2005 as Deputy Chief for the Waukegan (Illinois) Police Department. As a veteran with over 21 years service, his tenure has given him a wide variety of experiences from patrol, to investigations, to training and ultimately Deputy Chief of Police.

Lou retired as a Marine Corps officer.  Mr. Tessmann was a combat veteran during Viet Nam and received numerous awards and decorations.  Lou began his career as a police officer with the City of Waukegan Illinois assigned to the patrol division.  Later, Mr. Tessmann was assigned to the detective bureau for nine years and as a juvenile officer for one year.   He recently retired as the Commander of the elite Lake County Major Crime Task Force.  The task force works on major criminal investigations relating to homicides, kidnappings, and police involved shootings.  Lou has received numerous awards for his accomplishments at the Waukegan Police Department and the Task Force. During his career, he has conducted thousands of interviews and interrogations.  Most noteworthy, Mr. Tessmann has obtained over 80 homicide confessions during his career with only three instances where he was unable to obtain a confession from the homicide suspect.

Lou Tessmann is a motivational speaker and delivers high enerty seminars to Police and non-police organizations.  He has been a guest speaker on programs such as the Discovery Channel, Real Detectives and America’s Most Wanted.

Lou  Tessmann  joined Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates,  Inc. as  an  interview  and interrogation instructor.  Since joining the company Mr. Tessmann has presented programs across the United States.  His presentations and obvious experience in interrogations never fail to achieve high marks from the participants.

Mr. Tessmann is a member of numerous professional and training organizations to include:

American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, International Homicide Investigators Association, and International Narcotics Officers Association to name a few.

Dennis R. Nebrich

Dennis R. Nebrich, CFI, is currently a Special Agent for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.  In 2007, Dennis retired from the Phoenix Police Department after 30 years of service, during which time he held a variety of positions.  Beginning as a Patrol Officer and later a Field Training Officer, he expanded his investigative knowledge as a Detective, Polygraph Examiner and Detective Supervisor.  His last position with the department was as a Sergeant in the Professional Standards Bureau.  Seeking a second career in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, Dennis is assigned as a Special Agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service.   Activated just prior to the Iraqi War in 2003, Dennis assisted with other agents in “Operation Drydock” a major investigation into the Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation program in conjunction with the National Joint Terrorism Task Force.  Released from Active Duty in October 2003, Dennis returned to his wife Jodie and their seven children, (five adopted).

A certified instructor, Dennis has taught interview and interrogation at the Phoenix Police Academy, community colleges, and has been a guest speaker for a number of state and federal agencies throughout the country.  Dennis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Education.

Thomas F. McGreal

Thomas F. McGreal, CFI, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Lewis University and a Masters of Business Administration Degree, with a concentration in Training and Performance Management, from St. Xavier University.

Mr. McGreal retired from the Chicago Police Department as a Homicide Detective with over twenty-nine years of service. Tom’s career included uniform patrol, Special Operations Group, assignment to State’s Attorney’s office and undercover assignments. As a Gang Crime Specialist he was recognized by the Cook County Courts as an expert witness. He also acted as a liaison between the Cook County Jail and the Chicago Police Department.

Tom was assigned to the Detective Division Training Staff and assisted with the coordination and training of newly promoted detectives at the Chicago Police Academy. He was also detailed to the Crime Analysis Unit of the Chicago Police Department collecting statistical information regarding homicides. His varied assignments and depth of experience makes him uniquely qualified to talk about difficult interviews and interrogations.

Tom is presently employed, as an investigator, with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is assigned to the Post Conviction / Capital Litigation Unit.

Jeffrey J. Pavletic has been a prosecutor with the Lake County State’s Attorneys Office for 18 years. During that time, he has been a criminal trial attorney (approximately 150 jury trials with a concentration on homicide and violent crime), was Chief of the Felony Review Division, and is currently the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney for the Lake County State’s Attorneys Office.

Mr. Pavletic has completed his service special counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in the impeachment of President Clinton. His duties included all aspects of independent counsel review, the impeachment inquiry, presentation of articles of impeachment to the U.S. House of Representatives, all witness interviews and depositions of trial witnesses, and participation in the impeachment trial before the U.S. Senate.

He has received numerous federal, state and local awards. These include the Illinois State Crime Commission State’s Attorney of the Year, Felony Trial Attorney of the Year, and special U.S. House of Representatives Award presented by Congressman Henry Hyde. Mr. Pavletic has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Court TV, and The Discovery Channel.

Keith Zupec

Keith Zupec is a 15 year veteran of the Waukegan, IL Police Department. He served for two years as a uniformed patrol officer before being promoted to detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. After three years, he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and then to Supervisor of the Criminal Investigations Division. Currently, Keith is second in command of the Adult Investigations Division and it’s 22 detectives, as well as second in command for the 27-member Waukegan Police Department SWAT Team. Keith also oversees and conducts all training for the members of the SWAT Team.

During his tenure with the Criminal Investigations Division, Keith conducted thousands of interviews and interrogations in over 150 death and homicide investigations. All of his homicide cases have been successfully concluded through either arrests or by outstanding arrest warrants.

Keith has received numerous state and local awards for his law enforcement service. He is a member of the International Homicide Investigators Association, the Illinois Tactical Officers Association, and the National Tactical Officers Association.

Manuel Raul Montez is a Forensic Pathology consultant based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Manny served as a Forensic Pathologist for the Coroner Bureau of the Riverside County (CA) Sheriff’s Department in Perris, California from 2000 to 2005. He also was City Medical Examiner I in the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner from 1997 to 1999. During the last three years, Manny has been a forensic pathologist in the Lake County (IL) Coroner’s Office. His duties include Death Investigation, including performing Autopsies and Death Certification, and Courtroom Testimony. During this assignment, he has taught in the field of forensic science for the Lake County Coroner’s Internship Program, Northwestern University, the Chicago Medical School, and the Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Illinois.

Manny is a recognized Subject Matter Expert and renowned lecturer in Forensic Pathology. Among the programs he has presented since 1995 are the following:

Forensic Medicine Lecture Series, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York, New York

The Role of the Medical Examiner in Arson Investigation, Arson Investigation Course, Mercy College, Bronx, New York

Forensic Pathology: Death Certification, EL-BEKAL Peace Officers Club, Anaheim, California

Forensic Pathology, Real Deal Specialty Lecture Series, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California

Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit Training Program, The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Riverside, California

Forensic Pathology: Death Certification, The College of Health Professions, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago,Illinois

Forensic Pathology: Death Investigation, Lake County Major Crime Task Force, Gurnee Police Department, Gurnee, Illinois

Forensic Pathology: Infanticide and Shaken Baby Syndrome, Lake County Illinois Bar Association, Capital Litigation Training Seminar, Gurnee, Illinois

Forensic Pathology: Death Investigation, Evidence Technician Training Program, Lake County Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Waukegan, Illinois

Manny’s education includes a B.S. in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA; a M.D. from the Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; an Internship in transitional Medicine at Framingham Union Hospital, Framingham, MA; Residency in Anesthesiology at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston MA; Residency in Anatomic Pathology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester MA; Fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York NY; and a Fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston MA.

His Academic Appointments include Clinical Instructor, Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Clinical Instructor, Department of Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York. Manny is currently licensed as an M.D in Illinois, California, and New York.

Richard “Rich” Milburn retired from the City of Mesa AZ Police Department after a twenty year career as a sworn police officer and detective. Mr. Milburn has conducted thousands of investigations including property crimes, sexual assaults and homicides and received numerous commendations for his efforts. Mr. Milburn worked eight years in a patrol function and served as a Field Training Officer for three of those years. Mr. Milburn transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division where he worked for twelve years investigating property crimes. After two years investigating burglaries Mr. Milburn assumed leadership of the Pawnshop Investigations Unit. While in this role Mr. Milburn became the president of the Arizona Pawn Property Recovery Law Enforcement Personnel Association. As president Mr. Milburn became a noted speaker on the topics of Organized Retail Crimes, law enforcement/retail relations, Pawnshops, and Scrap Yards around the United States.

Mr. Milburn has instructed at multiple police academies, was an Arizona Post Certified Instructor for over 15 years and is an adjunct instructor at the St. Petersburg College, MCTFT program. Mr. Milburn has been a featured speaker at the National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Conference and was a founding member of the Coalition for Law Enforcement and Retail association where he served as Vice President and is currently a Regional Director.

After retiring from the Mesa Police Department in 2009 Mr. Milburn worked as a Law Enforcement Consultant for SIRAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ninetendo America. This role provided the opportunity for Mr. Milburn to capitalize on his skills and experience by partnering with law enforcement agencies and retail organizations.

Rich holds  a BS Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix  and an AAS Degree in Criminal Justice from Mesa Community College. He currently lives in Newport Beach, California and is the proud father of his son Lawrence.

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