Operations Expert Witnesses

Hotel & Restaurant, Slip Trip & Fall - Slip, trip & fall, burns, choking, food safety, dram shop, alcohol, negligent security, employee safety, commercial kitchen, customer injuries, operations, management, franchise, ownership, permitting, training, investing, accounting, premises liability, OSHA, ADA, procedures, equipment design.

Award-winning restaurant executive. Helped create, open, run, and advise hundreds of full-service restaurants, limited-service, quick-service, bars and nightclubs. Additional expertise in restaurant franchising and commercial kitchen design/build from remodels to ground up including conceptual development, viability, and business interruption. Over 40 years in the restaurant industry as owner, operator, franchisor, consultant, President, Chief Operating Officer, and General Manager of numerous restaurant and food service establishments. Experienced restaurant investor and developer. Active restaurant owner with consulting business developing restaurant concepts and turning around existing establishments. Concepts worked on include: Joe's Crab Shack, Cask ‘n Cleaver, Lord Charlie’s, El Gato Gordo, Pizza Pronto, Safari Bar Restaurant, Shark Club, Bull Dog Grill, Stronghouse, Pangea, The Ballroom, Juarez Grill, Dickerson’s Club 29, Yucatan Liquor Stand, Zepp’s Atomic Tex Mex, Cab...

Hotel & Restaurant, Real Estate - Hospitality Industry, Management, Operations, Maintenance, Upkeep, Safety, Security, Employment, Wages, Harassment, Discrimination, Income and Economic Impact, Business Interruption Issues, Alcohol Service Handling, Food Safety, Construction, Equipment, Standard of Care, Customs and Trade Practices

– Over 35 years experience managing, operating and consulting on full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, all-suite, branded and franchised, condo and timeshare hotels and resorts, casual, fine-dining and quick-service restaurants, bars and nightclubs, catering and special event facilities, casinos, and mixed-use real estate. Held prior positions for different owners, operators and chains as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Director of Food & Beverage and Restaurant Unit Manager. – Retained over 400 projects including brands, franchises and independents across the United States, Mexico and Canada. - Earned Certificates in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University and Receiverships Administration, Procedures, and Law from Loyola Law School – Member of Foodservice Consultants Society International, Forensic Expert Witness Association, and Turnaround Management Association. - Over 10 years as A.M. Best’s “Recommended Expert Services Prov...

Supply Chain, Products Liability - Business Operations, Personal Injury, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Product Safety, Product Liability, Product Design, Quality Control, Distribution, Logistics, Safety Testing, Product Recall, Procurement, Safety Testing, Packaging, Operations, Labeling, Industry Standards, Best Practices

Dr. Zal Phiroz is a supply chain professor, and expert on manufacturing vulnerabilities causing personal injury, product liability, product recall, product defect, quality control, packaging and distribution. As a practitioner, Dr. Phiroz has held senior supply chain roles at Proctor & Gamble (NYSE:PG). As an academic, he has held faculty appointments at Harvard University, USC, MSU, and is a regularly invited keynote speaker on Supply Chain topics. In addition to holding a PhD in Supply Chain Management, Dr. Phiroz is a Harvard fellow, and currently a member of faculty at Rady School of Business, University of California, San Diego. The following are some examples of areas Dr. Phiroz has opined on: - Injury due to manufacturing design, inefficient storage, product testing, and quality assurance. - Industry standards for inventory transportation, storage, packaging, labeling, and quality testing. - Consumer demand and behavior analysis. - Supply chain design and funct...

Aviation & Aerospace, Human Factors - Decision Making, Airline Operations, General Aviation, Training, FAR’s, Incident Investigation, Operations, Compliance, Pilot Error, Crew Performance, Pilot Fatigue, Crew Resource Management (CRM), Situational Awareness, Turbulence Injuries, Passenger Disruptions, Navigation and Communications

Highly experienced recently retired airline pilot and aviation safety representative with more than 50 years of flight experience and approximately 30,000 domestic and international flight hours in both major airline and general aviation aircraft Former air traffic controller, international air safety representative involved in aviation rulemaking, flight instructor, general aviation aircraft owner and operator FAA licensed pilot since 1972 Experienced major-airline captain for 28 years, 19 years as captain in widebody aircraft Areas of expertise include Federal Air Regulations (FAR) Part 121 airline and air traffic control operational safety issues, flight operations, standard operating procedures, regulatory and flight operations manual compliance, crew performance and coordination, cockpit-related human factors issues, crew resource management, turbulence injuries, procedural compliance, aircraft limitations, navigation and communications procedures, and best practices Extensiv...

Insurance, Business Operations - Life insurance, annuities, agent licensing, appointment, commissions, terminations, contracting, regulatory requirements, operations, customer service, call centers, home office administrative processes, technology, compliance, file review

Laura A. Dambier Accomplished retired senior executive with more than 20 years of experience leading life insurance operations across the life cycle of a policy from life insurance and annuity agent/broker/distribution sales authorization to the sales process, compensation, customer service and claims. Areas of expertise include but are not limited to life insurance and annuity agent licensing, appointments, terminations, commissions, contracting, technology, customer service, call center and claims. Please see Insurance Capital Consulting LLC below for further detail. Insurance Capital Consulting LLC Led by Laura A. Dambier, Insurance Capital Consulting LLC brings together a cross-functional team of seasoned insurance industry professionals with extensive experience in insurance company home office processes covering the lifespan of a life insurance policy or annuity. Hartford, Connecticut presence with nationwide reach and expertise. Expert consultant backgrounds and experience ...

Hotel & Restaurant, Legal - Resort asset management, operations, standard of care, condo hotels, captive insurance, bad faith, business interruption, risk purchasing, discrimination, harassment, ADA, sale of resort, receivership, sports academies, boarding schools, non-profit associations

Mr. Riehle’s decades of experience in resort and sports academy operations, hospitality law, and insurance, uniquely qualify him as an expert in a variety of hospitality subject matter areas. During his career as a chief executive, general manager, and attorney, he has successfully managed and developed mid-sized companies and organizations. Mr. Riehle’s diverse professional background thus provides him insight into resolving and advising on a wide range of complex disputes. Most recently, Mr. Riehle oversaw all aspects of the sale of a large complex destination resort. Background. For 30 years, Mr. Riehle was a leader of one of the largest family-owned and operated resorts, Saddlebrook Resort, as well as its affiliated sports training, academic programs, and property management company. He served in a variety of capacities, including GM, EVP, and General Counsel. During this time, Mr. Riehle was instrumental in the development of Resort Hotel Association, a $9B collective of 150 in...

Security, Premises Liability - Premises liability, workplace violence, armed assailant "active shooter", training, operations, alarm, surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, locking, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), lighting, apartments, hospitality, parking, commercial, retail and many others.

Mr. Sean A. Ahrens is a well-known security/resilience leader who has been providing security consulting for over 22+ years. He has been instrumental in the assessment/analysis, design, implementation of security programs for a wide array of commercial, hospitality businesses and a myriad of other entities. He is well versed in best practices and has documented thousands of vulnerabilities to organizational assets. He has deposition and case experience, and leverages visualizations and data to make powerful impressions regarding foreseeability. He holds a number of certifications. He is a former Crisis Prevention Instructor, Board Certified in security management as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a Board Member with the International Association of Professional Security Consultants and holds their Certified Security Consultant (CSC) designation. He is also a Fellow with the Security Institute and former Building Certified Security Professional. **He has conducted hu...

Real Estate - Retail, Shopping Centers, Landlord/Tenant disputes, Management, Leasing, Lease Interpretation, Shopping Center Development, Redevelopment, Operations, Safety and Security, Repair and Replacement, Interpretation of Leases, Leasing of Shopping Centers, Leasing of Airports, Mitigation of Damages

Formerly Exec. VP of major shopping center developer (20 million sf); Consultant and attorney for more than 30 international, national, regional and local retailers and 8 institutional and other shopping center developers; worked nationally as a successful expert witness in more than 30 cases in state and federal courts (more than 12 states); acknowledged expert in shopping center custom and practice; worked as a landlord, tenant, consultant, attorney; taught at ICSC School for Professional Development; University of Shopping Centers; Columbia University Business School and Georgetown University Law School Advanced Leasing Institute; have negotiated more than 15,000 letters of intent, leases and occupancy agreements; active ICSC member; received ICSC Distinguished Service Award; developed and redeveloped millions of sf of shopping centers; author of publications on shopping center leasing; recent cases have included: mitigation of damages; class action; rent disputes; additional r...

Security, Real Estate - Condominiums, Technology, Residential, Apartments, Assessments, Safety, Homeowner Associations, Premise Liability, Risk Management, Cooperatives, Policy/Procedure, Operations

Christopher R. Lanni is a seasoned security management and risk advisor with over 30 years of experience. During the past 20 years, he has focused on assessing and identifying security risks, developing and implementing security-related programs, and assessing the use and deployment of related technologies to address those risks in residential communities and property management. Mr. Lanni is the President and Founder of Secure Residential Services, LLC, an independent consulting firm. He has been affiliated with Barkan Management for 20 years during which time he has served as the Director of Security and Resident Services at Harbor Towers in Boston and the Towers of Chestnut Hill in Newton, MA. Mr. Lanni is currently serving as Barkan’s internal Security & Risk Advisor providing services to a portfolio of over 150 properties and numerous projects under development. Mr. Lanni obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University with a concen...

Information Technology, Telecommunications - Cloud Computing, Computer, Construction Claims, Contracts, Data Center, Engineering, Fiber Optic, Forensic Engineering, Internet, Intellectual Property, Life Safety, Network, Operations, Outsourcing, Project Management, Service Level Agreement, Systems Implementation, Telecom, Trade Secret

Professional Engineer, Certified Data Center Design Consultant & Registered Communications Distribution Designer with 20+ years as a design & operations consultant & training provider with a focus in the data center, telecommunications & networking industries. International expertise in 28 countries across 6 continents, encompassing data center facilities, power, cooling, networking infrastructure, fiber optic & copper network cabling, IT & Telecom systems and services, implementing enterprise, colocation & cloud service strategies. Publications & Awards ♦ANSI/BICSI 002, Data Center Design & Implementation Best Practices Standard, Author/Editor ♦ANSI/BICSI 009, Data Center Operations Standard, Chair/Author/Editor ♦Data Center Handbook, Wiley Publishing One of 50 Subject Matter Experts from around the world that authored the content, providing the fundamentals, technologies, and best practices in designing, constructing & managing mission critical, energy efficient data centers. ...

Emergency Medicine - Emergency Medicine-Chairman, Medical Director, Emergency Department, Emergency Medicine, Administration, Airway Emergencies, Cardiovascular Emergencies, Pulmonary Emergencies, Neurologic Emergencies, Gastrointestinal Emergencies, Infectious Disease Emergencies,Operations,Quality&Safety, ABEM, FACEP

Oil and Gas, Engineering - Completions, Hydraulic Fracturing, Stimulation, Operations, Workovers, Drill outs, Acidizing, Cementing, Environmental, Safety, Pumping Services, Production, Artificial Lift, Reporting, Risk Management, Project Mangement, Oil & Gas Management, Perforating/wireline, Asset Mgmt., Salt Water disposal

MARK MALONE currently serves as Completions Engineering Manager for New Auburn Energy Management where he oversees a variety of domestic and international projects. Malone recently served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Riley Permian Operating of Oklahoma City. Prior to Riley, Malone spent seven years as Senior Vice President of Operations and Corporate Officer for Gulfport Energy Corporation. While at Gulfport Mr. Malone was responsible for the production & completion operations of all assets including up to 1.4 Bcfe/day gross production in the Utica shale of SE Ohio, over 7000 bopd in the SCOOP play of south-central Oklahoma and up to 4000 bopd in the shallow water of West Cote Blanch Bay in SE Louisiana while executing annual D&C budgets of up to $1.2 billion. Mr. Malone also served as Senior Asset Manager in the Marcellus Shale at Chesapeake Energy Corporation where he was responsible for operations in the Marcellus shale of NE Pennsylvania producing up to 1.2 Bcfe/d...

Nurse - Correctional, Healthcare, Operations, Administration, Quality assurance, Nursing, psychiatric nursing

Ms. Jencks uses her 25 years of healthcare experience and knowledge to assist with legal review, consultation, and export witness reports. Her work is timely and evidence based. Her vast expertise includes Correctional Healthcare, where she has spent over 20 years in nursing, administration, and operations roles. Her leadership skills, policy and procedure development acumen, and commitment to quality correctional health care programs are noteworthy. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to psychiatric healthcare as the Director of Nursing and served as the Medical Section Chief for the hospital's Emergency Operations Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Jencks is a multifaceted professional, having developed and applied many skills in her current and past roles. These include operations, process improvement, patient advocacy, quality and safety, and leading quality improvement initiatives. Her diverse skill set is a testament to her adaptability and commitm...

Supply Chain, Products Liability - Business Operations, Personal Injury, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Product Safety, Product Liability, Product Design, Quality Control, Distribution, Logistics, Safety Testing, Product Recall, Procurement, Safety Testing, Packaging, Operations, Labeling, Industry Standards, Best Practices

Dr. Zal Phiroz is a supply chain professor, and expert on manufacturing vulnerabilities causing personal injury, product liability, product recall, product defect, quality control, packaging and distribution. As a practitioner, Dr. Phiroz has held senior supply chain roles at Proctor & Gamble (NYSE:PG). As an academic, he has held faculty appointments at Harvard University, USC, MSU, and is a regularly invited keynote speaker on Supply Chain topics. In addition to holding a PhD in Supply Chain Management, Dr. Phiroz is a Harvard fellow, and currently a member of faculty at Rady School of Business, University of California, San Diego. The following are some examples of areas Dr. Phiroz has opined on: - Injury due to manufacturing design, inefficient storage, product testing, and quality assurance. - Industry standards for inventory transportation, storage, packaging, labeling, and quality testing. - Consumer demand and behavior analysis. - Supply chain design and funct...

Emergency Medicine, Medical Management - Rural, Community, Level IV Trauma, Medical Director, Supervision, Quality, Utilization, Risk Managment, Operations, Staffing, Meditech, Geriatrics, Sepsis, Stroke, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Abdominal Pain, Head Injury, Fracture, Assault

Dr. Toloza-Larson has been actively practicing as a full-time residency-trained/Board-certified Emergency Medicine physician in Texas for 20+ years. Her work experience has primarily been at a community Emergency Department in central Texas with a high geriatric population. She served as Medical Director for her Emergency Department for almost 17 years and was responsible for overseeing departmental operations including HIPAA compliance, performing quality and utilization reviews, and providing leadership to staff physicians and supervision to Advanced Practice Providers. She continues to be very involved with medical record reviews for quality assurance and process improvement. She has been retained as a medical expert in one medical malpractice case and three criminal law cases.

Transportation, Security - hazardous materials, dangerous goods, chemicals, railroad, truck cargo tank, security, grade crossing, derailment, mechanical , signal, operations, track, locomotive, tank car, packaging, accident reconstruction and investigation, Federal Railroad Administration

BIOGRAPHICAL QUALIFICATIONS I am an expert in railroad safety and particularly in the hazardous materials (hazmat or HM) discipline of regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 100-199 and also qualified to enforce Parts 200-299. I have worked in the industry for 57 years. My career began as a locomotive fireman and engineer on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad on September 6, 1967. I was subsequently promoted to Trainmaster-Road Foreman of Engines on the Consolidated Rail Corporation (aka, Conrail) in 1977. In 1983 was hired by the U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as a Hazardous Materials (HM) Inspector. In 1991 I was again promoted as a HM Specialist to the FRA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where I remained until my retirement at the conclusion of my government career in 2010. Since that time I have worked doing various consulting duties for railroads, railroad repair companies, other consulting companies, the government, and as an exper...

Energy, Oil and Gas - Leases, JOA, Safety, Drilling, Completions, Operations, Project Management, M&A, Midstream, Upstream, Damages, Mining

I have over 40 years experience in the Energy sector with the last 20 at the C-Suite level. I have extensive experience as an expert witness for both defendant and plaintiff. I have worked with large national law firms and small regional law firms. I have provided both deposition and trial testimony.