RJ Lee Group forensic science professionals participated in the joint annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists (MAAFS) and the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS), held October 4–8 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
By combining two regional associations into a single conference, the meeting expanded its reach and enabled a broader exchange of research, technical advancements, and standards. For RJ Lee Group, the meeting also marked new leadership responsibilities for several of its employees.
Jackson Dimalanta of RJ Lee Group's forensics department completed his term as Physical Evidence Chair for MAAFS at this meeting. In that role, he collaborated with members of MAAFS and NEAFS to organize the meeting's workshops, oral presentations, and poster presentations.
Jackson will continue to serve the association in a new role as membership chair. Ashley Stein, a forensic scientist at RJ Lee Group, succeeds him as physical evidence chair for 2026–2027. Tarah Helsel, a forensic scientist and manager of RJ Lee Group's forensics department, continues as Vendor Coordinator for the Meeting Planning Committee, a role she has held for several years.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Allison Laneve began her term as president of MAAFS. A forensic scientist and manager at RJ Lee Group, Allison brings extensive experience to the role. She will serve through the association's annual meeting in 2027.
She has many goals and objectives for the coming term, all focused on strengthening the organization, enhancing member engagement, and positioning MAAFS for continued success.
The meeting wasn't all workshops and presentations. On Thursday evening, attendees capped the week at the President's Reception and Cornhole Tournament, where Allison and Jackson traded the lab bench for the cornhole boards. Competing as the Residue Renegades, they made it to the semifinal round of the annual contest before falling just short. So close! It was a fitting end to a week of collaboration and a reminder that the forensic science community is as collegial as it is rigorous.
RJ Lee Group is an established provider of criminal forensic services with extensive experience in primer gunshot residue (pGSR) analysis. The company's criminal forensics department is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) in GSR analysis.
RJ Lee Group partners with law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial offices, public defenders, private defense attorneys, and other forensic laboratories. Employee leadership in professional organizations such as MAAFS is one way the company contributes to the industries it serves, supporting the exchange of knowledge and the advancement of standards across the forensic science community.