Meet our Team

REPUTATION AND RESPECT WITHIN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Every member of our team stresses relationship over “business” and we pride ourselves on the friendships we have developed in this profession. 

REPUTATION AND RESPECT WITHIN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

Every member of our team stresses relationship over “business” and we pride ourselves on the friendships we have developed in this profession.

Investigators

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Michael A. Vergon, IAAI-CFI Fishers, IN

Michael A. Vergon, IAAI-CFI 

(317) 508-0527

Mike was an ATF Special Agent for nearly 24 years, beginning his career with ATF, in Miami, Florida, in 1989 and retiring in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2012. Mike spent the final 15 years of his career as an ATF Certified Fire Investigator. He also retired as a member of ATF's National Response Team, responding nationwide to large-loss fires and explosions. His experience working alongside and training with some of the most experienced and qualified fire investigators, chemists, and fire protection engineers in the country has afforded Mike the type of experience that is invaluable to our clients.

In 2012, after retiring from ATF, Mike began Vergon and Associates Fire Investigation, LLC, based in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area. He specializes in fire and explosion scene investigation, providing expert witness testimony, consultation, and training and presentation.

Mike has instructed nationally and internationally regarding fire investigation. At the ATF National Academy, he was a regular instructor at the joint ATF-IAAI Complex Fire Investigation and Court Techniques Class and at the Complex Fire Investigation for the Insurance Industry class. He has also been an instructor at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary.

Mike is twice past president of the Indiana Chapter of IAAI, former president of the state chapter of NSPII, former president of the Indiana Arson and Crime Association, founding member, and former president of the Indiana Fire Investigation Conference. He is also a member of the National Fire Protection Association.

BIOGRAPHY and Contact Info
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Patrick Edwards, IAAI-CFI Philadelphia, PA

Patrick Edwards, IAAI-CFI

(267) 535-1188
patrick.edwards@vergonfire.com

  • ATF Special Agent for over 18 years and an ATF Certified Fire Investigator for over 8 years.
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts: Forensic Psychology
  • Oklahoma State University, Graduate College, Graduate Certificate Forensic Science, Arson and Explosives Investigations.
  • International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) member since 2014.
  • Instructor at the National Fire Academy.
  • FAA Certified Drone Pilot.
  • National Response Team Member investigating hundreds of fires across the United States.
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BIOGRAPHY and Contact info
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Kerri Hoogendoorn, IAAI-CFI Rock Valley, IA

Kerri S. Hoogendoorn IAAI-CFI

(712) 470-9992
khoogendoorn@vergonfire.com

Kerri joined our team in September, 2022, after serving as an ATF Special Agent for over 20 years. In 2015, Kerri entered into the ATF Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) Program, where she gained extensive experience in fire investigation, report preparation, trial preparation, and testifying in State and Federal court. She also assisted the ATF NRT in responding to incidents, such as the civil unrest in Minneapolis, MN, where 165 origin and cause investigations were conducted by ATF CFIs. As a part of the ATF CFI Program, Kerri received a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Science, Fire and Explosion Investigation, from Oklahoma State University, Graduate College. She is a recipient of the ATF Distinguished Service Medal. Kerri’s training and experience is extensive, working and training with some of the most experienced and qualified fire investigators, chemists, and fire protection engineers in the country. Kerri is based in northern Iowa, near Sioux Falls, SD. She will be covering several states in that area and is an invaluable member of our team.

BIOGRAPHY and Contact info
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Tom Rotering, IAAI-CFI, CFEI, CFI(V) Fort Wayne, IN

Tom Rotering, IAAI-CFI, CFEI

(260) 438-5196

Tom joined our team in 2013. He has been a firefighter since 1989, and he has been a City of Ft. Wayne Fire Department Investigator since 1999. He has also worked in the private sector, conducting origin and cause investigations of fires and explosions since 2007.

Tom has provided technical expertise and litigation support for numerous insurance carriers and attorneys throughout the United States and has testified as an expert witness in State and Federal court in civil and criminal matters.

Tom's expertise is extensive. He has over twenty years of experience in the areas of fire and explosion:

  • Investigation
  • Subrogation
  • Liability
  • Expert witness testimony

Tom's vast experience as a firefighter and as a fire investigator has made him an invaluable member of our team.

BIOGRAPHY and contact info 
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Dan Shirley, IAAI-CFI Greenwood, IN

DAN SHIRLEY, IAAI-CFI

(317) 605-1585

dan.shirley@vergonfire.com

  • ATF Special Agent for over 20 years.

  • ATF Certified Fire Investigator since 2014.

  • Former member of the ATF National Response Team.

  • Graduate Certificate in Forensic Science, Fire and Explosion Investigation from Oklahoma State University, Graduate College. 

  • Instructor at the ATF National Academy in Georgia, Alabama and Maryland.

  • FAA Certified Drone Pilot.

  • Joined Vergon and Associates in 2021.

BIOGRAPHY and Contact Info
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Kevin Whitaker, IAAI-CFI Valparaiso, IN

KEVIN WHITAKER, IAAI-CFI

(219) 314-2655

kevin.whitaker@vergonfire.com 

  • ATF Special Agent for over 20 years and an ATF Certified Fire Investigator for over 7 years.

  • Former full-time member of the ATF National Response Team.

  • International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) member since 2013.

  • Former police officer with Valparaiso Indiana PD.

  • Instructor at the National Fire Academy.

  • Joined Vergon and Associates in 2019.

 
BIOGRAPHY and Contact info
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Robert Wirey, IAAI-CFI, CFEI Lebanon, IN

ROBERT WIREY, IAAI-CFI, CFEI

(317) 590-5887

robert.wirey@vergonfire.com

  • Fire Investigator since 2001.

  • Chief Fire Investigator for the Lebanon Indiana Fire Department.

  • Served 10 years as the Deputy Chief of the Lebanon Indiana Fire Department.

  • Founding member of the Boone County Arson Task Force.

  • Electrician with 12 years of experience conducting electrical service calls and wiring new residential and light commercial projects.

  • Joined Vergon and Associates in 2015.

BIOGRAPHY and Contact info

Additional Team Members

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Kyle Vergon, IAAI-ECT Investigative Assistant

Kyle Vergon

Kyle has been working at Vergon and Associates, since early 2020, assisting regularly with scene excavation, evidence collection, and scene documentation. He is currently training at the Fire Academy and will soon be a full time firefighter. 
BIOGRAPHY and Contact info
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Karla Mannix Director of Operations

Karla Mannix

(317) 721-1004

karla@vergonfire.com

  • A subrogation paralegal in the new loss division of a national law firm for 12 years before joining Vergon and Associates in 2022.
  • Bachelors Degree in Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management from the University of North Texas. 
  • Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Agent. 
BIOGRAPHY and Contact info
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