| MIDWESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS |
2026 Spring Workshop Announcement: Leadership Webinar
“From Bench to Boss: Transitioning Roles Within Your Organization”
MAFS will be hosting a MEMBERS-ONLY four-hour webinar based on the MAFS Fall 2025 Conference workshop instructed by Brooke Ehlers: “From Bench to Boss: Transitioning Roles Within Your Organization”. As a result of positive feedback, MAFS wanted to offer another opportunity to engage in this leadership training.
Date: April 22nd
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm EST
Cost: Free for MAFS Members. This is a members-only webinar.
Platform: Zoom
A registration link will be sent to all members via email. If you are a member and do not receive an email invite by March 2nd, 2026, please reach out to Kelsey Goemaat at mafstecommittee@gmail.com.
Abstract:
In this workshop, we'll delve into the intricacies of transitioning roles within your organization. We'll highlight the benefits, identify the challenges, and try to avoid potential pitfalls. The instructor will share her personal experiences—both triumphs and setbacks—while offering valuable resources that have shaped her professional path. Key topics will encompass culture, implementing change, wellness, and communication.
Biography:
Brooke Ehlers is a 26-year veteran of the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory (MVRCL) in Dayton, Ohio. She started as a bench analyst in the Chemistry section and was promoted to Technical Leader in 2010. Brooke is currently serving as the Director of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office and Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab (MCCO/MVRCL).
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science from Eastern Kentucky University where she is currently an adjunct professor. She is a member and Past-President of the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS) where she has served as the Chemistry section coordinator, Program Chair for the 2013 Annual Fall Meeting, on the Board of Directors as Member-at-Large, and on the Training and Education, Fall Meeting Planning, Bylaws and Administrative Rules, and 50th Anniversary Committees. Brooke was awarded the New Scientist Award by MAFS in 2003. She is also a member of the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio and American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.
During her time at the MCCO/MVRCL, Brooke has given presentations and organized training on drug analysis, drug trends, and clandestine laboratories to MAFS. More recently, she has been assisting with the Leadership and Management Series webinars and symposiums. In 2021, Brooke became a Level II Certified Forensic Manager through the National Forensic Science Academy. In 2022, she was chosen to represent her organization in Empower Dayton, a program designed exclusively for women business leaders, and in 2025 she successfully accomplished the Leadership Warren County program.