Public Announcements
2023 PI Magazine Recognizes SPI
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE- September 2022
On September 15, 2022, the Society of Professional Investigators celebrated its 64th gala at Giando on the Water, swore in Director Daniel Quiles as Vice President, and recognized our honorees.
This year’s honorees were Person of the Year, DEA Chief Ray Donovan, Distinguished Leadership, NYPD Detective Joseph Ayala, and Distinguished Career award for SPI member Bruce Hulme. We also recognized Odalys Cuevas, our Art & Design and social media Director, for all her work and time she devoted to creating our 64th gala journal, and Eileen Gordon, our long-time treasurer, and webmaster. We also recognized our legal counsel, Bradley Silverbush, for his unyielding support of SPI and his immense contribution to revamping our By-Laws.
During our gala, we had dozens of supporters who purchased corporate sponsorship of a table and a full-page ad in our collectors’ journal. We also provided musical entertainment by DJ Milo, a photo booth to capture the moment, new members’ table to join SPI, and a roving professional photographer.
It was a unique moment when Ray Donovan confessed to impersonating the real Ray Donovan.
Let me explain. The actor, Liev Schreiber, on the hit television show Ray Donovan was an invited guest to our gala. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend because of conflicting schedules.
Nonetheless, Liev created and provided SPI with an exclusive video to congratulate Chief Ray Donovan and all our honorees, as he also recognized the Society of Professional Investigators for all the good, we do.
It was indeed an epic moment for all, and attendance and support for our gala exceeded the total number of attendees in the history of our organization, and once again, congratulations to SPI member Bruce Hulme, for his many years of service, support, and dedication to SPI.
Fraternally,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - JULY 24, 2022
On behalf of SPI, on July 20, 2022, I met with ranking NYPD members at One Police Plaza and the NYPD Hispanic Society leaders to encourage investigators to join our organization and promote our upcoming gala that will take place on September 15, 2022, at Giando on the Water.
With less than two months away, if you have not done so, I encourage every member to support SPI and attend the ultimate networking event of the year!
Fraternally,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - JULY 2022
It has been well more than half a century since a small group of law-enforcement officers incorporated The Society of Professional Investigators. These elite and visionary investigators created SPI as a venue for investigators to meet and collaborate on investigative topics.
This week, on the anniversary of SPI’s founding, we honor and continue the tradition of SPI as we have transcended to a diverse and elite professional organization comprised of criminal justice, legal, and investigative community members. I am proud to be a member and serve as president of truly a unique group of dedicated individuals that share a commonality of interest; the desire not just to network but to learn and stay up to date on subjects that impact our practice as we strive to be the best at what we do.
I am proud to report that this year, SPI has not only surpassed last year’s membership enrollment, but we have achieved a new level! Moreover, I expect that record to be broken as we continue to attract quality members from law enforcement and the legal and investigative communities.
And so it is that on September 15, 2022, we will celebrate at our 64th annual gala to commemorate SPI. I encourage all members to show their support and attend what is sure to be the ultimate networking event of the year! In case you don’t already know, this event will be fun; the food there is delicious and plentiful. We will honor Drug Enforcement Administration, Chief of Operations Ray Donovan, New York City Police Department, Detective Joseph Ayala, and SPI Board member Bruce Hulme.
Fraternally,
On behalf of:
Past President Michael Reynolds, Esq.
Vice President Emmanuelle Welch
Sergeant at Arms Jason Cohen
Treasurer & Website Administrator Eileen Gordon
Board member and Legal Counsel Bradley S. Silverbush, Esq.
Board member and Legislative Counsel Bruce Hulme
Board member and Director of Membership, Charles-Eric Gordon, Esq.
Board member Steven Levine
Board member and Law-Enforcement Liaison Daniel Quiles
Board member Alex Argiro
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
During this meeting, NYPD sergeant Joseph Imperatrice was administered the oath of membership by President Babakitis as a newly minted member of the Society of Professional Investigators. Not only is Joseph an active sergeant working in the hub of investigations for the NYPD (RTCC), but he is also a supporter of investigators throughout the country, the President of Blue Lives Matter, and a true humanitarian.
Here is a link to photos of this meeting.
Fraternally,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Here is a link to photos of this meeting.
Fraternally,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
We also welcomed three new SPI members, Paul Italiano, Robyn Luciano and Tom Stanten, and one returning member, Tom Reilly.
This could never have been accomplished without your support.
Here is a link to photos of this meeting.
Fraternally,
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Our March 2022 meeting at Tony's DiNapoli was a resounding success when we honored Board Member, Alex Argiro as our 2021 Investigator of the Year and Legal Counsel, Bradley S. Silverbush with a Distinguished Service Award for his diligence and service to SPI in revising our By-Laws.
Our guest speaker, Mr. David Oddo was not only engaging but informative regarding malpractice and compensation-related litigation.
During this meeting, we welcomed three new members and one returning member. We will eclipse the total number of SPI members ever recorded at this rate! Let's all recruit qualified members to break this record!
Here is a link to photos of this meeting.
SPI is back, and it's all because of you, our members.
I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meeting on April 27, 2022, when our guest speaker is John Hoda. Mr. Hoda will introduce and discuss strategies to capitalize on your skill set and enhance your overall market value.
Fraternally,
President’s Message: Update on the January 2022 Meeting
Dear Members:
When considering the rise of Covid-related cases in the New York metropolitan area and the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control, in the best interest of our members' health and well-being, the board has decided to suspend our scheduled January 20, 2022, meeting.
I have requested that the board explore options to facilitate remote meetings that best suit the needs of our organization. When considering the sensitive topics that we discuss, the selected option must provide our members with the ability to securely log-in and access our meeting at a nominal fee. The good news is that we have been exploring our options for the past month and may have viable solutions that we will test before we introduce this platform to our membership.
Consequently, the 2021 Person of the Year will be announced at our next meeting. You do not have to be nominated to be considered. Simply prepare and submit a summary of 250 words or less to [email protected]
Happy New Year to all!
Fraternally,
2021 Holiday Toys for Ronald McDonald House
On December 22, 2021, The Society of Professional Investigators, in partnership with the American Academy for Professional Law-Enforcement and the New York City Police Department, collaborated and donated toys to the Ronald McDonald House to brighten the lives of less fortunate children throughout New York City.
This is another example of SPI's philanthropic work to give back to its community.
See more about SPI on Linkedin
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
tradition
NOUN
- the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.
Shortly after taking the oath of office as President of SPI last month, I received a copy of an SPI meeting memorandum dated March 1989. I noticed that on the upper right corner of this document was the address, P.O. Box 3032, Church Street Station, New York NY 10008. I was also informed that this was the original SPI address that dates to 1956. It was clear that our organization was first associated with a New York City address.
Upon visiting this location, I discovered it is the main downtown New York City Post Office, at a historical site, which operates 24/7 and 365/days a year. Unfortunately, P.O. Box 3032 was unavailable. I then asked whether P.O. Box 2032 was available (After all, it would be our second time around at this location, should the opportunity arise). To my surprise, #2032 was available, and I secured it for our organization as our mailing address.
As we move forward, I reflect on the history of our organization of over sixty years and return us to our New York City address at the same historical site where our organization first began.
As another tidbit of nostalgia, On Tuesday, March 14, 1989, at 6:30 P.M., SPI hosted their meeting at the iconic Water Club, East 30 Street & FDR Drive.
The subscription was $30.00, and Cocktails, $10.00
Here is a copy of the SPI notification dated March 1989.
Fraternally,
"And Now a Word" from our Past President, Michael Reynolds
A number of our members were unable to attend last night’s SPI event. I wanted to share my remarks with everyone and give my thanks again for everyone’s help and participation over an unprecedented period in our shared history.
Man plans and the almighty laughs.
Two years ago I stood before our organization with a pledge of boredom and the routine.
I planned to provide SPI members with a reliable resource like tap water or a light switch, we’d meet monthly, take the summer months off and convene in September like clockwork. We’d communicate, network, generate business and proceed on a steady climb of professional progress.
Things didn’t turn out as planned.
Instead of a year featuring a SPI-heavy March symposium at John Jay College, we went into lockdown and scrambled to provide a roster of fine speakers on your computer screens.
I took some very good organizational leadership advice from an unlikely source: former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In a podcast, the Governator cautioned that no administration should push past THREE initiatives per term, AND THE BEST idea was to limit your goals to a single idea or plan.
This was good advice and my plan was to revamp and integrate our bylaws. I’m happy to report that task is complete and the Board will vote on the bylaws and get them out to the members as soon as possible.
I am also pleased to note that we have transitioned to a new electronic voting model that performed as expected and helped us run a better and less expensive election than the ones we conducted on paper in prior years.
The state of our organization is strong. I owe that to our members, officers and Board. I have been proud to serve as your president and I was humbled by your generosity and assistance as we worked together to navigate an unprecedented series of events and challenges.
Those challenges persisted, even as we organized this event. We have adapted, we have improvised, and we have overcome.
In light of everything that transpired, I thought it best to pass that baton now that we are coming out of COVID, we have a new set of By Laws and we conducted a successful remote election.
Thank you for your support, your confidence and most of all your presence this evening.
SPI is back, but I’m sure you’ll agree, it never really went away.
All the Best,
Your Immediate Past President
Mike
Michael P. Reynolds
New Board of SPI 2021-2023
Esteemed Members of the Society of Professional Investigators,
On September 23, 2021 I will conclude my tenure as President and administer the oath of office to the following elected officers of the Society:
President - Paul G. Babakitis
Vice President - Emmanuelle Welch
Secretary - Paul Raffile
Treasurer - Eileen Gordon
Sergeant at Arms - Jason Cohen.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the members, candidates and our Election Committee.
Without your commitment and participation, it would not have been possible to conduct our election and keep our organization running in these extraordinary times.
Very truly yours,
Michael P. Reynolds
SPI Board Member, Charles Eric Gordon on Long Island Law Podcast
