About AWI

The Association of Workplace Investigators, Inc, (AWI) formerly California Association of Workplace Investigators, Inc (CAOWI) was incorporated as a California Non-Profit Mutual Benefit Corporation on May 6, 2009. Its articles of incorporation were amended on August 12, 2009 to facilitate obtaining tax exempt status. AWI's corporate documents are available online.

AWI held its first Board meeting on September 25, 2009, at which it adopted bylaws, selected its Directors, Officers, and Executive Director, and established its initial committees. AWI began accepting members on October 1, 2009, and issued a press release announcing its formation on November 3, 2009.

On December 7, 2009, AWI held its second Board meeting at which it established an ethics committee and planned its 2010 program. By the end of 2010 AWI had 83 members and over $25,000 in assets, and had filed its federal tax exemption application. It filed its state tax exemption application on January 15, 2010.

In the first quarter of 2010 AWI was featured in an article in the Daily Journal, held meetings of its Local Circles of Colleagues for members  only around the state, and held a series of Best Practices Roundtables for members only in Oakland, Sacramento, and Los Angeles which were attended by a total of 97 members. It also published the first issue of its professional journal, the AWI Quarterly, which, except for the first issue, is available to AWI members only.

In the second quarter of 2010 AWI began reaching out to the broader community. It sponsored a table at the HR West Conference in San Francisco at which it distributed a brochure featuring 17 sponsoring members. It is co-sponsoring a workshop on Mastering the Art of Employment Investigations with the State Bar of California Labor and Employment Section on June 1 in Los Angeles, and with the Bar Association of San Francisco Labor and Employment Section on June 3 in San Francisco. At the end of June AWI is sponsoring a booth at the SHRM National Conference in San Diego at which it will distribute a brochure featuring 15 sponsoring members.

This summer planning will go into full swing for AW's First Annual Conference, which will be held on November 4, 5, and 6, 2010 at the Marriott City Center in Oakland. Details regarding the conference will be announced in the near future. AWI currently has 170 members.