FLORIDA DNA TESTING, PATERNITY TESTING and FORENSICS DNA TESTING

Florida Forensics is a full service DNA laboratory accredited by ASCLD/LAB and based in Jacksonville, Florida.  Florida Forensics offers standard and advanced DNA testing for paternity determination, legal cases and forensic evidence. All tests are performed in-house using strict quality control procedures and the latest, state of the art equipment and techniques. Florida Forensics also provides legal support through DNA case reviews, expert testimony and consultation for both prosecution and defense teams. We maintain outstanding turn time on services and guarantee a high standard of quality assurance on all results.  Brief resumes of our acclaimed staff follows:

 JULIE SUTTON, PhD.
DNA Technical Leader

Dr. Julie Sutton has over 16 years forensic experience. In 1988, she started her career as a forensic biologist in Sydney, Australia with the New South Wales Department of Health. During her time in Sydney, she assisted in the development of the forensic DNA testing laboratory for the state of New South Wales. In 1991, she moved to Canberra, Australia and was employed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). While in Canberra she set up and led the forensic biology laboratory for the Australian Federal Police for eleven years. She also conducted the external audit of a Forensic Laboratory in New Zealand and internal audits for the Australian Federal Police on Quality Management Systems, Criminalistics, and Crime Scenes.

In 2002, she moved to Florida, USA, to work as the DNA technical leader and as a DNA auditor for the National Forensic Science Technology Center. During her time at NFSTC she developed a DNA Academy to train DNA analysts who worked in the US Public Crime Laboratories to the standards required by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods. In May 2005, she spent three months  at the North East Regional Forensics Institute training DNA analysts for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In August 2005, she joined Florida Forensics, a DNA paternity and Forensic Testing Laboratory, as its Technical Leader.  

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science with Honors, University of Sydney, NSW Australia, 1979-1982
Doctor of Philosophy in Science, University of Sydney, NSW Australia, 1983-1989
Master of Business Administration, University of Canberra, ACT Australia, 1994-1998

EXPERIENCE:

Biochemistry Tutor, Biochemistry Department, University of Sydney, NSW, 1983-1987
Professional Officer, School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, NSW, 1987-1988
Forensic Biologist, Division of Analytical Laboratories-Sydney, NSW, 1988-1990
Team Leader- Biology, Forensic Services Australian Federal Police-Canberra, ACT, 1991-2002
Visiting Scientist, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Virginia USA, 1995 April-June
User Representative, Crimtrac Agency, Canberra ACT Australia, 2000 Oct-2001 Feb
DNA Technical Leader, National Forensic Science Technology Center, Largo, FL USA, 2002-2005
Instructional Specialist, State University of New York, Albany, NY USA, 2005
DNA Technical Leader, Florida Forensics LLC, August 2005- Present

 

KATHLEEN BERRY
DNA Analyst

Kathy Berry has three years experience working in forensics laboratories. Her current responsibilities include collecting reference samples, examining forensic evidence, performing biological screening tests, extractions, Real Time PCR quantification, amplification, capillary electrophoresis, and DNA analysis and interpretation. She also performs maintenance and calibration and prepares solutions used in all aspects of DNA analysis. In addition, she assisted with validation and Florida Forensics’ accreditation through ASCLD/LAB. Previously, Kathy worked as a DNA Analyst in the CODNA Unit of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory where she performed tests on exemplar criminal samples and CODIS samples. Prior to her forensic work, she received a Masters in Biology from the University of Michigan.

EDUCATION:
Continuing Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2007
DNA Academy, SUNY, Albany, NY, 2005
M.S. Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1999 - 2001
Continuing Education, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA, 1986 - 1999
Continuing Education, Cape Cod Community College, Hyannis, MA, 1987 - 1988
B.A. Psychology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, 1974 - 1978

EXPERIENCE:
DNA Analyst, Florida Forensics, Jacksonville, FL, 2006 – Present.
Chemist II Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, MSPCL, Sudbury, MA, 2005 – 2006.
Research Assistant II, Dept. of Biological Chemistry, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2001 – 2004.
Graduate Student Instructor, Dept. of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1999 – 2001.
First Massachusetts DNA Academy held at SUNY Albany. Received 12 graduate credits in Topics in Biological Science and DNA Analysis Lab.
MSPCL/NRFI Certificate of Completion in Forensic Mixture Interpretation and Statistical Analysis.
One day training on 3130XL from ABI.
Graduate coursework in Scientific Evidence and Statistics through the University of Florida.

 

CHRIS HODGE
President / Chief Operating Officer

Chris Hodge is responsible for the day-to-day financial, administrative and sales operations of Florida Forensics. He coordinates the corporate, legal and governmental sales efforts and has ultimate responsibility for the financial stability of all aspects of the organization, including negotiating and funding all financing or purchase arrangements. He has also helped implement a risk management program.

Previously, he was an executive with Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation with responsibilities that included negotiating loan exceptions with senior management, creating and managing new distribution channels and handling integration of companies after purchase. He also handled securities and mortgage lending originations for 22 Merrill Lynch branch offices in Michigan and Kentucky encompassing 450 Financial Advisors that closed $3,000,000,000+ in mortgage and securities loans and handled 10,000+ loan transactions over a five year period.

Before working with MLCC he was an attorney for 4 ½ years with a practice primarily devoted to complex commercial litigation with bench and jury trial experience, depositions of fact and expert witnesses and all phases of motion practice. He is currently a member of the Florida Bar and holds a Masters of Laws in Taxation from Wayne State University in addition to a law degree from the University of Florida and an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina.

EDUCATION:
Wayne State University Law School, Master of Laws - Taxation (honors), May 2003.
University of Florida College of Law, Juris Doctor (honors), May 1995.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. (Political Science), May 1990.

EXPERIENCE:
President / Chief Operating Officer, Florida Forensics, 2007 – Present.
Specialist, Wachovia Securities, 2006.
Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation, 1999 – 2006.
     Corporate Experience: Transaction Manager, 1999; FAC Specialist, 2005 – 2006.
     Field Experience: Mortgage & Credit Specialist, 2000 -2005.
Attorney, Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, 1998 – 1999.
Attorney, Allen, Brinton & Simmons, 1995 – 1998.

 

HARVEY E. BERNHARDT M.D.                                                                 
FOUNDER, Chairman Emeritus. 1944 – 2007.

Dr. Harvey Bernhardt served the medical community throughout Northeast Florida for more than thirty years. Through the navy, Dr. Bernhardt first joined the Jacksonville medical community in 1971. Serving at NAS for two years, he finished his residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and returned to Jacksonville in 1974 as Director of Clinical Pathology for University Medical Center.

Dr. Bernhardt had a keen interest in molecular biology and its applications while operating a successful pathology laboratory for more than twenty years. In fact, he was instrumental in doing paternity testing using White Blood Cell antigens in the late 1970s. His interest in advanced DNA techniques led to the formation of Florida Forensics in 2005 and his vision and integrity are the cornerstones of the company.

EDUCATION:
University of Louisville, School of Medicine, M.D. 1968.
Internal Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida 1968-1969.
Pathology Residency, Los Angeles County Harbor General Hospital, UCLA School of Medicine, 1969-71.
Senior Resident in Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, 1973-74.
Military Service: US Naval Reserve, Active Duty, Jacksonville Naval Hospital 1971-73.

EXPERIENCE:
Director of Clinical Laboratories, University Medical Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 1974-75.
Associate Pathologist, Methodist Medical Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 1976-79.
Director, American Medical Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, 1979-81.
Chairman, Department of Pathology, Jacksonville Medical Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 1980-86.
Director, Bernhardt Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, 1986-2007.

AWARDS:
Alfred L. Lewis Award of the Florida Society of Pathologists, 1975.
Beals Award of the Duval County Medical Society, 1976.
Nominee, Northeast Florida Excellence in Healthcare Award, 1997, 1998.

PROFESSIONAL & HONORARY AFFILIATIONS:
American Cancer Society, Board of Directors, 1980-2007.
Vice President, Programs, 1995-1996.
Great American Smokeout, Chairman, Duval County 1987.
Smoke Free Jacksonville, Founding Chairman, 1988-1990.
Lung Cancer Task Force of the Duval County Cancer Society, Chairman, 1992-98.