Learn How to Build a Stronger Forensic Unit—Even When Your Department Is On a Tight Budget

SEPTEMBER 15-18, 2025
A Free 4-Day Event for Forensic Professionals!

Presented by The Vault

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO LEARN HOW THIS FREE EVENT WILL HELP YOU GET THE TRAINING, TOOLS, AND PERSONNEL YOU NEED—NO MATTER YOUR BUDGET:

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You're dedicated to running a respected and high-functioning Forensic Unit (even if that means working late nights, praying nothing breaks this month, and stretching every dollar as far as you possibly can.)

  • You’re making the schedule work with a short-staffed team.
  • You’re stretching the lifetime of aging equipment.
  • And you’re pulling off miracles with limited training budgets.


But… you’re tired of feeling like you’re always just getting by instead of truly operating at the level you know is possible.

MAYBE RIGHT NOW YOU…

Start every day with a stack of backlogged cases—and the pile keeps growing every month.

Feel like you’re constantly begging for equipment, staffing, or training—only to be told “not this year”.

Know better tools exist—but you’re stuck wasting hours on outdated equipment because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

Are haunted by mistakes you didn’t know you were making—and frustrated you still don’t have the resources to do better now.

Just want to do the job right—but every decision feels like a gamble when you don’t have the proper tools, training or support.

There has got to be a better way!

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WHAT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR FORENSIC UNIT WITH SIMPLE, PROVEN METHODS THAT WORK WITHIN THE RESOURCES YOU ALREADY HAVE?

How great would it feel to...

Have a team that’s confident, capable, and consistent no matter who’s on shift—because everyone is trained to the same high standard.

Walk into your lab and feel prepared—not panicked—because your tools match the quality your cases (and the courtroom) demand.

Clock out on time and actually have a life outside of work because there’s finally enough people to share the caseload.

Even on a tight budget, this is possible for your Forensic Unit - and we'll show you how at the Forensics on a Budget Summit!

"I have never encountered a summit that presented so much information​ clearly over the span of a week.”
Dennise hernandez, MS, CLPESupervising Forensic Scientist
Dennise hernandez, MS, CLPE

During Forensics on a Budget you'll learn how to get more wins next budget cycle (even if you've been told no before).

Join us for Forensics on a Budget, to learn from 20+ forensic experts about how to get creative, get scrappy, and get things done—even when funding is tight.

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Meet the Speakers

Check out the incredible lineup of forensic experts and budget-savvy leaders you’ll learn from at Forensics on a Budget!

DAY 1: TRAIN SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Unlocking More Training Opportunities When Budgets Are Tight

We’ll kick things off talking all things training — how to get it, host it, and justify it, even with zero budget. You’ll hear strategies for launching internal trainings, earning free seats at local training classes, and shifting your mindset away from the idea that “no budget” means “no options.”

Coach Lisa Gilbert
Lead with Confidence: How Your Mindset Impacts What You Get

Craig Gaines
Improving Unit Workflows with Free & Low-Cost Tools

Stefanie Whittington
Stronger Together: Building Partnerships to Access Needed Resources

Matt Davis
The Cost of Cutting Training: How to Make Leadership Understand the Risks

Jonesta Nolan
Training Outside the Box: Creative Strategies to Grow Forensic Expertise on a Budget

Megan Roberts
Don’t Pay Full Price: Insider Tips to Get Your Team Trained for Less

Erin West
Making Forensic Training Non-Negotiable: Strategies That Work

Kelsie Nugent
Streamlining Your Workflow with Versaterm

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DAY 2: GEAR UP WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

Creative, Practical Ways to Access Equipment (Even the Expensive Stuff)

We’ll cover how to pitch to command staff, how to make the most of grants, and how to team up with other departments to share resources. From finding substitutes for high-cost tools to making your requests more compelling, these sessions will help you get the equipment you need.

Jennifer Peterson
Smart Stocking: Stretching Your Lab Supplies Without Sacrificing Quality

Jessica Liang
Forensics in Your Pocket: Getting the Most Out of Your iPhone

Dr. Meredith Tise
Cost-Effective Proficiency Test Strategies for Crime Scene Units

Hilary Rodela
Why Proper Equipment Matters: Making the Case to Your Chain of Command

Rebecca Nick
Creative Strategies for Funding Forensic Equipment

Dr. Heidi Sievers
The Forensic Budget Toolbox: Smart Substitutes for Expensive Kits

Rebeca D’Jimas
When You’re Not in the Room: Getting Others to Fight for What You Need

Ashley Church
How to Strengthen Your Requests with Charts, Graphs and Compelling Justifications

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DAY 3: STAFFING SOLUTIONS FOR FORENSIC UNITS

From Interns to Full-Time Hires — How to Justify and Secure More Personnel

Learn how to calculate how many people your unit needs, use backlog and burnout data to strengthen your case, and build a pipeline of support through interns, students, and step increases. It’s time to stop stretching your team too thin and start building the workforce your agency actually needs.

Nancy Sulinski-Steffens
Leveraging Forensic Volunteers Without Compromising Quality

Brianne Breedlove
Building Strong Policies & Procedures Using Free and Trusted Resources

Jason Cole
Running a Crime Scene Unit on a Budget: Practical Strategies and Insights from the Field

Erin West
How to Justify More Staff and Everything That Comes With Them

Lindsey Olson
Creative Grant Writing: Connecting Your Needs to Funding Opportunities

Alex Herrera
How to Win Chain of Command’s Support for Your Budget Requests

Michael Asimor
Grant Funding 101: Where to Find Them and How to Apply

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DAY 4: LIVE SESSIONS

Bringing It All Together—Live!

Watching actionable presentations is great, but to see real change happen you’ll have to take action. And doing so alongside others with similar goals is powerful. That’s why we’ll have live, interactive events on Thursday where you’ll get direct support and take the first steps toward putting everything you’ve learned into practice! These sessions include:

“Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion

9AM EDT

Ask some of our summit speakers how they’ve successfully secured training, tools, and team members without breaking the bank

SUCCESS KIT PERK:
Justification Station Live

10:30AM EDT

All attendees can watch real-time feedback on budget justifications and pick up insider tips to make your own requests stand out (Success Kit holders can submit theirs for review!)

Masterclass: Blueprint to Forensic Funding Success

1PM EDT

Learn Ashley + Erin’s proven framework for turning “wish list” items into approved requests. You’ll also receive an exclusive invitation to join their signature membership, The Vault. 

Closing Call

3PM EDT

Join us in the summit Closing Call live in the private community to wrap up the event and get your action plan for moving forward. 

These sessions have been designed to take what you’ll learn throughout the week and get you asking questions, making moves, and taking action toward getting your unit the training, tools, and team it deserves.

Worried you can’t make it live? No worries! You’ll have the opportunity to get ongoing access to the presentations after you grab your free ticket.

As you can see from these amazing value-packed presentations, this is not your average forensic training. This is a real-world resource summit packed with actionable strategies from professionals who’ve figured out how to turn “we don’t have the budget” into “we found a way.”

CLICK BELOW TO GRAB YOUR FREE TICKET AND JOIN US FOR FORENSICS ON A BUDGET!

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MEET YOUR HOSTS

Hey there, we're Ashley and Erin from Gap Science and creators of The Vault!

We know exactly what it’s like to need more for your forensic unit—more training, more equipment, more personnel—and feel like the answer is always no. 

Over time, we’ve learned that “no” often just means not right now. And if you can stay ready and play the long game, the right opportunity will eventually come.

Between the two of us, we’ve secured free training opportunities and landed funding for high-dollar items like an AFIS system, light sources, and even an ANDE rapid DNA instrument.

But we had to figure a lot of it out on our own—budget proposals, grants, MOUs—and we didn’t want others to struggle through it alone like we did.

That’s why we started Gap Science—to give forensic professionals access to the training and tools we wish we had. 

And now we’re bringing you the Forensics on a Budget Summit to share real, practical ways to stretch your budget without burning out in the process.

Grab your ticket and join us (and 20+ forensic experts!) for a one-of-a-kind event made just for forensic professionals like you.

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What to expect at Forensics on a Budget

WHEN

The Forensics on a Budget Summit will run from September 15 – 18, 2025 with a variety of presentations to choose from each day.

WHERE

This binge-worthy event is 100% virtual, streaming directly to you at your desk, or wherever you want to participate! All presentations will be viewed in our private community.

EXPERT SESSIONS

Presentations will be ~20 minutes. The presentations will be available for 24 hours to encourage you to stop waiting for the right time and take action along with hundreds of other forensic trainers.

PRIVATE COMMUNITY

Join our private Discussion Forum, where you can connect with fellow forensic professionals. Engage in live Q&A sessions with our forensic experts, enhancing your learning experience during the summit.

CHANCES TO WIN

You’ll also have a chance to win prizes by showing up and participating throughout the summit. Be sure to keep an eye out for your BINGO card and come hang out with us in the private Discussion Forum for chances to win prizes every day!

UPGRADE FOR A VIP EXPERIENCE!

You can also choose to upgrade to the All-Access Pass! That means you’ll get on-going access to presentations, seats to exclusive live events, and bonus resources. You won’t want to miss it!

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SCHOLARSHIP

We’re dedicated to helping you get the training, tools, and support your forensic unit needs — without blowing your budget. And we want to make that process as easy and accessible as possible. To help, you’ll hear about The Vault, our all-access resource hub for forensic professionals, here and there throughout the event. 

On the final day, one lucky (and engaged) attendee will be selected to win a full scholarship and have instant access to on-demand training, practical tools, and expert guidance to make getting your unit the resources it needs a whole lot easier.

Stay tuned for details and your chance to apply!

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Finally—An Event that Helps with the Real-World Struggles of Forensic Units

Forensics on a Budget was created for forensic professionals doing critical work with limited resources.

You’re not new to the challenges. You’ve already stretched your budget to the max, patched together training with what you could find, and done your best to make outdated equipment work just one more year. You’ve been told to “get creative” more times than you can count.

And you don’t need pie-in-the-sky ideas or textbook-level advice that only works if you have a six-figure budget and a fully staffed unit. That’s not your reality.

Good news! That is NOT what you’re going to find at this event.

Forensics on a Budget was created specifically for real-world forensics professionals who are:

  • Navigating chronic underfunding and high case volume

  • Tired of hearing “no” every time they ask for something their unit actually needs

  • Ready to find actual, practical ways to move the needle forward—even on a small budget

Instead of vague theories, you’ll get proven tactics from people who’ve been in your shoes—experts who’ve secured grants, negotiated MOUs, built community partnerships, and made big asks (and gotten the green light) at just the right time.

You’re already doing your best. Let this summit help you do it with more support, more strategy, and a less guesswork.

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HERE'S WHAT SOME PAST ATTENDEES HAVE HAD TO SAY!

10 out 10, would recommend. Gap Science curated a one-of-a-kind summit that brought together presenters with various backgrounds and experience ... straight to my screen.
Dennise Hernandez
Supervising Forensic Scientist
The knowledge of over 25+ speakers throughout the week is truly invaluable and the fact that you were able to gain in just a short amount of time is truly phenomenal.
Matt Davis
Crime Scene Unit Supervisor

YOU’RE READY TO GET THE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT, AND STAFFING YOUR FORENSIC UNIT NEEDS — WITHOUT BREAKING THE BUDGET.

It’s time to stop accepting “no” as the final answer and start using smart, strategic solutions to secure the resources your unit deserves.

Grab your free ticket by clicking the link below and join us for the Forensics on a Budget Virtual Summit!

GET YOUR FREE TICKET

HAVE QUESTIONS?

WE HAVE THE ANSWERS.

If you’re curious about how to get more training, equipment, and staffing for your forensic unit without overspending, this event is for you!

We’ll be specifically talking to forensic professionals working in law enforcement agencies in disciplines like Crime Scene, Latent Prints or Property & Evidence—especially those who are tired of hearing “there’s no budget” when they ask for what their unit needs. This summit is focused on real-world strategies for securing resources creatively and cost-effectively.

But anyone else who wants to get started with resourceful, budget-conscious approaches to supporting forensic work is welcome to join us!

The main portion of the summit runs from September 15-18, 2025 with pre-party sessions happening the week of September 8th. You’ll also be able to join our private Summit Discussion Forum as soon as you grab your ticket, so you can join in on the fun right away!

To avoid tech glitches, give you the best possible experience, and keep things easy for the speakers, the presentations are pre-recorded and will be released at a scheduled time during the summit. However, the speakers will be hanging out in our Summit Discussion Forum where you can connect with them and ask your questions! There will also be opportunities to join us for bonus live Q&A sessions throughout the week.

While most of the presentations for the summit are pre-recorded, there are some live elements, and the pre-recorded presentations are only available for 24 hours with your free ticket. So we encourage you to attend live if you can! We would love for you to set aside some time during the summit week to attend the live Q&A sessions with the speakers, watch the pre-recorded presentations, and participate with others who are working to equip their forensic units with the tools, training, and staffing they need—on a budget.

However, if you’re not able to attend all of the sessions live, go ahead and grab your free ticket, and you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade to the All-Access Pass for extended access.

Your free ticket includes 24 hour access to each of the presentations. If you need more time, you can always upgrade your ticket to the All-Access Pass after registering, which will give you on-going access to the presentations well after the event is over along with premium bonuses from our speakers and more!  

A certificate of attendance is included as a special bonus to any individuals that upgrade to the All-Access Pass!  The certificate will be provided once you have watched all of the presentation videos.

Yes. All pre-recorded presentations have closed captioning.

Please reach out if there’s anything we can do to ensure you’re able to enjoy this event.

Sure thing! You can download a flyer HERE.

If you still have questions, we encourage you to go ahead and sign up. Your questions will likely be answered during the event or in the private community, which you’ll be able to join right away after grabbing your free ticket. 

However, if you need to ask us a question before registering, feel free to send us an email at [email protected].

STILL UNDECIDED? HERE ARE JUST A FEW MORE REASONS TO JOIN US!

Grab your free ticket and learn how to get the training, tools, and personnel you need—even when your department is on a tight budget!

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