Eli Makus | Instructor
Eli Makus, AWI-CH serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. Eli is committed to helping new investigators learn the practical skills necessary to conduct effective, high-quality, defensible workplace investigations. Eli’s training style is engaging and practical, with a focus on student involvement.
Eli is a Senior Partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and the Firm Managing Partner. Eli conducts and manages neutral, unbiased investigations of complex and sensitive matters. He is experienced in all areas of employment law. Eli has conducted investigations involving employees at all levels of the organization, including executives, managers, and front-line staff in union and non-union environments. Eli trains and speaks extensively on conducting workplace investigations. He routinely serves as Senior Faculty for the Association of Workplace Investigators’ (AWI) week-long Institute. Eli has developed training materials for AWI’s seminars, webinars, and the Institute. Eli has also designed and developed training curriculum and materials for multiple investigative programs.
Prior to serving as an external investigator, Eli served as in-house employment counsel, where he conducted investigations and advised Human Resource professionals on internal investigations. Eli has helped employers implement successful internal investigation programs and trained lawyer and non-lawyer investigators how to conduct thorough, prompt, and impartial workplace investigations. In addition to his role as an Instructor for VM Mastered, Eli also provides training for T9 Mastered, which focuses on educating Title IX sexual assault investigators.
Sue Ann Van Dermyden | Instructor
Sue Ann Van Dermyden, AWI-CH, serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. She thrives on delivering engaging, dynamic, interactive, and entertaining training sessions designed to enhance learning and retention. Sue Ann, along with Eli and Julia, designed and developed VM Mastered’s training curriculum tailored to developing internal investigators’ practical skills.
Sue Ann is a founder and Senior Partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and Managing Partner of VM’s San Diego Office. Sue Ann began as an employment litigator in 1993. Since 2006, her practice has focused on conducting workplace and Title IX investigations. She also provides expert witness testimony on employment matters. Sue Ann is an educator, serving as adjunct Professor at McGeorge School of Law teaching workplace investigations. Sue Ann has authored numerous articles on employment law and conducted countless training seminars. She has served as Senior Faculty for the Association of Workplace Investigators’ week-long Institute since 2012, and participated in the creation of the curriculum now taught to thousands of members. In addition to her role as an Instructor for VM Mastered, Sue Ann also provides training for T9 Mastered, which focuses on educating Title IX sexual assault investigators.
Jennifer A. Doughty | Instructor
Jennifer A. Doughty, AWI-CH, serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. She values creating strong relationships with participants and helping them learn the nuances of conducting investigations. Jennifer’s training style is welcoming and enthusiastic, while focusing on adult learning principles designed to ensure subject mastery.
Jennifer is a Partner at Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. Jennifer conducts investigations relating to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct. She has a special expertise in investigations concerning college sports programs. Jennifer is the Firm’s intake partner and is often a client’s first point of contact with Van Dermyden Makus for new investigations. Jennifer also has experience in employment litigation and client counseling.
Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing, Jennifer is an experienced investigator in Title IX sexual misconduct and harassment claims. She has investigated cases involving University faculty and administrators, underage complainants, multiple respondents, and complex issues involving incapacitation and consent. Jennifer also has experience serving as an Appeal Hearing Officer for Title IX cases. In addition to her role as an Instructor for VM Mastered, Jennifer also provides training for T9 Mastered, which focuses on educating Title IX sexual assault investigators.
Liz DeChellis | Instructor
Liz DeChellis, AWI-CH, serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. Liz enjoys sharing the wealth of information she has gained over the years conducting workplace and Title IX investigations.
Liz is a Partner with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and serves as Van Dermyden Makus’ Title IX Program Director, overseeing all Title IX investigations and hearings. Liz is an experienced workplace investigator, investigating allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other types of misconduct. Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing, Liz is also an experienced investigator in Title IX sexual misconduct claims.
In addition to her role as an Instructor for VM Mastered, Liz also provides training for T9 Mastered, which focuses on educating Title IX investigators.
Julia Renner | Program Director
Julia Renner is VM Mastered’s Program Director. In this role, Julia serves as the operations lead for all VM Mastered trainings. She works with organizations to learn their unique investigation challenges and works in collaboration with VM Mastered Instructors to develop a customized training solution. Julia is a key partner in design and development of VM Mastered’s training curriculum and materials. Prior to joining VM Mastered, Julia managed professional development trainings for a variety of industries, including workplace investigations. Julia has over 10 years of experience developing curriculum and managing educational and training programs.