Employee Spotlight - Lori Galvin

At Kreller, we’re proud to have a team of talented professionals who bring unique skills, experiences, and dedication to their work. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Lori Galvin, a seasoned investigator whose passion for corporate investigations has significantly impacted our clients and our team.

What initially drew you to the field of corporate investigations?

My goal from the age of 13 was to become an investigator; I went to college and majored in criminology and then focused on entering the field of investigations. I was fortunate to work early on with a Security Consulting firm that worked almost entirely with corporate clients. I learned first-hand how we became an integral part of their team, especially for companies with no internal investigations department. We helped them with human resources challenges, such as concerns about workplace violence; provided guidance on internal theft —from adding security measures to conducting internal investigations and undercover operations; and led fraud and embezzlement investigations. I found that I loved being the first call a client made as they knew we would be able to help.

In your experience, what are the biggest challenges companies face when conducting internal investigations?

Multinational corporations face some of the biggest challenges when dealing with fraud, conflict of interest, and ethics hotline investigations. Oftentimes, the facility (where the investigation is being conducted) utilizes systems that are not centralized or accessible to the HQ. This means that access to pertinent documents and records to further the investigation requires local employees to provide access to these records. The problem is that these types of investigations can potentially involve high-level management, making the investigation more complex and sensitive.

Also, cross-border investigations can be complicated for multinational corporations as the investigation must be compliant with data privacy and employment laws in more than one jurisdiction; and there are potential language barriers and cultural nuances in play.

Can you share a specific example (without compromising confidentiality) of how an investigation you participated in helped a company?

Recently, a new client contacted us asking if we could conduct due diligence on a commercial real estate transaction. The client was an investment firm in Asia, and they were considering a major investment of 15 million dollars into a multi-family development project in the United States. The client asked Kreller to conduct in-depth due diligence on the transaction. After reviewing the documents and emails regarding the transaction, we immediately recognized several red flags that concerned us, such as the style and tone of the investment documents and the deadline of the “offer.” We recommended to the client that rather than take on an expensive commercial real estate due diligence project; it made more sense to allow us to vet the deal's legitimacy. Our investigation found that while the property was being developed and was actually located at the provided address, the client was being scammed by a company that did not own, manage, or have a relationship with the actual property owners and developers. The client immediately ceased discussions and walked away from the deal, having lost time and a small amount of money on due diligence but having saved themselves from a 15 million dollar loss.

What emerging trends do you see in the corporate investigations landscape?

Increased utilization of AI in data analysis to identify fraud, especially in the banking industry.  It’s an excellent use of AI as it can identify fraud in real-time, lessening the significant damage. Considering the increase and sophistication of cyberfraud, partially due to fraudsters using AI, it’s important that we can use AI to counter these attacks.

What advice would you give someone interested in a career in corporate investigations?

Do your research. Conduct online research to determine which areas of corporate investigations interest you most, and then reach out and talk to people who appear to be working in those fields through LinkedIn, or leveraging relationships such as those with your parents, relatives, or any mentors you may have. People in the field are the best sources of information as to what it takes to get a job in that specific area of investigation. Also, join pertinent associations such as ACAMS, ACFE, ASIS, and SCCE and earn certifications such as Certified Fraud Examiner, Professional Certified Investigator, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, or Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional.

What do you find most rewarding about working with Kreller?

Kreller is unique because many team members have been with the company for 10 or more years. As a result, we have built strong, collaborative relationships. We deeply understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles. We work well as a team, brainstorming solutions to cases rather than working in a siloed, more individualistic manner. This approach is more enjoyable and increases our efficiency and overall success as a company.

Looking to the future, what are your professional goals within corporate investigations?

I believe in the mantra, Never Stop Learning. While I have several certifications in the investigative field and have to earn CPEs for them each year by taking seminars and webinars to keep them active, I still have plans to earn additional certifications. I plan to earn SCCE’s Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional certification.

How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends in corporate investigations?

Staying current on the latest trends in corporate investigations is crucial for ensuring effective but compliant practices. With an ever-changing regulatory landscape, one of the most important parts of my job is keeping abreast of changes and knowing what is coming down the pipe that might affect our investigations or our clients’ needs. I’m a member of numerous professional associations, receive daily news alerts, subscribe to industry newsletters, whitepapers, and other publications, attend webinars and conferences, and network with my peers.