Business View Magazine | December 2020

147 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 Virginia that specializes in biometrics, forensics, and identity intelligence services. Since 2002, they’ve been helping laboratories around the world streamline their processes, work more efficiently, and implement solutions that aid in all forensic facets of criminal investigations. “My business partner, Steve Niezgoda, and I were assigned by the National Institute of Justice to support New York City, post 9/11,” recalls Chief Science Officer and Founder, Mandy Sozer. “in 2001, we were tasked with supporting the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the New York State Police in the human identification efforts from the World Trade Center. On our train rides back and forth to New York – on the way back, mainly – we’d try to solve problems. Steve has a background in information technology (IT). My background is in forensic DNA laboratory operations. So, we’d talk about how to combine IT and laboratory operations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of forensic operations.” The fruit of those discussions is the now world- renowned, SNA International. “We couldn’t call it ‘Mandy and Steve’s company’,” Sozer quips. “Instead, we started it as Sozer, Niezgoda & Associates. Several years later, we changed the name to SNA because it’s easier to pronounce. ‘International’ was added to reflect the international work we’re doing in forensics.” Sozer stated she’s always been strategic in her approach to finding consulting work, and although global in scope, the company got its big jump with opportunities seized right in its own backyard – in Washington, D.C. with the larger federal government contracts. With nearly 20 years in the defense contracting industry, they’ve gained valuable experience on a wide variety of interesting projects including preparing laboratories for ISO/IEC 17025 ILAC G-19 accreditation and conducting genealogy research to identify the primary next of kin for soldiers who remain “unaccounted-for” from past conflicts. SNA INTERNAT IONAL