About Snelling Private Investigators & Background Services

Our Investigation Firm History

Our private investigation agency was formed in California as Snelling & Associates in 1987. In 1993, it was moved to Portland, Oregon where Donna Snelling was educated, arming 15 years of licensed experience. Today we are Snelling Private Investigators & Background Services, LLC.

Our Managing Private Investigators

Donna Snelling is our founder and the director. She has performed and managed private investigations since 1978 — from high profile and complex cases to internal fraud and high liability cases for countless government, business, legal and private clients.

Prior, Donna was a fraud, surveillance and legal investigator, manager and director at leading corporate, workers comp and fraud investigative services in southern and northern California for 15 years. Her partnership secured California's first fraud workers comp "take nothing" reward. She has been a private investigation college instructor and considered an expert witness in federal court.

Donna was educated at Sunset High School in Portland and Pacific University in Oregon.

Learn more at Donna Snelling's LinkedIn profile.

Kevin Garrett joined Snelling in 2007 and he is our manager and a director. He is a skilled field investigator and manager who has involved in hundreds of cases — from sensitive surveillance operations to corporate and family law investigation. He has over 20 years of research and private investigation.

Prior, Kevin was the field director at Infotek Research, a major business research firm in Portland, Oregon, where he directed national and international business projects for 10 years. He also have 10 years' experience as a personnel and business manager in diverse industries — from the construction business to specialty sports.

Kevin holds a B.S. from the W.C. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.

Professional Licensing

California Private Investigator License PI 12426
Washington Private Investigation Agency License 1740

Oregon and Washington State Private Investigator License Laws

Oregon and Washington private investigator laws don't require specific private investigation or detective experience to get a private investigator license. Over and above, many national private investigation firms and Oregon and Washington private investigation companies don't employ local private investigators; they subcontract a case. Question private investigators about their experience, their subcontractors, and their liability and auto insurance coverage. It is your or your company's liability too.