For NPSTW 2025, we are incredibly proud to present the Prepared Telecommunicator Spotlight Series. Nominees for the Spotlight were solicited directly from agencies and will be shared on social media throughout the week ahead.
Because each individual's full story cannot be done justice in the social media post alone, we've collected the following list so that Honorees and members of the public might read, in greater detail, why each telecommunicator is in the spotlight.
The list is organized by day, so be sure to check Prepared social media during NPSTW to give some love to these amazing public safety professionals!
April 13th Honorees
Kaitlyn Culpepper - Edmond Public Safety
Nominated by: Dawn Harris
Why they deserve the spotlight:
On 5/2/24 a local nursing home got struck by lightning. Kaitlyn and Kayleigh were working dispatch alone. They got the initial call of lightning striking the building, a smell of smoke, the fire system being out, and that they were evacuating the residents. A lightning strike with no fire is a small fire apparatus response, but Kayleigh decided that since they were evacuating she would upgrade to smoke inside a structure for a 5 apparatus response. The 2nd call was taken by Kaitlyn and that caller advised there was smoke inside the building and there was flooding and roof collapse. Kaitlyn got officers en route to assist with evacuations. Due to their quick work, excellent decision making and competent dispatching, help arrived within 5 minutes for fire and 7 minutes for PD. All residents were evacuated safely and no injuries occurred that night. I am nominating Kaitlyn for her assistance in dispatching police there quickly to assist in the safe evacuation of all the residents.
Emily Courson - Crawford County Dept of Public Safety
Nominated by: Greg Beveridge
Why they deserve the spotlight:
This young lady endured one of the most stressful events ever. On February 09th, while working a shift on the Fire Dispatch console, Emily dispatched a "routine" Fire Alarm at a local Chemical Manufacturing plant. The alarm was quickly followed up by a phone call from the plant confirming a working structure fire. Emily's father (Todd) was working at that plant that day. Emily's mother (Janet), a volunteer firefighter, was on one of the first-in engines. The next bone-chilling radio traffic from the scene was that there had been a major explosion at the plant. Emily maintained her composure and dispatched one of the largest incidents in our county's history. Her father was in the building at the time of the explosion and survived with minor injuries. Mom was not injured either. Emily is a young and talented public safety professional that never cares to have the spotlight on her. She deserves it though and I am honored to nominate her for this.
Valerie Lafferty - Augusta Regional Communication Center
Nominated by: Chelsey Stevens
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Valerie is someone who consistently goes out of her way to be helpful to her coworkers, she is always willing to swap shifts or pick up shifts so that her teammates can enjoy their time off, she never asks for anything in return.
April 14th Honorees
Briteney Ray - Pearl River County, MS
Nominated by: Carey Meitzler
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Briteney (pronounced Britt-knee) is a dedicated employee who acts as a team lead on a night shift. She has extensive knowledge of what a great dispatcher is and spreads that on those she works with daily. She is always focused on officer safety, and has demonstrated that she can lead in some of the most critical situations involving incidents. Briteney always looks for a way to improve any and all processes and situations. She is very astute in understanding what the outcome should be and works to create those positive outcomes.
Natasha Goode - Baltimore City 911
Nominated by: Raven Williams
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Natasha has consistently logged into prepared daily to use this tool to assist citizens. From getting locations when citizens are lost, assisting with suspects in a shooting, and to most recently assisting several jurisdictions on a call that crossed city lines with an estranged father who abducted his children. Prepared 911 has definitely made our jobs easier.
Antonia Williams - Baltimore City 911
Nominated by: Raven Williams
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Antonia is another one of our specialist that religiously uses prepared daily. From abandoned calls to vehicle accidents, Toni has used prepared 911 for all types of calls. Toni recently assisted the police with locating a female who was not able to speak because she was being abused and held against her will. Not only did Toni assist with getting her location but she also was able to get uploads from the caller on how the police could gain access to the building. Without prepared this would not have been possible.
Donnica Fenner - Baltimore City 911
Nominated by: Raven Williams
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Donnica is a newcomer to using the prepared 911 software, but she didn't let that stop her from jumping in on a call. On an active assailant call, Donnica was able to get the teacher to go live with the assistance of her supervisor, to obtain footage of the suspect holding a child with scissors to her neck. Donnica remained online until responders arrived on scene. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and the student was not harmed.
Buncombe County Public Safety Communications
Nominated by: Brooke Hazlett
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I would like to nominate the entire team for their outstanding and dedicated service through out Hurricane Helene. They all worked through heart-wrenching calls and dispatches while their own lives, families, friends, and homes were in danger. They were asked to do what no one that does this job is ever expected to do, tell people that help couldn't make it. Many of them carry that every day. I want them to know that someone did show up. They did, on each and every call they answered. They showed compassion and were some of those people's only link to outside world in that time. What they did mattered.
Franklin Chatman - Adams County E-911 Dispatch
Nominated by: Annette Fells
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I'm nominating Franklin Chatman because he shines a bright light in our department. Franklin has a great sense of humor. He keeps the department calm as possible including the callers. When we get hysterical callers, he lets them vent before preceding to ask his line of questions while activating his prepared live. I remember we had a shooting where there was a victim on scene no one could seem to get the necessary information to get them the help that was needed in a timely manner, but however Franklin took over the call and calm the caller down to assure them that help was on the way while keeping them on the line until help arrives. He wears many hats in this department, and always willing to fill in where needed. He worked an officer-initiated chase where he asked all unit to hold their traffic unless it was an emergency so he can keep up with the officer's location until he gets the vehicle to stop. What made him stand out on this call he knew the right things to say to take control of the call. When making contact with a caller it's just like he knows them personally by addressing them by their first name, that makes a caller feel comfortable to vent about everything that's taken place. He is our hero and deserves the recognition!
April 15th Honorees
Denise Walsh - Nashville DEC
Nominated by: Amy Hensley
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Denise actively pursues excellence for her agency but also for emergency communications centers across the country. She does this through active participation in APCO and CALEA Accreditation. At a recent CALEA conference I observed Denise actively seeking out new Accreditation Managers who needed help with policies and processes instead of spending all of her time with long time friends. She often spends weekends assisting others as they seek excellence through the accreditation process. She makes herself av available to help anyone any time..
Desiree Herrera - Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority
Nominated by: John Barney
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Desiree Herrera exemplifies what it means to be a team player. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her coworkers and the center as a whole. Whether it's stepping up to work overtime or ensuring the floor is fully covered, Desiree shows up with a positive attitude and a strong commitment to keeping things running smoothly.
One standout example of her dedication is how she regularly volunteers to help train new team members whenever she's on shift. She not only takes the time to explain procedures clearly but also builds confidence in new dispatchers by being patient and encouraging. Her willingness to support others while maintaining her own responsibilities speaks volumes about her leadership potential and character.
Desiree's reliability, team-first mindset, and willingness to step up wherever needed make her a standout member of our team and someone absolutely worthy of recognition.
Michael Knoll - Anoka County Emergency Communications
Nominated by: Bonnie Blakeman
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Mike has actively used Prepared Live since we got it. He is by far the most knowledgeable at our agency with it and is always willing to help others learn how to use it.
Shane Bush - Bedford Communications
Nominated by: Michael Miller II
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Shane Bush deserves to be in the Spotlight for his outstanding contributions to the training and development of telecommunicators at the Bedford Communications Center. As a key component of the training program, Shane has played a vital role in ensuring that new communications officers complete their training with confidence and competence. His dedication to mentorship and skill-building has not only enhanced the quality of service provided by the center but has also helped improve staffing levels by developing well-prepared, capable professionals. His commitment to excellence and his ability to cultivate strong, self-assured team members make him an invaluable asset to the Bedford Communications Center.
Anna Florczak - Westcomm Regional Dispatch
Nominated by: Lisa Ricardo
Why they deserve the spotlight:
While working her 12 hour shift, Anna took a call for an elderly man who went missing from his home, he had been missing for many hours. After her shift was over she went searching in the vicinity of where he went missing and located the man. She stopped and ask his name and told him she was there to help. She stayed with him while she called police to respond. The man was safely returned to his family due to Anna's concern and diligence.
Adam Dickson - Lawrence County Emergency Communications District
Nominated by: Dakota Lemay
Why they deserve the spotlight:
He is one of our part time operators. Whenever we have someone call out and no one can work their open shift Adam is always there for us and has saved us in staffing several times when we cannot get anyone to fill in
April 16th Honorees
Michael Knoll - Anoka 911
Nominated by: Shawn Davis
Why they deserve the spotlight:
As a new dispatcher, I couldn't think of a more deserving person than Michael. His depth of knowledge and experience are a real asset.
Dodge Wilcox 911 Entire Staff
Nominated by: Ronnie Sheffield
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I'd like to nominate the entire staff of Dodge Wilcox 911. No matter the challenge they always find a way to come together as a team and handle it with the utmost professionalism. This past year they have handled everything from Hurricanes to an officer involved shooting. I could not ask for a better group to have serve the citizens and public safety of Dodge and Wilcox counties.
Angela Spicer - Jeffersontown Police Department, KY
Nominated by: Justin Powell
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Since going online with a paid version of Prepared Live a few years ago, having text capabilities, this telecommunicator has come up with MANY use cases, that ultimately spilled over to agencies around the country, she was instrumental in thinking of utilizing Prepared Live for NCIC validations every month solving days work of work, into a few hours of sending out messages with a canned message. She thought of a open records canned message with web links, adding civilian accident report information to a canned message. She has been a supporter of incorporating translation as well. Recently she had the idea of a canned message to use for notifying victims when we locate their items. This way a notification of some kind is sent, any time of the day. Angie has been great at helping our agency utilize Prepared in as many ways as possible.
Kaylian Hartman - Houma Police Department
Nominated by: Rosalie Thompson Little
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I'm nominating Kaylian Hartman because of her interest in going out of her way to train and show others what it takes on becoming a professional dispatcher for this department, but not only that, having them being liable for their actions inside and outside of this job. She goes further in consoling them and comes out at nights if they need her. Kaylian has been an employee here for about 18 years and is a very humble person, not wanting to be in front of anyone but just being a good person and helping others is what she's proud of. Her, as being a professional and valued employee is what we're proud of.
Kevin Johnson - Columbia County, NY 911
Nominated by: Jessica Maloy
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I am honored to write this letter of recommendation for Kevin Johnson, who has been an integral part of Columbia County 911 for the past 26 years. Kevin's unwavering dedication, leadership, and professionalism have made a lasting impact on our department, and his transition from Chief Dispatcher to Director of 911 is a testament to his exceptional abilities and commitment to public safety.
Throughout his tenure, Kevin has been a pillar of strength within our team. His calm demeanor, vast experience, and quick decision-making skills have been instrumental in handling countless emergency situations. As a dispatcher, he set the standard for excellence-maintaining composure under pressure, ensuring seamless communication between responders, and always prioritizing the safety of the community.
As Chief Dispatcher, Kevin led by example, earning the respect and trust of his colleagues. His leadership style fosters teamwork, professionalism, and a deep sense of responsibility among those he works with. His ability to mentor and guide fellow dispatchers has strengthened our department, ensuring that the next generation of telecommunicators is well-prepared for the demands of the job. It is nearly impossible for any of us to limit ourselves to one example of how Kevin exemplifies being an Emergency Dispatcher. Each and every phone call or radio transmission is a testament to his professionalism and dedication to this job.
Now, as he steps into the role of Director of 911, I have no doubt that Kevin will continue to elevate Columbia County 911 to new heights. His knowledge, experience, and dedication make him the ideal person to lead our department into the future. His vision, commitment to operational excellence, and deep understanding of emergency communications will undoubtedly enhance the services we provide to the community.
During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, it is only fitting that we recognize and celebrate Kevin's remarkable career and contributions. He embodies the very best of what it means to be a public safety telecommunicator, and we are fortunate to have him leading our team.
Mariela Martinez - Navarro County Sheriff's Office
Nominated by: Melanie Cagle
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Telecommunications Officer, Mariela Martinez, is a Corporal on our night shifts and constantly stays on top of everything from record keeping, incoming calls and how they are handled as well as coordinating with patrol officers to ensure all callers are taken care of appropriately. She is someone who is extremely knowledgeable and dependable. She takes the job seriously and never takes the responsibility of this job for granted. The NCSO is very fortunate to have Mariela Martinez as an employee and the Communications Division is very thankful for her and everything she does.
April 17th Honorees
Jorian Jewell - Norman Police Department
Nominated by: Ben Smith
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Jorian is an introverted extrovert. He first made his debut with the Oklahoma Chapter of APCO as a scholarship winner in 2021 where he was able to attend his first APCO International Conference. Although he was previously an APCO member, this conference allowed him to flourish and find more passion. He made the most of this opportunity and began to network and engage with others on personal and career levels.
Through the years, he has built himself into a strong telecommunicator and leader who was happy being in the background, but with encouragement from his peers and colleagues, Jorian started teaching a new class at our regional training and state conference titled, "Breaking Down the Rainbow." This class focuses on LGBTQ+ within the 9-1-1 Center, whether you are assisting someone within this community as a telecommunicator or co-worker. He discusses the struggles he has personally faced in his career and how he has overcome many obstacles in his path.
Jorian has been involved with both our APCO and NENA Chapters and serves as a liaison for a local first responder mental health group. He makes the effort to check on his colleagues and takes the time to visit centers after they have experienced a traumatic or significant event. I have been fortunate to watch Jorian grow and evolve into himself over the last couple of years and his dedication to the profession is unachievable. Through the struggles he has faced personally, he puts a smile on his face and is willing to volunteer with whatever we need as an organization.
Mandi Jacobs - Soldotna SPSCC
Nominated by: Tehya Craig
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Mandi is a selfless coworker who not only goes above and beyond for her callers but also her coworkers, a recent example of that is a CPR call that she took, she is gracious and calm when speaking to people on their worst days. If I was on the other side of that line I would want Mandi to be the person who I spoke to because hearing her just in the room I know I would be able to take a deep breath know she was doing everything in her power to help me and my loved ones on my worst day.
Tehya Craig - Soldotna Public Safety Communication Center
Nominated by: Bethany Orr
Why they deserve the spotlight:
One of the most remarkable qualities that Tehya consistently demonstrates is her ability to remain calm and focused in the most chaotic and stressful situations. Whether it's a life-threatening emergency or a critical incident, she approaches every call with a composed demeanor that reassures the caller and sets the tone for an effective response. She is compassionate under pressure, helping to bridge the gap between those in need and the emergency services they rely on. In a high-pressure field like 911 dispatch, this ability is invaluable, and Tehya consistently rises to the occasion.
Makayla Derkvorkian and Jennifer Savely (Peer Support Team) - Kenai Police Department
Nominated by: Stacey Day
Why they deserve the spotlight:
These two individuals launched a Peer Support group at my Agency after coming back super excited from a Public Safety Conference. The Peer Support Team focuses on Dispatcher Wellness, Mental Health , training in deficient areas with a peer to peer method approach, critical incident debriefings and much much more. They have really built morale as well as recognizing all co-workers birthdays each month.
Tracy Davis - Delaware County Emergency Services
Nominated by: Michael McGinley
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Tracy is a supervisor on the B platoon. She is retiring shortly; however, she continues to lead and teach others all the things she has learned along the way. She has taught me so much throughout my career so far and I know others can say the same. She still continues to learn and use the new technology, and she will be greatly missed when she retires in June.
Ashley Floyd - Oconee County Sheriffs Office
Nominated by: Julie Dew
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Ashley is the Charlie shift supervisor at my current agency. She is always going above a beyond her dispatch supervisor duties. Whether that's jumping on a radio, answering those never ending calls and questions, or just being a friend. Ashley has a way of helping no matter what the circumstances are. She is encouraging to not only her team, but everyone around her and is hands down the best supervisor I've ever had the privilege of working for!
April 18th Honorees
Makaylla Brady - Oconee County Sheriffs Office
Nominated by: Julie Dew
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Makaylla is an amazing person! No matter what is going on, she is always positive! Makaylla trains on Charlie shift and always makes new dispatchers feel welcome and wanted! She never hesitates to lend a helping hand to anyone who is struggling and she handles everything with such grace.
Joseph Dominguez - PVRCC
Nominated by: Alison Herring
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Joseph goes above and beyond when training new hires and is always looking for new ways to assist the team and make their job just a little bit easier.
Wilbraham RECC Team
Nominated by: Johnathan Danek (Deputy Director, Wilbraham RECC)
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I am nominating the Wilbraham RECC team for the Prepared Spotlight. On the late evening of Jan 20th, 2024, the Wilbraham Police Department responded to a mental health event resulting in a high priority domestic disturbance. The disturbance resulted in an officer down by means of a gunshot wound, followed by the suspect barricading himself inside his home. Wilbraham RECC had two part-time dispatchers on duty at the time of the incident. Those dispatchers were Alexandra Manseau and Sabrina Romano. Both dispatchers ensured an all hands on deck response by the Wilbraham Police Department to the initial call for service, and then coordinating a regional law enforcement response in the minutes and hours that followed. Director Gentile coordinated a call to action for off duty dispatch personnel to respond immediately to supplement manpower and provide relief for the two dispatchers handling the critical incident. In addition to Director Gentile's immediate response to the scene and subsequently the dispatch center, Dispatchers Annie Murphy, Johnathan Danek, and Jordan Dunham also responded to the request for immediate assistance. Within one minute of Dispatcher Murphy's arrival, the suspect in the incident called 911, which began a nearly three hours long hostage negotiation and crisis intervention. Meanwhile, Dispatcher Romano handled text to 911 communications with the victims inside the home and ensured their safe rescue. Dispatcher Manseau provided radio communications support to ensure the victims' safe rescue while coordinating responders' locations on scene and around the perimeter. Dispatcher Danek was tasked with coordinating dispatch operations and ensuring that all mutual aid requests and tasks, such as the negotiators and SWAT teams, were dispatched in accordance with incident command's needs. Dispatcher Dunham made contact with all surrounding neighbors and instructed them to take shelter in their basements until instructed otherwise before the tactical operations began.
Taken altogether, the Wilbraham RECC's response to this critical incident was nothing short of expedient, professional, and a collective call to duty. Every available dispatcher rose to the occasion and wanted to be a part of the solution. The after-action feedback provided by all public safety personnel included accolades for the dispatch team in how they handled the incident from start to finish.
Commendations:
Regional Communications Director Anthony Gentile, Jr.
Regional Communications Deputy Director Johnathan Danek (Dispatcher & CTO at the time)
Regional Communications Dispatcher & CTO Annie Murphy
Regional Communications Dispatcher Sabrina Romano (part-time dispatcher at the time)
Alexandra Manseau (part-time dispatcher at the time, now dispatching for Shrewsbury Public Safety)
Regional Communications Part-Time Dispatcher Jordan Dunham
Libby Howland - Eaton County 911
Nominated by: Ashley Wonnacott
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I am nominating Libby because she is such a caring and thoughtful person/supervisor. Whether she be on vacation, a work training, or off duty, she has checked in on me after a tough situation multiple times.
Karla Jacobs - Delaware County Emergency Services
Nominated by: Mariah Van Hoose
Why they deserve the spotlight:
I am nominating Karla, not only for the work she does all year round, but also for all of the extra effort she puts into Telecommunicator Week every year. Karla is one of our supervisors here at Delaware County. She has been here for over 25 years and has spent a lot of her life dedicated to this agency and our County. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, she is someone who you know you can trust as a partner. Every year during Telecommunicator Week, Karla organizes with all of our police and fire agencies to make sure each shift gets a special meal each day of the week. Sometimes it is pizza, take out from a restaurant, or a Sargent from the Police Department coming in and making us breakfast! She spends her downtime making or ordering gifts and going to the store to bring in snacks and drinks that last us long past the week. She never once asks for a thank you or even acknowledges that she does all this year in and out for us. I truly feel like this is an example of showing your co-workers and dispatchers that you do appreciate all of their work and long hours!
Josh Prater - Cherokee County 911
Nominated by: Hayden Storey
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Josh is an outstanding Dispatcher. He is very attentive to detail. He is passionate about his job and always strives to be the best and do the best each call. On top of being a great dispatcher himself, he also is an amazing trainer and always strives to make sure his trainees are prepared for the job and succeed. Josh deserves a little recognition for all he does for our agency!
April 19th Honorees
Tailynn Mallory - Hawkins County E-911
Nominated by: Heather Hughes
Why they deserve the spotlight:
At such a young age, Tailynn is truly an inspiration. She came in ready & willing to do whatever it took to learn quickly. Her enthusiasm for this career choice is catching, even for the more seasoned dispatchers in our agency. Every shift she comes in excited to efficiently serve our community. Tailynn came into this job right out of high school. She is working toward her college education as well as holding down a full time job as a dispatcher. No matter what call comes in, she is the calm voice in the chaos. She begins & ends each shift with a smile on her face. What a fine example for us all!
Makaylla Brady - Oconee County 911
Nominated by: Lisa Willis
Why they deserve the spotlight:
Makaylla is one person you can always count on and know the job will get done. Not only will the job get done, but it will be very precise. She always comes to work even when she's had a bad day, but you'll never know it. She's compassionate with every caller and is very tactful with every situation. She serves her county with pride, integrity, and dignity. Her dedication to her peers and the job shows through her work. She will never complain when asked to complete any task—more than likely, she's already completed many more things without being asked.
Makaylla is loyal, strong, courteous, and a wonderful role model. She's the calm in a room full of chaos. She never hesitates to jump in whenever help is needed. She handles herself with grace and effectiveness in high-stress situations. She will never know how much she brings to the table and how many lives she has saved because of who she is and how she handles everything with care. We appreciate you and could not do it without you, Makaylla. We're blessed to call you a Charlie and part of our Telecommunicator 911 family.
