Toby is a galvanizer, gaining energy from empowering individuals to follow their passions and discover new skills and abilities. He currently serves as the 911 Training Coordinator for the City of Roanoke, a CALEA-accredited agency with an APCO P33-certified training program committed to excellence. Prior to this role, Toby worked as a Communications Officer at the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (NRV 911), where he pursued professional development by completing courses such as NENA’s Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP), 911 Center Supervisor, and Excellence in Dispatch. These accomplishments prepared him to step into a leadership role as a Training Coordinator. In addition to his service at the City, Toby is the Founder of The Tenacious Telecommunicator, a training and recognition organization for public safety telecommunicators. His efforts have led to the development and delivery of training at national public safety conferences. Toby began his public safety journey with Christiansburg Rescue, where he served as Membership Lieutenant and successfully reformed orientation and recruitment, boosting volunteer membership by 14%. He has held leadership roles with the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, including State Training Officer, where he managed a statewide education program and guided it through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also contributed to training development at the Virginia Tech Police Department and enjoys traveling, gardening, rollerblading, and spending time with friends.

Melissa Alterio possesses 35 years of experience in the field, currently holding the position of Executive Director for the Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. The Emergency Communication Center (ECC), which comprises 160 personnel, is the second largest of its kind in the state. In addition to her role at DEC, Melissa has served as an Adjunct Instructor with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International for several years and operates as a 911consultant and leadership coach in the 911 sector. Her professional passion centers on transforming organizational culture, mentoring leaders, and empowering dispatchers to investin their professional development.Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in the 911 industry, Melissa has presented at numerous national dispatch conferences, focusing on leadership principles and industry-related consulting. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Marist College in New York and subsequently obtained a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice/Public Safety Leadership from Mercer University. Furthermore, Melissa has achieved the professional designations of Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) and Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE).In her commitment to public safety advancement, Melissa serves on the Board of Directors for the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, an organization dedicated to enhancing public safety through uniform training, standardized protocols, measurable outcomes, and technological innovations. She has also been appointed to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) National Consortium for Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide and acts as a Board Advisor for the Women in Leadership Program at Georgia College & State University.Melissa has received numerous accolades, including being named the Georgia APCO/NENA 911 Director of the Year in 2021, the NICE Public Safety Director of the Year in 2023, and a 2024 honoree in the Women of Achievement TRIBUTE presented by LiveSafe Resources. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Cobb County Chamber Public Safety Appreciation Program for 2024.These accolades serve as evidence that Melissa is paving the way for future leaders in 911 public safety.

Cheryl serves as the Director at Clackamas 911 in Oregon where she has led efforts to align policies with practice, develop a QA/QI program, expand dispatchable resources, participated in extraordinary events like evacuating her 911 center for 2 weeks during a wildfire and being the first in her state to develop remote dispatching capabilities. She regularly seeks innovative and creative ideas to care for and recognize her employees. It is her mission for telecommunicators to retire after a full career, proud of their service and remembering the amazing work they have done to save lives and protect their communities. Cheryl is active in state 911 committees and participates in national committees on the topics of Leadership, Next Generation 911, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She speaks regularly at conferences, works with government agencies on change management and enjoys life with her geeky family who loves travel, politics, tech and popular culture.

Ryan Chambershas 17years of Public Safety Experience as an Emergency Communication Specialist, CTO, and Fire Captain. After many years under the headset, Ryan took his passion for training to the Denise Amber Lee Foundation as he joined Nathan Lee’s mission to educate and motivate public safety. After traveling to 47 states and teaching 1000’s of dispatchers, Ryan was awarded with the 2018and 2023National NENA president’s award and the 2018 Texas APCO president’s award for influence and contributions to the industry. Ryan currently holds the position of Immediate Past President of North Carolina NENA and a recent 2024 North Carolina NENA hall of fame inductee. Today,Ryan still presents training with the Denise Amber Lee Foundation.Ryan also holds the role of Account Executive with Siento providing mental health resources to Public Safety and Healthcare.

AJ Darby was in Public Safety over 25 years ago, working with Virginia Beach volunteer fire/rescue and working at the Children’s Hospital in the PCU and PICU units while specializing in burn trauma.  AJ left public service for 17 years and worked for a Fortune 100 company, before returning to Public Safety. AJ now works at Roswell 911 Center as SCO, PEO, and a negotiator for North Fulton SWAT.

Tina DeCola is a Communications Supervisor at the Combined Communication Center a Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. She brings 18 years of experience to this award-winning center, which covers fire and medical dispatching for the majority of Clark County in Southern Nevada. Home to over 2 million residents and a major hub for human trafficking. After taking a call from a victim that escaped her trafficker 3 years ago, Tina felt compelled to get involved. She currently serves on the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Steering Committee. She has worked with local law enforcement as well as many other agencies, to create training not only for dispatcher’s but for fire and EMS staff as well. She has also written the Standard Operating Procedure for department to follow. Tina continues to work with many agencies and not for profit organizations to not only continue her education on this incredibly horrific issue but to keep as a list of resources for recovered victims.

Father of two wonderful girls, JC Ferguson is a Commander at Austin-Travis Co EMS in Austin, Tx. He heads the Communications Special Events and Emergency Response Team and has served as Training Coordinator for the last 10 years. JC started working in public safety 2003 and has since worked in Bexar County - Tx, Billings Mt, and Chapel Hill NC in various roles of Fire, EMS, and Emergency Communications. JC is also a ranking member of his department’s Honor Guard, leader within his department’s Peer Support Team, and is a Co-Chair of NENA’s Peer Support Work-Group under the Wellness Committee. For recreation, JC is a competitive Ultimate Frisbee player and can usually be found outdoors running or in one of Austin’s many Greenbelts.

I began my career in a small dispatch center covering 4,400 square miles, where I handled Police, Fire, and EMS calls at both city and county levels—often with just two or three dispatchers on duty. While attending the New Mexico State Academy to become a certified dispatcher, I discovered a passion for training, returned a year later to earn my trainer certification, and revamped the center’s training program—parts of which are still in use today. During that time, I also joined the volunteer fire department, became a certified EMT-B for the State of New Mexico, and earned my associate degree in Fire Science with a focus on Emergency Management.

In 2015, I left the department and briefly worked as a valet on the Las Vegas Strip—an interesting detour, but one that reaffirmed my desire to return to public safety. That opportunity came when I joined the City of Las Vegas Combined Communications Center.

In my time with that center, I handled some of the most intense calls of my career, including the night of the Route 91 shooting on October 1, 2017. That event changed me in ways I’ll never forget, and it reinforced my commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting others in the field. I stepped back into the role of trainer, traveling to different states to share my experiences from that night. I also became a Certified Training Officer (CTO) at the Combined Communications Center—a position I found as rewarding and exciting as when I first began training.

In 2024, I transitioned into a new role that allows me to remain deeply connected to the public safety industry while continuing to support and advocate for 911 professionals. My passion for training, mentoring, and improving the profession remains at the heart of everything I do.

Tony is the President of The Public Safety Group. He has more than 30 years of public safety communications experience. He has lectured to over 20,000 public safety professionals in more than 150 cities and has presented at national APCO and NENA conferences. He holds a BA in Criminal Justice and a MA in Political Science. Tony spent many years with the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Communications Division and was the supervisor on-duty during the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. He also holds the distinction of APCO life member & Emergency Number Professional (ENP) from NENA.

Kris Inman is the Director of Program Development at The Healthy Dispatcher. He previously served Springfield-Greene County (Mo) 9- 1-1 for 28 years, retiring in July of 2023 after three as Director. Originally hired as a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator in 1994, Kris served as the department’s Training & Education Manager for 8 years, working his way up from dispatcher, trainer and supervisor before promoting to Director. Kris holds an MA in Communication and a BS in Electronic Media from Missouri State University, and is also a registered yoga instructor. A noted speaker and presenter, Kris has delivered educational sessions, keynotes, and motivational speeches for groups across the country.

Hi everyone! My name is Tanya Lee and I am the Manager of EvansCare, a Preventative Maintenance and Console Cleaning Service for ALL brands of consoles. I am a Montana native, born and raised (and proud of it!) and moved to Oregon at the end of high school where I have lived until recently moving to Florida. I spent five years as a medical surgical assistant before starting my own medical transcription business after the birth of my first daughter. I spent 20 years working at home raising my four girls and about eight years ago started working in the 911 industry where I learned what amazing heroes our telecommunicators are! I am passionate about creating a clean and healthy work environment for all mission critical environments and ensuring that you are all working in the most optimal work conditions possible. I am proud to work at a company that not only believes in the value of amazing customer service but also taking care of the operators sitting at each and every console we make (while also building a premium product on top of all that!). I now live in Florida with my husband, Nathan Lee, and our seven (yes you read that correctly!) children. We spend our time going to baseball and football and volleyball games and try to manage our chaos as much as possible!

Jason, a seasoned Telecommunications Instructor, embarked on this entrepreneurial journey to expand the knowledge and expertise of Telecommunicators across the United States and abroad. Recently retired from the Kentucky State Police Academy as a Law Enforcement Instructor III, Jason ensured that all agencies received top-notch in-service training and academy certification. With an impressive track record of over 27 years in the field of Emergency Services, Jason's extensive experience makes him a highly sought-after instructor. Additionally, he has been a certified instructor by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council for more than a decade, further solidifying his credibility and expertise. Jason's exceptional ability to captivate and inspire participants sets him apart, resulting in his instruction of personnel from more than 2000 agencies nationwide and internationally. His reputation extends beyond state borders, as he has also been invited to present at prestigious conferences such as the CCAW, NENA, and APCO National Conferences, as well as numerous state-level events. Through his dedication and unwavering passion for the job, Jason continues to make a significant impact in the field of Emergency Telecommunications, elevating the skills and knowledge of Telecommunicators, Officers, Firefighters, EMT’s, and more across the country and abroad.

Martini is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He worked as a newspaper journalist in Eastern North Carolina and Franklin, TN before joining Dave Ramsey’s team in a public relations role. In 2004, he took a job in Chattanooga as a police and firedispatcher that changed the trajectory of my life. For the past 21 years, he worked in every operational role available across 5 emergency communications centers in Tennessee (City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, City of Brentwood, Williamson County, and Metro Nashville), where he currently serves as Director. He is also actively involved with the world’s largest public safety association -APCO Intl., where he serves as Immediate Past President.He and his wife, Tina, are members of Station Hill Church. They have two sons -Zachary and Tyler. When not serving the public safety communications field, he loves to travel, either on a local road trip or an overseas adventure, and when the weather’s warm, he can be found on a kayak in any of Tennessee’s beautiful river

For over 20 years, Dominique Mathis has been a prominent facilitator, leader, and trailblazer in public safety telecommunications. Her expertise spans 9-1-1/dispatch/CTO training programs, emergency support services, and facilitation, where she has consistently driven innovation and leadership. Inspired by personal experiences and the trauma she witnessed, Dominique committed herself to “break the cycle” and advocate for those in need. This passion and resilience gave rise to her impactful career in public safety telecommunications. Dominique’s excellence was recognized in 2018 when she received the prestigious Florida Sheriff’s Association Dispatcher of the Year award. She holds a Bachelor’s in Exceptional Student Education and a Master’s in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. She is pursuing her doctoral degree in Instructional and Performance Technology, continuing her commitment to enhancing emergency communication standards. She is a Public Safety Manager at Carbyne, connecting with emergency communications centers to enhance their operations with innovative technology.

Kris Nichols is a dedicated 911 dispatcher with over 10 years of experience and 6 years as a trainer. Passionate about creating effective training infographics and guides for CTOs, she is committed to improving dispatcher education and helping CTOs build stronger training programs for their agencies. When she’s not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and crafting.

Christopher Orrison spent nearly 15 years in public safety as a paramedic and firefighter before pivoting into storytelling full-time. Now a writer, actor, and comedian, he brings a unique blend of lived experience, sharp wit, and hard-earned perspective to his work —whether it’s in front of a camera or a room full of first responders. Chris is passionate about mental health, communication, and finding connection in high-pressure environments.He’s co-teaching this session with his wife,Karlea, which guarantees a healthy mix of substance and sarcasm —and probably at least one moment where she reels him back in. You’ve been warned.

Karlea Brown Orrison has been operating in, educating, leading, and empowering the world of emergency telecommunications for nearly two decades across the United States. She currently serves as Administrator of Training with Frederick County Emergency Communications in Frederick, Maryland, where she began her career in October 2006. She holds various certifications, including ENP, CISM, PIO, QA, and instructor-based variants such as ETC-I, CPR, and other locality-specific programs. Throughout the years, Karlea has taken multiple opportunities to spread her love for this career across state lines, teaching, and consulting for independent contractors from coast to coast. Her educational passion focuses on mental health, leadership growth, and effective communication, which heavily factor in her sessions. When she can relax at home, Karlea enjoys time with her Husband, Christopher, and her two sons, Wyatt, and Archer.

I am a 911 shift supervisor and peer support member with over nine years of experience in emergency communications. Throughout my career we have experienced many critical incidents to include Hurricane Helene to the loss of a colleague and have navigated my own journey with PTSD, burnout, and compacted trauma. I hold an Associate degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelors degree in Business law and Administration. Alongside me is my service dog, Sophie, she advocates for mental health and resilience in public safety. In my free time I crochet flags for fallen heroes, blending service, healing and compassion in everything we do.

Brandi Powell is a chaplain, minister, and former 911 dispatcher who understands the weight of caring for others in high-pressure environments. As the Executive Director of The911 Chaplain Initiative, she leads a nonprofit dedicated to supporting dispatchers and communications professionals through faith-based care, crisis response, and practical training. With a heart for those often unseen and unheard, Brandi creates spaces where people can heal, be heard, and know they matter—both on and off the headset.

Jim is a nationally certified fire officer and fire instructor from Long Island, NY. He hasover 24 years of experience in various roles in the fire service including fire, EMS, emergencydispatch, fire instructor, hazardous materials technician, incident command, and technicalrescue. He has served in various leadership roles as a career Fire Captain, Training Officer,and volunteer Fire Chief. Jim currently works as a training specialist in the Public Relations& Community Risk Reduction division for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in Tampa, FL.In 2021 his family suffered an unspeakable tragedy when their daughter, Gabby Petito, wasbrutally strangled to death and left in the wilderness by a person they thought loved and caredfor her. Since then, it has been his family’s mission to turn their tragedy into purpose. Theyadvocate for missing persons and victims/ survivors of domestic violence. Looking back on hiscareer and through his current advocacy work he has identified gaps in prevention andeducation. One of the foundation's goals is to bring domestic violence training to our firstresponders. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can be the change.

Despite the unimaginable loss of her daughter Gabby, Nichole Schmidt remains deeply committed to turning pain into purpose. A devoted mother, she finds strength and solace in the signs of Gabby’s enduring presence. Alongside her husband,Jim, Nichole draws on her diverse experiences as an artist, former EMT, and teaching assistant to fuel her resilience and advocacy. Since Gabby’s passing, she has become a powerful voice for domestic violence prevention and missing persons awareness, determined to drive meaningful change. Through the Gabby Petito Foundation, Gabby’s four parents,Nichole,Jim, Joe, and Tara,continue to work tirelessly to honor her legacy and create a lasting impact in the fight for justice, awareness, and he

Leslie Whitham, ENP, has dedicated over 30 years to public safety, serving in roles from reserve police officer to dispatcher, trainer, and nationally recognized instructor. Throughout her career, Leslie has focused on education, providing training within her agency andcollaborating with Emergency Communications Officers nationwide. As a member of NENA’s Education Advisory Board, she is committed to enhancing educational resources for telecommunicators at all career stages. Known for her passion for the 911 community, Leslie values deep connections with public safety professionals and emphasizes self-care among first responders to maintain high service levels. Currently, Leslie leads the ECC Training and Engagement at RapidSOS, where she oversees virtual and in-person training initiatives, ensuring Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) fully leverage the RapidSOS platform.