Each year during the Spring Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference, Public Safety Communications Professionals come together to recognize the efforts and actions of their peers during the annual awards ceremony. This year’s ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 21st at Margaritaville in Osage Beach and recognized recipients from nine different categories.
Director of the Year
Kimberly Davis of Ray County 9-1-1 was selected as the 2023 Director of the Year. Kim has been with Ray County since they first opened their doors in 1997 (with just a short time away before returning home) and has held the title of Director for the past seven years. She is responsible for making sure that the communications center is able to run on a day-to-day basis and has been instrumental in getting a sales tax passed, allowing their center to remain open. Recently Kim led her center in a radio project. This project brought all of their agencies onto MOSWIN and greatly improved communication and responder safety. Kim’s next project is a new building. Because of all of this, and much more, Kimberly Davis was selected as the 2023 Director of the Year. Congratulations Kim!
Audio: Director of the Year Presentation by Missouri NENA President, Jamie Taylor
Supervisor of the Year
Dawn Moore of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E was selected as the 2023 Supervisor of the Year. Dawn has been with the Patrol since 1998 and has worked her way through the ranks and duties until she finally reached the rank of Chief Operator. Dawn has built many lasting friendships with co-workers and peers and has been a leader in the profession. She approaches public-safety communications with a customer service emphasis and displays genuine care for her team members, officers, and all employees. It is due to her leadership, both direct and indirect, that new trainers have developed in her agency and that more individuals in the southeast Region have become involved in making a difference to the Profession. Because of her positive impact to the worklife of her team, her willingness to do anything asked of her and so much more, Dawn Moore was selected as the 2023 Supervisor of the Year. Congratulations Dawn!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri NENA President, Jamie Taylor
Trainer of the Year
Kendra Shell of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E was selected as the 2023 George Major Trainer of the Year. Kendra continuously works to better her peers through administering quarterly training, and assisting new trainers through their first time training. For the past 13 years of her Career with the Patrol, Kendra has worked to better the Agency through her service and dedication as a Communications Training Operator-Evaluator and she takes that position very seriously. She works to tirelessly assist new hires, not just from her Troop but from all nine Troops across the state to understand all aspects of the Patrol’s CAD system (and there are a lot). She effortlessly brings knowledge, skills and abilities from her career experience to help build better Operators again not just at Troop E, but in the whole of the Southeast region. It is because of these traits and so much more that Kendra Shell was selected as the 2023 ‘George Major’ Trainer of the Year!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri APCO President, Zachary Dykes
Support Professional of the Year
Megan Cunningham of Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Support Services Professional of the Year. Nothing in her job description of Senior Executive Secretary requires Megan to know about what goes on on the floor. Nothing requires her to learn about the call taking and radio positions that she works to support. Nonetheless, Megan has expanded her position to do just that. She has worked hard to better understand the positions of the Operators to better understand how to support them in an administrative position. She has significantly contributed to the morale of Springfield-Greene County and is known as someone the center cannot do without. She has worked beyond what is expected of her and her position and does so by displaying love and dedication for her staff. Congratulations Megan for being selected as the first-ever Support Service Professional of the Year!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri APCO President, Zachary Dykes
Telecommunicator of the Year
Blake Johnson of Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 was selected as the 2023 Telecommunicator of the Year. The Telecommunicator is the workhorse of the emergency communications profession and Blake is the perfect example of what a Telecommunicator is and what impact they have in their caller’s life. Not only is he a refreshing breath of positive energy at his center, he is a positive role model and trainer. He goes above and beyond what is expected of a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator as evidenced by his efforts to assist the caller who broke his toilet and then got locked out of his apartment when trying to shut the water off. He is someone who can always be counted on. He is a team player, a critical thinker and well-intentioned human being. He is also someone who operates in the shadows, not making waves or needing recognition. According to his nominator, he is the “calm controller of chaos” and it is for these reasons that Blake was selected as the 2023 Telecommunicator of the Year!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri APCO President, Zachary Dykes
Radio Technologist of the Year
James Adkins of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was selected as the 2023 Radio Technologist of the Year. James is one of only two individuals assigned to maintain and repair the Patrol’s and Department of Public Safety’s radio equipment location within parts of Troop D, G and I, including 43 MOSWIN 13 Low Band and one microwave site. Beyond this duty, James also repairs and maintains radio equipment in the Trooper’s patrol vehicles, works on MDC docks, radar units and printer consoles. He is required to diagnose issues with a variety of radio and technical equipment including the Patrol’s phone network, door passes, panic alarms, and much more. He is knowledgeable about all things radio and electronics and is willing to pass it on to those who are interested. It is because of all he has done to ensure the continued operation of the statewide radio system, along with his selfless dedication to ensuring that his officers are taken care of, that James Adkins was selected as the 2023 Radio Technologist of the Year!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri APCO President, Zachary Dykes
Information Technologist of the Year
Edward Baird, CAD Technical Specialist for the St. Louis County Police Department was selected as the 2023 Information Technologist of the Year. Edward, or Eddie provides technical support and training to users to help troubleshoot and resolve issues. He acts as a liaison between the CAD vendor, the county IT department and the 9-1-1 center. He has a history of service in 9-1-1, first working as a floor operator before being promoted to supervisor before transitioning into IT. Recently he worked to procure a ned CAD system which they are now working on implementing. He has also been instrumental in developing not only a seven-week academy for St. Louis County Dispatchers but also for the build out of a training database for their new dispatchers to utilize before going live. It is because of his dedication to bettering St. Louis County 9-1-1 that Edward Baird was selected as the 2023 Information Technologist of the Year. Congratulations!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri 911 Directors Association President, Jeff Holman
Team of the Year
With a combined 94 years of service, Beth Buffington, Jennifer Payne, Richelle Scarborough and Ann Strobbe of the North Kansas City Police Department are who you want in the radio room when things go down. Unfortunately, or fortunately, that was the team that was on shift when the morning of July 19th, 2022 happened. At approximately 1040 hours, Officer Vasquez was on patrol when he initiated a traffic stop. As Officer Vasquez approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, the single occupant shot at Officer Vasquez, striking him. The suspect then exited his vehicle and again shot officer Vasquez before fleeing the scene. The Communications team worked in controlled chaos to ensure all that could be done was being done. They immediately began to broadcast suspect descriptions, contact neighboring agencies and ensure that a Blue Alert was issued. According to the nomination “once the Alert was broadcast, numerous agencies responded which in my belief assisted in the arrest of the suspect.” Because of their calm, collected control of the chaos; because of their thinking outside of the box and their ability to be proactive in a difficult and trying situation, Beth Buffington, Jennifer Payne, Richelle Scarborough and Ann Strobbe of the North Kansas City Police Department were selected as the 2023 Team of the Year.
Audio: Presentation by Missouri NENA Past President, Bonnie-Witt-Schulte
Hero of the Year
The annual Hero of the Year award is dedicated to a juvenile who played a crucial role in a 9-1-1 call resulting in swift action on the part of emergency responders. This year, that honor goes to 10 year old Miracle Moore. On October 23, 2022, Miracle was forced to dial 9-1-1 to report that her mother was unexpectedly in active labor, 3 weeks premature. Throughout the call, Miracle remained calm and reassuring. She followed the pre-arrival instructions and delivered her baby sister just 10 minutes into the call. She is a shining example of what a hero is the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference is pleased to select Miracle Moore as the 2023 Hero of the Year!
Audio: Presentation by Missouri NENA Past President, Bonnie-Witt-Schulte