Annual Awards

2025 AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!

Nomination Period for the 2025 Awards Program:

February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Sen. Gannon, Rep. Perkins and Rep. Sauls were the three primary sponsors of reclassification bills during the 2023 legislative session. These bills ultimately lead to the language being included in SB24 which recognized Telecommunicators as First Responders.

Scott and Kaycee were recognized for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the three Associations that directly lead to the passage of SB24, which recognized Telecommunicators as First Responders

Awards & Eligibility Information

Each year, the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference along with the Missouri 9-1-1 Director’s Association and Missouri Chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) see nominations for and bestow the following awards to deserving members of Missouri’s emergency communications profession!

NOMINEES DO NOT NEED TO BE MEMBERS OF ANY OF THE ABOVE ASSOCIATIONS.

Nomination Period for the 2025 Awards Program: February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

About the Categories

Director of the Year

The Director of the Year Category is meant for a staff member service in an executive position, such as the titles of Director, Assistant Director, Executive Director, Deputy Director, PSAP Manager, Communication Center Director, Communications Director/Manager, Communications Administrator, Center Manager, Communications Chief, Public Safety Manager. These are agency or division heads or seconds in command.

Supervisor of the Year

The Supervisor of the Year category is for those who serve as line supervisors and may hold the title of Dispatch Supervisor, Shift Supervisor, Supervising Dispatcher, Supervisor, Shift Manager/Supervisor, Communications Supervisor, Communications Shift Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, Emergency Resource Supervisor, Telecommunications Supervisor, Senior Fire Communications Supervisor.

'George Major' Trainer of the Year

The Trainer of the Year category is for those who act in a training compacity. They may be training coordinators, CTOs or anyone who is primarily responsible for planning, developing, scheduling or conducting training for 9-1-1 and public safety communications call takers, dispatchers and supervisors. They may be those who evaluate trainees’ skills and job performance; plans and/or develops advanced training for 9-1-1 public safety communications call takers, dispatchers and supervisors and assists with developing and enhancing trainees’ professional knowledge, skill, and ability through in-service training or career development training.

Team of the Year

This award is designed to honor two or more individuals from the same emergency communications agency that worked on the same event, incident or project. Eligible candidates must have worked on the incident, project or event as a team and must all be employed by the same emergency communications agency.

Telecommunicator of the Year

The Telecommunicator of the Year category is for those who function as a front line dispatcher or call taker for law enforcement, fire, and/or emergency medical services. They should operate telecommunications equipment to receive emergency and non-emergency phone calls, determine situations from callers and ascertains all required information for the dispatch of a call for service. They may relay information to a dispatcher (if a separate position) via CAD or manual dispatch cards. They may operate radio equipment to dispatch field responder units to calls for service; receives radio traffic from field responders and monitors emergency and support radio frequencies.

Hero of the Year

This award is designed to honor a youth whose courage and determination to obtain assistance for another person during a critical event went above and beyond all expectations. The award winner will have shown exceptional calm while providing essential information for call takers and responders. Must have initiated or been the primary contact with a Missouri communications center during the incident. This award is limited to juveniles under the age of 18.

Information Technologist of the Year

The Information Technologist of the Year category is for those who serve the center in a technical aspect. Titles or duties may include Systems Administrator, Information Technologist Specialist, Information Technologist, Network Administrator, Systems Engineer, Senior Computer Analyst, CAD/GIS Administrator, Network Services Supervisor, NCIC/CAD System Manager, Technician, 9-1-1 Systems, Information Technology Coordinator, Senior Project Manager, Records Technician (Master Addressing Guide – MSAG Coordinator), Mobile/CAD System Administrator, Information Technology Specialist, IT Tech and Address/Mapping Coordinator, Operations Support Technician, GIS Analyst, Radio Technologist.

Radio Technologist of the Year

The Radio Technologist of the Year category is for those who serve a center in a form of radio technology aspect. They may hold a title similar to Radio Frequency Director , Electronics Communications Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Communications Technician Supervisor, Senior Communications Technician, Radio Lead Technician, Radio Technician, Technical Systems Administrator, Radio Frequency Engineer, Communications Technician, 9-1-1 Systems Technician, Telecommunication Services Engineer, Radio Network Engineer, Radio Frequency Systems Engineer Manager

Support Services Professional of the Year

This category is for those who hold a support staff position similar to: Executive Administrative Assistant, Administrative Office Assistant, QA/QI Coordinator or any other support position in which the individual has played a significant role in enhancing and improving the morale and/or operations in the center.

2024 Nominees

Director of the Year

J. Corey Chaney, Missouri State Highway Patrol – COMMD
Shelby Creed, Linn County Central Dispatch E9-1-1 **Recipient**
Bradley England, Crawford County Central Dispatch
Anastasia Smith, Phelps County Central Communications
Dawn Tegeler, St. Charles County Emergency Communications
Alan Wells, St. Francois County Joint Communications
Bonnie Witt-Schulte, Lawrence County Emergency Communications

Supervisor of the Year

Nora Cogdill, St. Joseph Police Department Emergency Communications Center
Michael Crase, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop G
Kayla Johnson, Johnson County Central Dispatch E911 ** Recipient**
Sarah Mears, Bates County Sheriff’s Office
Monica Overall, East Central Dispatch Center
Melissa Stites, East Central Dispatch Center

‘George Major’ Trainer of the Year

Kelly Isaacson, Pettis County Joint Communications
Angela Rodgers, Scott County Emergency Services
Emily Smith, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop D
Angela Stiefermann, Jefferson City Police Department ** Recipient**
Jeffrey Stokes, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop I

Telecommunicator of the Year

Allison Culver, Christian County Emergency Services
Abbey Huskey, St. Louis County Police Department
Tina Reece, St. Charles City Police Department **Recipient**

Support Services Professional of the Year

Dallas Bainter, Stone County E911 **Recipient**
Jennifer Forshee, Stoddard County 911 Services

Team of the Year

Christian County Emergency Services
Crawford County Central Dispatch
Lawrence County Emergency Services **Recipient**
Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop I
Phelps County Central Communications

Information Technologist of the Year

Cameron Koehler, Barry County E9-1-1
James Theisen, Pettis County Joint Communications **Recipient**

Radio Technologist

Ryan Smith, Sikeston Department of Public Safety **Recipient**

Recorded Awards Programs

2022 AWARDS PROGRAM

2020 & 2021 AWARDS PROGRAM

Past Recipients

2024 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Tina Reece, St. Charles City Police Department
Trainer – Angela Stiefermann, Jefferson City Police Department
Team – Lawrence County Emergency Communications
Information Technologist – James Theisen, Pettis County Joint Communications
Radio Technologist – Ryan Smith, Sikeson Department of Public Safety
Supervisor – Kayla Johnson, Johnson County Central Dispatch E911
Director – Shelby Creed, Linn County Central Disaptch E911
Support Services Professional – Dallas Bainter, Stone County E911
President’s Award – Senator Elaine Gannon, Missouri Sentate
President’s Award – Representative Chad Perkins, Missouri House of Representatives
President’s Award – Representative Robert Sauls, Missouri House of Representatives
President’s Award – Scott Penman & Kaycee Nail, Penman Group

2023 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Blake Johnson, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
Trainer – Kendra Shell, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E
Team – North Kansas City Police Department
Information Technologist – Edward Baird, St. Louis County Police Department
Radio Technologist – James Adkins, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Supervisor -Dawn Moore, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E
Director – Kimberly Davis, Ray County 9-1-1
Hero – Miracle Moore, St. Louis County, Missouri
Support Services Professional – Megan Cunningham, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
President’s Award – Bonnie Witt-Schulte, Past President of Missouri NENA
President’s Award – Frank Foster, EMS Legal Services (posthumously)
President’s Award – Kima Burnett-Frances, Past Missouri TERT Coordinator

2022 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Candis Stanton, Atchison County 9-1-1
Trainer – Roger Martin, Missouri State Highway Patrol – GHQ
Team – Independence Police Department
Information Technologist – Mike Fridley, St. Charles County
Radio Technologist – Dwayne Kinley, Radio Technologist
Supervisor – Brandon Mcclintock, Jasper County Emergency Services
Director – Cheryl Konarski, Joplin Emergency Communications Center
Hero – Rose Baker, Benton County, Missouri
President’s Award – Mike Phillips, Past President of MO911DA

2021 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Chrissy Postlethwait, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
Trainer – Heather Morrison, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
Team – Multiple Watches of the Kansas City Police Department
Supervisor – Renee Berry, Warren County Emergency Services
Information Tech – Mike Runnebaum, Jasper County Emergency Services
Radio Technologist – Brian O’Dell, Joplin Police Department
Director – Sarah Newell, Polk County Central Dispatch
Hero – Braydon Johnson, Livingston County, Missouri
President’s Award – Stephen Hoskins, Past President of MOAPCO

2020 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Hannah Ruskey, Grandview Police Department
Trainer – Tabitha Stanley, Rolla Central Communications
Team – Lexi Friedli and Tabitha Beede, Audrain County 9-1-1
Supervisor – Samantha Houttuin, Franklin County Communications
Information Tech – Maria Walser, Mid-America Regional Council
Director – April Ford, Jasper County Emergency Services
Hero – Hannah Batson, Jasper County, Missouri

2019 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Michelle Maples, Independence Police Department
Trainer – Zachary Dykes, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop D
Team – Christian County Emergency Services
Supervisor – Christina Smith, Rolla Police Department
Information Tech – David Tucker, Independence Police Department
Director – Mike Phillips, Barry County E9-1-1
President’s Award – Scott Penman & Kaycee Nail, Penman Group

2018 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Patricia Limbaugh, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E
Trainer – Kima Burnett, Jasper County Emergency Services
Team – Kellie Balcom, Kelsey Talber and Jim Langley, Jasper County Emergency Services
Supervisor – Andrea Khan, Kansas City Police Department
Radio Tech – Bradley Coffey, Missouri State Highway Patrol – GHQ
Director – Kwabena Asante, Osage Beach Police Department
Hero – William Rebman, Kansas City, Missouri
President’s Award – Roger Martin

2017 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Charles Shepard, Dade County Emergency Services
Trainer – Cheryl Konarski, Dade County Emergency Services
Team – Alicia Davis, Amy Barrett, Maygon Matlage, Lisa Lake, Gracy Link and Valesha Wilson, Christian County Emergency Services
Supervisor – Christopher Nicholson, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop H
Technician of the Year – Kevin Francis, Stoddard County 9-1-1 Services
Director – Becky Bacon, Christian County Emergency Services
Hero – Neveah Thomas, Pulaski County, Missouri

2016 Award Recipients

Trainer – Bob Larimer, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop D
Team – Martinez and Looney, Osage Beach Police Department
Supervisor – Dawn Moore, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E
Director – Zim Schwartze, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
Hero – Emma Miller
President’s Award – Lisa Schlottach
Friend of 9-1-1- Penman & Winton
Special – Jeanie Lauer

2015 Award Recipients

Trainer – Kendra Shell, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E
Team – Donna Beeks, Rob Massengale, Matt D’Amore, Brandy Coffey, Emmily Bolen, Polk County Central Dispatch
Supervisor – Laura McDonald, Osage Beach Police Department
Director – Bonnie Witt-Schulte, Monett 9-1-1
Hero – Ellie Marie Miller
Lifetime Achievement – Charlie Bonnie

2014 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Jeremy Lee, Maryland Heights Police Department
Trainer – Kris Inman, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
Supervisor – David Driskell, Christian County E9-1-1
Director – JR Webb, Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
President’s Award – Corey Chaney

2013 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Tracy Hux, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop H
Trainer – Laurie Wall, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop H
Team – Susan Carroll and Jenall Watkins, Barry County E9-1-1
Supervisor – Saralyn Hayes, Mid-America Regional Council
Director – Paula Volkmer, Rolla Police Department
President’s Award – Robin Tieman

2012 Award Recipients

Telecommunicator – Chelsea Kincaid, O’Fallon Police Department
Trainer – Pam Gilligan, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop F
Director – Lori Sneed, Dade County Emergency Services
President’s Award – Dan Rowden

2011 Award Recipients

Trainer – Barbara Graham, Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop F
President’s Award – The communications professionals of Joplin and Jasper County.