Jessica Hutchens and Jeri Phillips, training specialists with Guilford Metro 911, talk about the foundational training that all Emergency Dispatchers should receive. They discuss what skills are necessary for an Emergency Dispatcher to have, how those skills can be improved, and ways to make it easy and fun in your comm. center.
Jody Mader, Master ETC-I Instructor and 2025 Instructor of the Year, shares some insights she’s gained in her 18 years of experience in emergency telecommunications. She discusses how she became interested in adult education, how to customize the ETC curriculum while still meeting the training standards, and how you can start improving your program one change at a time.
Combined Regional Communications Authority (CRCA) 911’s Deputy Director Lindsay Hubbard talks all about their dispatch internship program—how it came to be, how it’s evolved over the past few years, and advice for people looking to start similar programs in their own agencies.
Kathy Sukus, GM/OnStar Public Safety Engagement Leader, and Mitch Petterson, a member of the Outreach Team, discuss OnStar’s role as a Partner Sponsor of NAVIGATOR 2026. They highlight OnStar’s ACE status, their free public safety training, and the new Super Cruise feature.
Taylor Davis, Director of Communications for Greenville County EMS (MedCom), talks about her recent Letter to the Editor for the Journal of Emergency Dispatch about her agency’s 84 CPR saves in 2024. She also covers what it’s like to work there, the goals they’re currently working toward, and how to improve center culture overall.
Jonny McMullan, EMD Mentor Instructor and Curriculum Board Member, gives an update on what has changed in the EMD Mentor course since 2022. He discusses how an EMD Mentor offers different support than a CTO, supervisor, or ED-Q and how it can help overall with staff turnover and burnout.
Matt Grogan, Director of Program Development, chats about the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, including its annual “Be the Difference” conference, new training opportunities, and their longstanding relationship with NAVIGATOR.
Amanda Beal, the IAED’s AI SkillLab Simulation Administrator, discusses what exactly the AI SkillLab is, where you can access it, and how it helps you in your role as an emergency dispatcher.
Sergeant Ashlee Gautreaux, creator and facilitator of a high school Emergency Telecommunicator Certification (ETC) program in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, talks about how the program came about and how it’s structured. She also discusses some unanticipated benefits to the community that have come from it.
The Raspy Dispatcher herself, Ashley Valenzuela, discusses the resources her company offers, as well as some tips preparing for life both before and after dispatch.