Welcome to Episode 24: I am wicked excited for today’s guest Ocean Desjardins, an 18 year 911 extraordinaire with a passion for training and consulting. As a certified trainer of LGBTQIA Awareness for Public Safety Professionals, Ocean will peel back some hard layers, share valuable information, and raise awareness on a topic we should all learn more about. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emerge...
Nov 05, 2021•55 min
Welcome to Episode 23: I am wicked excited to speak to today's guest Rich Levesque. Rich and I worked for neighboring towns for many years and working a single-seat dispatch center was not the only thing we had in common, we both left the job we loved because of PTSD and are devoting time to helping save the lives in the seat versus from the seat. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emergency Respon...
Oct 14, 2021•57 min
Welcome to Episode 22: What an honor it was to speak to today's guest, Bobby Henline. Bobby is a wounded war veteran who was seriously injured in an IED attack in Iraq in 2007 that took the 4 lives in his unit, Bobby was the sole survivor. With burns covering approximately 40% of his body and the loss of one of his hands, Bobby has worked tirelessly to keep his PTSD in check and help others. At the advice of one of his occupational therapist, he became a public speaker/ comedian and is now not o...
Sep 11, 2021•56 min
Welcome to Episode 21: My guest today is Jim Lake, ENP. Jim is the Director of the Charleston County, SC Consolidated Dispatch Center. With over 40 years in the Public Safety field, Jim is a wealth of knowledge. From field responder as a FF/EMT to having over 175 people in his charge, Jim is the epitome of a public safety difference-maker. Join us as we talk about various leadership topics and how Jim played a significant role in my 9-1-1 path 16 years ago. Thank you to our premier sponsor Rapid...
Aug 24, 2021•50 min
Welcome to episode 20: I am wicked excited to speak to Melissa Alterio, Director of the Cobb County, GA Emergency Communications Department. With over 30 years of experience in the 911 industry, Melissa knows a thing or two about a thing or two especially when it comes to leadership and mentoring. Join us as we talk about the importance of helping others level up and find out what Melissa said: "I want your job." # feelthefeardoitanyway Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more informa...
Aug 11, 2021•47 min
Welcome to episode 19: I am wicked excited to speak to Laurie Anderson, Laurie is the 9-1-1 Coordinator for Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in Fla. Join us as we chat about the importance of embracing new technology in the 9-1-1 center, and furthermore why we need to train the field responders too. We also discuss the NENA Wellness Committee and the updated Acute Stress Standard that is now called the "Protecting the Well Being of the 9-1-1 professional" and how you can get involved and grow y...
Aug 03, 2021•56 min
Welcome to episode 18, I am wicked excited to speak with Melinda Crokom, Melinda works for the Commission on State Emergency Communications; a small agency doing big things in the big state of TX. Join us as we discuss the importance of public education, the National Public Safety Educator Forum, their upcoming virtual training conference, and Kari’s law. For more information on the National Public Safety Educator Forum Visit www.911npef.org/ Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more i...
Jul 08, 2021•46 min
Welcome to episode 17, I am wicked excited to speak Anne Camaro, Asst. Director of Operation for the Cambridge, MA 9-1-1 Communications Center. Join us as we discuss how we met back in 2007, the power of peer support, and the effect of the 9-1-1 profession on family and how we both learned to say no, recently! Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emergency Response Data Platform visit RapidSOS today ...
Jul 05, 2021•50 min
Welcome to episode 16, I am wicked excited to speak to Jed Barton, Jed is a 32 year veteran on 911 communications. Just wait until you hear how minor modifications to the console allowed Jed to perform his duties as a 911 dispatcher with a unique disability. After listening, I am sure you will “see” the value of what he has to say. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emergency Response Data Platform...
May 25, 2021•47 min
Welcome to episode 15, I am wicked excited to speak to Brad Sheperd the CEO of the Warriors rest foundation. After many years serving the citizens of Oklahoma with the Oklahoma highway patrol Brad has devoted his life to being a mental health advocate in resource for those struggling in the public safety field. He is the CEO of Warriors Rest, where they serve those who continuously serve others. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready ...
May 03, 2021•56 min
Welcome to episode 14, I am wicked excited to speak to Jamison Peevyhouse, Jamison is the Director of Customer Success for RapidSOS. Join us as we share the Importance of incident-specific additional data during emergencies the RapidSOS Portal and what3words Partnership, and why overcoming F.U.D, is necessary to the mission of saving lives…. what to know more about FUD, keep listening, I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how ...
Apr 14, 2021•58 min
Welcome to episode 13, I am wicked excited to speak with Tyrell Morris, Tyrell is the Director of Orleans Parish Communications District in New Orleans, From working at Disney World to running for president and everything in between, join us as we discuss leadership, embracing new technology and the importance of staying connected to the mission. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emergency Respons...
Mar 18, 2021•56 min
Welcome to episode 12, I am wicked excited to speak to Ashley Cashion of What3Words. If you have not yet heard of What3Words, you are missing out. This is an additional tool in the 911 telecommunicators toolbox to not only help locate your 911 and landline callers but to also assist you and telling you our first responders exactly where to go. Oh, and did I mention it is free to Public Safety? I hope you enjoy today’s conversation as we peel back the layers of how what3words can enhance the tele...
Mar 04, 2021•50 min
Welcome to episode 11, I am wicked excited to speak to my dear friend and mental health advocate, Ryan Dedmon, Ryan currently the Outreach Director for the 911 Training institute. As a former 911 telecommunicator and police officer, he knows the importance of keeping our first responders mentally well. While Ryan may no longer be saving lives from "in" the seat he is part of the mission to save the ones in them. We hope you enjoy our conversation on mental health, leadership, and the importance ...
Feb 20, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to Episode 10: I am wicked excited to speak to my Carl Waggett. As a career firefighter, Carl loves to help people, so when PTSD took hold of him, he was lead to help others understand. He started the blog turned podcast PTSD Bunker Gear for your brain as an aA support page for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, specifically those in emergency services and their families. Visit Carl at: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1CaHPbBb_bMjhSWI0SXTtA Facebook: www.fac...
Feb 13, 2021•59 min
Welcome to Episode 9: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest D.Jeremy DeMar, Executive Director, Mountain Valley ECC, in New Jersey. We hope you enjoy our conversation as we discuss, -The importance of caring for your people FIRST -What 3 Words - location technology -Motorola Citizen Input -Jeremy’ Master’s Thesis on Incident Related Imagery Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become RapidSOS Ready and connect to the world's first Emergency Response D...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to Episode 8: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Mark J. Fletcher, ENP (Fletch). Fetch is the Vice President for Public Safety at 911inform, LLC. Having worked as a Police Dispatcher, a Special Officer in NJ, and Chief Architect positions at Nortel and Avaya, he has contributed to the Public Safety / Telecommunications industry for nearly 40 years. Fletcher is listed at the inventor of 14 US Patents for NG911 call handling and has served on many Federally appointed committees for t...
Dec 19, 2020•54 min
Welcome to Episode 7: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Mandy Ptak, Mandy is the Director of the Baldwin County, GA 9-1-1 Center. We continued the chat that started with Ep 5 and 6 regarding Hurricane Sally hitting Baldwin County and her account of leading a team there for a TERT response, the mental health aspect when it is not "your" emergency and how TERT may help with reclassification.
Nov 13, 2020•45 min
Welcome to Episode 6: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Dan Wright, Dan is the Deputy Director fo the Baldwin County, AL 9-1-1 Center. We will discuss how their center weathered, Hurricane Sally, what they learned when they requested a TERT response and how implementation of new technology prior to the storm, not only helped their telecommunicators but also the TERT folks that came from 4 other states.
Oct 21, 2020•39 min
Welcome Episode 5: I was wicked excited to chat with Jonathan Jones, he recently joined the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency as an Emergency Communications Area Field Coordinator after spending 13 years with the Athen’s Clark county Police Department, as the 911 Operations coordinator. I enjoyed. chatting with Jonathan about his career in 9-1-1, his drive to make bold moves in the 911 space, and his role in the recent TERT deployment to help the 9-1-1 team in Baldwin Cou...
Oct 01, 2020•37 min
Welcome to part 2 of Episode 4: I am wicked excited to chat with Mark Swiderski, Mark is the Executive Director of the Lake County 911 center in IN. If you have not listened to part 1, hit pause and check it out, I enjoyed chatting with Mark about his life-saving actions because he was in the right place at the right time, here in episode 2 we pick up on how his team is utilizing RapidSOS technology to help save lives in their jurisdiction and the importance of getting involved with APCO and NEN...
Sep 17, 2020•35 min
Welcome to Part 1 of Episode 4 of On Scene First with Tracy Eldridge: My guest is Mark Swiderski, Executive Director of the Lake County, IN, 9-1-1 Center. Mark shares a powerful story of being in the right place at the right time, by saving a 3-year old that drowned in a pool while on vacation. We will also discuss how his agency was able to utilize RapidSOS technology with some recent storms that passed through their Jurisdiction and why you should be involved in APCO/NENA and how it can help y...
Sep 09, 2020•41 min
Welcome to Episode 3 of On Scene First with Tracy Eldridge: Today my guest is my daughter Lauren. She is a servant leader in her Fire and EMS Explorer Post and we will discuss the importance of putting the team first. We also discuss, what life was like to have not 1, but 2 first responder parents, one of which was diagnosed with and treated for PTSD.
Aug 28, 2020•45 min
Welcome to Episode 2 of on On Scene First with Tracy Eldridge. It is my pleasure to welcome the Founder and CEO of Within the Trenches Media, Ricardo Martinez. My guest is Mr 911 himself. Ricardo has made his way from “Within the Trenches” of the 911 center to the private sector of 911 and just recently launched his own Public Safety focused Media Company. Ricardo is the host of the "Within the Trenches Podcast" that recently reached 1.3 million downloads, he and the creator of the “I am 911” mo...
Jul 30, 2020•56 min
Welcome to episode 1: My Guest is RapidSOS CEO, Michael Martin. I chat with Michael on how a Harvard Business School Graduate busts into the 9-1-1 Industry and makes bold changes for the first time in a long time. We will also discuss how he persuaded me to leave the 9-1-1 center after 20 years to join him on this mission,
Jul 18, 2020•52 min
Episode 0: The Intro will allow you to get to know your host. Tracy will share a bit of her journey from the 9-1-1 to RapidSOS, and what you can expect from future episodes.
Jul 07, 2020•41 min
