Veronica Dickerson is a Dispatcher II with the Kent County Department of Public Safety, where she has nearly eight years of experience supporting police, fire, and EMS operations. She is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Fire Dispatcher, and Police Dispatcher, an EMT, and a Certified Peer Support Team Leader. Veronica is passionate about dispatcher wellness and has helped lead peer support and Critical Incident Stress Management initiatives, including the integration of AKC certified therapy dogs into a 911 work environment. She is nationally involved in conversations around responder mental health, resiliency, and culture change within emergency communications. Veronica holds a master’s degree in Business Management and continues to advocate for sustainable wellness programs that support workforce retention and responder well-being.

Angela Garmon is an award-winning business owner and visionary leader in strategic change management. She is the Founder and CEO of ARG Coaching &
Consulting Group LLC, a change management consulting firm that partners with organizations nationwide to lead transformation, strengthen resilience, and
cultivate measurable results.

With more than 20 years of business acumen, Angela specializes in helping leaders and teams navigate complexity, build high-trust collaborative
environments, and sustain performance through change. In 2021, Angela launched an Arizona-based nonprofit that developed a groundbreaking program supporting small and diverse businesses statewide. The initiative secured multi-year funding due to its measurable impact and lasting value.

Angela’s leadership has received national recognition, including being named a WBENC WBE Star (2025)—an honor awarded to 14 women-owned businesses
nationwide from more than 25,000 certified WBEs. She was also featured as a Top 100 Women to Know in America (2022) by Know Magazine. Grounded in the belief
that people thrive when inspired, Angela cultivates cultures of excellence, resilience, and innovation.

- Matt has dedicated over 20 years to public safety, impacting thousands of professionals nationwide. As Founder and CEO of Foundations Public Safety, he leads efforts to equip public safety personnel with essential skills in preparedness, mental health, leadership, and resilience. His extensive experience spans Law Enforcement, Fire Service, EMS, and Telecommunications, making him a trusted consultant on dispatch systems and disaster preparedness. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Army Reserve, Matt serves as a commander and rotary-wing aviator, demonstrating leadership in high-pressure situations. His career includes roles as State Trooper, Police Officer, Narcotics Detective, Fire Instructor, and EMT, among others. He has contributed to major initiatives like statewide dispatch system rollouts and has firsthand experience in critical incidents. Holding a Bachelor’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Leadership, Matt’s diverse expertise and commitment make him a respected leader and influential voice in public safety.

Dr. Andre V. Jones is a global emergency communications leader with over 30 years of experience across 9-1-1 operations, EMS dispatch, supervision, and executive leadership in the United States and Qatar. He currently serves as Assistant Executive Director and Head of Profession for Emergency Medical Dispatch at Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, where he leads national-level strategy, workforce development, and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Jones holds a PhD in Public Policy and is a PhD candidate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, focusing on leadership, organizational culture, and resilience in high-stress environments. A national and international speaker, researcher, and advocate, his work centers on ECC wellness, organizational trauma, workforce sustainability, and purpose-driven leadership in emergency communications.

Max Keenan is the CEO and co-founder of Aurelian. Aurelian builds AI tools to help 9-1-1 centers best serve their communities.

Cheryl Konarski is a 35+ year veteran of public safety and serves as the communications manager for the Joplin Police Department ECC.  Most days she can be found working a console to help support her team. Cheryl has and continues to serve in several capacities within APCO and represent the Missouri Chapter as their Executive Council Representative and chairs the Institute Advisory Committee.  Cheryl is a graduate of APCO CPE Class 3 and the APCO RPL program. In 2023 she achieved her goal after 40 years by obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (you are never too old!!).

Her passion for public safety communications drives her to continually look for ways to provide leadership, mentorship, and the necessary tools. Their mission of “Every Minute, Every Day, Always There” means providing training and support in all areas, including mental, emotional and physical health for the success of the center and each person.

Shantelle is a seasoned emergency communications leader, trainer, and Certified Maxwell Speaker, Coach and Trainer with more than 25 years of experience in emergency communications. She is known for her dynamic facilitation style, grounding in emotional intelligence, and her commitment to helping leaders communicate with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

Throughout her career, Shantelle has trained hundreds of supervisors, managers, and frontline telecommunicators across Texas and beyond, equipping them with practical strategies that elevate performance and strengthen workplace culture. Her background includes extensive experience in training, quality assurance, organizational leadership, and team development, as well as expertise in DISC-based coaching and behavioral communication.

As the founder of ASO Leadership Solutions, Shantelle partners with organizations to build resilient leadership pipelines, improve team trust, and create environments where people feel valued and empowered to excel. Her work blends real-world experience with a deep passion for growing leaders at every level.

Shannon Polito has been a dispatcher for 17 years in California. She loves the job itself, but her passion goes beyond helping those who call 911 or call out on the radio. She strives to help those who are wearing the headset, which led to her founding Help For the Headset. She creates courses and resources to specifically address areas of health and well-being for emergency dispatchers. She believes that with the right training and information, people will be able to be the best dispatchers they can be by being the best and healthiest people they can be.

Adam Timm is the founder of The Healthy Dispatcher, a nationally recognized training and consulting firm dedicated to improving wellness, leadership, and organizational culture in emergency communications centers. A former Los Angeles Police Department dispatcher, Adam spent over a decade under the headset and brings firsthand operational credibility to his work with agencies across the United States.

Adam is the author of People Driven Leadership: How the Best 9-1-1 Centers Inspire Positive Change, widely regarded as a practical blueprint for improving recruitment, retention, morale, and performance in today’s communications centers. His work reframes chronic turnover and burnout as adaptive leadership challenges, not simply staffing problems, and emphasizes emotional intelligence, trust, and values-driven leadership as the missing link.

Through keynote presentations, leadership development programs, and culture change initiatives, Adam equips directors, supervisors, and frontline professionals with tools that create healthier teams and more resilient organizations, because healthy centers save more lives.

Erica Walsh brings over 28 years of experience in emergency communications and currently works as an assistant manager of operations for the 14^th largest city in the United States. Throughout her career, she has worked as a frontline telecommunicator, CTO, supervisor, and manager of various-sized centers. Known for her passion for health and wellness in the emergency communications sector, an advocate for NG9-1-1, and leadership.  She is currently the Chair of the APCO Health & Wellness committee and Vice President of the Ohio Chapter of APCO.  Erica holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in public administration and continues to be a lifelong learner.

Alicia A. Williams brings over a decade of experience in emergency communications, currently serving as a Fire Communications Supervisor. Known for her leadership, mentorship, and dedication to public safety, Alicia is passionate about fostering resilience and wellness within high-stress environments. She has championed initiatives that support mental health, peer support, and workforce development, recognizing the critical role wellness plays in operational effectiveness. Alicia’s commitment to her team and the broader public safety community is reflected in her advocacy for sustainable, people-centered practices. Her insights offer a valuable perspective on balancing performance with compassion in the communications center.