Congratulations to CPE Class 18
Alexandria, Va. – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is pleased to announce that 15 individuals have earned the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) designation, after recently completing the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program, an intensive six-month program and a two-week capstone seminar at APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida.
APCO CEO and Executive Director Mel Maier said, “I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible group of professionals in CPE Class 18. Completing this program is no small feat. It takes time, effort and a real passion for leadership. These graduates have shown their true dedication as leaders who positively impact today’s emergency communications industry and will undoubtedly influence the future of public safety. I’m excited to see where their professional journey takes them next.”
Congratulations to the following CPE Class 18 graduates:
Karen Anderson – Division of Capitol Police (Va.)
Susan Carr – Plano (Texas) Public Safety Communications
Roy Castle – Johnson County (Kan.) Sheriff’s Office Communications
Esther Click – WESCOM (Wash.)
Jeannie Cooper – Loudoun County (Va.) Fire and Rescue
Stacie Eaves – Hutchinson Reno County (Kan.) Emergency Communications
Jennifer Gorham – Mesilla Valley (N.M.) Regional Dispatch Authority
Matthew Harwell – Lincoln (Neb.) Emergency Communications Center
Teresa Imler – Athens County (Ohio) 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
Jesse Starr McCord – Memphis (Tenn.) Police Emergency Communications Bureau (911)
Heather McGaffin – Office of Unified Communications (Washington, DC)
Bridgette Nyquist – Gallatin County (Mont.) 911
Gina Ramirez – Jeffcom911 (Colo.)
Alisha Smith – Florence County (S.C.) ECC
Chanel Waples – Helena (Mont.) Police Department
In his graduation speech, class president Matthew Harwell reflected on his time in the CPE program by acknowledging his classmates and saying, “CPE is the program that brought our seemingly different group of 15 individuals together for an experience of a lifetime. We all heard from the legends of CPE graduates before us about how wonderful this time would be.” He concluded with, “Let’s not forget the amount of CARE – creativity and curiosity; arduous adventuring; reflecting, respecting and relating as we remain engaged in this endeavor – that we can bring to positively changing the culture of our centers. Culture is key and is so important.”
The CPE program is the only executive leadership program focused specifically on the public safety communications profession. It consists of two 12-week online courses and a ten-day capstone seminar.
APCO will accept applications through January 15 for the next CPE program, which begins March 2026. For more information, visit apcointl.org/cpe.
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APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
