Awards & Recognition

Each year, chapter awards are presented to those who have showed excellence in their quality of service, work ethic, service to community, or handling of especially challenging situations.

The current nomination period for all awards is September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026.

All nominations are due by Saturday, September 6, 2026 at 2359 MDT.

Please note the following answers to FAQ:

You do not need to be an APCO or NENA member to submit a nomination.
You do not need to be an APCO or NENA member to be selected for an award.
Nominations can be submitted to APCO all year long, but will not be accepted after the due date.
Nominators are required to have the approval of the agency for which the nominee works for, prior to submitting a nomination.
Although not required, nominators are encouraged to tell the nominee that they are being nominated. Often the nominee, supervisor, or agency can provide valuable details to enhance the quality of the nomination, and increase the likeliness that it will be awarded.
The best nominations are those with specific details about the successful handling of major incidents, or a nominee’s accomplishments, projects, and work ethic. What sets the nominee apart from others in a positive way? What significant impacts did they have that contributed to a successful project or resolving a difficult problem? How did their participation in an event lead to a better outcome in the center, for the field units, or the public? How did a group(s) work together on a challenging task?
Supporting documentation goes a long way towards a successful nomination. Letters of support (especially from administration), project scope, or incident details are all welcome. However, CAD notes are usually inappropriate to submit, and UCJIS information should never been included.
Nominations may be moved from one category to another as the chapter officers deem necessary.
Individual award recipients receive a plaque, complimentary conference registration, and a guest banquet ticket. Agency or group award recipients receive a plaque and a complimentary banquet and vendor show ticket.

Award Categories

DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the dispatcher for service above and beyond the call of duty in all areas of work performance. The recipient is recognized for consistently going the extra mile in serving the public, officers, deputies, troopers, fire fighters, EMS personnel, administration, other agencies and co-workers. A candidate for Dispatcher of the Year is more than a single incident; they are a continual example of excellence.

SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the front-line supervisor or lead dispatcher who has consistently exhibited traits and values that exemplify leadership within their communications center. The recipient is recognized for excelling at their job requirements and balancing the needs of the dispatch center and administration with the needs of the dispatcher.

TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the technician or team of technicians for significant contributions to the field of communications. The recipient is recognized for efforts above and beyond the call of duty in creating or maintaining telecommunications, radio, or data networks in support of the public safety mission.

EXECUTIVE AWARD OF MERIT
Awarded by the Utah Chapter APCO Executive Committee for unique contributions to public safety and communications.

COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the individual CTO who has done the most for dispatchers in a department or agency. The recipient is recognized for excelling consistently at their job requirements and the training of the agency dispatcher.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the manager or director who has made a significant contribution to the field of communications. Can be an administrator from any agency whose efforts have had a positive outcome for a dispatch agency of telecommunicators collectively.

INCIDENT OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a dispatcher, agency, or agencies for successful handling of a major, critical, spectacular, or noteworthy incident.
Note: This award category is broken down by size of agency, reflecting the number of positions typically staffed in the center. Small: 1-4, Medium: 5-9, and Large: 10+. Please list the number of positions an agency has, if known, with your submission in this category.

UNIT CITATION AWARD
Awarded to a unit or group for accomplishments or outstanding performance at a task or project successfully handled through teamwork and cooperation. This could be several groups working together.

THE RION PHILLIPS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

On April 7th, 2016, the Utah Public Safety community mourned the loss of a true hero in Public Safety. Rion David Phillips died in a tragic motorcycle accident leaving behind a legacy that many of us looked up to, both in our careers and day-to-day life. Rion was an Operations Supervisor for the Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center, the First Vice President of Utah NENA, and a member of the Utah Public Safety Pride Alliance. Rion always put others before himself and made everyone feel important and loved. He taught us all a great deal about love, empathy & passion. He lived the motto “be kind to one another” and lived by that by showing us all what unconditional love really was. Rion’s love for serving his community lead him to become a police officer, where he served with the South Jordan Police Department before returning to VECC. It was there that he developed a deep respect and admiration for all those in public service, including police officers, firefighters, and military personnel. In addition to his service at work, he spent time going above and beyond. He organized Sub-4-Santa events, and many fallen officer benefits. He worked tirelessly to make sure their families knew the community cared for and respected officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. In his capacity as a member of the Utah Public Safety Pride Alliance, he actively worked to advocate for the LGBT community and inclusivity in the field.

This award recognizes a 9-1-1 professional who not only excels in his or her everyday job, but who has gone above and beyond to further the goals of Utah NENA, shows a commitment to Public Safety and has demonstrated exceptional contributions toward the advancement of 9-1-1 and not only consistently meets, but exceeds the expectations of their peers.

The following considerations are made in selecting a recipient for this award.

Exceptional performance during a specific incident
Significant accomplishments in performing the duties of a 9-1-1 professional
Length of Service as a 9-1-1 professional
Making special efforts to mentor others in the 9-1-1 profession
Being a positive influence on one’s center, region, or the State of Utah.
Being an Unsung Hero, someone who demonstrates that leadership is not always defined by title and position. A member of the 9-1-1 community who shows commitment and passion for our profession.

Nomination Form

Congratulations to our 2025 award winners!

Unit Citation Award: DPS Box Elder Communications
Incident of the Year - Small Agency: DPS Richfield Communications & Richfield Interagency Fire Center - Monroe Canyon Fire
Incident of the Year - Medium Agency: St. George Communications - Barricaded Subject
Incident of the Year - Large Agency: Weber Area Dispatch 911 - DUI/Auto-Ped
Dispatcher of the Year: Whitney Smartt; DPS Cedar City Communications
Trainer of the Year: Alisha Ercanbrack; DPS Richfield Communications
Supervisor of the Year: Stephanie Richards; DPS Richfield Communications
Director of the Year: Ivan Whitaker, Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications (VECC)
Utah APCO Technician of the Year: Lori Poulsen; Weber Area Dispatch 911
Rion Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award: Captain Travis Trotta; Utah Highway Patrol

Spotlight Nominations

We invite you to nominate a deserving dispatcher/telecommunicator (or yourself!), Agency or Incident to be highlighted in our monthly Utah NENA Newsletter. Please submit your nominations using this form.