APCO International proudly announces that the following individuals have successfully completed the inaugural session of its Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program. The program began in July 2016 and is designed for public safety communications professionals who aspire to executive leadership positions within the industry.

APCO International’s Executive Committee and graduates of APCO’s new Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program. Top row (left to right): Brent Lee, Immediate Past President, APCO International Board of Directors; Ashlee Zahn; Charles Vitale; Sharon Crook; Ryan Lawson; Robert Bloom; Sheila Blevins; Renee Gordon; Angela Bowen; Christina Dravis; Derek K. Poarch, Executive Director and CEO, APCO International; Bill Duggan, Mark Cannon, Chief of Staff, APCO International; Margie Moulin; and Cheryl Greathouse, President, APCO International Board of Directors. Bottom row (left to right): Martha Carter, First Vice President, APCO International Board of Directors; Robin Tieman; Hope Lindsey; Deanna Wells; Tina Powell; Sheri Hokamp; Kimberly Burdick; Diane Pinckney, Lysa Baker; and Holly Wayt, Second Vice President, APCO International Board of Directors. Not pictured: Mark Spross.

Drawing on resources from renowned leadership professionals and distinguished academic resources, the CPE Program allows participants to explore topics that include management versus leadership, models/theories of leadership, leadership styles, public safety leadership issues, and executing and managing change.

Instructors include masters and doctoral level professionals in the field of organizational development and leadership. The CPE program consists of two 12-week online courses and an intensive nine-day capstone seminar at APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Program graduates were honored January 13, during a beachside ceremony at the Hilton Daytona Beach. They represent 13 states and Canada.

Congratulations to the following individuals who have earned the prestigious professional designation of Certified Public-Safety Executive:

Lysa Baker, RPL, CPE, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, OK

Sheila Blevins, RPL, CPE, Marana Police Department, Marana, AZ

Robert Bloom, RPL, CPE, City of Alexandria, Alexandria, VA

Angela Bowen, RPL, CPE, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Forsyth, GA

Kimberly Burdick, RPL, CPE, Chouteau County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Benton, MT

Mark Cannon, CPE, APCO International, Alexandria VA

Sharon Crook, RPL, CPE, Union County Emergency Communications, Monroe, NC

Christina Dravis, RPL, CPE, Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, Ithaca, NY

Bill Duggan, RPL, CPE, Lyon County Emergency Communications Center, Emporia, KS

Renee Gordon, RPL, CPE, City of Alexandria – Department of Emergency Communications, Alexandria, VA

Sheri Hokamp, RPL, CPE, City of Biloxi Police Department, Biloxi, MS

Ryan Lawson, CPE, E-Comm 9-1-1, Vancouver, BC

Hope Lindsey, CPE, Baker County Consolidated Dispatch, Baker City, OR

Margie Moulin, RPL, CPE, Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, Central       Point, OR

Diane Pinckney, RPL, CPE, Savannah Chatham Metro Police Department, Savannah, GA

Derek K. Poarch, CPE, APCO International, Alexandria, VA

Tina Powell, CPE, Weld County Regional Communications Center, Greeley, CO

Mark Spross, RPL, CPE, Clackamas County Communications, Oregon City, OR

Robin Tieman, RPL, CPE, Cass County Emergency Services Board, Harrisonville, MO

Charles Vitale, RPL, CPE, Emergency Communications Department, Rochester, NY

Deanna Wells, RPL, CPE, Cowlitz County 911, Kelso, WA

Ashlee Zahn, CPE, Whitfield County 911, Dalton, GA

Applications are being accepted until April 15 for the next two CPE sessions, scheduled to begin in July 2017 and January 2018. Seats are limited, so don’t wait to apply. The CPE Program is open to APCO Registered Public-Safety Leaders (RPLs) and individuals with a minimum of an associate’s degree.

Financial assistance is available through APCO’s Scholarship Programs. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 31.

For more information about APCO’s CPE Program, contact us at [email protected].