2025 Gold Star Awards
Winners and Nominees

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Christina Kelsey

Walton Hills Police Department

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Jesse Fulkes

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Jeaneen Ross

Walton Hills Police Department

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Josh Liles

Lorain County 9-1-1

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Jessica Hayes-Bertuiles

Cleveland Division of Police Bureau Communications Control Section

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Ian Metcalf

Ontario Police Department

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Tim Kelly

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Jennifer Miller

Hardin County Sheriff's Office

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Patrick Albright

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

Dana Depenti

Highland Heights Police Department

Dispatcher of the Year

Nominee

William Bryan Shook

City of Columbus Emergency Communications Center

Dispatcher of the Year

Winner

Megan Gallagher

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Brecksville

Dispatch Team of the Year

Winner

Armani Boyd, Baylie Burroughs, Lydia Clayton, Dayshia Fair, Jill Forsythe, Ciera Lane, Mary Lash, & Tasha Wood

City of Akron Safety Communications

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Dispatch Supervisor Charline Darville, Dispatch Supervisor Lauren Spinell, Dispatcher Lushonda Hall - Edmiston, Dispatcher Nick Koman, Dispatcher Brooke Looymans, Dispatcher Danny Smith, Dispatch Supervisor Abby Encarnacion, Dispatcher Libby Schofield, Dispatch Supervisor Bryan Helwig, Center Manager Denise Soke, Dispatcher Michelle Rees, Dispatcher Kathy Byler, & Dispatcher Sharon Szczepanski

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Bedford

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Renee Daugherty, Becky Naymik, Lindsey Hamilton, Nicki Adams-Marcum, Dana Wimer, Christine Eddy, Esperanza Roder, Julie Salnajs, Jaelyn Fazio, Laurie Fava, John Morely, Jackson Ragone, Gina France, Rebecca Darby, & Erin Pinter

Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Dispatch Supervisor Tyler Cantonwine, Dispatch Supervisor John Schnell, Dispatch Supervisor Laura Zehner, Dispatchers Tom Downs, Lisa Forgach, Jayme Kacica, Jon Marche, Stacey Graley, Bethany Phan, Sarah Takacs, & Leah Terrasi

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Cleveland Heights

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Dawn McEneany & Courtney Webb

City of Columbus Emergency Communications Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Dispatcher Blake King, Dispatcher Jen Hall, Dispatch Holly Romanello, Dispatch Supervisor Megan Gallagher, & Dispatcher Taylor Simonelli

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Brecksville

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Michelle Montgomery & Abigail Dekatch

Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Tim Harris, Alicia Jim, Jen Leininger, Jennifer Van Horn, Olivia Couch, Ian Moore-Wagner, Sarah Weddington, Courtney Doerflein, Logan Rodenbeck, Stephanie Saylor, Mariah Poocha, Lori Harris, Karen Hubbard,, Rick Steinhauser, Erin Mills, Marie Rose, Barry Schwartz, Ron Paquette, Jeff Wyder, Erikka Larsh,, Leeann Konkoly, Jessica Mills, Amy Williamson, Miranda Schukman, Jordyn Willwerth, Amanda Henderson, Andrea Smith, Alain Wright, Megan Alfani, Becky Seurkamp, Ashley Willis, Tanner Knapp, & Andrew Farlaino

Hamilton County Communications Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Dawn Florjancic, Mackenzie Todten, & Chris Sykora

Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Jade Smith, Kimberly Barker, Kylie Helt, Kendell Wilson, Elizabeth Phillips, Danielle Maier, Aleena Carson, Misti Sciacca, Calli Bates, Amanda Reinstetle, & Courtney Kidwell

Licking County Regional Communications Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Tammy Farris & Nichole Zuk

North Olmstead Police Department

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Deborah Schumacher, Meriah Mariano, Scott Stoner, Angel Hollingsworth, & Josh Cole

Lucas County 9-1-1 Regional Council of Governments

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Megan Swanger & Dina Slager

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Canton

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Jenna R. Dixon, Tara J. Odom, Pamela L. Dull & Katie I. Clausing

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Bowling Green & Findlay

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Kami Fields, Jackson Ragone, Jaelyn Fazio, Dana Wimer, Katie Naymik, Jodi Fyffe, Rachel Slavin, & Angela Love

Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Putnam County Sheriff's Office: Melanie Morris, Olivia Boecker, Samantha Williams, Todd Worchuck; Ohio State Highway Patrol - Findlay: Ashlee Tyree

Putnam County Sheriff's Office; Ohio State Highway Patrol - Findlay

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Melissa Middleton, Alexandra Conn, Melissa Blair, Katie Limric, & Amanda Miller

South Summit Council of Governments

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Brittany Davies, Brandy Laudermilt, & Carrie Warren

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Athens

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Rebecca Canavan & Amy Tiongco

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Cambridge

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Sara Morgan & Rebecca Canavan

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Cambridge

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Brandon Denoon, Lisa Swearingen, John Phillips, Kali Wheeler, Scott Simonton, Frank Poland, Anna Calabrese, Ashley Pesata, Jennifer Kehoe, Jamie Dales, Rebecca Dembowski & Chelsea Saylor

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Jefferson County, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Police Department & Brunswick Division of Police

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Kami Fields, Jackson Ragone, Jaelyn Fazio, Dana Wimer, Katie Naymik, Jodi Fyffe, Rachel Slavin & Angela Love

Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center

Dispatch Team of the Year

Nominee

Alison Mason, Lisa Maxwell & Victoria Teter

Summit Emergency Communication Cente

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Sarah Takacs

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Cleveland Heights

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Kimberly Stevenor

City of Akron Safety Communications

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Toni Smith

Columbus 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Laura Mead

Fairfield County Sheriff's Office

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Katie Solon

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Jami Rigsby

Highland County Sheriff's Office

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Jessalyn Burke

Highland Heights Police Department

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Heather Kanouse

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Bucyrus

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Morgan Robinson

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Columbus

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Garrick B. Payne

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Jackson

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Amy J. Kirk

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Jackson

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Chelsea L. Sederstrand

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Springfield

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Kali L. Wheeler

Ohio State Highway Patrol - St. Clairsville

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Patrick P. Bowsher

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Van Wert

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Kristen M. Paolillo

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Warren

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Angie Mack

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Susan M. Kelley

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Wooster

Gold Star Certificate

Recipient

Taylor J. Richards

Ohio State Highway Patrol - West Jefferson

Dispatch Center of the Year

Winner

Night Shift & Day Shift Call Takers, EMDS, Fire & Law Dispatchers and Supervisors

Lucas County 9-1-1 Regional Council of Government

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

City of Akron Safety Communications

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Jessica Fox, Katie Solon, Rick Ralston (former dispatcher), & Tiffany Blankenshi

Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Stark County Sheriff’s Office (STARCOM)

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dispatch Center

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Dispatch Center of the Year

Nominee

Wood County Sheriff’s Office

Supervisor of the Year

Winner

Josh Cole

Lucas County 9-1-1 Regional Council of Governments

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Josh Pinter

City of Akron Safety Communications

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Tracy Young

Macedonia Police Department

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Jason Hack

Ohio State Highway Patrol - Piqua District Post 80

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Leigh-Ann Slaughter

Summit Emergency Communication Center

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Robert Little

Columbus 91-1 Emergency Communications Center

Supervisor of the Year

Nominee

Katie Solon

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Trainer of the Year

Winner

Samantha Fickes

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Danielle Short

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Brecksville

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Patrick Laquatra

City of Akron Safety Communications

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Ashley Stanton

Chagrin Valley Dispatch - Cleveland Heights

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

James Burton

Highland County Sheriff's Office

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Keturah Johnson

Columbus 91-1 Emergency Communications Center

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Dena Swantek

Lucas County 9-1-1 Regional Council of Governments

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Nikki Friend

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Trainer of the Year

Nominee

Derek Eby

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Information/Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year

Winner

Edward Brown

Lucas County 9-1-1 Regional Council of Governments

Information/Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year

Nominee

Keith Vanderpool

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Information/Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year

Nominee

Robert Bill

Ohio MARCS

Information/Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year

Nominee

David Best

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Information/Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year

Nominee

Steve Smith

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Center Technology Leadership Award

Winner

Fady Isleem

Columbus 91-1 Emergency Communications Center

Center Technology Leadership Award

Nominee

Garfield Heights Communication Center

Center Technology Leadership Award

Nominee

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Winner

Lydia Frey

Marion County Sheriff's Office

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Nominee

Andrew Knapp

Hamilton County Communication Center

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Nominee

Stephanie Skipworth

Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Center

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Nominee

David O'Neal

Summit Emergency Communications Center

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Nominee

Toni Wilson

Mayfield Village Police Department

Communication Center/Manager of the Year

Nominee

Dale Merchant

Garfield Heights Police Department

Industry Partner of the Year

Winner

Corey Masden, Mark Culbertson, & Brad Powlen

Applied Digital Solutions

Industry Partner of the Year

Nominee

Jason Hines

Bender Communications

Industry Partner of the Year

Nominee

Kimberly Willis

CentralSquare

County 9-1-1 Coordinator of the Year

Winner

Nancy Kolcan

Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System

County 9-1-1 Coordinator of the Year

Nominee

Scott Miller

Highland County Sheriff's Office