When We Support One Another, Everyone WINs

“I will never forget when Monica and I implemented the first WIN event in 2019,” reflected Ghosh. “It was in the same building we were in this year for our fifth year, the Gaylord Palms Resort in Florida. I had created a page about WIN, our vision, and our mission, and I went to FedEx to get 100 pages laminated – I was reaching for the stars, thinking 100 people might show up! When we arrived, security said, ‘We can’t let any more people in here.’ We had over 250 people at the door, but the room capacity was only 150. We had to tell people they couldn’t come in. From that, we figured out there was a need, an insane need for this.”

Powell was one of the first members of the WIN Board as Chair of the Events Committee. She reflects on the number of women who approached her at the first event, who were so excited about what they were doing and asking how they could help: “It was very humbling and moving. It also made me question why we had waited so long to make this happen.”

NENA’s WIN Alliance is committed to empowering women in 911 through leadership development, education, networking, and mentorship at all levels of their careers. The organization provides a space for women to connect, share experiences, and access resources. A significant focus is placed on mental health support, directing women to resources to help manage the high-stress nature of their work.

Ghosh and Million called attention to the discrepancy in leadership within the field. Ghosh noted, “Since the beginning, young people were coming out of college or even high school and doing these jobs. They are eager to learn and are happy to give back. When they get into these police departments and sheriff's departments, 60 to 80% of the leadership is male, but 60 to 80% of the students coming in are young women. That was where we said, 'Oh, my God, why is there such a mismatch in this growth percentage? Why aren't women getting these jobs and becoming leaders?’”

“The percentage of post-traumatic stress disorder was high and still is,” explained Ghosh. “At least now, there are lots of mental wellness offerings. People have realized this truly is a problem that needs to be solved. So, from a Women in 9-1-1 perspective, we have all of these quarterly webinars where we share a lot of information: Here’s a resource you could use, here’s something to try, and here’s somebody else who went through a similar situation you can reach out to. These women can immediately reach out to WIN Board members, many of whom are/were president of NENA, the president of their communications center, or a different communications center to get advice; there’s a whole community of people they can lean on.”

While Million stepped down as Co-Chair in June 2023, Ghosh stepped down as Chair on July 1 of this year, and Diva Miranda Jones and Sherri Griffith Powell assumed their new roles. Ghosh mentored Jones over the past year, ensuring a smooth transition from her secretarial role to Chair, and continues to support WIN as Chair of the Advisory Committee.

“The Women in 9-1-1 Alliance is important because I believe that as an industry, we are stronger together, and women can play a key role in shaping 911 for the future. We all win by empowering women and their advocates to seek the recognition, support, and training needed to advance their careers,” exclaimed Powell, ENP, and Manager of 911 Services.

Jones emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, “I came from a 911 center. I worked at the 911 center for 19 years. Throughout my career, I have had women as peers or in leadership roles who have served as mentors to me. Without their guidance, without their advice, without their taking an interest in me, I wouldn't be where I am today. So, I think it's important for us to ensure that all women in our industry know they have a place to come to get that support.”

As an Emergency Number Professional (ENP) with nearly two decades as a 911 dispatcher, Jones has extensive experience in public safety. Her commitment to this field and the support she received propelled her into leadership at Carbyne, where she works as a Senior Sales Engineer. Her passion and dedication to WIN and the 911 community led her to be nominated by her peers as WIN Chair.

“When I started my new position at Carbyne, I found myself saying, ‘I have the opportunity to do things that I haven’t been able to do before in my previous role,’” Jones recounted. “I saw an email from WIN saying they were recruiting for a secretary position within their committee. I emailed them back and said I was interested, and they said, ‘Great! You’re in!’ I didn’t fully understand everything I was getting into, but when I started in early 2022, I said, ‘Wow,’ they’re doing a lot. I jumped in and immersed myself in the committee, learning what they were doing and how I could help in my role. Becoming Chair has been a natural fit for me with the support of the board and the great connections I've made.”

The most rewarding part of WIN for Powell has been “Watching the next generation of female leaders step up and get excited about advancing their careers and making the industry better for those who come after us.”

WIN has grown to a network of over 1,500 members. These members participate in various events throughout the year. With engaging webinars, in-person conferences, virtual happy hours, and online discussion boards, WIN offers fun events and informative resources that enable people to stay connected. The organization also provides scholarships to support women’s professional development. “We had seven scholarship recipients at this year’s annual reception at NENA 2024,” explained Jones. These scholarships cover the cost of conference registration and travel fees, allowing women to attend what is, for many of them, their very first national conference. There is an application process that they go through and an essay that they write. We get many applicants, and our scholarship committee goes through the selection process. These scholarships are funded solely by our many sponsors.”

Jones also attests to the personal impact of these scholarships: “When these women attend the reception, their names are announced, and we present them with a certificate; these are women who are not normally exposed to this type of atmosphere or environment. They often have a natural meekness: I want to hide and not be doing this, but at the same time, I’m really proud of myself. I did this. Seeing this transformation and pride in these women has really impacted me.”

To continue supporting its mission, WIN encourages other companies to step forward as sponsors. “We would love to have other companies like Eventide Communications sponsor these scholarships,” Ghosh emphasized. “Our mission is to help women and to have more women attend our events. It's not expensive. Each scholarship is approximately $2,500. Every company getting anything out of public safety should be willing to give back to it.”

“We want to support women as they grow in confidence and skills to move into management positions,” said Mark Traeger, Eventide’s Vice President of Sales. “The work that WIN is doing is vital to the well-being and professional growth of women in the 911 field, and it is an endeavor that deserves the backing of the entire public safety community.” Hats off to these lovely ladies, the entire Committee of WIN volunteers, and their exceptional work helping every woman in 911 WIN.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact WIN at WIN@nena.org.

Written by Lee Holmes for BeResponsive Media on behalf of Eventide Communications LLC