Tina Powell, director of the Weld County Regional Communications Center (WCRCC), has been honored as Director of the Year by NICE Public Safety, recognizing her exceptional leadership in 911 dispatching, this distinction was part of NICE's “2024 PSAPs’ Finest Award," where she was among nine nationally recognized individuals and centers in emergency communications, according to Weld County.
"We have an amazing team, I think we have the right people in the right places, I appreciate the recognition, but it’s more about my staff,” Powell told Weld County Newsroom, attributing her success to her team and expressing that being trusted by them was of utmost significance, this award serves as a testament not only to her impact but also reflects on the quality of the collective efforts at the WCRCC.
Throughout her tenure, Powell, who became director in 2021 after serving in various roles since 2011, has overseen significant developments, including the deployment of CentralSquare, a comprehensive public safety software system launched in 2022 which has considerably increased efficiency in 911 dispatching, as well as the expansion of the 911 staff, now featuring a quality assurance team and a training division aimed at enhancing dispatcher effectiveness.
This is not the inaugural accolade for Weld County's Public Safety Communications which, under Powell’s stewardship, has seen the WCRCC previously named the nation’s top public safety answering point by NICE in 2020 and earn reaccreditation by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, over the past three years, more than seventy dispatchers from Weld County have been recognized with internal Lifesaver Awards for significant contributions to saving lives of those in calling 911 situations according to Weld County Newsroom.
"She embodies fearlessness and tenacity," Laurie Pfeiler, Deputy Director of Weld County Public Safety Communications, said about Powell's resolve in an interview with Weld County Newsroom, hailing her as a tireless advocate employing bold decisions to uphold their mission, Weld County Commissioner Chair Kevin Ross, in turn, asserted the importance of rapid, professional responses to 911 calls and pointed to these recognitions as evidence of Weld County's enduring dedication to service excellence.