During the opening general session Monday morning, eight national awards were presented to deserving members of APCO. Here are this year’s APCO Award winners:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR: Eric Uller, Santa Monica, California

He was unable to receive his award in person because of the FAA complications this past weekend related to the disruption of service in Virginia and Washington on Saturday.

RF TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR: Trish Byrd, Riverside, California

TELECOMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR: Beth Kemper, Longmont, Colorado

TRAINER OF THE YEAR: Bret Kleber, Denver, Colorado

LINE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR: Lisa Duvall, Chesapeake, Virginia

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR: Bell County Public Safety Communications Division (Evening Shift), Belton, Texas

TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARDS:

Small center: Chagrin Valley Dispatch

Large PSAP: Harris County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Unit

COMMUNITY CENTER DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: Melissa Stroh, Regional Communications Center Coordinator, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho

We caught up with Stroh in the Convention Hall and here’s what she had to say about receiving the award: “Actually what means the most is that I was nominated, that my people recognized me. It’s very touching. I feel really honored, and my people are the ones that make me shine.”

Stroh found out she had won the award from the employee that nominated her. “She was able to tell me in person, and truly, I was shocked, I didn’t believe her at first,” Stroh said. “We’re from a little state agency, not a big one, so I was a little overwhelmed.”

Stroh said walking onto the stage in front of hundreds of her APCO colleagues was “nerve-wracking” and she jokingly said she had to keep telling herself “don’t fall, don’t fall.”

“But I was really honored. It was a big deal.”

Stroh said what she hopes won’t get lost in the individual awards is the value of “team.”

“I’m definitely about the team, I can’t do my job without the team,” she said. “I’ve got a great, strong team that works together really well and helps each other out. I can only be as good as they are.”