By Samantha Gray

Leslie Corbett partakes in a ride-along with Climax Fire Department (NC) during her fire dispatch training.

The APCO Young Professionals Taskforce recognizes Leslie Corbett as our young professional for the month of September. Leslie is twenty-seven years old and has been an emergency communications specialist for one year with Guilford Metro 9-1-1, an agency located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Most of her career has been as a call taker, but recently she has moved into fire and law enforcement dispatching.

Leslie was nominated by her supervisor, despite having been with her agency for only a year, because she stands out from the crowd. She strives for high quality assurance scores, has been an ideal trainee—receptive to any and all feedback—and is said to always have a positive attitude. According to her supervisor, “Leslie displays the qualities we strive for in our employees.”

Leslie enjoyed a cake she received acknowledging her first save on the job.

The most enjoyable aspect of Leslie’s job is the sense of accomplishment she gets when helping those who need it. In her short time with Guilford Metro, she has helped save two lives by providing pre-arrival instructions during cardiac arrests. Then, during her shift on December 25, 2018, she was able to provide instructions for a patient which resulted in an out-of-hospital birth.

We asked Leslie what advice she would give as a young professional to others her age who are entering 9-1-1 careers. “Listen to your team, don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help,” she said. “Make sure to find a quiet moment for yourself amid the chaos. And when in doubt, send them out!” Leslie volunteers for public relations events to promote the profession, especially to younger generations. Youth has its benefits within the profession, Leslie explained: Young people grew up typing on computers, can deal with the long, grueling hours — especially those that run overnight — and they also tend to be ambitious and are eager to learn.

But why are 9-1-1 centers not getting more young people through the door? Leslie believes this is largely due to a lack of accessible information about the profession, including its benefits and rewards. Like many in the profession, Leslie agrees that burnout is a leading cause of attrition in the industry. “We initiate CPR, we talk people down off ledges, we help calm the storm, and a lot of that puts a toll on a telecommunicator.”

Despite the difficulties of the job, Leslie prides herself in bringing positivity and encouragement. She loves to remind her teammates that they are doing work worth doing. Her Nanna used to say, “Try not to stress, do your best, and always remember: never forget to shake the ketchup,” which helps Leslie smile through it all. Her cheerfulness lifts the spirits of those around her and she transmits joy—in the ECC, on the phone, and over the radio. Leslie Corbett is a great asset, not only for Guilford Metro 9-1-1, but for public safety and young professionals across the country.