A content series created to advance conversations across the emergency communications community, without judgment and without assumptions about where agencies are today.
Telling isn’t training. On Level Up with Tipi, Tipi Brookins sits down with GovWorx education leaders Lori Henricksen, Halcyon Frank, and Michael Mollo to explore CommsCoach EDU, from practice-based learning and conversational simulations to continuing education credits, and why professional development for telecommunicators and 9-1-1 leaders shouldn’t stop after the academy.
In this Level Up with Tipi episode, Tipi Brookins talks with Trae Maeder, Communications Supervisor at the Lee County Port Authority, about moving from the console to the supervisor’s desk. They explore how frontline leaders shape retention, training, resilience, and culture by modeling the standard and advocating for their teams.
In the final episode of our Level Up with Tipi wellness series, Tipi Brookins and retired Memphis Police CIT officer Kenneth Robinson discuss mental health in 9-1-1 centers, from recognizing burnout and PTSD to coping after traumatic calls, critical incident response, peer support, and helping families understand the telecommunicator experience.
Tipi Brookins and Demeka Owens, Wellness Coordinator for DC 911's Office of Unified Communications, discuss vicarious trauma, psychological safety, wellness rooms, embedded clinical social workers, and how putting people first builds a healthier, more sustainable 9-1-1 workforce.
Tipi Brookins kicks off a three-part series on ECC wellness and mental health with Brandi Powell of the 911 Chaplain Initiative. They explore why burnout became the baseline for telecommunicators, how stigma keeps people from seeking help, and how CommsCoach is shifting QA from punitive to preparatory.
Tipi Brookins talks with Sergeant Kyle Baker of California's Pittsburg Police Department about recognizing human trafficking hidden in routine 9-1-1 calls. They cover common misconceptions, real case examples, and how careful listening, detailed documentation, and one more question can help telecommunicators and first responders protect the most vulnerable.
Tipi Brookins and Denver 9-1-1 Director Andrew Dameron discuss emotional intelligence, generational dynamics, and career pathing in the ECC. They also explore building a just culture in QA and how CommsCoach and AI support, not replace, frontline telecommunicators.
Tipi Brookins sits down with Heather McGaffin, Director of DC’s Office of Unified Communications, to explore how QA goes beyond compliance to become a critical safety net.
Tipi Brookins and Shireka Graham discuss reducing dispatcher stress and improving retention through psychological safety, proactive QA, and simulation-based training, showing how smarter support leads to stronger, more resilient 9-1-1 teams.
Level Up with Tipi Brookins is a diverse monthly content series created to advance conversations across the emergency communications community, without judgment and without assumptions about where agencies are today.
Hosted by GovWorx’s Chief of Public Safety Engagement, Tipi Brookins brings together professionals from across the field to talk honestly about what it takes to sustain strong teams, support long careers, and navigate the realities of modern 9-1-1 work.
This series isn’t about telling centers what they should be doing. It’s about creating space to learn from one another, reflect on shared challenges, and explore approaches that have helped agencies adapt and endure.
Tipi Brookins brings more than twenty-four years of experience in public safety communications, emergency response, and agency leadership. She began her career as a 9-1-1 Call Taker, Dispatcher, and Supervisor, later serving in senior leadership roles at the District of Columbia Office of Unified Communications and the DC Metropolitan Police Department.
A respected industry leader, Tipi holds NENA’s Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP) and APCO’s Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) credentials and has led regional training initiatives supporting quality, professional development, and organizational strategy.
At GovWorx, Tipi serves as a bridge between technology, leadership, and the professionals on the front lines, bringing experience, credibility, and connection to every conversation.
Rather than prescribing solutions, Level Up focuses on conversations many leaders are already having, but don’t always get to have out loud.
The Real Cost of Skipping QA
How quality assurance supports consistency, defensibility, and confidence, not just compliance.
Wellness as an Operational Priority
Why wellness shows up in retention, performance, and decision-making, not just programs or initiatives.
Staying Connected as Leaders
Ways leaders maintain trust, clarity, and engagement with their teams through change and complexity.
Learning Across Agencies
What peers across the country are trying, adjusting, and learning, without claiming one “right” way forward.
Level Up exists because emergency communications is not static.
Expectations change. Technology evolves. Communities grow. And the work continues to demand clarity, consistency, and care for the people doing it.
This series isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about supporting what already works and strengthening it over time.
What You’ll Take Away from Each Episode
Each episode features conversations designed to remind leaders and practitioners alike: no center operates in isolation, and no one has to navigate these challenges alone.