Comms Coach Podcast
Welcome to Comms Coach, the podcast that delves deep into the world of training and quality assurance for 9-1-1. Your host, Lori Henricksen, is a veteran in the field with more than 30 years experience as a dispatcher, trainer and high school teacher who started one of the country's first 9-1-1 Dispatch programs for High School students in Las Vegas, Nevada. In each episode, a lineup of expert guests dive into the critical aspects of emergency communications training, quality assurance and improvement. They share valuable insights, techniques, and best practices to help today's trainers and the next generation of unsung heroes. So whether you're an experienced dispatcher, leader, trainer or simply curious about how to set up and run training or QA programs in your center or school, get ready to embark on a journey of knowledge, growth, and inspiration. This is Comms Coach, building the strength behind every call.
Comms Coach Podcast
Season 2 Episode 5: From Classroom to Command Center: How High School Dispatch Programs Build Careers
In this episode of Comms Coach Podcast, host Lori Henricksen reconnects with one of her standout former students, Eric Guerrero, now an accomplished fire-medical dispatcher in Las Vegas. Eric shares how his journey began in a high school emergency dispatch program and evolved into a thriving public safety career. Together, they explore how early exposure to real-world scenarios, mentorship, and community service shaped his professional path and mental resilience.
From stories of classroom simulations to real-life emergency calls, Eric reveals how high school dispatch programs can transform lives and directly impact dispatcher recruitment and retention. This episode is a reminder of how early investment in students builds the next generation of emergency communication professionals.
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