Guardians of the Galaxy(AKA Northwest Burbs)

I have been dispatching for 15 years.  The majority of my time (14 years) was spent with one agency. In 2020 I made the decision to leave my position with the department and help my children at home E-learning during the COVID pandemic.  Afterwards I bounced around 2 local departments trying to get back in the dispatch seat.  You don’t realize how different dispatch centers are until you try your hand somewhere else.  I just didn’t fit in.  My past experience felt completely useless.  I questioned my abilities and my purpose in the field.  I felt defeated.

I then ran into Peter Sofie the QA manager of SEECOM in Crystal Lake at a state conference.  We discussed me switching agencies and coming aboard.  I was nervous.  Three different agencies in one year is ALOT to handle for the mind of a dispatcher.  I still trusted Peter and took the leap.  I could not be happier with that decision.

SEECOM as a whole has been so welcoming and such a relief for my dispatch soul.  Every single shift and dispatcher has welcomed me and made me feel at home.  They have acknowledged my experience rather than dismissing it.  However, they have also pushed me to be better on top of me having experience.  My supervisors have been amazing in making sure I’m adjusting and just knowing that I’m doing great.  My current trainer and assistant supervisor Tony Campos has been a breath of fresh air and is so polite and encouraging.  His positivity spreads around his shift and he makes a conscious effort everyday to have that positive outlook.

I feel with this line up of dispatchers we can handle any incident of any kind.  They are truly amazing individuals with an enormous amount of experience and different super powers (or strengths) from all over the northwest suburban area of Chicago.  Every single dispatcher matters here and is encouraged and embraced to be the greatest they can be.  I am so very grateful for all of them and this is the least I can do for them.  From the dispatcher, to the administrator, to the trainers, to the supervisors, to the director, this is my team and I finally found my place.