Instructor Biographies

John Bawol,

Customer Solutions Strategist, Instructor

John began his 9-1-1 career in 1997 as a Dispatcher with Roscommon County in Michigan. He worked his way up through the ranks to 9-1-1 Director/Emergency Manager, progressively leading Roscommon County with technological advances and innovative ideas including the creation of their brand new dispatch center.

John has served as President of the Michigan Communication Directors Association (MCDA), President of Michigan APCO, President of the 7th District Emergency Managers Association, and Chairman of the Region 7 Homeland Security Planning Board. He was Michigan APCO 9-1-1 Director of the year in 2006. John is currently a member of the State 9-1-1 Committee as the Michigan House of Representatives Appointee, serving as Chair of the Certification Subcommittee and the Group Leader for the Training Subcommittee.

John joined Success Communications, Inc. full time in August 2008 in order to follow his passion and continue to give back to the 9-1-1 industry.

Kelly R. Rasmussen, MS, ENP

CEO, Instructor, Personal/Professional Coach

Kelly R. Rasmussen is the CEO of Success Communications, Inc. and instructs, coaches, and consults with businesses within and outside of, the 9-1-1 industry. Kelly holds her Emergency Number Professional (ENP) designation as well as her Masters Degree in Communications. She is currently in the process of earning her PhD in Public Safety with an emphasis on leadership.

Kelly is the former Director of Eaton County Central Dispatch—a position she acquired after serving a dutiful eighteen months as the Assistant Director.

She is a member of APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials) and has been a featured speaker at the statewide conference. She has served as the training coordinator for the MCDA (Michigan Communication Director's Association). Kelly is a member of NENA (National Emergency Number Association), and serves as the Vice President of the Michigan Chapter.

Kelly has been a Key Note Speaker, Closing Speaker, Conference Session instructor and Pre-Conference Instructor at various conferences.

Kelly began her dispatch career in 1986 with Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and made the subsequent move to the newly created 9-1-1 dispatch center 5 years later. Kelly spent 9 years as a dispatcher and almost 8 more as a shift supervisor.

While working rotating shifts, Kelly went back to school and obtained her associate’s degree, her Bachelor’s degree, and in 2001 her Master's Degree in Communications from Grand Valley State University. She is currently progressing toward her PhD in Public Safety with an emphasis on Leadership.

While in Ottawa County, Kelly fostered a study program partnership among area high schools by creating and implementing the Intern program that allowed students to learn all facets of a 9-1-1 Dispatch Center.

Kelly actively mentored Intern Students and remains an avid supporter and trainer for Telecommunicators. In 2001 she received the Michigan APCO award for Supervisor of the Year.

One of Kelly's most heartfelt goals concerns education about the 911 industry and the people who sustain it. When any newsworthy item comes up for discussion, Kelly always asks, "What about the dispatcher?"

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Cherie Bartram, BS, ENP

Instructor

Cherie is the Director of St. Clair County Central Dispatch in Michigan. She has held this position since 2006, responsible for daily operations of the Central Dispatch Center including budget preparation and expenses.

Prior to becoming the Director of the St. Clair County Central Dispatch, Cherie was the Support Services Manager for the town of Estes Park, Colorado, which she held for 12 years. While working as Support Services Manager, she worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for four years with the Estes Park Ambulance Service, and was also an Instructor in 1998 at Front Range Community College in Colorado, teaching and assisting in development of criteria for dispatcher training.

Cherie’s memberships and accreditations include being a member of NENA (National Emergency Number Association) since 2002, Colorado Chapter President in 2004, Colorado Western Regional Vice President from 2002-2003, a member of APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials) since 1994, received the Life Saving Award in 2004 from the town of Estes Park for quick response of initiating CPR on a citizen while off duty, and she received Employee of the Year in Estes Park for her outstanding leadership abilities under stressful circumstances.

Cherie is a dedicated 9-1-1 professional with excellent leadership and management abilities!

Kristi Pace, BA

Instructor

Kristi has been with Livingston County Central Dispatch since 2003. She has been a shift leader there since January 2008. Kristi is a member of the TERT (Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce) team. She is also studying for her ENP (Emergency Number Professional) certification.

Prior to Livingston County, Kristi worked at Central Michigan University as a Student Services Officer and Supervisor, while earning her Bachelor’s degree.

Kristi has a goal of moving up through the ranks in the 9-1-1 profession. She is committed, dedicated and driven to improve the 9-1-1 field as a whole.

Kelly Grandchamp joined the Success Communications, Inc. team in 2008 as a Domestic Violence Instructor. She graduated summa cum laude in 2007 from the Ferris State University Social Work Program. Since becoming a Social Worker, she has tirelessly pursued her passion of ridding the culture and the world of domestic violence.

She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Survivor’s Giving Circle, a daughter agency to the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Kelly devotes much time in service to the issues that are inherent to domestic violence. Those activities include lobbying at both the state and federal level of government in connection with the Allstate Foundation and the National Network to End Domestic Violence. She has also served the residents of the domestic violence shelter, SIREN House.

In addition to her educational endeavors, Kelly bravely shares her own incredible story of domestic violence survival. As an expert in her field she continues to serve all survivors and victims of domestic violence through public awareness campaigns, using her own experience as an inspirational tool.

Kelly has been selected to relate her experience on the Biography Channel on the program called “I Survived” which is currently in production. Several newspapers have documented her key note speeches and leadership in the domestic violence educational field. She has been shown great appreciation by those 9-1-1 and Public Safety Professionals who have had the opportunity to hear her speak.

Kelly Grandchamp, LLBSW

Instructor

2008 Michigan APCO Communications Director of the Year!