Be The Difference Conference

🕊️ What We Do Wednesday — First Edition 🕊️ Meet Tina DeCola, one of the passionate and experienced instructors with the Denise Amber Lee Foundation. Tina's dedication to empowering dispatchers shows in every class she teaches, as she combines her real-world knowledge with a deep commitment to making a difference. This week, we're highlighting her impactful course- Human Trafficking Preparedness for the 9-1-1 Professional: This training equips telecommunicators to recognize the signs of human trafficking, ask the right questions, and respond with confidence when seconds count. Through scenario-based learning and real case studies, Tina helps dispatchers and public safety professionals become a critical link in protecting some of the most vulnerable victims. #DALF #DeniseAmberLeeFoundation #DispatcherTraining #PublicSafety #BeTheDifference

At Be The Difference 2025, attendees had the chance to tailor their learning experience through a variety of impactful training tracks and the Organizational Improvement track did not disappoint! Sessions like: • NextGen Leadership with Dru Clarke, ENP 🚀 • B-A-L-A-N-C-E: The One Thing That Makes a Leader Worth Following with Melissa Alterio, M.S., CPE, RPL ⚖️ • Leading with Grit and Tenacity: Building a Resilient 9-1-1 Center with Cassie Sexton 💪 • Getting Back to Basics in Your Comm Center with Kris Inman 🔄 …left attendees inspired and ready to elevate their centers. If these sessions sparked something in you, just wait for what’s coming at BTD 2026. We’re bringing even more ways to grow, lead, and truly be the difference.

🌟 The Power of Impact: Small Actions, Big Change 🌟 In both our personal and professional lives, the true measure of success isn’t just in what we achieve for ourselves, but in the impact we have on others. Whether it’s through mentoring a colleague, solving a problem that benefits a team, or even taking the time to listen, each action we take can ripple out and create lasting change. 💡 It’s easy to get caught up in the big milestones, but real progress often happens in the everyday moments. A small gesture of kindness, a piece of advice shared, or a solution to a challenge – all of these contribute to the larger vision we are working toward. As we continue to grow and push forward, let’s remember that impact doesn’t always have to be grand. It’s the sum of the small, meaningful things that makes the biggest difference. 🌍 Let’s commit to creating positive change, one step at a time. 💪 #Impact #Leadership #Growth #PositiveChange #WorkCulture

Be the Difference 2025 was one for the books! 🎉 Incredible speakers, powerful classes, and a room full of passionate 911 professionals coming together to grow, connect, and make an impact. The energy was unmatched, and we’re still feeling the inspiration! Next stop: Knoxville for BTD 2026! 🚀 Who’s ready to do it all again? #BeTheDifference #BTD2025 #911Training #Knoxville2026

✨ A huge THANK YOU to our incredible speakers who brought this year’s training tracks to life! 🎤📚 Your expertise and passion made Be the Difference 2025 an unforgettable experience. 🙌 We will be sharing some photos from sessions throughout the week, so stay tuned! We’re already gearing up for Knoxville 2026 and can’t wait to bring you another amazing agenda! 🔥 looking forward to what’s ahead! 🚀

Still reminiscing on the incredible moments from Be The Difference 2025! Looking back at these smiling faces, both new and returning, reminds us just how special this conference truly is. From the connections made to the powerful conversations shared, we’re beyond grateful for everyone who joined us to learn, grow, and be the difference in their centers. 👏 💛 We’re already ecstatic for what’s ahead in Knoxville 2026 gearing up to be more impactful than ever! Who’s ready?! 🗣️

It was an honor to attend this years Be The Difference Conference!!! Many lessons were learned thanks to The Healthy Dispatcher, Denise Amber Lee Foundation, Gabby Petito Foundation, the amazing instructors, and the other keynote speakers. I HIGHLY recommend this conference to any telecommunications professional at any level. It was truly a one of a kind experience. #bethedifference2025 #deniseamberleefoundation #gabbypetitofoundation #thehealthydispatcher

At Be The Difference Conference, Tina and Tanya had the incredible opportunity to teach the ‘Why They Stay Domestic Violence Awareness’ course alongside Nichole and Jimbo Schmidt of the Gabby Petito Foundation We are deeply grateful to them for sharing Gabby’s story and for their dedication to education and awareness in the fight against domestic violence. It was an honor to stand beside them, working toward a common mission of prevention and support for victims. We look forward to future opportunities to continue this vital work together. 💜 #btd25 #deniseamberleefoundation #TogetherForChange #DomesticViolenceAwareness #GabbyPetitoFoundation

Delivering the closing keynote at Be The Difference Conference 2025 was a true career highlight for me -- but the best part was getting to introduce dispatchers to Zim Schwartze, who will always be my model for what caring for others at work can -- and should -- look like. Inspirational leadership has many faces -- mine happens to have spiky hair and a braided tail in the back. Thanks, Zim. Love you! The Healthy Dispatcher Denise Amber Lee Foundation

It was an honor to give the 2nd day keynote at the Be The Difference Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC this past week. We are forever grateful to Nathan Lee, Tanya Lee, and everyone Denise Amber Lee Foundation for the opportunity. It is never easy to share a story that is so deeply personal, but you all made us feel welcomed and supported throughout the week. We also would like to thank all of the amazing attendees for continuing to go above and beyond to serve your communities. #togetherwecan #bethedifference #gabbypetito #deniseamberlee #911dispatchers #firstresponders James Schmidt Nichole Schmidt