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Subject Matter Experts in our Fields, Highly committed to serving our Very First Responders, and deeply grateful for the privilege
WHO WE ARE
Meet Our Team
Assembling just the right team with a deep heart for 9-1-1, EMS, and public-safety has taken years. And the wait was well worth it! Our Administrators and Faculty are true collaborators in advancing the 911TI mission in accord with 911TI's values. Our carefully selected instructors are each highly qualified subject matter experts in their fields: psychology, health, organizational wellness, management and leadership, and emergency response.
Each member of our team was chosen not just because of what they know but who they are as people. Together we design and deliver vibrant learning events and resources of unparalleled quality, customized to empower 9-1-1 and EMS professionals for long, rewarding careers and personal resilience.
To learn more about each member of our faculty, their unique roles at 911TI, and their backgrounds, click on the people below to read their full bio.
ADMINISTRATION & FACULTY
Jim Marshall, MA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER
LEAD INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Jim Marshall is a licensed mental health professional deeply embedded in the 9-1-1 industry. Jim guides the 911TI faculty in development of innovative curriculum and resources. He advocates for national initiatives upholding the well-being of our Very First Responders.
Linda Marshall, BA
CO-FOUNDER
Linda Marshall joined Jim Marshall and Deborah Achtenberg in creating 911TI. She advises in shaping all major 911TI initiatives and oversees financial bookkeeping.
Deborah Achtenberg, ENP
CO-FOUNDER
Deborah Achtenberg, ENP-Retired, is a 9-1-1 professional and trainer who completed her 26 year career after successfully launching Michigan's first Dispatch Academy. She established 911 Training & Consulting, LLC, the predecessor to 911TI.
Deborah Gagnon, MS
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Deborah Gagnon serves as 911TI's CFO, managing all financial activities. In addition, she leads all 911TI operations, including design of customer services, contract management, and logistical support for 911TI's partnering agencies and our faculty.
Ryan Dedmon, MA
OUTREACH DIRECTOR
RESILIENCE INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Ryan Dedmon is a retired 9-1-1 professional and a California POST Academy Instructor. He supports 911TI's relationships with 9-1-1 professionals through outreach and engagement, managing social media, and facilitating training classes.
Kim Ostin
ASSISTANT TRAINING MANAGER
Kim Ostin is a retired 9-1-1 Supervisor with 33 years of service. She provides instructor support and customer care to 911TI's partnering agencies, assuring seamless delivery of our training and consulting services.
Sara Gilman, PsyD, LMFT
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY ADVISOR
Dr. Sara Gilman is a licensed mental health professional whose clinical practice specializes in treatment of 9-1-1 professionals and other responders. She collaborates with 911TI to advance industry-wide awareness of healing treatments for PTSD.
Richard Janka, PsyD
RESILIENCE & CALL MASTERY
INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Dr. Richard Janka is a licensed, practicing psychologist. He specializes in design and delivery of resilience and peer support, and emergency mental health dispatching classes for 9-1-1 professionals and other emergency responders.
Tracey Laorenza-Trask, MA
EDITOR, SOUTH OF HEAVEN PRESS
Tracey Laorenza-Trask is a 9-1-1 professional with over 20 years of service. She is the Editor of South of Heaven Press that published The Resilient 9-1-1 Professional: A Comprehensive Guide to Surviving & Thriving Together in the 9-1-1 Center.
Michelle Lilly, PhD
ORGANIZATIONAL WELLNESS CONSULTANT
Dr. Michelle Lilly is a licensed, practicing clinical psychologist and researcher. She leads 911TI's consulting services to public safety leaders who seek improved agency wellness for optimal team performance and morale.
Nicole Ford, BA, CCM
MANAGEMENT & RESILIENCE
INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Nicole Ford is a retired 9-1-1 Supervisor with 15 years of service. She is a champion for dispatcher wellness and peer support and she brings that passion to her training and consulting to help first-responders.
R. Tyrone Kelsey, MA
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Tyrone Kelsey is a subject matter expert in implicit bias, racial diversity and inclusion. He creates and delivers innovative curriculum on these topics and consults with agencies to optimize team relationships and morale.
Jason Scott, BA
PARTNER ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
RESILIENCE & CALL MASTERY INSTRUCTOR
Jason Scott joins with our current, and potential, Emergency Communications Centers and corporate partners to optimize our working relationships to assure the best possible outcomes in delivery Resilience and Call Mastery training and real-time solutions. He also serves on our faculty as an Instructor on these subjects.
Nancy Lockhart, ENP
RESILIENCE & CALL MASTERY
INSTRUCTOR AND CONSULTANT
Nancy Lockhart is a retired Emergency Communications Center Deputy Director with over 30 years of experience in 9-1-1. She is devoted to developing 9-1-1 Professionals at all levels who will excel in service and resilience in the face of ever-escalating demands upon our call centers.

Here's the bottom line for the Thin Gold Line...
911TI is far more than just a training company:
We're your #1 Partner & Subject Matter Expert in Producing and Sustaining a
RESILIENT, PEAK-PERFORMING 9-1-1 WORKFORCE!
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