WISCONSIN—Congratulations to Jennifer Parrish for the outstanding work that earned her the 2022 Al Bell National Excellence in Dispatching award. She currently serves as the deputy center manager of the Eastern Area Coordination Center.

Parrish provided exceptional frontline support to internal and external customers during the 2022 fire year, according to reports. She also addressed inquiries and questions and resolved complex issues with outstanding customer care to all interagency stakeholders within the wildland fire community. Parrish demonstrated an aptitude for partnerships and collaboration as well as command of resource mobilization, both geographically and nationally. She demonstrated a solid comprehension of multi-agency response to all hazard incidents while supporting boots on the ground.

She continues to serve as the center liaison to the Eastern Area Dispatch Working Team, which she has done for seven years. She has served as a mentor, providing leadership and subject matter expertise to the community on all matters dispatch and coordination. 
Parrish’s counsel, knowledge and advice on issues affecting dispatch were noted as invaluable and often enabled the team to overcome perceived challenges to better serve the dispatch community. She consistently participated in the coordination of dispatch courses and was considered a core cadre member of those courses sponsored throughout the geographic area, noted her nomination write-up.

Previously, Parrish served as the logistics coordinator at the center for seven years, initial attack dispatcher at the Illinois Interagency Dispatch Center for five years and initial attack dispatcher at the Owens Valley Communications Center for two years.

This is the first time an Eastern Area recipient has won the national award.

Each year, coordination centers present their regional nominee for selection for the national award. Congratulations to Parrish and others on receiving their well-deserved awards!