Iredell County Emergency Communications was recognized as the North Carolina NENA 911 Center of the Year at the North Carolina NENA/APCO Annual Conference on May 4. The award honors a 911 center for outstanding service, innovation, professionalism, and ongoing commitment to public safety and community support.
The recognition is significant for Iredell County, as it highlights both operational excellence and dedication to serving residents and first responders. The award underscores how critical effective emergency communications are in supporting community safety.
According to the announcement, Iredell County ECOM was chosen due to its strong leadership, focus on training and professional development, use of advanced technologies, and consistent delivery of high-quality emergency communication services across the county. Daryl Conley, Iredell County Public Safety Director, said: “This award reflects the incredible professionalism and heart of our ECOM team. Every day, they are the calm voice in someone’s worst moment, and they carry that responsibility with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment. I’m proud of the work they do, proud of the standards they set, and proud to see them recognized as the best 911 center in North Carolina.”
In addition to emergency communications achievements in Iredell County schools during the 2022-23 school year show that out of 1,980 senior students who took the science portion of the ACT exam in local districts,27 percent were considered ready for college. For junior students taking science (2,140 tested), 28.8 percent met college readiness standards. In reading skills among seniors (1,980 tested), 36.8 percent were deemed ready, while juniors (2,140 tested) saw 37.2 percent meeting readiness benchmarks. Math results showed that among seniors (1,980 tested), 26.2 percent achieved college readiness, with juniors (2,140 tested) at 25.3 percent.
The North Carolina NENA 911 Center of the Year Award aims to highlight excellence not only in operations but also community engagement and statewide advancement in emergency services.
Looking ahead after this recognition by state officials at their annual conference signals ongoing efforts within Iredell County toward improving public safety infrastructure through leadership development and technology adoption.