Continuous learning is an integral part of working in public safety. This year, E-Comm Fire Dispatcher Pavi Thind received a Gold Line Scholarship, which invests in the development of 9-1-1 professionals through participation in the annual National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Conference & Expo.
Held June 27 to July 2 in Columbus, Ohio, the 2026 NENA Conference & Expo brought together emergency communications professionals from across North America to share knowledge, discuss emerging challenges and explore the future of 9-1-1.
For Pavi, the experience was an opportunity to step outside his day-to-day role, connect with peers and bring new perspectives back to his colleagues.
Pavi began his career at E-Comm in March 2022 as a Fire Call Taker, answering and processing emergency calls for 40 fire agencies. Within a few months, he transitioned into dispatch, coordinating emergency responses with fire crews and quickly training across multiple dispatch channels. Since then, he has continued to support his colleagues by mentoring new call takers and dispatchers while supporting staff through E-Comm’s upcoming transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 beginning this Fall.
Recognizing a commitment to learning
Receiving the Gold Line Scholarship was a meaningful milestone for Pavi, recognizing his contributions and passion for the profession.
“It is incredibly rewarding to have our hard work and contributions recognized. The scholarship provided me with the means to invest in my growth and development, and gave me the opportunity to learn from many amazing professionals in our field.”
Pavi credits his selection for the scholarship to his commitment to continuous learning, willingness to challenge himself and desire to pursue opportunities for growth.
“I am in a perpetual state of learning, and have a burning desire to always become better at what I do.”
Connecting with 9-1-1 professionals across North America
At NENA, Pavi was eager to learn how others in the field approach the challenges of emergency communications and maintain their motivation for the work.
“The job we do is at times incredibly difficult. I wanted to explore how our peers in other agencies handle these difficulties, what they do differently, what works and what doesn’t, and how they maintain the drive to keep going forward.”
Throughout the conference, Pavi gained insight into different approaches to wellness, operations, technology and innovation. One of his biggest takeaways was seeing how agencies can operate differently while still sharing the same purpose.
“We all do the same work at its core, but the implementation of policies and procedures are so fascinatingly different in every agency.”
Beyond the educational sessions and networking opportunities, Pavi explored the conference’s expo hall, where he saw emerging technologies shaping the future of emergency communications, including advancements in CAD systems, artificial intelligence, interoperability and efficiency initiatives.
“I am so amazed to see where we’re headed, and so excited to be a part of its future.”
Bringing knowledge back to E-Comm
“I went to NENA with the intention to learn as much as I possibly could, and in turn bring back something valuable to develop not only myself, but my colleagues, and our agency as a whole.”
Pavi is sharing his experiences with employees across the organization and continuing to apply what he learned to his work at E-Comm.