Our Team
This team brings years of 911 experience paired with a lasting enthusiasm and commitment that continues to elevate the profession.
Director of Marketing & ImpactAshley Valenzuela
I’ve been in 911 communications since 2018 and hold both an undergraduate and graduate degree in administration of justice, recently moving into a supervisor role. Along the way, I started The Raspy Dispatcher, which began as a YouTube channel and grew into an LLC focused on sharing practical, real-world insight about the dispatch world.
Early in my career, I realized there was a gap in accessible, practical insight for people entering or navigating the world of dispatch. That’s how The Raspy Dispatcher began—a YouTube channel where I could share real-world lessons, advice, and stories from the field. What started as a passion project has since grown into an LLC dedicated to giving dispatchers and aspiring dispatchers the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
With First Call Ready, I wanted to take things a step further. I couldn’t do it alone, so I built a team of talented, like-minded individuals who share my vision. Together, we’ve transformed years of experience into actionable resources—guides for aspiring dispatchers, support for those already in the field, and clearer insight for anyone curious about what it really takes to thrive in this high-pressure profession.
Director of Engagement & DevelopmentMegan Wilske
With more than 26 years in law enforcement, I’ve served in roles ranging from Dispatcher, CTO, Tactical Dispatcher, Explorer Advisor, and Instructor, to supervisor, manager and executive leadership. Each assignment offered new opportunities to grow, serve, and contribute to the teams and communities I care deeply about.
Having navigated countless critical incidents and trauma-filled calls, I’ve learned that resiliency isn’t optional, it’s essential. That belief fueled my commitment to coaching, mentoring, and leading with empathy. As I transitioned into management, it became clear that the 9-1-1 industry needs stronger development, support, and training at every level. That purpose-driven work ultimately led me to the incredible team at First Call Ready.
Today, as part of Executive Management, I’ve expanded my expertise beyond 9-1-1 operations into police records, Real Time Information Centers, and Property and Evidence. Providing the dispatcher perspective to all department operations has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Having a seat at the table to collaborate, influence, and elevate the role of professional staff continues to be the most rewarding work I’ve undertaken.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, am an Emergency Number Professional (ENP), and completed NENA’s Center Management Certificate Program (CMCP). I also hold California POST Instructor, Dispatch Supervisor, Records Supervisor, and Police Manager certificates, and have facilitated numerous conference presentations on promotional preparation and PSAP leadership.
Whether you’re considering a career in 9-1-1 or have spent months, years, or decades behind the headset, remember: you set the tone every day. Take care of yourself and your team—your impact reaches farther than you know. Keep shining!
Dominique Mathis
Director of Leadership Development & Innovation
Over the past 21 years, I’ve served in various roles within public safety telecommunications, including call taker, dispatcher, supervisor, instructor, mentor, leader, and now consultant and trainer. Each seat I occupied revealed something profound about strength, humanity, and the unseen burdens carried by the people who answer the call. My lived experiences, both personal and professional, fueled my determination to break cycles, challenge norms, and champion the individuals whose voices steady the world in its most fragile moments.
In 2018, I was honored as the Florida Sheriffs Association Dispatcher of the Year. That moment remains one of the most meaningful in my career, not simply because of the award itself, but because it represented the heart and dedication of every telecommunicator who has ever sat behind the headset and given everything they had to someone they would never meet.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education from Miami Dade College and a Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from Florida International University. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Instructional and Performance Technology, where my work focuses on strengthening performance, engagement, and support systems across mission-critical professions, such as ours. This academic path has deepened my
commitment to developing training and leadership approaches that genuinely uplift and equip frontline staff.
My passion has always centered on people, their well-being, confidence, growth, and stories. Telecommunicators are the true first responders, the steady heartbeat of public safety, and they deserve support that reflects the weight, complexity, and humanity of the role they carry every day.
Kayla Bacon
Director of Wellness & Professional Support
I bring over 15 years of experience in Public Safety, serving communities in both California and Oregon. My passion for 9-1-1 began long before my first day behind the headset. At just 14 years old, while participating as a Police Explorer, I had the opportunity to do my first sit-in at a communications center—and from that moment on, I knew exactly where my path would lead.
As my career has grown, so has my commitment to the profession and the people within it. I’ve developed a strong passion for enhancing the communications center environment, always looking for creative and meaningful ways to support my peers. From launching a Spirit Squad to contributing to recruitment efforts, I’ve consistently worked to build a more connected, positive, and engaging workplace culture.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of investing in yourself—you don’t have to wait for permission or opportunity from others to grow. By taking initiative and paving my own path, I’ve had the privilege of attending industry conferences and earning both my Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) and Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certifications. I believe everyone has a passion worth pursuing—find what drives you and take intentional steps to connect with it.
At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to mental health, wellness, and career sustainability for 9-1-1 professionals. At First Call Ready, I strive to promote resilience and create supportive systems that help individuals not just succeed—but thrive—in this demanding and vital field.