Monday, August 8, 2011 from 8:30am to 10:00am
Philadelphia Convention Center Ballroom
Sponsored By:

Join us Monday morning to kick start the Annual Conference with an unforgettable event.  APCO will honor those individuals chosen from among hundreds of entries to receive one of the highly acclaimed PSAP Awards.  Then prepare yourself for a motivating and truly fascinating presentation from our keynote speaker.

and the 2011 award winners are....

Telecommunicator of the Year - Richard Garman, Grays Harbor Communications E9-1-1, Aberdeen, WA

Line Supervisor of the Year - Shayl McCormick, City of Tucson Communications Division, Tucson, AZ

Radio Frequency (RF) Technologist of the Year - Peter Loewenheim, Washington County, Communications Maintenance, Haerstown, MD

Information Technologist of the Year - Robert Jeffrey, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Winter Park, FL

Trainer of the Year - Connie Felten, Lee’s Summit Police Department, Lee’s Summit, MO

Team of the Year - Pima County Sheriff’s Department, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Tucson, AZ

Communications Center Director of the Year - Robin Schmidt, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach, FL

Keynote Presentation

Hold Fast to Dreams

by Vince Papale, the Former Philadelphia Eagles Walk-On Legend
Vince Papale's Cinderella rise from 30-year old Philadelphia Eagles season ticket holder to Philadelphia Eagles football player is the stuff that dreams are made of. This inspirational story tells how Papale made it to the top of the NFL, earned the respect of his fellow players, and followed his dreams to success.

In 1976, Vince Papale was working as a schoolteacher and a part-time bartender. Philadelphia Eagles' then-rookie head coach Dick Vermeil held a press conference and invited locals, including Papale, who was a former track star, to a workout. The rest is history. Papale showed up at the workout and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, a world-class time! Coach Vermeil offered him a contract on the spot, but this 30-year-old walk-on still had to make the team. Overcoming tremendous odds to become the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL, Papale eventually became a team captain and played in the NFL for four years. Not only that, but he was voted Man of the Year by the Eagles in 1978, for his many charitable activities and honored by the NFL. His "never-say-die" attitude became the inspiration for turning the Eagles into a Super Bowl team.

Vince Papale’s inspirational journey from humble working-class beginnings and troubled home life to successful professional athlete and businessman is a story that appeals to audiences from all walks of life. His story is the subject of a book and a major motion picture from Disney titled Invincible. The hit film was released in August 2006, starring Mark Wahlberg as Papale and Greg Kinnear as Eagles coach Dick Vermeil.

Join Vince Papale immediately concluding this event for an autograph session at the APCO Pavilion in the exhibit hall from 11am to 12pm. Vince will have his new book Be Invincible available for purchase. The books are priced at a special rate of $20 and payable by credit card or cash.