PowerPhone Appoints Joseph E. Higgins, Jr. to Senior Adviser Post

40-year FDNY veteran brings critical operational expertise to 9-1-1 call-handling and dispatch solutions.

Madison, CT (PRWEB) May 4, 2009 -- Joseph E. Higgins has joined PowerPhone, Inc., a leading provider of 9-1-1 call handling solutions, in a senior advisory capacity. Mr. Higgins, who retired as Deputy Director of Communications for the FDNY, brings four decades of critical public safety communications experience to help agencies better prepare and respond to the increase in emergency call-handling situations worldwide.

"Joseph has critical, first-hand experience borne out of a forty-one year career in one of the most demanding crisis operations centers in the world, the FDNY. Having somebody like Joe with us, who was on the front-line of dispatch for New York City on September 11, 2001, is exactly why, for 25 years, agencies have trusted PowerPhone to train and prepare emergency call-takers," said Chris Salafia, CEO of PowerPhone. "Having been part of that defining moment in history, Joseph will be able to draw upon those experiences, to help us further improve the emergency call-handling products and processes that PowerPhone clients rely on every day to save lives and protect responders."

During his tenure at FDNY, Joe also served as a training instructor, Fire Commissioner Liaison and Hearing Officer for FDNY Bureau of Investigations. He has been recognized by his peers with NYFD Columbian Association Humanitarian Award, Fire Chiefs Association In Command award, FDNY, Chief Thomas O'Brien Award, FDNY; and the NYFD Honor Legion Award. He is a FDNY Honorary Deputy Chief; member of FDNY Honor Legion and Emerald Society, and is currently President of New York Fire Bell Club.

Most recently Joseph has served as an emergency communications consultant for the Norwalk, Connecticut fire and police departments since 2007.

About PowerPhone:

PowerPhone is a leader in 9-1-1 call handling solutions. Founded in 1984, the company has trained more than 150,000 public safety professionals representing all 50 U.S. states and more than a dozen foreign countries. The maker of Total Response® Computer Aided Call Handling (CACH) software, PowerPhone is the driving force behind One Number...One Protocol™, the initiative to bring greater consistency and simplicity to public safety call-handling. http://www.powerphone.com

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