Meet Our Team
Derek K. Poarch
CEO/Founder
Derek Poarch serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Derek Poarch and Associates LLC, after serving more than twelve years as the Executive Director and CEO of APCO International, the world’s oldest and largest public safety communications association.
For more than forty years Derek has been a leader helping APCO, public safety agencies and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau within the Federal Communications Commission achieve award winning levels of excellence and growth. Starting his career at the age of 18, just out of high school as a “dispatcher”; yes that is what they were called in 1977, Derek is excited to help the nation’s 9-1-1 community achieve organizational excellence, improve agency culture and develop the talent necessary for the future while partnering with friends and colleagues in Derek Poarch and Associates LLC.
At APCO, Derek led a team of talented professionals that grew membership from approximately 15,000 to over 40,000 persons in twelve years while at the same time developing the much- heralded APCO IntelliComm criteria based, digital Emergency Medical Dispatch system. During his tenure, the APCO annual conference and exhibition became the premiere, must attend public safety communications conference in America. APCO also developed the Certified Public Safety Executive Leadership Program (CPE) which has graduated more than 200 of the country’s future 9-1-1 leaders. CPE allowed Derek to reunite with his professor from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, Dr. Steven Edwards Ph.D., or “Dr. Steve” as he has become affectionately known among CPE graduates.
A retired Chief of Police, Derek previously served as the Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. The first person in the nation to lead the Bureau, he was nominated by FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin in 2007. There, Derek managed the bureau responsible for FCC activities pertaining to public safety, homeland security, emergency management and disaster preparedness, and represented the Commission on those issues before federal, state, and industry organizations. In his role at the Commission, he also served as the FCC Liaison to the White House Office of Homeland Security and was responsible for Continuity of Government (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) within the FCC.
Previously serving as the Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Derek reorganized the agency and implemented a department-wide community oriented policing philosophy which led to the reduction of Part-One crimes by 33% over four years. The department was the recipient of the IACP/ITT Community Policing Award for populations of 20,000 to 50,000 in 2003. In the Chief’s capacity he commanded a department of approximately 300 full and part-time employees providing police, security, parking, transportation and emergency communications services to a university community of 45,000 persons that had more than a million visitors each year. As part of his portfolio, he also chaired a university committee that gained consensus on campus access that included funding for $85 million dollars in capital projects over five years.
Derek is a native of Lenoir NC and prior to becoming police chief at UNC – Chapel Hill; he worked 21 years at the Lenoir North Carolina Police Department. Beginning as a telecommunicator he ascended through the department ranks to become second in command holding the rank of Major over department operations. In Lenoir, Derek coordinated the day-to-day operations of a 64 employee police department that lowered the city’s crime rate by over 35% in three years from 1995 to 1997 resulting in the city’s lowest crime rate in fourteen years. During his tenure the police department received the first Governor’s Community Crime Prevention Award and won the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Community Oriented Policing two consecutive years.
Derek served as a commissioner with the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission where he served as Chair of the Education and Training Committee from 1999 until 2007. He is a life member of the North Carolina Police Executives Association and a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He is a 1979 graduate of Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, North Carolina with an associate degree in Police Science, a 1981 graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a bachelor’s degree in social science with a concentration in criminal justice, and a 1988 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a master’s degree in criminal justice. He attended numerous police leadership programs, graduating as a dean’s scholar from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville in 1992 and graduating from the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police in 2006.
Derek remains an avid student of all things Leadership and is excited to bring his success as a Public Safety Leader to help the first of the first responders, the dedicated professionals under the headset and their agencies achieve organizational excellence by improving culture, developing and promoting the best talent and hiring and retaining those dedicated to the noble profession of 9-1-1.
Steven M. Edwards, Ph.D.
Chief Strategy Officer
Steven M. Edwards, served as a senior policy advisor for law enforcement at the Bureau of Justice Administration, US Department of Justice, Washington DC. He managed an extensive grant portfolio focused on police officer safety and wellness; law enforcement leadership and organizational / community development.
Prior to joining the Bureau of Justice Assistance, he held senior law enforcement policy advisor positions at the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). In his tenure at COPS, he designed the COPS FAST and Troops to COPS funding programs. At NIJ he oversaw the national evaluation of the COPS program; the national evaluation of the DOJ WEED and SEED program; a 10-city evaluation of youth firearm violence; the national assessment of 311 / 911 alternative call handling and the first assessment of gunshot detection in an urban community.
Preceding federal service, Dr. Edwards was a tenured faculty member (Associate Professor) at the University of Louisville’s Justice Administration Program and Southern Police Institute; and an Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. For a brief period, he held an appointment as criminal justice planner at the Southeast Michigan Council of Government, Detroit.
Edwards received his Ph.D., MS, and BS from the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. During doctoral studies, he twice received fellowship appointments to the Police Foundation, Washington DC. After completing his doctoral studies, he had a post-doctoral appointment to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management for three years.
In 2010, Edwards was inducted into the Michigan State University’s, School of Criminal Justice, Wall of Fame. In 2018, he was the honored recipient of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) President’s Award for his innovative leadership instruction in APCO’s Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE - 303) leadership program. Dr. Edwards continues to serve as the lead instructor for the capstone session in the CPE program.
A proud native Minnesotan transplanted in early childhood to Michigan and Ohio. Vietnam era veteran. Avid ice hockey enthusiast. Passionate photographer, explorer, and lover of long-distance bicycling.
Jason E. Kern
Principal Consultant
Central U.S. Business Director
Jason E. Kern, CPE
As a 30+ year inspirational leader in public safety communications, Jason Kern continues to push himself and those he works alongside to create positive change in a rapidly evolving industry.
During his three decades of public service, he has bolstered extensive experience in Law Enforcement, Fire/EMS, Emergency Management, Legislative, Project Management and most notably 9-1-1 Public Safety Communications.
Currently, Kern is the longest serving Executive Director at Southeast Emergency Communications (SEECOM) in Crystal Lake, Illinois. SEECOM is a regional consolidated emergency communications center (ECC) approximately 50 miles northwest of Chicago providing services to a dozen agencies in an area covering more than 100 square miles with over 200,000 residents. Since his arrival in 2015, SEECOM’s dedicated staff and management team have accredited their emergency medical dispatch program through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) and certified their training program through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) each three times. Through a robust mentoring, training, and quality assurance environment, SEECOM and its staff have changed its culture, improved performance, and prepared individuals for future leadership positions within the ECC and industry.
Holding Senior and Life Member designations with APCO International and Illinois APCO, Jason has spent over two decades advocating for public safety communications on local, state, national and international groups. Most recently he completed a term as the 86th President of APCO International in August 2022. During this time, he continued to champion for several issues including dispatcher reclassification, funding for Next Generation 9-1-1, health and wellness in our nation’s 9-1-1 centers, and the creation and inception of a Diversity, Inclusion, Civility and Equity (DICE) workshop through APCO.
His notable certifications include Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE) and Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) through APCO; Emergency Number Professional (ENP) through the National Emergency Number Association (NENA); and Communications Unit Leader (COML).
Margie Moulin
Principal Consultant
Western U.S. Business Director
Margie Moulin has worked in Public Safety Communications for over 30 years, serving as a Telecommunications Specialist, Communications Training Officer, Dispatch Supervisor, Operations Manager, and Director of Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO).
Margie is passionate about public-safety communications and holds a strong belief in the continual pursuit of excellence in the profession, not only for the public, and responders we serve, but also in our dedication to the wellness of the professionals inside the ECC’s.
Margie served 16 years as director, during which time she led the successful consolidation of two multi-discipline ECC’s into a single regional communications center answering all 9-1-1 calls county-wide, and dispatching police, fire, and medical for more than two dozen agencies. This project included the design and building of a new facility followed by the relocation of both centers into one location, with zero downtime.
Margie’s experience with consolidation was expanded by chairing a statewide legislative consolidation study and providing testimony to the Oregon State Legislature on issues regarding consolidation. Margie’s legislative involvement includes state and national visits with members of the legislature, response to calls to action, and live and written legislative testimony. Her experience also includes chairing legislative committees and working diligently to protect and increase funding for ECC’s.
Margie also successfully spearheaded a campaign to pass a $28 million bond for new, countywide radio infrastructure serving all the public safety agencies during her tenure as a director.
In addition to her position as Director, Margie volunteered on committees for APCO International, and served her state APCO/NENA chapter as Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President. She has also served as the Oregon Representative to APCO International on the Executive Council, representing her state on issues impacting ECC’s nationwide.
In August of 2020, after being elected by the membership and serving as 2nd and 1st Vice President, Margie took the position as the 85th President of APCO International, the world’s oldest, and largest association serving public safety communications, with over 40,000 members. During her presidency, Margie proudly announced the creation of a health and wellness committee to work towards providing tools to improve wellness for ECC personnel.
Margie holds an associate in business management and is an APCO Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE). She has been awarded Life Membership of the Oregon Chapter of APCO/NENA, and of APCO International. She has received the award of Director of the Year for the State of Oregon and has earned the honor of being elevated to the status of Fellow for the Radio Club of America (RCA).
In her spare time, Margie volunteers for a local non-profit providing help to animals in need and has spent years participating in fundraising events for cancer, and ALS research, and enjoys camping and spending time with her family.
Principal Consultant
Eastern U.S. Business Director
To be named 8/9/2024
Kelle Hall
Senior Consultant
Kelle Hall is a people-driven, influential professional whose passion for authentic leadership is unparalleled. As an accomplished Emergency Communications Manager for the Highland Park Department of Public Safety in Texas, she blends a robust background in crisis response, strategic communication, and team leadership to effectively navigate high pressure situations. With over 35 years of experience in the public safety communications industry, Kelle has emerged as a compassionate and forward-thinking leader, dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all communities. Kelle has honed a unique skill set combining a tactical understanding of crisis scenarios with the gift of clear and impactful communication.
Recognizing the significance of mentorship in professional growth, Kelle has played a pivotal role in the professional development of numerous individuals within the emergency communications community. Throughout her career, she has organized initiatives which have significantly enhanced collaboration with industry colleagues. She understands the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, where individuals feel valued and empowered. She invests time and effort into cultivating the skills and potential of those under her leadership and beyond. One of her standout qualities is her kindness and genuine care for others.
In response to the nationwide staffing crisis, Kelle created and implemented a three-day program in Texas called, “Let’s Dish!”, where industry professionals meet to discuss organizational challenges and create innovative solutions for building positive work cultures. Her dedication to continuous improvement and communication among the teams she leads drives her to stay abreast of the latest trends in emergency management and communications, thus ensuring her strategies remain cutting edge and adaptable.
Kelle is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Command College, offered through the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University, and the APCO International Certified Public Safety Executive program. Kelle has honed her ability to be an inspirational and forward-thinking leader.
Kelle’s on-going involvement with the Texas chapters of APCO and NENA has fostered opportunities for working with diverse and unique personalities. She continues to serve the public safety communications community at the national level, chairing the APCO Institute Advisory Board and the newly created ECC Staffing Taskforce. Reliable, credible, and dedicated, Kelle embraces her role as a servant leader in everything she does.
Priya Robles
Senior Consultant
Priya Robles is a seasoned professional with 15 years of dedicated service in law enforcement. Currently holding the position of Communications Supervisor in California, Priya has consistently exhibited outstanding leadership and expertise across diverse roles within the field. In her role, Priya has been instrumental in fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. Her proactive leadership in managing a communications peer support and mentor program has played a pivotal role in creating a cohesive team dynamic and promoting professional growth among colleagues.
Priya's extensive skill set is further evident in her role as a Communications Training Officer, where she imparts valuable knowledge and experience to the next generation of dispatch professionals. Priya is assigned to a special response team as a tactical dispatcher. She consistently showcases her ability to navigate high-pressure situations with remarkable poise and precision.
In addition to her operational duties, Priya plays a proactive role in training and education. As a committed POST instructor, she leads courses on crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, dispatch conflict management, and communication. Her steadfast dedication to ongoing learning and skill enhancement underscores her enthusiasm for advancing the field and upholding the utmost standards of public safety. Priya's commitment to enhancing the profession extends to a significant focus on health and wellness. She actively participates in committees dedicated to researching and advancing awareness of mental and physical well-being within the profession.
Priya's educational background is equally impressive, holding a master's degree in Psychology and Business Administration. Additionally, she is recognized as a Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE), Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL), and an Emergency Number Professional (ENP).