Her Story
About Fayth
I started dispatching when I was around 18 or 19 years old. I grew up in South Carolina, and most of my family worked for the Navy at the shipyard. Of course, I was going to do that too, but then they closed the base and everyone lost their jobs while I was in high school. When I got out of high school, I wanted a job that was going to have security, stability, and have a purpose also. So I went to work at the police department and started working as a switchboard operator for the whole city and city hall. Then I went and sat in dispatch one day and completely fell in love with it. I have been the Emergency Communications Manager over a 911 dispatch center for 8 years now. On a typical day, I start by checking emails, then go into the dispatch center and check on everyone working to make sure they have all they need. I deal with a lot of financial and personnel matters, write policies, and currently I'm managing a project where we're implementing a new software program for the communications center, the police department, and the fire department. For the past 6 months, most of my days have been building those programs, getting them installed, getting people trained, and we go live in June. I'm trying to soften the blow of change because no one likes change. Good mentorship is one of the things that got me to where I am, and my first trainers Diane Smith, Trish, and Aaron had a major impact on me.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Fayth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being raised to never give up on yourself. That foundation of perseverance and self-belief has carried me through the challenges of this career. Good mentorship is also one of the things that got me to where I am. My first trainers when I started, Diane Smith, Trish, and Aaron, had a major impact on me and really shaped my approach to this work. Those early influences, combined with the determination to never give up, have been the keys to my success in emergency communications management.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Prepare your heart for heartbreak. This job can be heartbreaking. But also, don't be afraid to seek help if something's bothering you. The work we do in emergency communications can be gut-wrenching, and it takes a real toll on you. The effects carry on with you. It's not what you see on TV where you handle a tragic situation and you're fine in 20 minutes. The reality is much harder, and you need to be ready for that emotional impact while also knowing it's okay to ask for support when you need it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunities in my field right now are that there's always going to be openings in Emergency Services and Public Safety because of the type of job it is. There is high turnover, which means consistent opportunities for people to enter the field. Some of the challenges are that people come in with an idea of what they've seen on TV, and when they get here, it's not what they've seen on TV. They don't realize the effects that this work carries on with you. People think they'll handle a horribly tragic situation and be fine in 20 minutes, or that they'll just go out and help everyone at the scene and be the hero. But the reality is very different, and that disconnect between expectations and reality is a major challenge we face in recruiting and retaining people.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, honesty, family, and religion. Obviously, my religion is huge to me. These are the things that guide everything I do - family, religion, honesty, and integrity. Those are it. They form the foundation of how I approach both my professional responsibilities as an Emergency Communications Manager and my personal relationships with my godchildren, my church community, and the people who matter most to me.
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