Melissa Alterio - Director of Emergency Communications, cobb county e911, GA
Melissa has recently transitioned to a new role as Director of Emergency Communications for Cobb County 911 after serving for 5 1⁄2 years as 911 Director for the City of Roswell Police Department - both agencies in Metro Atlanta, GA. Her duties include all aspects of management, direction, coordination, training and quality control of the 145-person staffed PSAP. Prior to these positions, Melissa worked at Orange County Emergency Services (NY) where she spent the majority of her career in the Training Division. She is also an Adjunct Instructor with APCO International for the last several years. Her passion is teaching dispatchers how to improve their performance; focusing specifically on topics like Active Shooter Incidents, Crisis Negotiations and the core telecommunicator classes. Melissa has also presented at various national dispatch conferences around the Country, speaking on a variety of leadership principles.
Melissa is a graduate of Marist College (NY) with a BS in Psychology, and has just completed her MS in Criminal Justice/Public Safety Leadership from Mercer University. She has recently completed two intensive executive leadership programs with APCO, receiving the professional designations of Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) and Certified Public Safety Executive (CPE). Her focus and priority is to be a mentor, coach, leader and positive role model to members of the 911 community. Melissa also serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety and as the Vice President for the GA 911 Directors Association – Metro Region. She is an experienced instructor, conference coordinator and participant in various public safety areas.
Melissa is also serving on the NENA Wellness Acute Stress Standard Workgroup, APCO Professional Developments and Events Committee, Awards Committee, and the Peer Support/CISM Division Head of APCO’s new Health and Wellness Committee.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys family gatherings, volunteer work and quality time with her dog.