Board Member Bios
Ms. Deborah "Debbie" S. Caruthers, ENP
Orange County 9-1-1 Coordinator
Deborah began her career in Public Safety the summer of 1975 as a Dispatcher with Seminole County Sheriff's Office. She served Seminole County for 15 years, advancing to the position of Director of Communications. After retiring from Seminole County, Ms. Caruthers was offered the Communications Manager position for the City of Apopka for the next 8 years, where she consolidated Public Safety dispatching services for the City of Apopka, Maitland, and Eatonville. In 2000, Ms. Caruthers was appointed as the 911 Coordinator/Manager for Orange County Public Safety Communications Division, the position she currently holds.
As the 911 Coordinator, Deborah is responsible for the infrastructure (including, design, purchasing and maintenance of the system, database integrity and training) of the ten 911 Public Safety Answering Points in Orange County. Within those ten centers, there are 506 operators that answer over one million 911 calls for service per year.
Deborah is a member of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and is certified as an Emergency Number Professional (ENP). As a member of NENA, Deborah has served on numerous committees including the National Wireless Technical and Operations Committee, and the State Legislative Committee. She is a member of the International Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) where she has chaired Gulf Coast States and served on numerous International committees. She is currently an active participant with APCO's International Project Locate and Project 41. She is also an APCO certified instructor, Emergency Medical dispatch, CPR and Florida Department of Law Enforcement certified instructor.
In 2002, Deborah was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the State's Wireless E911 Board to represent E911 for the State of Florida for large Counties.
Ms. Sandi Chernoff
Collier County 9-1-1 Coordinator
Sandi is the 911 Coordinator for Collier County. Sandi began her career with the Collier County Sheriff's Office in February of 1999, as an E911 Technician. She was promoted to her present position in August of 2000. Sandi has been an active member of NENA and APCO since November 2000 and has been an ENP since May 2004. She was appointed to the FL E911 Board in November 2005.
Sandi and her husband of 18 years currently live in Naples with their two teenage sons who occupy most of her off duty time. She has been a resident of Collier County for 10 years. Prior to that, she lived in Broward County for 26 years.
Sandi likes to spend her free time scrap booking, scuba diving and camping.
Mr. Andrew "Andy" M. Feeney
Manager, AT&T Legislative Affairs
Andrew Feeney is a Manager of Legislative Affairs for AT&T in Tallahassee, Florida. He is the lead wireless lobbyist and is involved in all areas of governmental/public affairs for AT&T. Andrew is also the 2008 United Way national campaign manager for AT&T External Affairs. Andrew began working for BellSouth External Affairs on July 1, 1998 in West Palm Beach, Florida and then in Jacksonville, Florida.
Before working for Bell South, his time was spent in political campaigns and grassroots initiatives for individuals and associations including: Governor Jeb Bush, Congressman Tom Feeney, Associated Industries of Florida and Florida Stop Lawsuit Abuse. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Major in Finance from the University of Central Florida in December 1989.
As a volunteer in his communities, Andrew has been involved in various organizations around the State including the American Heart Association-Chairman Martin County Heart Walk in 1999 & 2000, Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce-Board Member, Martin County Council for the Arts, FAU Honors College Advisory Board, Chamber of the Palm Beaches, St. Lucie Education Foundation, Take Stock in Children-Jacksonville and a Marshal on the 12th hole at the Players Championship.
Andrew was appointed to the E911 Board by Governor Charlie Crist in October of 2007.
Andrew is a native Floridian. He enjoys golfing and fishing. He resides in Tallahassee, Florida.
Mr. John C. Ford, Chairman
Designee of Secretary for the Department of Management Services
Florida E911 Board Chairman
Mr. Ford retired from BellSouth Corporation after 25 years. The last position held was Assistant Vice President of Sales, responsible for State and Local Government and Education for Florida.
For the previous four years he has served as Director of Telecommunication and Wireless Services, for Department of Management Services, State of Florida. Additionally, Mr. Ford represents the Department as the Chairman of Florida's E911 Board, President for the Southern Region of the National Association of Technology Directors, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the School of Information Studies of Florida State University.
Mr. Ford has been married for 35 years and has two sons, with two grandsons.
Mr. Charles "Chuck" Freeman, ENP
911 Systems Manager
Pinellas County Emergency Communications
Chuck began his career working as a police dispatcher for the City of Gulfport. After 3 years Chuck made the move to Pinellas County government and quickly advanced through the ranks. As the 911 Systems Manager, which is also the 911 Coordinator, Chuck is responsible for every aspect of the 911 System for one Primary and 10 Secondary Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP).
Chuck has been very active in the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) as past Central Florida Vice President, Legislative Committee Member and PBX Legislative Subcommittee Chair. He assisted in the re-write of 911 Florida Statutes as well as the 911 State Plan. Chuck also chaired the State 911 Coordinator's Group until his appointment to the E911 Board.
He received his ENP certification in 1998 and has taken numerous courses in 911 and telecommunications. Chuck has been involved with every major development in 911 technology throughout his 24 years of tenure.
Chuck has been married for 30 years and has 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. He loves the outdoors and with every opportunity, heads to the mountains of North Carolina.
Ms. Marilyn M. Haroutunian
Telecommunications Manager (Project Manager 9-1-1)
Sprint-Nextel
Marilyn Haroutunian is presently a Project Manager with Sprint Nextel. She has over thirty years experience in the telecommunications industry with the past seventeen devoted to E911. Ms. Haroutunian is a member of NENA and an industry representative on national committees developing Next Generation 911. She holds a B.A. in Economics from George Washington University. Ms. Haroutunian and her husband reside on Amelia Island.
Ms. Kim Paxton
GIS/E911 Coordinator
Putnam County IT/GIS Office
Kim Paxton, GISP has over 24 years in GIS and the mapping profession. For the past 5 years Kim has been employed with Putnam County and is currently the GIS Manager and she was designated the 911 Coordinator in February 2006.
Kim is responsible for the coordination of GIS activities for the various Departments, Divisions, and Offices in Putnam County. She manages the GIS Office and is responsible for the development, maintenance and administration of the County's Enterprise GIS and Interactive Mapping websites; the creation and integration of new and existing GIS Application Development; and coordinates GIS training. Kim also manages the E911 Division supporting the 911 system including the 911 addressing and street data within GIS, maintaining the 911 databases, and the implementation and operation of the 911 equipment.
Appointed to the Florida E911 Board in October 2007, Kim represents Rural Counties.
Mr. William "Bill" T. Reid
External Affairs Director, Verizon
Mr. Reid was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Business Administration.
Mr. Reid served in the U.S. Army from 1968 through 1969, and is a Vietnam Veteran. Mr. Reid has been employed with GTE, and Verizon Communications for 42 years. He has also served as past President of the Plant City Rotary Club.
Mr. Reid and his wife Cathy currently reside in Plant City. They have one daughter (Heather), and one son (William).
Mr. Reid was appointed to the Florida E911 Board on March 7, 2008 for a term to end on October 28, 2011.
Mr. James "Jim" G. Smith, II Vice Chairman
Manager Government Affairs, Embarq
Jim Smith graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He has spent the past 35 years in the telecommunications industry in Florida representing United Telephone, Sprint and Embarq. He has held positions in the business office, marketing, customer relations and government affairs with those companies. He has been on the E911 Board for the past 6 years and is currently the vice chairman.