https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

NENA


Commentary

Fontes hiring sets new path for NENA

Fontes hiring sets new path for NENA

As with most trade shows, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) annual conference included a show floor of nifty products and educational sessions featuring lively debates on hot topics. But perhaps the biggest buzz during the event revolved around Brian Fontes, who was finishing his first week as NENA's CEO.
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 13th June 2008

As with most trade shows, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) annual conference this week included a show floor of nifty products and educational sessions featuring lively debates on hot topics. But perhaps the biggest buzz during the event revolved around Brian Fontes, who was finishing his first week as NENA’s CEO.

Historically, the top staffer for a non-profit public-safety organization does not have a resume resembling the one claimed by Fontes, whose professional titles have included college professor, FCC Chief of Staff, U.S. ambassador and, most recently, AT&T’s vice president for federal relations.

No wonder NENA officials like President Jason Barbour grinned like Cheshire cats when the subject of Fontes’ hiring was mentioned. In less than two weeks, Fontes already has introduced the NENA officials to a new level of industry strategy and political contacts that might have seemed out of reach to the organization before—a fact made obvious during NENA’s “Meet the CEO” session during the show on Wednesday.

However, Fontes was noticeably uncomfortable with all the attention and plaudits bestowed on him. “Managing expectations” was his mantra for the week.

“I am not going to be the savior of NENA or anything like that,” he said. “What I’ve done in the past doesn’t matter … in this job, I haven’t done anything yet.”

Indeed, only time will tell how effective Fontes will be in his new position. But the big news is that Fontes will have a chance to make a greater impact than the top staffers in other public-safety organizations, because he is not NENA’s executive director but its chief executive officer.

What’s the difference? For the most part, executive directors are tasked to execute the will of an organization’s board, the direction of which can change with the faces and ideas of its elected leadership. As CEO, Fontes not only is in charge of execution at NENA, he is a member of the board and is expected to be the face of the organization while driving its policy objectives.

NENA opted for this model after determining the organization’s need for consistent direction and continuity, instead of potentially revolving agendas coinciding with each election of a new president, Barbour said. In hiring Fontes as CEO, NENA expects him to drive the policy agenda and be an identifiable front man for the organization, regardless of who has been elected to the board.

It’s an intriguing governance model, one that was attractive to Fontes—enough to convince him to leave the money and perks associated as a top executive for a corporate giant like AT&T. Asked if he would have accepted the top-paid NENA position as an executive director, Fontes said, “Honestly, probably not. If I were an executive director … I would just be following whoever the next president is, whatever their particular wish list or mandate was. It would not have been an effective role.”

Ron Bonneau, NENA first vice president, emphasized that hiring Fontes was not an action taken to “lay down the gauntlet for APCO [Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials].” That may be the case, but I bet APCO and other public-safety organizations will monitor NENA closely to assess whether the CEO governance model provides the desired direction and continuity without undermining the board elected by the organization’s membership.

Of course, any strategy is only as good as the people implementing it. In the NBA, longtime Phil Jackson assistant Tex Winter is famous for being the guru of the triangle offense, which has been used to win multiple championships in Chicago with Michael Jordan and in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant. However, when those sorts of impact players are not in the mix—for these teams or for the many other NBA franchises that have tried to copy it over the years—the triangle offense has looked quite pedestrian.

The same probably will hold true for the CEO governance model for public safety organizations. If NENA is unable to make significant strides with it, the model likely will be forgotten soon in the public-safety arena. However, if Fontes makes a positive impact for NENA, my guess is that other public-safety associations will seriously consider whether offering a CEO title can help them lure an impact player to their teams that help take their organizations to the next level.

E-mail me at [email protected].

Tags: Commentary Newsletters NENA Commentary

Most Recent


  • House members introduce $15 billion NG911 funding bill
    Key U.S. House members introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide $15 billion in federal funding to support 911 centers nationwide as they make the transition from legacy technology to an IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) platform. Standalone legislation that had not been assigned a bill number as of Friday night, the “Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of […]
  • Updated: How 'sidelink' peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations
    Editor’s note: A previous version of this column was posted that included only the first portion of the article—a mistake by the editor. IWCE’s Urgent Communications regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience. When first responders are called to action, they need reliable communications to coordinate an effective public-safety response. Public-safety personnel understand this […]
  • NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation
    As the new Congress begins its work in earnest, we look forward to continued progress in funding the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology. Our nation’s 911 systems are critical to ensuring the safety and security of our communities, and nationwide implementation of NG911 will ensure these systems can leverage the most advanced communications […]
  • How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient
    It’s a scenario we’ve all experienced: an ambulance with a blaring siren racing against time to get a person in medical distress to a hospital through traffic. What we don’t see is 5G connectivity enabling paramedics to communicate with hospital staff via video conference and coordinate care in real-time before arriving at the emergency room. […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • APCO, NENA, NASNA speakers cite ‘discussions’ to address NG911 funding issues
  • Klobuchar pledges support for NG911 funding, does not address specifics of proposal
  • California set to begin NG911 deployments in 911 centers statewide next month
  • House proposes $15 billion for NG911 funding in new infrastructure bill

Commentary


Updated: How ‘sidelink’ peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations

  • 1
27th February 2023

NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation

24th February 2023

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Gallery: The last day of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SllQKJ

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlkyNy

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Verizon officials highlight role of 5G tech for responders during IWCE keynote dlvr.it/Slkh9n

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Day three of IWCE 2023 features the opening of the Expo Hall dlvr.it/Slhgvr

30th March 2023
UrgentComm

Gallery: The Expo Hall opens on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlhfPT

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

Rescue 42 launches miniCRD deployable for FirstNet dlvr.it/SlgdtY

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: 📽️ More sights from Day 2 at #IWCE23. It's been a fantastic start so far... Thanks to you! Tomorrow is another awesome spea…

29th March 2023
UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: Ildefonso De La Cruz Morales, Principal Analyst-Critical Communications @OmdiaHQ takes the stage and kicks off tonight’s Keyn…

29th March 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.