Julie Heimkes attended the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Critical Issues Forum this week in New Orleans, Louisiana, where public safety and emergency communications professionals from across the nation convened to address critical challenges and emerging priorities in Next Generation 911 (NG911) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Day 1 of the forum focused on NG911 and the essential role GIS plays in modern emergency communications systems. The sessions featured in-depth instruction and thoughtfulness, engaging discussion around data integrity, system interoperability, and operational readiness.
During a discussion highlighting the importance of GIS integration with Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, Heimkes shared practical insight drawn from real-world experience. She emphasized that agencies procuring a new CAD system should involve their GIS department from the very beginning of the procurement process. She also underscored the importance of ensuring that selected CAD vendors review and work with GIS data immediately following project kickoff—rather than waiting until just months before system go-live—to reduce risk and support a smoother implementation.
Julie’s participation and leadership at the forum reflects her continued hard work and dedication to TUSA Consulting Services’ mission of providing independent, vendor-agnostic guidance that helps public safety agencies make informed, resilience, and future-ready decisions. Her engagement in national conversations on NG911 and GIS underscores TUSA’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry best practices while advocating for the operational needs of the communities it serves.
The NENA Critical Issues Forum continues throughout the week, providing a collaborative environment for industry leaders to exchange best practices and help shape the future of NG911 and emergency communications nationwide. Thank you Julie for being a great ambassador for TUSA Consulting Services!
