COLUMBUS, Ohio — The women and men who answer the calls at the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in Columbus will tell you a call to 911 is often a connection to people in the worst situations.
The city’s primary public dispatch center has a staff of call takers, dispatchers, and communications specialists who are all highly skilled and trained to take action on more than a million #911 calls each year.
Among them is Wendy Massey, who is a supervisor with nearly 30 years of experience in the center. Massey said skills that can help a person be successful include the ability to remain multi-task, focus, and react without panic.
“You have to be able to leave the job here and not internalize it,” Massey said.
Massey lets it all out five to six days a week at the gym. She builds strength in the weight room. What started as a hobby in 2017 has launched her center stage to the professional ranks of bodybuilding.
The 55-year-old is an award-winning contestant often taking first place in her division. She said she is proof that it is never too late to advocate for your health and fitness.
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