The E9-1-1 Institute and NENA Host
4th Annual 9-1-1 Honors Gala
March 13, 2007
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Industry Leader Award
Stephen Seitz

The Industry Professional Award honors an individual or organization in the commercial sector that has demonstrated exceptional contributions towards the advancement of emergency 9-1-1 communications.  This year’s award winner is certainly no exception.

Steven Seitz is well known in the public safety community.   Most of us know Steve from when he served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for NENA.  Tonight, he is being honored for how he has extended his passion for public safety to his work in the industry sector.  Steven has truly become a nationally recognized 9-1-1 coalition builder by facilitating the implementation of E9-1-1 for the country’s largest VoIP service provider.  That endeavor continues today, and he has spearheaded the regulatory and policy efforts that have gotten Vonage’s E9-1-1 system where it is today.

Today Vonage has more than 94 percent of its U.S. subscriber lines equipped with Enhanced 911 (E911) the most recent upgrades bring the total number of lines fitted for E911 to more than 2 million.  Since December 15, Vonage has equipped 50 locally-run emergency call centers across the U.S. with E911 -- bringing the total number of calling centers with emergency 911 service to more than 6,600.  These milestones would not have been reached without Steven’s dedication and ability to foster a cooperative relationship between industry and PSAPs.

Steve Seitz stands as an example of how experience, leadership and persistence can change the face of a nation’s emergency communications infrastructure.  It is because of his efforts that we are proud to present Steven Seitz as the 2007 Industry Professional of the year.