In The Company of Heroes

I am writing this in the O’Hare International Airport on my way from Chicago to Las Vegas where I am teaching an Excellence in Training and Verbal Trauma Control Course. This past week I had the pleasure and honor to attend and present at the 2009 ILEETA International Training Conference and Expo in Wheeling, Illinois. Over the years I have attending a number of law enforcement instructor conferences and none compare to the atmosphere and energy of an ILEETA Conference. Every year I attend this great learning event it reminds me of the title of Mike Durant’s great book ‘In The Company of Heroes’.

The quality of people that attend this conference and the quality of the presentations is almost beyond description. Ed Nowicki, the Executive Director of ILEETA, along with Harvey Hedden, Jim Smith, Dianne and Gena Nowicki and so many others work tirelessly for this organization all year with a simple mission serve the members of ILEETA. If you are a law enforcement trainer, in any discipline, you need to be a member of this organization. Membership details are available atwww.ileeta.org. If you are a member you need to start saving now to attend the 2010 conference.

There were many great moments for me at this conference as it is an opportunity to see old friends, make new friends and most of all LEARN and GROW as an instructor. I was able to take in great classes by Brian McKenna, Terry Wollert, Dave Smith, Betsy Brantner Smith, Vicki Farnam, Chris Ghannam, Stephen Gower, Chris Lawrence, and Sean Godsey. I also learned a great deal over hallway discussions with countless great trainers and over breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee with people like Randy Meyers, Chuck Soltys, Tom Klein, Harvey Hedden, Shannon Bohrer, Brian McKenna, Eric Dickinson, Stephen Gower, and Tim Janowick.

One of the greatest highlights this year however, was the Law officer Magazine Trainer of the Year Award at the opening ceremonies. In 2007 Law Officer Magazine began awarding The Trainer of the Year Award. Ed Nowicki was the first recipient and as a result the award is now commonly referred to as the ‘Nowicki Award’. This year Chief Jeff Chudwin was selected as the trainer of the year. I can think of no more deserving person to receive this honor than Jeff. Jeff Chudwin is a true warrior, warrior leader, and warrior trainer. He is a man that is highly respected by ALL that have the honor of knowing him, however is a man whose tireless efforts on behalf of others I believe are often taken for granted and under appreciated. Jeff is a man of honor and integrity as well as great humility. He accepted the award reluctantly as he believes others should have been honored instead of him. He then immediately gave the $1000.00 cheque he received as part of the award to ILEETA to be donated to support the ILEETA Scholarship Fund, The NLEOMF and COPS which are the three elements of the Trinity of Dedication.

Start saving now and when you attend the 2010 conference make sure you take in Jeff’s presentation and make sure you shake his hand. We are honored in ILEETA to have men like Ed Nowicki and Jeff Chudwin to show us the way.

If you are looking for a great conference to attend between now and then please go towww.brianw260.sg-host.com and check out the great line up of speakers we have at the Legacy of Excellence Conference in Calgary September 8 to 11, 2009. If you want to see Excellence in Training in action these two events are the place to be. If you plan and budget properly you can actually take in both of these great conferences every year.

Check back Friday as I get back on track with sharing specific thoughts on achieving Excellence in Training.

Take care.

Brian Willis

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