Remaining calm in the midst of chaos is never easy. But it's an essential component in Kristin Keefner's line of work.
Keefner is a 911 emergency dispatcher and trainer for the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office in Pittsfield. She's the initial voice on the phone that Berkshire County residents hear when they call authorities seeking help. These calls usually occur under highly stressful situations. But Keefner's task is to calmly sort through the details of the emergency to make sure the proper aid can be sent.
It's not an easy job, but the native of Cornwall, Conn., who currently lives in Great Barrington, loves to do it. The daughter of a Connecticut fire chief, Keefner is also a member of the Great Barrington Fire Department. She has been a firefighter for 20 years.