The Ember911TM Animated Child Safety Program is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Your donations are tax deductible. (Consult your tax professional for more information)

John M. Sokol, Ph.D. - President, Executive Director

Dr. Sokol is the creator of the Ember911TM Animated Child Safety Program and its website. He is in charge of community relations for the Rotary Club of Kankakee Illinois, Public Relations Officer for Pembroke Fire Protection District, where he teaches Fire Prevention & Safety. He is the area coordinator for the National Fire Prevention Association's Risk Watch Safety Program. He has completed the National Fire Academy's Community Safety Educator class along with the Illinois Poison Center's Poison Prevention Educator Training Course. He is a member of the NFLSE - National Fire and Life Safety Educators. He was recently elected to the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Risk Watch Champion Management Team.

Diane Richardson, M.Ed. - Director of Education & Curriculum

Ms. Richardson is a 7th and 8th grade teacher in her local Illinois Public School District. Besides her Masters in Education, she also has a Masters in Montessori Curriculum. She has received several certificates in education and received numerous awards for her accomplishments in teaching. She sits on the safety committee at the school where she currently teaches. She was school board president for 6 years at a Catholic school. She has completed the Illinois Poison Center's Poison Prevention Educator Training Course.

Members of our Advisory Board:

We feel that an important part to our continued success is our Advisory Board. Our Advisory Board is made up of people who are experts in the fields that our program teaches. Advisory Board members are our go to for statistics and important facts. Members help us when we are creating our scripts for the animated shows, our parent/teacher supplement manuals, marketing information and when preparing information for grants and public speaking events. Expertise and quality information is the key to the growth of any program. We thank each and every member for volunteering their time. The information they supply can save a child, their friend or a family member's life. Their input is vitally important. Together we can make a difference.

Crystal Daniel, MHS, CCC-SLP/L

Ms. Daniel is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She possesses a Master's Degree in Health Science with a focus on communication disorders, as well as, a minor in psychology. She is licensed through the state of Illinois and holds the certificate of clinical competence through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. She is an active member of ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association), ISHA (Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association. She has had ample experience working with children with autism both professionally and personally as her fifteen year old niece is autistic and her ten year old nephew has Asperger's Syndrome.

Jessica Blackford, BA

Ms. Blackford hails from a small Southern Illinois town. During her time there she spent many years teaching water safety as a Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor through the Red Cross and Musgrove Aquatic Center. She attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Museology, with double minors in History and Anthropology, graduating Cum Laude. Ms. Blackford moved to Springfield, Illinois to work an internship with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. After a year, she was honored with the prospect of full employment with the agency to run the NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System) program. After several years at this, she was asked to take over the Risk Watch program. Since then she has remained with Risk Watch and has worked with many other public safety programs within the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Patty Metzler, RN, TNS, SANE-A, SANE-P, CPN

Patty is a nurse at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. She’s worked there for 31 years, and in the emergency department for 29. Her passion to keep children safe has lead her to coordinate the Risk Watch program, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and ENCARE programs. She also is the coordinator for Illinois Poison Center satellite education center at Carle. She is the ED pediatric coordinator, and blends all of these programs to make sure we work to decrease the injury and mortality rates in children. She also does medical mission trips to other countries in cleft lip and cleft palate repairs.

Steve Wilder, BA, CHSP, STS

Mr. Wilder, BA, CHSP, STS is President and COO of Sorensen, Wilder & Associates, a safety and homeland security company specializing in healthcare facilities and educational facilities. He has worked closely with the Illinois principals Association in training school administrators in developing and maintaining secure schools. In addition, Steve has trained educators across the nation in recognizing and defusing aggression in the school setting. Steve also served 31 years with the Bradley IL Fire Department, retiring in 2008 as Fire Chief. He is on the faculty at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute, as well as being adjunct faculty at Southern Illinois University. He has authored two books, and writes columns for several school safety trade journals.

Ember911, Inc

P.O. Box 404
Momence, IL 60954

Toll free: 1-866-EMBER-75

Ember911@gmail.com



Brochure graphics and design, courtesy of Kross Publishing
KrossPublishing@yahoo.com 815-401-5298