MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark E. Brady
Public Information Officer
PIOMarkBrady@gmail.com
YLD Awards Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Award to Apex PIO
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) has awarded Victorian Simmons, public information officer for the Town of Apex Fire and Police Departments inNorth Carolina, a Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Award.
Simmons was selected for her research project, Bridging the Silence, which focuses on how trauma affects communication, leadership and team dynamics among first responders.
The Chief Alan Brunacini Special Projects Program was added to the YLD Awards and Scholarships Program in 2024. It supports projects that strengthen training, education and leadership in fire and emergency services. Projects must also include a plan to share results with the public safety community at no cost.
“Chief Alan ‘Bruno’ Brunacini’s contributions to the fire service are immeasurable,” said Michael Hildebrand, president of YLD. “This award continues his legacy by encouraging innovative leadership. Victorian’s work speaks not only to first responders, but also to their families and the communities that support them.”
Simmons’ project will turn academic research into practical tools for the fire and emergency services. The work will help leaders better understand communication challenges after traumatic events and adopt strategies that promote empathy, emotional intelligence and resilience.
Project findings will be used in training modules, workshops and presentations for fire officers, public information offi
cers and behavioral health educators. The written research will also serve as a resource for first responders and their families.
YLD awarded Simmons $10,000 to support the project.
“Bridging the Silence grew from years of watching trauma affect even the strongest leaders,” Simmons said. “This project is about giving that silence a voice and helping others heal through communication.”
Simmons is a mother of two and an active leader in the fire service community. She is currently completing doctoral research in strategic communication. She said the award will allow her to focus fully on research that leads to real-world tools and training for the fire and emergency services.
“Chief Brunacini taught us that leadership starts with humanity,” Simmons said. “My goal is to carry that message forward one conversation at a time.”
Simmons serves as the public information officer for Apex Fire and Police, where she develops inclusive and community-focused communication strategies. Her work has been recognized at the local, state and national levels and has been featured in Firehouse Magazine, the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo and professional conferences, including NFPA events.
She also serves as an adjunct professor at the Guilford Technical Community College Fire Academy and is a participant in the Executive Public Information Officer Course at FEMA’s National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Each year, YLD recognizes emerging and developing leaders in fire, EMS, hazmat, emergency management and homeland security. In 2025, YLD awarded 10 scholarships totaling $52,000.
The application period for YLD scholarships runs from Aug. 1 through Oct. 30. More information is available at YLD.org.
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