Bardona Woods received the Marilyn Farndon Excellence in Training Award . Marilyn Farndon was the first Executive Director of the Emergency Number Systems Board. Marilyn played a critical role in establishing many of the Board’s policies and guidelines. She understood the critical need of standardized training and one of her signature achievements was bringing the 9-1-1 community together to develop Maryland’s first certified entry-level training program. In recognition of this, and Marilyn Farndon’s many other accomplishments, the Board has established the Marilyn Farndon Excellence in Training Award to recognize Maryland’s most deserving 9-1-1 Instructor that has demonstrated a superior commitment to training through the development and presentation of relevant training curricula that enhances 9-1-1 service in Maryland. The recipient is selected by the Board’s Training Subcommittee and the presentation of this award is made each year as part of the ENSB/MENA Telecommunicator of the Year awards ceremony at the 9-1-1 Day of Celebration.  
 
Bardona has worked in Emergency Communications for the past 36 years. During that time, she has held many positions from part-time 911 Dispatcher to Director of Communications in Washington County.  
 
Early in her career she dedicated herself to the education of telecommunicators, not only in Washington County, but throughout the State of Maryland and the rest of our Country. Bardona is so passionate about training that she paid for herself to become an Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor in September of 1997 and is currently a Master EMD Instructor. She has brought her years of experience as a telecommunicator, instructor and paramedic to everyone she has had the opportunity to work with. IAED estimates that she has taught well over 3000 students EMD in the past 22 years. Not only has she instructed thousands, she has inspired others to become instructors as well. Bardona has been part of multiple training committees throughout the years and most recently serves as one of the members of the Maryland recruiting, training and retaining subcommittee.  The next generation of Emergency Communications Trainers should strive to be the trainer that Bardona has been during her career.