National search planned as Harrisonburg-Rockingham ECC director resigns

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center will be under near leadership after its current director has announced her resignation.

Courtney Doberstein, who has served as director since June 2020, will leave the organization effective June 21.

HRECC is a joint service provided by the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County that answers and processes all 9-1-1 calls in the city, county and towns in Rockingham County.

A national search for her replacement will begin soon. More information on the director search process will be announced.

“We are eager to begin the work of identifying the next leader to join this important public safety organization and continue achieving the mission this team is so dedicated to,” said Ande Banks, Harrisonburg city manager.

Doberstein, who arrived in Harrisonburg with more than 20 years of experience in 9-1-1 telecommunications, instituted a number of projects focused on improving and modernizing the 9-1-1 call center since taking over as director.

“We are very grateful for everything Courtney brought to HRECC and to our community,” said Banks. “When we brought her into this organization five years ago, it was with the goal of uplifting our emergency communications center to where it needed to be for the future. Now, her work, and the work of her team over the past few years, has positioned HRECC to be able to quickly address community needs as they arise while supporting our partner emergency response agencies and law enforcement.”

Ben Zimmerman, currently deputy fire chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department, has been selected to serve as the interim HRECC director.

Zimmerman, who became HFD’s deputy chief of operations in summer of 2023, has served with HFD since joining as a firefighter in 2000. Throughout that time, he has worked closely with HRECC and is familiar with the department, its staff and the important role HRECC plays in keeping the community safe.

“I am very confident that Deputy Chief Zimmerman can seamlessly step into this interim director position and provide any support needed by HRECC staff until such time as a new director is selected,” said Banks. “Our community should expect the same professional level of service they have become used to receiving from their 9-1-1 call center, which continues to exceed national standards in its role as a public safety agency.