Since 2001, when Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy known as NIPSTA opened its doors for the first time, this organization only had one executive director. Thirteen years later, Jill Ramaker became the first ever female second executive director. There she leads a huge agency that trains firefighters to a large multidisciplinary center that trains a variety of first responders. NIPSTA is an intergovernmental agency focused on developing and providing training programs that address the requirements of fire, police, EMS, public works, and hazardous material. Supported by over thirty agencies and located on twenty-one acres of land in Glenview, Illinois, it is among the largest training centers of its kind in the country and unique for its multidisciplinary and collaborative focus. It brings groups together with the intention of showing them how to respond together. It’s actually rare to have law enforcement and fire service engage in collaborative training like this, but that’s exactly what leads to a safer and more efficient response. Before NIPSTA, Ramaker started as a paramedic and emergency medical services lieutenant, spending many years as both an E.R nurse and EMS educator. She furthered her education returning to school and getting her masters degree in law. The NIPSTA fire academy hold a nine week curriculum which offers both inside and outside props. Firefighters get recruited by a selective fire department and are sent to NIPSTA. The $35,000 tuition is usually covered by the department.