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Law enforcement training has to evolve as fast as the world officers work in. In this episode of Powered by Learning, ILEETA Executive Director Ray Merlin and Deputy Director Joe Willis share how ILEETA supports a global “tribe of trainers” focused on instructor excellence, year-round learning, and a conference built to recharge and raise the standard.

 

Show Notes:

ILEETA’s Ray Merlin and Joe Willis explain ILEETA’s mission to inspire excellence across the training ecosystem. Their key takeaways include:

• ILEETA’s “north star” is instructor excellence—not just topics. Joe emphasizes that ILEETA is “a community that happens to have an outstanding conference,” built to elevate instructorship year-round.
• Law enforcement training pressure isn’t one issue—it’s everything, across roles. Ray notes that the training ecosystem spans far beyond patrol (corrections, federal, military, dispatch, and more), and the goal is continuous improvement in performance.
• The best modality is intentional blended learning—synthetic + live, with pre- and post-learning. Joe highlights that VR/AR/simulators and distance learning are powerful, but they work best when designed to set up instruction and reinforce learning afterward.
• Just-in-time refreshers matter because forgetting is real. Joe points to the value of quick, well-designed “bump” resources (the way people use short videos for quick help) to support recall and performance in the field.
• The biggest opportunity is staying relevant by connecting “pockets of excellence.” Ray frames it as ongoing evolution and professionalism; Joe adds that ILEETA helps connect emerging research and field innovations by bringing the right people together to “connect the dots.” 

Learn more about ILEETA

Learn more about d'Vinici's work in law enforcement

Editor’s Note: Edward J. Nowicki, who is referenced in this episode, was the founder of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Harvey Hedden, who is also referred to, is the immediate past executive director. Learn more about ILEETA’s leadership team. 

Powered by Learning earned Awards of Distinction in the Podcast/Audio and Business Podcast categories from The Communicator Awards and a Gold and Silver Davey Award. The podcast is also named to Feedspot's Top 40 L&D podcasts and Training Industry’s Ultimate L&D Podcast Guide.

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TRANSCRIPT:

Susan Cort: [00:00:00] From officer Safety to critical decision making, deescalation and trauma-informed policing. ILEETA supports officers around the world with critical training. 

Joe Willis: There are pockets of excellence all over the world and trainers doing what trainers do, raising the bar in their space. ILEETA exists to be the evolution space for them because while they think they are doing everything they can, then they come to ILEETA and they meet someone who's dealt with the same thing, or they could you find that synergy and then things start to click. 

Susan Cort: That's Joe Willis, Deputy Director at ILEETA, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Joe and ILEETA, executive Director Ray Merlin, joined d’Vinci's Angeline Evans and me to talk about how they train law enforcement professionals next on Powered by Learning.

Announcer: Powered by Learning is brought to you by d’Vinci Interactive d’Vinci's approach to learning is grounded in [00:01:00] 30 years of innovation and expertise. We use proven strategies and leading technology to develop solutions that empower learners to improve quality and boost performance. Learn more at dvinci.com.

Susan Cort: Joining me now are d’Vinci Client Solutions Consultant, Angeline Evans and our guest, Ray Merlin, Executive Director of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, or ILEETA and Joe Willis, Deputy Director. Welcome, Ray and Joe. 

Angeline Evans: Hi Ray and Joe, thanks for joining us. 

Joe Willis: Thanks for having us.

Ray Merlin: Absolutely. Thank you. It was good to be here. 

Susan Cort: Well, Ray and Joe, start us off by giving us a little bit about your backgrounds in law enforcement training. Ray, let's start with you. 

Ray Merlin: Well, thanks. As far as my, my background, I am retired from the Kenosha Sheriff's Department. Spent a little over 28 years with the Sheriff's Department.

Um, pretty much, uh, trained across everything as far as firearms, DET, pressure, communications, you name it, across the board. Um, also as that went on, I also worked at Gateway. I worked at, still work at Gateway [00:02:00] Technical College, and same thing, um, help out with training. Recruits, jail, associate degree program, everything across there.

And then as far as, um, them coming into ILEETA, been members since almost the beginning, and that's where Ed Nowicki had ILEETA, um, Harvey. And then he asked us to take it over, what, two years ago almost, Joe. And that's, that's kind of the, the, the kind of rundown really quick. Um, again, we're blessed and honored to be part of this moving forward with ILEETA.

Susan Cort: That's great. What about you, Joe? 

Joe Willis: Like Ray said, just truly a blessed and honor to, to be a part of this group and this association. So I'm a retired military police, first sergeant. Uh, did about 21 years in the Army as a military policeman, and then got out and went into the contract training space. I did, uh, work initially with, uh, law enforcement specifically, but then, uh, tried my hand in some corporate training space as well and it really led me to some really good post.

Army career, uh, adventures as far as getting back in with the [00:03:00] Department of Defense, doing a lot of distance learning and that sort of thing, which I think will be part of the fun conversation we have today. 'Cause I know that's, uh, your specialty there. And so very excited about that. Now, at this point, after spending, uh, you know, a few years out of the, uh, active duty space, I'm just really enjoying the, uh, the contracting work and helping here at ILEETA.

Angeline Evans: Wonderful. Thank you both. So for our listeners who might not be familiar with, um, what ILEETA is, can you just describe the role ILEETA plays in the law enforcement training community? And give us a rundown. 

Joe Willis: Uh, yeah. The mission of ILEETA is to inspire excellence in the law enforcement training space, and that entails a lot of different things.

What we like to tell people, and, and Ray kind of coined this phrase, uh, that we are a community that just happens to have an outstanding conference. And so while we're focused on a year-round relevance and elevating training in law enforcement, we do get trainers together once a year. To really, uh, kind of come together as a tribe of trainers and a community.

And so while we touch on every aspect of law enforcement training in one way or [00:04:00] another, it is truly about elevating the level of instructorship. And that is a variety of things as, you know, we could talk about on here. But that's ultimately the end of the mission there. It's just inspire excellence in law enforcement training.

And we do that through our network of, uh, member trainers. 

Ray Merlin: Yeah. And add on that we talk about law enforcement training, you know, it's not just the patrol officer we're talking about, um, correctional officer, federal officer, military officer, dispatch, you name across the board. So bringing that whole community together 'cause it's a lot of, it's a crossover and you can all learn from each other.

Angeline Evans: I love hearing this angle that you're looking to inspire excellence, especially in the instruction and not just the content areas and the topics you're focusing on. Although those are obviously very important. It's, it's good to have them presented in a way that folks can retain. Um, so there's so much agencies are navigating right now from officer safety to deescalation.

We're seeing a lot of in critical, uh, decision making. What are, what are you seeing the most pressure for? As far as topics and needs, [00:05:00] 

Ray Merlin: I would say yes, everything you said. Oh, okay. It's one of those things that matter what you watch, hear, or what's going on, but I think it is what you're seeing across all that is just.

How to better train, what are we doing, improving those type of things there. But to say there's one topic saying, Hey, this is the one I honestly, I, I would say I don't think there's just that one because again, we cross over a lot of different things and, um, just bringing it to light on the different, different levels of what you need to do and again, is, you know, improving future performance.

So, okay, we got this here. So it might be those little things. Joe, what do you think? 

Joe Willis: Yeah, I'm, I'm fortunate enough to be the, the member on the team who really kind of, uh, manages the instructor cycle as far as scheduling and that kind of stuff. And, you know, we all have our roles here and that's the one area that I get to touch most often.

And. Like Ray said, it is everything. And what's really cool about the instructional space for law enforcement is the passion that abounds in the SWAT [00:06:00] community is unique to it. But equally the same passion exists in forensics, in firearms, in driver's training. And so as we look to elevate one, we're essentially elevating all, uh, good adult learning is good adult learning.

The development for training, whether you're doing that in the synthetic training environment or the live training environment, learning is still the same, and that's really what we work to kind of touch in all those spaces.  

Angeline Evans: I can definitely appreciate that. We've been serving the law enforcement audience at d’Vinci for almost 15 years, and I remember when I started about 13 years ago, I'm obviously not in.

But I would partner with folks like you to develop curriculum. Um, and we were writing, you know, human trafficking to tactical medicine to trauma-informed interviews. And the topics really do span the gamut. I would say the trends that we see at d’Vinci from this audience and, and where they might be sourcing a vendor to support us a lot in deescalation tactics. 'Cause obviously that's something that's woven throughout everything. Um, at this point, but it's really great to have your perspective on [00:07:00] that. 

Susan Cort: I think it's interesting too that, that an association, it sounds like your main focus really is learning and development. A lot of associations are, are more about comradery or certification, but it seems like your, your North Star is the education and the training.

Is that right? 

Joe Willis: Yeah. And I would say that that is what really bonds the tribe together, right? So, uh, Lieutenant, uh, Keanu Martinez from Omaha coined that phrase, so I'm gonna give him all the credit he's due. But ILEETA is a tribe of trainers really working to elevate one another. And so, uh, without a doubt it is about that, you know, instructor development.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There will be pendulum swings when it was wellness. Alida was there as deescalation ILEETA is there. And as we look towards 2030, I think the trends we are seeing are how do we get after real-time intel, how do we get after, uh, you know, responding to coordinated attacks or

the drone threat, the things that exist that some of our [00:08:00] members are so passionate about and other members don't even know exist. And that's really one of the things that elevates ILEETA. There were people talking about wellness before it became a buzzword, uh, about half a decade ago. Right? Maybe a little bit more deescalation as it becomes the.

The trend. There are people who have been working on that for decades. Let's come to Aleida and develop as instructors and learn from them. That's, I love it. That's one of the best parts of it. 

Ray Merlin: And, and, and the whole thing you're gonna, you'll see at the conference though too, is like you said at that camaraderie, but it is, it's that energy rejuvenating.

'Cause you have those, uh, you have trainers from all over the country and all over the world. Okay. It's, it's that task. It's that task. Well, they come here and take that energy in. Learn from those things they might not see, you know, 'cause again, we sometimes we get super focused on what we're doing, but then leave there like ready and recharged and then same thing.

Have that connection because you know what? What we're having an issue here with, they might be having an issue in Germany with already, Hey, let's share that information. So you're gonna see, yeah, it's not, it is about that camaraderie, but it is about learning [00:09:00] from each other and giving back to each other.

Angeline Evans: Absolutely. So I'm super curious then, as far as. You know, a community of trainers and you're off, you're training that same audience, like that's your niche. What do you find is the best modality that sticks like we hear, and for both instructor-led training, where you're doing it in person and it might be hands-on versus something that's asynchronous or online.

Um, we often hear that scenario-based training, something that's really, you know, as one-to-one as possible with reality is what's gonna stick the most. But like, what are you, what are you. Using and what are you seeing be successful? 

Joe Willis: I'll jump in first on this one and then Ray, if you don't mind expanding on it.

So what we find is a good assortment of mixed approaches and people who are well versed in each of them there is, you know, for instance, I just did an interview the other day with Josh Hanney. He's doing, uh, presentation on Beyond the branches. VR flat screen simulators, doesn't matter. You know what, what it is we're operating on [00:10:00] are a tremendous resource.

And what industry has done your, your folks included, right? Like what's happening at d’Vinci? Uh, you're elevating all of the ability to reach these through, uh, distance learning. They, they can only go so far. And then you've gotta put an instructor in the classroom. And so what we find works best is when it's designed with intentionality that sets up for the pre-learning and the post learning in these VR, AI-driven, uh, VT, AR I'm sorry, but still AI connected as well.

As we get there, all of these. 

Susan Cort: What is, what isn't connected to that right now?

Joe Willis: Valid, right. Yeah. And so that's, that's kind of where we're at on that is when we see the best things come together, it's people who are intentional about design and willing to include both the real and synthetic learning environments equally because neither one are going anywhere and good instructors do both.

Susan Cort: Yes, well said. 

Ray Merlin: And I think it's, yeah, just a cap on it. He, Joe, hit on a lot of it already, but it's the same thing. Where are we at in our training? Is it a new recruit? [00:11:00] Is it a in-service training? Like you're dealing with colleges, with know departments? Is it the first time they're using some, okay. It might not be this, or it might be that online learning.

Now let's bring 'em in. So there's, there's a, there's a seat at the table for everybody. Nobody, if everybody's saying, this is the only thing we're ever gonna use. Then no, that's not true because we gotta be able to build on 'cause. So somebody doing that online then coming there. So again, it could be a new recruit a little bit faster, but, uh, that, that officer in for inservice training.

Okay. You can build it on there a little more too. 

Angeline Evans: Absolutely a blended learning really does shine. And something we've also been adding and just seeing more requests for is mobile refreshers. After you have the asynchronous and then the in-person. And maybe it's just like a quick, hey, before you do an interview, these are the steps to remember or, um, a legal update that maybe you need to refresh on that you know isn't gonna always be top of mind if you only heard it once.

Um, that sort of thing. 

Joe Willis: I often ask people, you know, ha, have you ever done this task? Whether it's, you know, fix your faucet or, or whatever, uh, [00:12:00] and you're about to do it again. What's the first thing most people do is they jump on YouTube for their quick refresher. I think just in time training. And those, uh, well designed, uh.

Learning paths that are intended for the, that forgetting curve, right? And as we start to, to drop in our, our recall and, uh, get that little bump, and I think great trainers, great leaders are working together to make this possible. Agencies are, are truly starting to try to embrace how best to plug those things in.

So, yeah, I couldn't agree more. 

Susan Cort: I have a, a question. How, how does ILEETA either help drive or compliment what law enforcement, uh, agencies are doing across the country? I mean, you're not their only source of training, obviously, but how do you play a role in, in kind of the ongoing education of officers across the country?

Ray Merlin: I said, Joe, I saw you do this, so if you wanna go first, 

Joe Willis: I was you, you either one of us can answer that question. I, which, which one you'll like [00:13:00] more. So I say we both, one of the things that I'm, I'm doing, you know, from. Internally, one of the projects that we're working on is, uh, trying to get after some webinars.

And so we've got this five-part series going on, tactical nervous system training, uh, with Dr. Malise Balvin and, uh, PhD candidate Patrick Scott Welsh. They just, it's amazing what they've come up with. Well, we've also got legal reviews doing the same thing with that audience, so we're really getting after trying to plug in some of those ongoing.

Learning throughout the year. Uh, but without a doubt, the conference kind of becomes that hub of good information, uh, transfer and, and community building. So, uh, over to you, Ray. 'cause I, I was kind of curious what your answer was. 

Ray Merlin: Oh, my answer really, almost kinda. I mean, you have, again, this is why I'm, why I'm glad Joe's here the team effort because he can articulate way better than I can.

But when you ask, okay. You know, as far as the trainer wise, you're gonna come there. Your know people are gonna see what you are doing and they're gonna give you really honest feedback on that. [00:14:00] Now everybody coming to the conference and whether it's expo or if they're using the product in class, is going be, like I said, that good feedback, but then also gonna have, well, how do you use it?

And sharing each other's on how we're doing it. And we're talking when the trainers, the boots on the ground, all the way to up to now chiefs who trainers are coming here and they're gonna say, okay, how do we do this? And it is that interaction with each other and then seeing what's working best everywhere.

And what you are really gonna find out though too, is not just at the conference itself, but as you wait, we get questions all the time of, hey, hey, you know, does somebody have this going on? You know, we, we network with the people and put 'em in touch with the right people, but you're gonna see, you're gonna get that honest feedback.

If they have something that, that thinks that not working for the training world, they're gonna let you know about it too. So that's how we, we really just help network that. And what is, what's nice about it is our members, you know, Joe and I, you know, we're experts in some things. But we're knowledgeable in a lot of things.

So when people come to ilead and say, Hey, we're looking for this, we're gonna get in the best direction. Say, hey, you wanna talk to this person here? And I think [00:15:00] that's one of the best benefits are out there, is that whole thing. 

Joe Willis: And Susan, you also mentioned, you know, they, they go to other places to get their, their resources.

One of my favorite parts of being, uh, a leader at Aleida. Is the relationship we have with those other associations, the ILFE, the International Association of of Law Enforcement Firearms instructors, or uh, the tactical officer associations. The experts exist in the field. ILEETA becomes the hub for better training and really tries to elevate that.

And it's so cool to watch them come together. The, the folks from the TOAs getting together with the forensics people and it's, you know, just different versions of nerdiness and it, I, I love watching, 

Ray Merlin: and again, you hit on it because what we have found is doing this where it's not specific to a philosophy is how many of these instructors cross over.

You know, that tactical officer is also a firearms instructor, a communication instructor. The forensics the same thing. 'cause most of the time [00:16:00] they've started at a department, at a level. Um, the field training officers is huge because almost every trainer, that's probably the first thing they did is they were FTO.

So I mean, that, that's, so that whole thing about that, that knowledge and just the perspectives is great. 

Angeline Evans: I'm really amped up that d’Vinci's attending this year. I'm super excited.

Susan Cort: I know, I'm excited. So I'll be attending the conference this year with our colleague Jennifer Kerwin. So we're looking forward to learning more about this.

And Angeline, like you mentioned, hopefully you get a chance to attend in future years, but you know, it's, it's just interesting, like the education just doesn't happen at this conference. It sounds like it's, it's year-round, like kind of what's the, the year round role of ILEETA would you say? In, the life of a law enforcement person?

Ray Merlin: Or just in general we're working on, I mean, we got a lot of stuff we're working on for, 

Susan Cort: yeah, I guess this is related to education and training. 

Ray Merlin: Well, a lot. I mean, again, Joe, you add in here, but we're working on a lot of, um, a lot of little projects, like Joe said, with, from the training aspect of training needs, but then also working with [00:17:00] different places of, if they're looking for some, you know, instructor development templates, you name it, just all the things.

Then, as you've like said with the shorts. Those little tidbits, like you said, that officers can kind of watch real quick when they're on the road. So as far as, yeah, we have a lot of little projects and the same things that engagement, but then that source of information, the learning lab. Somebody's also looking for some go back there or that article from the journal, having all these resources available to officers year round, because like I said, you don't remember everything but man, I remember this from the, whether it's conference or journal before, so we all go back.

Joe, what do you want to add to that? 

Joe Willis: No, you hit the nail on the head. I mean it, it is all of those little things that we enjoy doing so much that honestly throughout the year we kind of. Almost forget that we're doing, but the, I lead a live show, the journal, the webinars, those sorts of things that, uh, we're, we're really grateful to be able to provide, 

Ray Merlin: I think.

And one of the really, the things, and we never forget. We're getting, we know where our legacy's from, Ed Nowicki, Harvey, you name it. But as you [00:18:00] know, as we move forward though, the hub is the association, Hey, what about this? How about trying this? And the big thing, if we can do it, we're gonna, and we, if it's good for association, we're gonna do it in the training world.

Because like I said, we always say, if we don't try it, we don't know. So we're always working on those initiatives. PE people bring 'em forward and we get the associate involved. Good idea. Now help us do it. How do we make it happen is really huge. 

Angeline Evans: So that goes on to what I was gonna ask you is how do you decide your initiatives for the year?

Or do you survey your community, or what sort of metrics do you gather? 

Joe Willis: Yeah, a little bit of all the above. So, um, a big part of it is our membership providing feedback post-conference as to how the, it's evolving, right? But we also have panels for, for instance, where this dialogue occurs organically. And as that happens, we're taking notes, our advisory board's, taking notes, you know, our team's taking notes and we all kind of, uh, provide input on that.

The other thing is the industry will tell us through both [00:19:00] good and bad. News reports research done by organizations like Caliber Press and Police One and, and that sort of thing that we draw on for what folks are looking for plus our own internal, uh, needs assessment work that we do. So it's an ongoing continuous evolution.

And I think the, the cool thing about working in the law enforcement training space is this field is evolving. It's just such an incredible rate trying to keep up with it. And, you know, one minute we're having a conversation with, um, you know, real time intel and crime center folks and what they're dealing with.

But then on the other end of it, it is, you know, what's actually happening on the street as far as how are. Breach is being barricaded better, like what's evolving in that space or real time intel from the criminal side of how are they using electronics to better surveil us and our efforts. I mean, there's so much evolving that just being able to plug into those and try to pull 'em together is what we do and it's a continuous thing.

Yeah. 

Ray Merlin: And Joe, I think the other thing you talked about earlier too is we working with the other [00:20:00] associations. You know, we, you know, we meet with these guys, Hey, what's going on here? And like I said, for us it's never a competition. It's how do we better practice with each other? How do we, how do we each other?

So that's where we get some of this and that's how we, you know, work forward on doing it. 

Susan Cort: Yeah. You're a community beyond your community at ILEETA for sure. Right. So how long have you been doing this conference and, and what's new this year? 

Ray Merlin: Conference itself? What are we going on Our 23rd year. This 

Joe Willis: would be the 24th.

Yeah, 24th year. 23rd year. This year. 

Ray Merlin: 23rd. 

Joe Willis: And then, yeah, ‘28 is our 25th anniversary. 

Ray Merlin: Yes. So as far as, um, as far as what's new, I could, you're just gonna have to find out when you get there, 

Susan Cort: It’ll all be new to me. 

Ray Merlin: That is one of the big questions we've got when we took over, you know, a couple years ago now, the first conference was, Hey, what's gonna change?

What's gonna change? And we never look at it as changing. It's, what's it, what are we evolving? Okay. The whole thing, this, our foundation is there, and this is, okay, this is, we're gonna evolve into this a little more. Like you said, [00:21:00] the conversations we're having, alright, now we're gonna evolve over here. So those like things there is, you know, and again, we don't, we're not gonna try to just change because like the, like I said, the, the expo.

Great there. The, the communicate, see what's out there, what we can use, and what's really good about our community is as you get to know some of the instructors, you know, the whole thing, then hopefully then maybe your product will, they'll use them next year in their class. You know, we always say, don't, can't be an infomercial, but this is how we improve training in the future and how it can evolve.

So, so yeah, I don't wanna say anything new. We have new like events going on, a little bit like that, but we're always evolving to meet the needs and what the associate wants. 

Joe Willis: Yeah, that's a great point, Ray. As far as like the evening events, right? So Susan, you mentioned early on about the, uh, community and, and that sort of thing and, and, and, you know, trying to build that.

But we focused mostly on education. So what we did was, I, I say we, this really, I was involved in this part. This was mostly, uh, Ray and, and, and Jill and, and our sponsors, but kind of turned the dial on how do we [00:22:00] do those evening events to be a little bit more inclusive of different, you know, styles, you know, some folks like this type of environment.

Others like that. And so how do we do that? On the training and education side, it was largely about how do we, um, get the right amount of people in each classroom. And so, uh, you know, for instance, we evolved our, our defensive tactics, uh, this year where last year we only did an open mat. Well, we turned that open mat into a panel discussion as well.

I mean, there's tons of defensive tactics classes going on. But what we did with that open mat, just little dial turns like that. And I think that's really, you know, what we keep going back to is small rudder steers and, um, you know, if it's good for the members and we can afford to do it, that's an old Ed Nowicki, uh, mantra there.

That's what we're gonna do and we keep looking for what's good for the members. 

Ray Merlin: Then going back to the event that was started by, you know, Brian Willis, we brought, brought back, um, Emerson Hour, you know, that, you know, what have I learned since we, I mean, I'm sorry, what have we learned since we last met that?

Joe Willis: Right. Yeah. What's [00:23:00] become clearer since we last met? 

Ray Merlin: So, yep. So that's how, Susan, if you're there, hopefully you can make that for the Monday night because it's one of those empowering type things. And Joe, I'm gonna let you explain it a little better because hey, he does a much better job and he was in charge of it after Brian.

So go ahead, Joe. 

Joe Willis: I mean, so the, the short version is Emerson Hour was started in 2013 by Brian Willis in response to a need to elevate the experience of ILEETA. And so he wanted to set up something similar to a Ted Talk style event that was specifically law enforcement related, and he used Ralph Waldo Emerson's question as that backdrop. What's become clearer to you since we last met the rules? Of the event have not changed one bit since I took it over in 2019, and Todd Fletcher took it over for me in 2024, I think it was. Either way, uh, it, I miss it, but I'm, I'm glad Todd's running it now, but the rules all remain the same, which is six speakers get nine minutes to answer that question.

No one knows who the speakers are, not even the other speakers. And so Todd is, uh, the master [00:24:00] ceremonies and he will say, you know, our next speaker is, and that person will, uh, present themselves and answer that question. And I'll tell you, Susan, I, I seriously hope you can make it to that event because you will laugh, you'll cry, you'll be frustrated.

It is a true emotional experience and it's absolutely amazing to watch them do it and super thankful. Uh, you know, I hope you don't mind that we, we throw out the thanks to Warrior's Heart for making that possible. I mean, it's a great event. 

Susan Cort: No, no. In fact, it's on our schedule. We're gonna have dinner early that night so that we can be at the Emerson Hour.

It sounds wonderful, and I thought what a great way to get immersed right into the event than to attend that. So thanks for the explanation. 

Angeline Evans: Do you record it? 

Joe Willis: It's recorded because I would love to see 

Angeline Evans: it since I won't be there. Yeah. 

Joe Willis: Well, we'll send you the previous ones. Oh, please do. Yeah. They're all available on our website.

Yeah. And, uh, through our, our YouTube. Uh, but yes, this year's will be recorded just the same. And uh, and that's one of the other things Todd did. I love, you know, the, this, this sold thing about, you know, uh, the leaders, you know, only so good. And then [00:25:00] when they leave, somebody else takes over. I thought that, you know, I was doing well with that program.

What Todd's done to just once again turn the dials, those little evolutions. And so the video quality has significantly increased since he took over just the production value of it. So really, really excited about what he's doing there. 

Ray Merlin: Joe, I just wanna throw out the, with Warriors Heart, with them being the sponsor of it, can't say enough, but even though you, you ask what, you know, why ILEETA and, you know, same thing.

Warrior's been, hard's been a sponsor for us, but you know, even last year they made a few connections there and helped save a few people. And I think that was a lot about why it's important of, it's not just about the expo, it's about the people. And those people reached out to 'em. So, and, and I can't say we're blessed enough that that connection was made there, because that's what they do.

And if we had members out there that really needed that support, they got it. And there's a lot of them out there first help, uh, um, I, I just can't, there's a lot of 'em out there. I we're glad. They're able to get the information they need. 

Angeline Evans: That's wonderful. Well, it sounds like you're raising the bar every year at this conference, and so we look [00:26:00] to attend each one.

All right. Next, I just wanna ask one conceptual question. I'm just looking for your opinion and your perspective in the industry. So where do you see the biggest opportunity to raise the bar when it comes to law enforcement training? Your growth opportunity? 

Ray Merlin: I don't, I, I, I know you think that you use raise the rar, but I dunno if it's like so much raise the bar compared to just keep, you know.

Susan Cort: Being relevant. 

Ray Merlin: Being relevant, thank you. Yeah. The whole thing that's fair because you know, we're not never trying to one up, but again, we gotta learn. Mm-hmm. You know, there's some times that okay, this is working, but you know what if because just because it was done 20 years ago, five years ago, and it's like, oh man, now we have it.

So it's not reason part, it's evolving for us. So in what area? I admit all of them. If we're not every day, every time we train. Same. Trying to improve what we did or get our, the feedback on it. Mm-hmm. Then we're not justice in the training world. That's why I guess I wanna leave that, that's not raising the bar, but evolving and just keeping going and keeping, keeping it professional.

Joe? [00:27:00] 

Joe Willis: I like that, that continuous evolution, because here's what I think, but Ray, you, you'd probably agree with me, you've come to learn the same thing, is that there are pockets of excellence all over the world and trainers doing what trainers do, raising the bar in their space. I lead exists to be the evolution space for them because.

While they think they are doing everything they can, then they come to ILEETA and they meet someone who's dealt with the same thing, or they could you find that synergy and then things start to click. And so while, yes, uh, everything Ray said, and I'm not gonna repeat any of it, what I will say, what I'm really enjoying, and I, I think Ray, you've probably seen the same thing, is.

Connecting the dots on what is next, where do we go and how do we get there? Because that's where keeping your finger on the pulse of what all of these other associations are doing really well to, uh, raise education levels. The, you know, the work being done by Ohio, Ohio State University on first responder head injuries.

Great example [00:28:00] of that. We didn't do that. Our job is to bring that into ILEETA and have that conversation. And so where do I see us going conceptually in the future? A lot more that connecting the dots and finding where those lulls, the, the weak spots, the low spots in connectivity are, and making that happen, 

Susan Cort: And always being agile, I would think, because things are changing all the time.

Ray Merlin: Well, yeah. You know what, and we didn't really hit on that, but that is one thing when you get to ILEETA, what you'll be. I hope you're impressed with is just so great, is they always say, Hey, leave the egos at the door. We have what, Joe 120, some different, you know, classes, how many instructors we got coming, and one day that person will be teaching.

The next day they'll be sitting in the class next to you watching somebody else teach. And the whole thing that giving that feedback, learning from you, and we're talking from ones that are just, Hey, brand new to the training world. 'cause we wanna mentor, we're what a better place to learn. But other people who teach it for 20 years.

So no egos at the door. It's not about me, it's about us, the tribe. And that's where you'll, [00:29:00] this is so exciting when you get there and you'll see, 

Susan Cort: Well, if the other instructors are half as passionate and thoughtful as the two of you, I'm sure it's gonna be a really powerful conference. 

Joe Willis: Well, they give us a run for our money.

That's the other thing. So ILEETA, one of my favorite parts of it's, we, we say it's a battery charging event, but at the same time it's, it's this really cool experience. Many of us look forward to it. We've referred to it many years as this place we go to recharge our batteries and, you know, kind of find our, our tribe again.

By Thursday we are exhausted because the, I mean, it's this battery charging thing, but at the same time, keeping up with all of the conversations and everybody's there to raise everyone else, it's, it is definitely a community in that way, and so by the end of it, it is a little exhausting trying to keep up with the conversations and that sort of thing, especially for an introvert like myself.

Susan Cort: Yeah, right. It probably means that you've done a good job if you're both wiped out the day after it's over. 

Joe Willis: Right, right. 

Ray Merlin: Well, and this isn't, we're the [00:30:00] same thing. It's just the, the association, and especially conference driven by volunteers. We could not do what. Right. And there our, you know, our vendors, our, our supporters make mm-hmm.

Everything. And we get it, Hey, how can we help? How can we help? So if you're there on Sunday from getting the swag set up. Yeah. I mean, we got everybody there that just comes in and helps along with recruits from St. Louis. But it is, it's just that whole community that they Thank you very much, was a pleasure.

And think that bringing new people, yeah, I got this new person coming and that's what it's, you know, that. And then Susan, I think I told you when we talked that first time, you're gonna come, come here and you're gonna say, yeah, I wanna be back next year. You know that, that whole thing, we wanna be part of the journal.

Um, and that is one of the big things for us also, is when people ask, why ILEETA? Why come to ILEETA or your boss? Why should I go to ILEETA? And again, a lot of great conferences out there, but we, we'll say, this is a. About trainers. We are trainers, okay. And then, you know, for the trainers, but it's not, and again, it's one of those things you're going to classes, you're going and learning, you know, we'll have the events just because of the connections and being able to share [00:31:00] of what you learned today and all the different things there.

But it is about that. It's not, again, I'm not knocking, right? No golf tournaments. Okay, we got people there and go to class. Mm-hmm. And we're very proud this year too, of working on a lot of post certifications for officers and we're gonna evolve that in the future also so you can get those credits in the states that that need it.

So again, that's why I can't say what a boss say, why? Why there? Because this is what I can bring back to our trainers here and share. 

Susan Cort: Yeah. We are so excited to be a sponsor and a vendor at the conference and get to know you two and the rest of the community that much better. 

Angeline Evans: Thank you both so much for joining.

This has been such a wonderful conversation and I'm so glad I had a chance to learn more about ILEETA. 

Ray Merlin: Well, yeah. Well, thank you for having us. I can't wait to have the conversation after the conference, because then you're gonna say, yeah, 

Susan Cort: We won’t bother you on Thursday. We'll give you a couple of days after.

Angeline Evans: Right.

Susan Cort: Thank you both. 

Joe Willis: Well, I wanna add this though, as, as you we get ready to close out here, one of the things I, I definitely want to express is sincere [00:32:00] gratitude, uh, to d’Vinci and. Just being part of our, our community. Now as far as the sponsorship that you've given, the corporate sponsorship being a vendor at our show, being part of the conversation.

So as we look towards the future and what we see conceptually, going back to that question is there's a relationship that exists between the industry experts and the trainers that I think ILEETA has really enjoyed being the, the buckle of for a while. And I want you to experience that at our conference.

But equally to anyone who sees this. Who's going to attend the conference? Get involved in the conversations with Susan at d’Vinci and, and the other vendors who are in the expo hall or other corporate sponsors because not only do they make this possible, and again, thank you d’Vinci, for being a part of that, but they're the, the connection to the tech that supports our end of the industry.

So get involved in the conversation and thank you for being there to be a part of it. 

Susan Cort: My thanks to d’Vinci's Angeline Evans, and our [00:33:00] guests, Ray Merlin and Joe Willis from ILEETA. If you have a suggestion for a topic or you'd like to be a guest, please reach out to us at Powered by Learning at dvinci.com.

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