User:Gkaminskis/Garret kaminskis

Garret J. Kaminskis, NASS CEO and lead instructor, has dedicated his career to ensuring the safety of others. In 1980 he started his career as a firefighter and emergency medical technician, for the then Town of Mt Pleasant Fire Department, a combination department located in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Since 1986 he has been a Wisconsin State Certified Fire Service Instructor. During his ascent in rank, Garret worked for three separate Wisconsin Technical Colleges teaching State of Wisconsin Firefighter Certification Programs and EPA 165 Series 40-hour Hazmat Technician Courses. During this period he was successful in bringing the State of Arizona ~ City of Phoenix Fire Department "Confined Space Rescue Technician" train-the-trainer program to Wisconsin through a cooperative effort with Lakeshore Technical College.

In 1994 he purchased Ropes and Rescue, Inc which he worked with a partner to build into the Midwest's largest and most respected technical rescue equipment and training company. During this year he began working for S.C. Johnson's Safety & Environmental Affairs as a safety consultant delivering OSHA & EPA on-site compliance classes.

In 1996 Garret was appointed as the volunteer Fire Chief for the Raymond Fire & Rescue Department where he served for two years.

In 1998 Garret was hired by CMC Rescue School in Santa Barbara, California as an instructor.

In 2000 Garret was appointed to the board of directors for the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians where he assisted in writing "Safe Practices for Rope Access Work" March 24, 2001 edition and assisted in the developing their certification process for rope access workers.

In 2002 he founded North American Safety Systems, LLC to address the needs of OSHA general industry and the MSHA mining community.

In 2003 Garret was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief for the Village of Mt Pleasant Fire Department, one of the fastest growing communities in the Chicago/Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Between 2004 and 2007 Garret sold his interest in Ropes and Rescue, Inc to focus on NASS and spend more time with his family.

On November 24, 2007, North American Safety Systems purchased Ropes and Rescue School back from his former partner. Garret reorganized both companies into one highly focused occupational health and safety service provider.

2008 was a year of organizational growth and personal change. The Village's of Mt Pleasant and Sturtevant, Wisconsin began a process of consolidating their emergency services over a three year period. It culminated on January 1st, 2009 into the South Shore Consolidated Fire and Rescue Department. Garret, as part of the restructuring was given the rank of Battalion Chief in charge of the B-shift Platoon, Environmental, Health & Safety Committee, Specialized Rescue Teams and Fleet Maintenance and Equipment. This new organization revolutionizes emergency services in southeast Wisconsin. Talks are now underway with other surrounding communities to expand this department over a larger geographic area making it the model for the future...Much more to come!

2009 In April of this year Garret joined the Kenosha County Specialized Response Team.

Beginning May 1, 2009 NASS RESCUE is launched bringing PMI's Vertical Rescue Solutions/Pro-Trainer program to the forefront while adding PMI rope and equipment to the long list of services North American Safety Systems now offers. We are very excited to be part of the PMI Rope and Equipment family!

On July 26, 2009 North American Safety Systems became an authorized dealer for CMC Rescue rope and equipment in Santa Barbara, CA. This reunion with CMC Rescue is five years in the making and we are proud to be part of their team again.