By Heather Graves
Editor
GREEN BAY – After completing a ten-week training academy, 13 new recruits have joined the ranks of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
“They are already trained and certified as firefighters when they come in,” Ryan Hintz, president of local 141 Green Bay Area Professional Firefighters, said. “They are taught how we fight fire and run EMS calls in Green Bay during that time. Training is fire and EMS related, and covers everything from house fires, to high rise fires, water rescue, tech rescue, Hazmat, public education, fire inspections, etc. From the EMS side, they learn what’s on our rigs, how we work as a team and our county protocols. EMS is 80% of our calls.”
Hintz said new recruits will rotate among shifts and stations to start out.
“They stay out for a month or more to have the same crew running calls, critiquing and assisting in finalizing the skills,” he said.
The baker’s dozen group of recruits come from a variety of different backgrounds, all ready to protect the citizens of Greater Green Bay.
The Green Bay Metro Fire Department class of 2022 includes:
Mike Griffey
Firefighter Mike Griffey, a Greenleaf native, obtained his associate’s degree from Fox Valley Technical College.
Before coming to Green Bay, he worked as a part-time firefighter for the Grand Chute Fire Department and as a volunteer firefighter for the Wayside Fire Department.
In his free time, Griffey said he enjoys fishing, hunting and yard work.
Ben Lelinski
Firefighter/paramedic Ben Lelinski was first introduced to fire/EMS through the nursing program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
From there, he enrolled at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, where he graduated with a fire medic degree.
Prior to applying with Green Bay, Lelinski worked for the Mount Calvary Ambulance Service, was a volunteer firefighter for the Suamico Fire Department and a full-time firefighter for the Manitowoc Fire Department.
Outside of work, he said he enjoys hunting, kayaking and woodworking.
Josh Hladish
Firefighter Josh Hladish, who grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, worked as a parts and warranty manager for Shipyard Marine before pursuing a career in firefighting.
He attended fire school at Fox Valley Technical College and obtained his associate’s degree in science from Viterbo University.
Before joining the department, Hladish worked as a paid on-call firefighter for the Ledgeview Fire Department.
When he’s not working, he said he enjoys water sports, playing hockey, woodworking and spending time with his wife, 2-year-old son and newborn daughter.
Callahan McCreary
Firefighter Callahan McCreary comes to Green Bay from West Bend.
He attended school at Madison Area Technical College and completed a fire internship, and later worked as a part-time firefighter for the City of Fitchburg Fire Department.
McCreary said he enjoys hunting and fishing, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, began fire helmet refurbishing.
He said he has worked on helmets from all over the country.
Lisa Hart
Firefighter Lisa Hart, originally from Oshkosh, attended both the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College.
While in school, Hart worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Algoma Fire Department.
After graduation, she worked as a firefighter for the City of Knoxville Fire Department in Knoxville, Tennessee for two years.
From there, Hart worked at the Jeffersontown Fire Department in Jeffersontown, Kentucky for five years before making her way to Green Bay.
In her free time, she said she enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and hanging out with her family and her cat, Ebenezer.
Ryan Majeski
Firefighter Ryan Majeski was born and raised in Suamico.
He attended school at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College.
Before joining the Green Bay squad, Majeski worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Suamico Fire Department.
In his spare time, he said he enjoys scuba diving and paintball.
Nathan Zellner
Firefighter/paramedic Nathan Zellner is from New Franken and is a graduate of Luxemburg-Casco High School.
He attended both Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College.
After graduation, Zellner worked as a firefighter/paramedic for two-and-a-half years for Fond du Lac Fire Rescue.
He then worked for three-and-a-half years in the same role for the Wausau Fire Department.
Outside of work, Zellner said he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and physical fitness.
Chris Battaglia
Firefighter and Green Bay native Chris Battaglia attended school at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Before pursuing a career in firefighting, Battaglia worked in advertising and accounting for several media agencies throughout the area.
He worked as a part-time firefighter for the Mosinee Fire Department and the Bellevue Fire Department.
In his free time, Battaglia said he enjoys hanging out with family and friends, swimming, cycling and basketball.
Mitch Fromm
Firefighter Mitch Fromm got his start in fire service in 2009 with the Whiting Fire Department.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree in health promotion from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and later his master’s degree in athletic training.
While in school, Fromm joined the U.S. Army as a combat engineer with the 428th MAC and was re-classed as combat medic with the 2-217 in 2020.
When he isn’t working, he gives his time traveling to assist with disaster relief programs, which have included Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina.
In his free time, Fromm said he enjoys spending time with his family, including his 3-year-old daughter.
Tim Vande Voort
Firefighter Tim Vande Voort, a Greenleaf native, attended Fox Valley Technical College and is currently completing his paramedic degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
For the past three years, Vande Voort served as a volunteer firefighter for the Greenleaf Fire Department.
In his spare time, he said he enjoys spending time outdoors, riding his motorcycle and ATV, boating and snowboarding.
Jose Arce
Firefighter/paramedic Jose Arce was born in Mexico, however, Green Bay has been his home since he was 12 years old.
A graduate of Green Bay East High School, Arce obtained his fire medic degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
He has worked as a part-time firefighter for the Bellevue Fire Department, a paramedic for Door County Emergency Services and as a firefighter/paramedic for the Oshkosh Fire Department.
Arce said, when not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, their 7-year-old daughter, two dogs, 12 chickens and two bunnies.
He said he enjoys taking his daughter to swimming lessons and traveling across the country with his wife – with a goal of visiting every national park in the country.
Max White
Firefighter/paramedic Max White attended school at Fox Valley Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
White has worked as a firefighter with the Howard Fire Department, Oshkosh Fire Department and De Pere Fire and Rescue.
In his free time, he said he enjoys spending time with his family – wife, two daughters and two dogs – playing hockey, golfing and going to swim/dance lessons with his daughters.
Jeff Pansier
Firefighter Jeff Pansier got his start in public safety as a paid on-call firefighter for the Town of Ledgeview, where he served for 12 years.
Pansier has also worked as a firefighter for the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, a correctional officer for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, a police officer for the Green Bay Police Department and for the last seven years as a public safety officer for Ashwaubenon Public Safety.
He attended school at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College.
When he isn’t working, Pansier said he enjoys watching/practicing sports with his kids – four boys aged 7, 6, 4 and 2 – camping, being up north, boating and just being around his family.
Next class
Hintz said as the department puts its newest recruits to work in the community, it looks to the future.
The department posted on Facebook recently that it is currently establishing an eligibility list through the Fox Valley Regional Hiring Process, with the application process closing June 3.
More information can be found on the Green Bay Metro Fire Department’s Facebook page.