Cory Schmidt

Chief

Fire Station #1, 409 East Fonner Park Road
Grand Island, NE 68801
308-385-5301

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Cory was born and raised in St. Paul, NE.  Shortly after graduating from St. Paul High school, Cory enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served four years as a fire protection specialist.  In the USAF, Cory gained the foundation needed to continue his career in the fire service.
After his discharge from the military, Cory returned home and was hired by the Grand Island Fire Department in 1996.  Cory progressed through the ranks and was promoted to Fire Chief in 2012.  Cory is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's (NFA)  Executive Fire Officer Program, winner of  NFA's outstanding research award , and completed the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program. Cory has earned an Associate degree in Fire Protection Technology, Bachelor degree in Business Administration/Management, and a Master of Business Administration.  
Cory and his wife Wendy enjoy spending time with family and being outdoors.      
Chief Schmidt's favorite quote is  "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Rose Rhoads

Administrative Assistant to the Chief

Fire Station #1, 409 East Fonner Park Road
Grand Island, NE 68801

308-385-5300

Rose Rhoads grew up in the Sargent/Taylor area.  Rose moved to Grand Island and attended CCC.  In 2010 Rose graduated from Doane college with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management.  Rose has previously worked for Menards and Pella Windows & Doors.

In 2008 Rose became the Planning Secretary for the City of Grand Island.  Her responsibilities have been payroll, Planning Meetings, CRA meetings, processing LOMA requests, customer service and assisting the Building Department. 

Rose and her husband, Jayson, who is a Project Estimator for Chief, live in Grand Island.  Together, they have four children (Jake, Jadeyn, Jordyn and Lexie).  In their spare time they like to spend time at their kids activities, enjoying evenings on their deck, DIY (Do It Yourself) projects and spending quality time with family and friends.

Russ Blackburn

Emergency Medical Services Division Chief
           
409 E. Fonner Park Rd.
Grand Island, NE  68801
P.O. Box 1968
Grand Island, NE  68802-1968
Phone: (308) 385-5302      
 
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Russ Blackburn is the Division Chief in charge of the Emergency Medical Services of the Grand Island Fire Department.

Russ began his fire service career with the Hastings Fire Department where he worked 6 years as a Firefighter/ EMT-A.  Russ joined the GIFD in 1998 as a Firefighter/Paramedic.  Russ was promoted to Captain and shortly after to the EMS Division Chief. 

Education includes a Bachelors of Science Degree in Management from Bellevue University, and Associates of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Southeast Community College. Paramedic training was received at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He is also a Hazardous Materials Technician with over 200 hours of training in the specialty.

Besides 17 years “street level” experience in the field of EMS, Russ also in an instructor for Emergency Medical Technician, ACLS and CPR and has taught classes for the EMS Division of Nebraska Health and Human Services, Central Community College, and Saint Francis Medical Center.

Russ was born in Scottsbluff, NE and moved, with his family to Omaha then settled in Hastings. He signed up as a volunteer firefighter with the Hastings Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed the vocation so much that he tested and became a professional Firefighter the next year. He is married to Kerri, and has two sons, Connor and Aidan. His sister, Chris Blackburn, PhD. is living in Washington D.C.; working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. His father lives in Hastings and they enjoy playing golf together whenever they get the chance.

Fred Hotz

Fire Prevention Division Chief

100 East First Street
Grand Island, NE 68801
P.O. Box 1968
Grand Island, NE 68802-1968
308-385-5444 ext. 228 (Fire Administration)

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Fred Hotz, Chief of the Fire Prevention Division, joined the Grand Island Fire Department in February of 1985 and was appointed Division Chief in 2002.

Fred is a long term resident of Grand Island, having moved from Kansas in 1960, he attended public Grade School (Dodge), Junior High (Barr), and Senior High School. He entered the armed forces while still in High School on a delayed entry “buddy” program and began his service in the U.S. Army 75th Ranger Battalion soon after his graduation in 1975. Following his discharge, he attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and subsequently the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Since his employment with the Grand Island Fire Department, he has received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology at Southeast Community College.

Fred’s favorite pass time is reading and discussing what he considers to be the greatest of the sciences, systematic theology, with special interest in doctrines of salvation, predictive prophecy and the theory and methodology of interpretation (which is actually very helpful in interpreting fire codes). He loves computer technology and can be found tinkering with “only mostly dead” computers. Home improvement projects have occupied much of his spare time 33 years in his current “money pit”. With three children now adults, Fred and his wife, Pat, enjoy their trips to Loma De Luz Hospital in Honduras and Williams Fork Reservoir, Colorado to spoil their grandkids. 

Vacant
409 E. Fonner Park Rd.
Grand Island, NE 68801
P.O. Box 1968
Grand Island, NE 68802-1968
Phone: (308) 385-5311
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