Meet the Day Staff
Administration
Fire Chief Robert Goplin
Fire Chief Rob Goplin oversees and manages the Green Bay Fire Department. Chief Goplin joined the department on September 15, 1997. After serving as the Division Chief of Fire Training, Mr. Goplin was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in April of 2008 and Fire Chief in 2012. Chief Goplin has an Associates Degree in fire protection, a Bachelors Degree in Fire and Emergency Response Management.
Click here to email Chief Goplin
Assistant Fire Chief Michael Nieft
Click here to email Assistant Chief Michael Nieft
Battalion Chief Thomas Atkinson
Battalion Chief Atkinson started work at Green Bay Fire on Feb. 13, 1978. He has always been known as “Tiger”. Starting out as a firefighter private, he held many jobs. The highlight of his career was being a paramedic. He also worked many Packers Games to give interest to his career. Through his years of service on the Dept., he worked his way up to Battalion Chief. Tiger has been on C shift his entire time with GBFD. Now, he is responsible for the East Side of Green Bay on C shift. Tiger’s personal recreation and interest lies in boating, making him a good match for being responsible for the Fire Department boat.
Click here to email Battalion Chief Atkinson
Battalion Chief Mark Plate
Battalion Chief Mark Plate is a 28 year veteran of the Green Bay Fire Department. He started his career in The Village of Allouez in 1980 and moved to Green Bay in 1982. He worked his way up through the ranks reaching his present rank in May 2006. He received his Associates Degree from Fox Valley Technical College in 1980. Mark then received his Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science from The University of Cincinnati.
Click here to email Battalion Chief Plate
Battalion Chief Ed Jarosz
Battalion Chief Ed Jarosz started his career started in September of 1985, shortly after receiving his Associate Degree in Fire Science from Fox Valley Technical College. He spent his first 4 years as a career firefighter with the City of Fond du Lac Fire Department, where he received his paramedic license. In July of 1989 he joined the Green Bay Fire Department. Ed has attended several Fire and EMS classes through his years at Green Bay including HazMat and Tech Rescue training. Ed is currently a member of Wisconsin’s Task Force Three Tech Rescue Team. Ed has progressed through the ranks on the GBFD to the point of his current rank of Battalion Chief. Ed is the Battalion Chief on the East side of Green Bay.
Click here to email Battalion Chief Jarosz
Battalion Chief Paul Arvey
Paul Arvey is presently a Battalion Chief on the Green Bay Fire Department. He is a 27 year veteran of the department, working his way up through the ranks reaching his current position in July of 2005. Paul received his Fire Science degree through the University of Cincinnati.
Click here to email Battalion Chief Arvey
Battalion Chief Dan Truckey
Battalion Chief Dan Truckey was hired on May 13, 1985. He is a 3rd generation Firefighter along with his brothers Bob and Dave. Shortly after his hire, Dan became a Haz Mat Specialist and has worked with Specialty Teams ever since. He is a Fire Instructor and currently manages our Technical Rescue Team. The Green Bay Team is a member of Fox Valley Task Force 3 for the Wisconsin Urban Search and Rescue Program. Dan is presently a Battalion Chief on Green Bay’s “West Side”.
Click here to email Battalion Chief Truckey
Battalion Chief Robert Wiegert
Battalion Chief Robert Wiegert started his career in the fire service in 1984. He started on the Stevens Point fire department after receiving his Associate's degree in Fire Science. In 1989 he became a firefighter for the City of Green Bay. Robert has been a Paramedic for over 20 years as well. His current specialty area is rigs and equipment and the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. Chief Wiegert currently is a Battalion Chief on the "West Side".
Click here to email Battalion Chief Wiegert
Fire Division
Fire Administration Division Chief Ann Watzka
Click here to email Division Chief Ann Watzka
Training Captain Anthony Piontek
Captain Tony Piontek started his career in 1991 with the City of De Pere as a paid-on- call firefighter until he graduated from Fox Valley Technical College in 1993 with an Associate Degree in Fire Science. He was hired as a career firefighter in Pueblo, Colorado in 1994, and started his career with the Green Bay Fire Department in 1995 where he currently serves as Captain of the Fire Training Division. He is responsible for the development, delivery and management of all fire-training programs for the Green Bay Fire Department.
Click here to email Captain Piontek
Fire Marshals Office Captain Chris Heil
Captain Chris Heil is an 18 year veteran firefighter. Starting his career with the De Pere Fire Department in 1990, he was hired for Green Bay in June 1993. In July of 2007, Heil was promoted to Captain of the Fire Marshals office. Captain Heil oversees the fire inspection process, code enforcement, fire investigations, public education, plan reviews, petitions for code variance, and various administrative duties. Captain Heil supervises three lieutenants. Two code enforcement and fire investigation officers and one public education / public information officer. Captain Heil reports to the Administrative Division Chief and the Fire Chief.
Click here to email Captain Heil
Lieutenant Joe Gabe
Lieutenant Joe Gabe entered the fire service in 1998 as a public safety officer in Escanaba, MI. Joe joined the Green Bay Fire Department in April 2001, as a fire fighter. Mr. Gabe was promoted to Lieutenant in the Fire Marshals Office in 2006. Lt. Gabe’s responsibilities include fire Inspections, fire code enforcement, fire investigation, and fire prevention/life safety issues. Joe obtained a Bachelors Degree in Science (Secondary Education) from Northern Michigan University in 1992. Lt. Gabe is also a fire investigator with the Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force and the current Area #7 Chair of the Wisconsin Fire Inspectors Association.
Click here to email Lieutenant Gabe
Lieutenant Rob Gering
Lieutenant Rob Gering entered the fire service in 1991 as a paid on call firefighter for the Village of Allouez. He obtained his Emergency Medical Technician license while with Allouez. In 1994, Mr. Gering graduated from Fox Valley Tech with an associate degree in Fire Science. He was hired by the Green Bay Fire Department in April 1995 as a firefighter. Rob was promoted to Lieutenant in the Fire Marshals office in June, 2007. His duties include fire inspection with code enforcement, fire investigation, and fire prevention /life safety issues.
Click here to email Lieutenant Gering
Lieutenant Nick Craig
Lieutenant Nick Craig has been with the Green Bay Fire Department since September of 2002. In 2007, Nick was promoted to Lieutenant in the Fire Marshals Office. The delivery of Life Safety Education to prevent injury and death is one of his main duties. Nick is also a Public Information Officer in which he work’s closely with local television, radio and print media to disseminate safety messages to the public. Coordination of the Brown County Juvenile Fire Setter Program is also his responsibility. Mr. Craig currently holds an Associates Degree in Fire Protection.
Click here to email Lieutenant Craig
Emergency Medical Services Division
Division Chief Melissa Spielman
Division Chief Melissa Spielman is the director of Emergency Medical Service for the Green Bay Fire Department. Melissa started her career as a volunteer EMT and Firefighter in 1995 and was hired on the Green Bay Fire Department in 2000. She has two Associates Degrees, one is in Fire Protection and the other as a Paramedic Technician as well as a Bachelors Degree in Fire and Emergency Response Management. In addition, Melissa holds the following certifications; NREMT-P, Wisconsin EMT-P, Wisconsin State Paramedic Instructor-Coordinator, ITLS Instructor, and AHA ACLS, PALS, and BLS Instructor.
Click here to email Division Chief Melissa Spielman
Captain Dustin Ridings
Captain Dustin Ridings began his fire service career in western Wisconsin with a combination department in 1991. He was hired by the Green Bay Fire Department in 1999 and currently serves as the Emergency Medical Services Division Captain. His is responsible for the educational aspects of the division as well as assisting with operational issues. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and is pursuing a second degree in fire science.
Click here to email Captain Ridings
Office Staff
Lynn Beno
Lynn was hired in August of 2010 as the Administrative Assistant for the Fire Department. Lynn was previously the Legal Secretary for the City Attorney’s office and prior to that the Administrative Assistant for the Brown County Corporation Counsel’s office. Lynn’s primary duties are assisting the Chief with administrative duties, assisting in budget preparation, administering the payroll for all of the Fire Department employees and many other administrative functions which ensure the efficient day to day operations of the Fire Department. Lynn was born and raised in Green Bay and is very excited about the new opportunities and challenges she will face at the Fire Department.
Click here to email Lynn
Gail Josephson
Gail Josephson started working part time at Green Bay Fire in 1992. She came well qualified, as she had been a long time employee at City Hall. Part of her duties include keeping accurate records, retrieving file information for fire personnel, coordinating the Fire Safety House schedule between fire crews and elementary schools, and other school programs. She prides herself on her efficiency, and willingness to work. Her favorite saying is “I like my job!” Gail job shares with Carol VanBeckum with taking phone calls from the public, as well as other office duties.
Click here to email Gail
