As Chief Ron Wise begins the final phase of his successful career with the South Haven Area Emergency Services team, they have announced his replacement in the form of Fire Fighter and Paramedic Brandon Hinz. Hinz will be the new Executive Director/Chief for South Haven beginning this summer.
Hinz was selected by the South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority Board following a national search. A committee of citizens also participated in that selection process.
Hinz will succeed current Executive Director Ronald Wise who will be retiring on September 30th. He will begin his duties June 1st and will work alongside Wise through the summer season.
Ross Stein, South Haven Township Supervisor, says, “Brandon has a solid reputation for being a hardworking, self-motivated and trustworthy member of SHAES.” Stein chairs the emergency services board, and adds, “After multiple rounds of interviews he was clearly the best choice to lead the organization for years to come.”
For his part Hinz says, “SHAES has been an integral part of my life,” and adds, “I am very proud to have been a part of this organization for the past 21 years. I will continue to lead SHAES toward all our collective goals with hard work and integrity. Together, we will further our mission of providing the residents of the greater South Haven area with the best fire, rescue and EMS services.”
Hinz joined the staff there in 1999. A lifelong resident of the South Haven community, he started as a paid-on-call responder and since 2005 has been a full-time firefighter/paramedic. He currently oversees the department’s maintenance service, assists in the training program and has served as an acting Captain. In 2012 he was presented the department’s Leadership Award. He is completing Blue Card Command training which is a nationally recognized training and certification program for fire command officers.
Brandon lives in Geneva Township with his wife Dawn and sons Jake and Cal, and enjoys farming as a way to relax, raising crops and pigs.
South Haven Area Emergency Services serves the City of South Haven, Casco Township, Geneva Township and South Haven Township. The department operates from three stations with a combination of full-time and part-time paid staff. Last year the department responded to more than 2,000 calls for service.
The photo of Brandon Hinz accompanying this story on Moody on the Market is courtesy of Tom Renner of South Haven.
