Ward 1 Councilman
Jim Kaminski was born and raised in Strongsville, shaped by a big family, hard work, and a deep sense of community. As the youngest of ten children, he grew up surrounded by siblings, cousins, and neighbors who taught him resilience, humility, and how to show up for others. Strongsville remains “home” for him and his extended family.
Jim attended Strongsville schools and became a highly decorated student athlete, lettering in football, track, and wrestling. Those early years instilled discipline, teamwork, and perseverance values that have stayed with him throughout his life.
His roots in Strongsville run even deeper. Jim met his wife, Mary Branic, at Albion Junior High School. They continued dating through high school and college and were married in 1985. They built their life together, raising four children and now enjoying a growing number of grandchildren. Family and faith have always been at the center of Jim’s life. Strongsville is where those generations continue to gather, grow, and give back.
Jim has a long history of service to the city. He currently serves as Councilman in Ward 1 and served as Council at Large from 2002 to 2008, during which time he founded the Strongsville Freedom Trail. He served on the Economic Development Committee from 2016 to 2019 and on the Planning Commission from 2018 to 2019. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Strongsville, Knights of Columbus, and is the current Vice President for the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Jim serves on the Board of Directors at the Altenheim Senior Living facility, rated one of the top nursing homes in Ohio in 2025. You will often see Jim & his wife sharing their time, treasure and talent at many events benefiting the city, civic organizations, and schools.
Professionally, Jim spent 31 years at Kellogg’s, retiring as an executive after holding more than 14 roles including Project Management, Global Learning and Development, Marketing, Director of Sales, and numerous account leadership roles. Jim led teams of over 100 people and was a consistent high achiever. He received the Golden K award multiple times for top performance. Jim’s career at Kellogg’s gave him a solid foundation in leadership, business skills, collaboration, and long-term planning that he consistently utilizes in his public service roles.
Jim is serving with a simple mission: to listen, work collaboratively, and help keep Strongsville strong for the next generation. He welcomes conversation, values differing perspectives, and believes the best outcomes come from working together.
Email: Jim.Kaminski@Strongsville.org
Website: Kaminski4Strongsville.com