TOM KRUSE

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Tom Kruse has been involved in construction since 1990. He started home inspecting in 1996 becoming a full time home inspector in 2004. Tom is an ASHI certified home inspector. Tom believes his professional success and continued professional growth are based on a never ending curiosity that is combined with a constant sense of urgency. It is vital to remain humble and to actively listen first before asking questions. There is always more to learn (past-present and future) in the changing products and practices of the building sciences. To accomplish learning goals requires feedback from industry specific professionals. Some of these professionals include: HVAC professionals, home performance experts, roofers, plumbers, insulation specialists, remodelers, builders, structural engineers, septic system installers, indoor air quality (microbiologists), concrete experts, and many others. Besides working one on one with professionals, Tom also receives over 40 hours of professional continuing education every two years to gain insight and understanding in product and/or application successes and failures.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Tom Kruse has built and renovated several homes and rental properties. He has served as an expert witness in situations related to: new construction, renovation and remodeling, foundation and building shell structure concerns, retaining walls, indoor air quality, manufactured home issues, and all areas related to standards based home inspections, testifying in court, and in pre-court arbitration settings. I have also performed many 3rd party objective home inspections for homeowners, home sellers, insurance companies, lending institutions and attorneys.  Tom wrote and taught three classes for Western Technical College lifelong learning department related to maintaining and building a home:
“Homesmarts Before you Build”, “Homesmarts Basic Upkeep”, “Homesmarts Radon in your Home”.
The home inspection industry demands a steep learning curve. Tom’s company has an ongoing newsletter service. The content of these newsletters comes from working and learning from industry professionals in the field every day, combined with self-study and industry periodicals.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Education, Middle Childhood Education, concentrations Social Studies and Math
Georgia State University, June 1998

Associate in Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, August 1987. 

Associate in Applied Science in Management, Elgin Community College, August 1985.

MEMBERSHIPS

Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors (WAHI), past president (twice), & VP, co-education chair, treasurer, continually serving in leadership roles.

American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the only independently accredited home inspection association in the country.

National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP)

AFFILIATIONS/HONORS

President’s Award 2009 (Holmen Area Chamber of Commerce) for fundraising efforts to build a new library.
School District of Holmen, School Board Member
Habitat for Humanity, Critical Home Repairs Committee Member
Founding member, Friends of the Holmen Library, Treasurer, 2006-2013 (disbanded, library built 2017)
Serving in leadership roles with WAHI (Wisconsin Assoc of Home inspectors)

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Home Inspector, Co-owner Professional Home Inspection Company (multi-inspector).
Full time home inspecting and radon testing. Provide computerized inspection report, self-help documents and construction related newsletters to empower customers.

Branch Manager, Airgas North Central, La Crosse Wisconsin
Oversaw Work with over 20 employees ensuring customer satisfaction, branch efficiencies, and safety. Orchestrated first open house in 17 years, met all quarterly sales goals.

Corporate Instructor, Fastenal School of Business, Winona Minnesota
Developed and delivered a 2 week problem based learning curriculum for new employees covering inventory control, accounting, time management, computer, and sales. Self-taught POS (point of sale) computer system created a teaching manual. Co-wrote a time management class.

Safety and Training Coordinator,   Rockland Industrial Products, Rockland Wisconsin
Supervised three trainers (3 shifts) covering all aspects in Operation, Production, Quality Control, Safety/Attitude, & Housekeeping. I created a training program and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) with all the various equipment and procedures in a wood manufacturing plant from kiln drying, assembling, planning, gluing and assembling of hardwood flooring materials for tractor trailers. I handled all aspects of worker compensation, light duty work, and drug testing, Lock Out/Tag Out & other OSHA regulations.
I also worked and learned from our medical insurance provider and maintenance department to engineer safety into systems and procedures as opposed to training for safety, thus lowering our recordable injury rate from 19 per month to less than 2 per month.

Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta, Georgia 
Disassembling, inspecting and assembling the JT-8D jet engine used on various commercial jets such as, Douglas DC-9, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737. Received nomination to Chairman’s Club for Above and Beyond service and attitude from coworkers.