Meet the Team
CPR Instructors Who Are Real First Responders
Every instructor on our team is an active firefighter, paramedic, or ER professional. When you train with us, you learn from people who have done this work in real emergencies.
Our Instructors
Learn From Real First Responders
Not actors. Not people who only read about emergencies in books. Our instructors are active paramedics, firefighters, and ER professionals who have handled real cardiac arrests, real choking emergencies, and real life-and-death situations.
Bob McNellis
Founder & Lead Instructor
Bob founded Take Action CPR with a mission to make life-saving training accessible. With years as a firefighter and paramedic, he brings real-world emergency knowledge to every class.
Book a Class With BobOur Instructors
Each instructor brings unique real-world experience to their classes.
Kyle Klimek
Lead Instructor
Kyle specializes in making complex medical procedures easy to understand. His calm, patient teaching style helps students build confidence quickly.
Sabastian Koziel
Health & Safety Instructor
Sabastian combines firefighting and paramedic experience to teach practical, scenario-based CPR and first aid with energy and engagement.
Jonathan Cohon
Health & Safety Instructor
Jonathan brings unique emergency medical and tactical training expertise. He teaches students to stay calm and think clearly under pressure.
Elisabeth Cohon
Health & Safety Instructor
Elisabeth specializes in pediatric CPR and first aid for parents, teachers, and daycare workers. Her compassionate approach ensures every student feels supported.
Nicole Franklin
Health & Safety Instructor
Nicole excels at creating an inclusive, supportive classroom. She tailors her teaching to corporate teams, healthcare workers, and community members.
Missy Bresnahan
Health & Safety Instructor
Missy brings the intensity and focus of real emergency response to her teaching. Her classes are rigorous, practical, and deeply rewarding.
Ryan Bennett
Health & Safety Instructor
Ryan's decades of firefighting experience give him a perspective few instructors can match. His stories from the field make every lesson memorable.
Amber
Health & Safety Instructor
Amber is a Registered Nurse with extensive pediatric and critical care experience, teaching CPR, AED, First Aid, BLS, ACLS, and PALS throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. She earned her BSN from the University of St. Francis and began her career in pediatric care at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab before advancing to the Cardiac ICU at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Known for her energetic teaching style and real-world healthcare experience, she helps students feel confident and ready to act in emergencies.
Our Certifications
Nationally Recognized Training
Every class you take with us is backed by certifications accepted across the country. Your card works wherever you go.
American Heart Association
AHA Certified Training Site
All CPR, BLS, and First Aid courses follow official American Heart Association guidelines and are accepted nationwide by employers, hospitals, and licensing boards.
Stop the Bleed Initiative
Stop the Bleed Certified
Our instructors are certified to teach life-saving hemorrhage control techniques — the same training used by first responders and military medics.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid Program
Certified to recognize signs of mental health challenges and provide initial support until professional help arrives.
National Association of EMTs
NAEMT Training Standards
Our emergency medical training follows the highest national standards for pre-hospital care education.
Ready to Train With the Best?
When you book a class with Take Action CPR, you are not just getting a certification card — you are learning skills that could save a life, taught by people who have actually saved them.
Same-day certification available · Classes every day of the week