James A. Gaskell

Introduction

James Albert Gaskell was born on January 4, 1941, in Portland, Oregon, the oldest of six children. James Gaskell is a retired Crisis Management Professional, Musician, and Author with over 40 years of experience.

Early Life and Education

James was from a family where the father worked and the mother stayed home. He went through school in the 1940s and 1950s and joined the US Navy when he was a junior in high school. He received his diploma and continued going to various schools related to communications for the Navy. He also took a correspondence course from CIE while in the Navy and was very involved in his commitment to serve his country.

Professional Career

James was mainly self-employed throughout most of his career. With the help and support of his wife, Selina, he created two corporations while raising a family of 13 children. His extensive education, Navy experience, and years of hands-on business leadership helped prepare him for the crisis management field he later entered. From business investigations to crisis management hotlines, James developed many new programs for private industry, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. His work included services for Fortune 500 companies, along with innovations such as RadAlert systems, rapid product recalls, and SmartReports Technology. These programs became an important part of the specialized services he provided to many notable clients across the private, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Awards and Recognition

He was the recipient of several awards from various organizations throughout his career. He is currently writing two books and a college course in Crisis Management. The books, "Jimmy" (about himself), and "In the Aftermath" (a complete history of CMSI) will be available in January 2026, and the college course in 2027. Mr. Gaskell has had several speaking engagements with many groups and business associations over the years. He is also a professional guitar player and has formed two road groups: The Continentals 'Idaho' and the JimmyGass Trio 'Bay Area-California'. He has performed in many musical groups in the Northwest and has occasionally backed up famous performers.

Philanthropy and Community Work

Mr. Gaskell is a member of the LDS Church and has served in many positions and areas of service. He is a great leader among young men and has held leadership positions in young men’s associations, sunday school, and missionary work. He is a strong believer in supporting good and honorable causes in the areas where you work and live. He has written newspaper articles, created his own curriculum in broadcasting while teaching high school in Southern Oregon, and obtained employment for his students upon graduation. He has assisted other accomplished students to further their education. He created award-winning programs for CrimeStoppers USA and International. He has financially helped businesses start up and enjoyed assisting in beauty pageants in Oregon and California. He believes staying busy keeps you out of trouble, as long as you are involved with good works.

Personal Life

Mr. Gaskell is the proud father of 13 wonderful children. He is also a grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He feels this is his greatest accomplishment in life. Nothing takes the place of a great family. Learn as much as you can about everything that comes your way. In that way you will be prepared for more opportunities. Hard work? Yes, always, he says, but it is well worth it in the long run—which is eternal.

Hobbies

Mr. Gaskell’s hobbies often became his work. His main hobbies now are his music studio, genealogy, and writing, He enjoys sharing on YouTube and has presentations on his channel, including excerpts from his book 'Jimmy'. He also has 10,000+ wonderful followers on X (Twitter).

Legacy and Impact

Mr. Gaskell’s work in Crisis Management has influenced government agencies and private enterprise. He has shared critical information with universities, notable professors, and law enforcement. He was the founder of the original Employee Hotline program that developed into a world-wide phenomenon. For the convenience store industry, he created 'The RadAlert'. This system was critically needed and was very effective in decreasing major crime events within a predetermined area. This Radial Area Deterency program led him to develop His SmartReports Technology(c) which set his companies apart from the competition. It took 2 years to develop this technology and became the mainstay for all of his operations. Many Awards were presented to Mr Gaskell because of this technology. He further states, “Always be involved with good works and help those less fortunate. This will create eternal memories that one can be proud of, especially during the golden years when you have more time to think and be proudly satisfied with yourself and what you have accomplished.”

What Now?

Mr. Gaskell's book, In The Aftermath: True Stories from the Front Lines of Crisis Management, is scheduled for publication on June 17, 2026. Spanning approximately 185 pages, the book chronicles real-world crises, serious incidents, and the lessons learned from decades of experience in crisis management, communication, containment, and recovery. In addition, Business Advantage 2026 (BA2K) is scheduled to launch during 2026. The website will provide practical business insights, leadership guidance, management principles, and other valuable resources designed to help individuals and organizations succeed. Access to the information will be provided free of charge. Also underway is the formation of Gaskell Media LLC, which will serve as the umbrella organization for Mr. Gaskell's various media, publishing, educational, and business ventures. The company will provide a foundation for future projects while preserving and expanding the work developed over a lifetime of experience. For James Gaskell, standing still has never been an option. Learning, growing, creating, and moving forward have always been guiding principles—and the journey continues

Click to Enter Secured Website