Our board

Harlan Kent joined Pure Fishing, the world’s largest fishing tackle company, as CEO in January of 2019.  Pure Fishing with an iconic portfolio of brands like Berkeley, Abu Garcia, Penn, and Shakespeare sells in over 50 countries worldwide. Kent has over 30 years of leadership experience with leading consumer packaged goods companies.

Earlier Kent served as Vice President of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition after starting is career in management consulting with Bain & Company, as well as brand management at Campbell Soup.  Prior to joining Pure Fishing, he served as the CEO of Performance Sports Group (Bauer Hockey, Easton Baseball), and the CEO of Yankee Candle Company.  While at Yankee Candle, he was featured in an episode of Undercover Boss.

He has served on numerous Boards including Costa del Mar, PF Chang, Rue 21 and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Currently he is a board member of the American Sportsfishing Association, Unger Global, and the Ocean Reef Community Association.

Kent is a passionate outdoorsman having been raised in rural Pennsylvania, and he spent many summers working at his family’s fishing lodge in Alaska.  He is passionate about conservation and supports numerous groups working for clean water. He has a BA in economics from Dartmouth College and lives in the Florida Keys with his wife and his boat.

Francisco Bergaz is the Managing director of Bekun LLC and Bervest LLC, two investment companies based in Miami, FL that invest in a broad and diversified class of private and public assets.

An individual with over fifteen years of management success in the Spirits and Food Industries covering many aspects of each. From early on he was a top performer at Quirch Foods, Inc one of the largest beef distributors in the Southeast. Leading the Export Division to greater efficiency and annual double digit growth. Francisco oversaw the expansion of the Panamei Brand as well as Chiquita into the export markets with innovative crucial contracts and partnerships.

Francisco is part of the Bacardi Family Company, a 152 year old corporation and the largest privately held spirits company worldwide. He served on the Bacardi Limited Board for four years during which pivotal acquisitions were made and strategic sales tactics implemented Bacardi owns over 200 brands and sells them in over 170 markets.

He serves on the board of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Francisco attended Fordham Business School in New York City.

He currently spends most of his time with his family in Miami, FL and Sheldon, SC pursuing hunting, fishing and outdoor activities.

Mr. Eubanks is the CEO of Rather Outdoors. Mr. Eubanks, previously President of Lew’s and CEO of Hunters Specialties, has almost 20 years of professional experience in the outdoor industry.  Prior to joining Lew’s and Hunters Specialties, Mr. Eubanks was Senior Vice President and General Manager, Americas for Pure Fishing.

With over 30 years of experience within the outdoor industry, Pete Angle has brought his broad-based business acumen and extensive network of contacts to Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.  In his current role as President of Covey Partners, Pete serves as a strategic advisor and fractional executive for outdoor companies looking to push performance and help pivot them through new strategic plans.  An accomplished hunter and angler, Pete funnels his personal passion into his work to not just help brands grow, but also to do his part to protect hunting and fishing traditions.

Pete previously served as President of Marolina parent company of Huk/Nomad, in addition to being Vice President of Marketing & Ecommerce for Plano Synergy, where he was responsible for all areas of strategic marketing and campaign execution for all brands.  His professional career also includes having served in management roles for Under Armour, Hunter’s Specialties, and O.F. Mossberg & Sons.

Joe is the President and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (“NSSF”), the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (“SAAMI”) and the Chairman of the Project ChildSafe® Foundation.  He has spent roughly 40 years in a variety of technical, legal, and executive management roles in the manufacturing sector.

He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (“CAHSS”) and the World Forum on Shooting Activities (“WFSA”).

Joe also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross and is a past Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries of Southern New England, where he is still serving as a member of the Goodwill Operations Committee.

He graduated cum laude from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Connecticut, Maine and in the United States Supreme Court.

He is a 2014 recipient of the Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award, presented by the Connecticut Bar Association.

Tuck Beckstoffer creates world-class wines. As the President of Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, he produces a dozen of Napa Valley’s most exciting and sought-after wines. Pioneers of the Napa Valley grape growing industry, the Beckstoffer family made the vineyards both their lives and their livelihood. When not playing in the vineyards, Tuck was learning about them. 1975 marked his first harvest, and since then Tuck can’t remember a harvest when he hasn’t tasted, smelled or picked fruit straight from the vine.

Extensive vinicultural knowledge drove a desire to learn more about the winemaking process. Tuck studied with winemaking legends in wineries both at home and abroad, which only whetted his appetite to create a wine of his own. After making Tuck Beckstoffer Cabernet Sauvignon in 1997 to critical acclaim, collectors and connoisseurs asked for more. That demand continues today.

Outside of the wine business, Tuck is active on other non-profit and federal advisory Boards such as the Department of the Interior’s National Park System Advisory Board and The Rebuild North Bay Foundation. Tuck and the Beckstoffer family have also been responsible for putting more acres into conservation easements than other grape growing family or business in Napa Valley.

Tuck has lived in Napa Valley since 1975. He attended the University of Southern California where he majored in Entrepreneurial Business.

Ralph W. Castner has been President of Rush Creek Advisors, LLC since June 2018. Rush Creek Advisors provides executive level financial advisory services in the retail and payments industries. Prior to his position at Rush Creek Advisors, Mr. Caster was Chief Financial Officer of Bass Pro Shops from October 2017 until June of 2018. Prior to his position at Bass Pro Shops, Mr. Castner was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Cabela’s, Inc. from January 2017 until October 2017. Cabela’s was merged with Bass Pro Shops on September 25, 2017. From March 2006 to December 2010, Mr. Castner was Chairman of the Board of World’s Foremost Bank, Cabela’s wholly-owned subsidiary which issued its Cabela’s Club Visa Card. From July 2003 to January 2010, Mr. Castner was Cabela’s Director of Accounting and Finance and Treasurer of World’s Foremost Bank. Prior to joining Cabela’s he was employed by First Data Corporation from 1990 to 2000. Prior to joining First Data Corporation, Mr. Castner was a certified public accountant with the public accounting.

Mark Cherpes is President and CEO of FN America; a wholly owned subsidiary of Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal S.A., one of the world’s largest and premier firearms manufacturers.

Mark was named to lead FN America (formerly FN Manufacturing and FNH USA) in June 2014. During his tenure with FN, Mark has served as the Executive Vice President, Vice President of Military Operations and Director of Military Programs. Mark was instrumental in facilitating the SCAR and GAU 21 programs with the U.S. Military.

Prior to his leadership role at FN America, Mark was employed as the President of SWE-DISH Satellite Systems Inc. in Reston, VA., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SWE-DISH Satellite Systems AB of Stockholm, Sweden. SWE-DISH is a supplier of high performance satellite communications technology to U.S. Federal agencies and U.S. Department of Defense customers.

In addition, Mark worked as a defense trade consultant at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C. supporting the business development efforts of Swedish companies in the U.S. that included Saab Defense and Haglunds Vehicle.

Prior to moving to the commercial sector, Mark provided management support within the Office of the Secretary of Defense during his time at SENTEL Corporation. Serving as the Point of Contact for all Congressional inquiries, Mark monitored all Navy and U.S. Special Operations Command projects. As an analyst with Jorge Scientific Corporation and R.M. Vredenburg, Mark provided management support to the NAVAIR Navy International Programs Office and the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales Procurement Office.

Mark has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from George Mason University.

Bruce is the past President of Shell Oil Company. He graduated in 1981 from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management, and shortly thereafter began his 30 plus year career with Shell at the Norco Manufacturing Complex in Louisiana. Since then he has progressed through series of increasingly responsible positions in Human Resources and line management in Shell’s Downstream & Upstream businesses. Other positions held include: executive Vice President Human Resources Shell International E&P, Vice President Human Resources Global Downstream Operations, Vice President Human Resources The Alliance Companies (joint venture between Shell, Texaco and Saudi Aramco), General Manager Products Pipelines, and General Manager Products Distribution. Bruce is a member of the Center for Houston’s Future Board of Directors, Board Member for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, a Life Member and Committee Volunteer for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and represents Shell with various conservation organizations including Ducks Unlimited and Coastal Conservation Association. Bruce lives and works in Houston, and is married to Marguerite. They have two children, daughter Ashley, age 21 who is a junior at Auburn University in the school of Animal Science, and Addison, age 17 who is a junior at Memorial High School. Bruce is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, shooting sports, fishing and water-sports. He also has a keen interest in land and water conservation.

James L. Cummins, a certified fisheries and wildlife biologist by training, is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi. His professional interests include developing and maintaining private, voluntary, incentive, tax, and market-based solutions to environmental problems, especially as they relate to southern forests. He conceived the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program and the Healthy Forests Reserve Program. He assisted in developing the southern strategy for the Healthy Forests Initiative. He is a vice president of the Boone and Crockett Club, a board member of Bear Trust International, and a member of the Binational Softwood Lumber Council. He is a former Commissioner of the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the former Chairman of the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory. He is also a private forest landowner.

Mark recently retired as the founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Outdoor; the world’s leader in outdoor recreation products. Mark created Vista Outdoor through a series of strategic acquisitions and a spin-off from Alliant Techsystems in 2015. In the same year he was awarded Ernst and Young’s prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Prior to leading Vista Outdoor he served as the President and CEO of Alliant Techsystems (ATK), a premier aerospace and defense company.

Mark is an avid outdoorsman and served as past Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and is a past Chairman of The Wildlife Management Institute. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Goddard School of Business for Weber State University, the Utah Governor’s Advisory Board for private fisheries, and the Advisory Board for Hunter Nation. Mark is a native of Utah where he grew up hunting, fishing, camping and earned the Eagle Scout Award from the BSA. He has a BS degree in business at Weber State University and an MBA at Westminster College, where he taught business courses and was recognized as the college’s Adjunct Faculty of the Year.

Representing the fifth generation in his family’s wholesale distribution companies, Tripper Dickson currently leads Sports South as President and CEO.  The distribution businesses focused in the pharmaceutical and shooting sports industries have been rooted in Shreveport, Louisiana and operated by the family since 1841.

At Sports South, the country’s leading shooting sports wholesale distributor, Tripper is applying his previous professional experience in investment banking, his drive for continuing the family legacy, and his passion for hunting and the outdoors in operating all facets of the business.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, summa cum laude in economics and finance and his M.B.A. from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

From the box stands to the bayous, enjoying Louisiana’s great outdoors with his family has been central in Tripper’s life.  He is determined to ensure this same opportunity exists for future generations.

Chris Dorsey is founding partner of Denver-based Dorsey Pictures, a leading producer of lifestyle television with more than 20 series and specials in production for a wide range of networks including, History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, HGTV, DIY, GAC, Travel Channel, and Outdoor Channel.

He’s also helped launch more than 45 outdoor television series–more than anyone in history. Dorsey’s approach of fusing brand DNA with entertaining programming has made him a sought-after speaker in the television and marketing world where branded entertainment is an ever-growing genre.

Prior to his career in television, Dorsey served as a publishing executive running some of the largest outdoor magazines in America, including Sports Afield and Ducks Unlimited. His work has appeared in a wide variety of national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Television Week, National Geographic, Writer’s Digest, and scores of outdoor periodicals. He’s the author of seven books on outdoor, natural history, and business subjects.

Because of his connections to the celebrity community, Dorsey has been retained to assist in developing campaign strategies for a wide variety of political candidates ranging from those seeking the Oval Office to governorships, Senate and House seats. His ability to craft messaging that appeals to America’s 50 million sportsmen–whether creating branded entertainment or highlighting the ties between political candidates and the passions and concerns of American sportsmen–has been at the core of his success.

Dorsey lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife Amy and twin sons Luke and Nathan.

Evan Hafer is the Founder & CEO of Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC), America’s leading Veteran-owned and operated premium coffee company employing 400 people (more than 50 percent of whom are military veterans) in Salt Lake City, UT and throughout the United States.

During his nearly 20 years of service with U.S. Army Special Forces and the CIA, Hafer honed the craft of roasting & brewing coffee and — with feedback from the service community — developed BRCC’s most popular and enduring roasts.

Raised within reach of Northern Idaho’s blue-ribbon trout streams, it was Hafer’s love of the outdoors (stoked by hunting and fishing trips with his father and grandfather) that first led him to military service. His grandfather taught him to shoot with a muzzleloader and a rifle (he has since become a bow-hunting enthusiast), and while earning his B.A. from the University of Idaho, he was often tempted away from course work by the steelhead run on the Snake and Clearwater Rivers.

Since founding BRCC in 2014, Hafer has been as committed to supporting the rights of hunters and anglers as he is to serving premium coffee inspired by active duty service members, military veterans, and the outdoor community.

A constant advocate for increased participation in hunting and fishing sports, Hafer has partnered with organizations like Bass Pro Shops and the National Wild Turkey Federation, who support outdoor recreation, conservation, and public access to public lands.

In 2020, BRCC partnered with Total Archery Challenge to host its first-ever adaptive 3D archery shoot for amputee veterans.

Hafer lives in Utah with his wife and two daughters and is passing his love of the outdoors on to the next generation.

Peder von Harten is the President of the boutique private jet program, NICHOLAS AIR, as well a leading voice in business strategy, marketing, and growth programs across a variety of industries. At NICHOLAS AIR, he leads a team that has grown the brand’s footprint internationally and has seen the brand become synonymous with the ultimate in customer service in the private aviation industry. Outside of private aviation, he has been featured in both Forbes Magazine and Sporting Classics for his work in ventures in hunting, land management, and ranching while also starting Piper Ranch Media, a branding and marketing company that provides consulting work to hyper growth companies, as well as producing Porch + Prairie Magazine, a quarterly publication devoted to the heart of our American heritage. An avid whitetail and upland hunter, the Fall will find him consistently on the road anywhere from Georgia to Montana in pursuit of the hunt.

ason grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska, and as a teenager, he worked for the family business as an apprentice in the Hornady Manufacturing ballistics lab. Jason went on to college at the University of Wyoming, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1992. After graduation from college, Jason worked as a manufacturer’s representative for Sportco Marketing in the Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana area. At Sportco, Jason represented numerous outdoor brands, including: Bear Archery, Shimano, Nikon, Thompson/Center Arms and several others. Following Sportco Marketing, Jason became Director of Sales and Marketing for Redfield Riflescopes in 1996, then went on to work for Dunkin-Lewis a manufacturer’s representative agency, as Director of Key Account Sales. While working for Dunkin-Lewis, Jason represented Johnson Outdoors, Swarovski, Thompson-Center and Plano. Key accounts included Cabela’s, Academy, and TSA. In 2006, after 14 successful years in the Outdoor Industry, Jason accepted a position with the family business at Hornady Manufacturing as Director of Sales, and currently serves as Vice President. He is an avid hunter and shooter, and has participated in regional and national level shooting competitions. Jason’s passion for hunting/shooting is demonstrated by his pursuits both here in North America and Internationally. As a shooting industry sales professional, Jason has been fortunate to work with over 150 companies. He has served on several boards and is currently involved with the International Hunter’s Education Association (IHEA), the Heartland Public Shooting Park, and also serves as the company alternate for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI) boards.

Rebecca Humphries started her career in wildlife as an employee of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She quickly realized that State wildlife management suited her better and in 1978, she joined the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Her 32 year career with the agency was a progression of field biologist positions to Wildlife Division Chief and culminated with her last seven years as Director.

Becky’s tenure saw the agency through a number of challenges, however her leadership in managing the agency in addressing Bovine Tb in wild deer and Chronic Wasting Disease, brought her to leadership roles with the Association of Fish and Wild Agencies. She not only won their two most prestigious awards for her work, but she was named chair of the Fish and Wild Health Committee and led the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative.

In 2011, Becky left public service and joined Ducks Unlimited as Director of Conservation Programs. In 2013, The National Wild Turkey Federation enticed Becky to join them in South Carolina as the Chief Conservation Officer. In 2016, Becky was named the Chief Operations Officer and in April of 2017, she was named as the CEO for NWTF.

Becky is a loyal Michigan State University Spartan fan, having earned her BS in Wildlife Management from MSU. She also attended the University of Wisconsin (Business Administration) and holds an honorary PhD from Central Michigan. Becky is a professional member of Boone and Crockett Club and chairs the Wildlife Health Sub-Committee. Becky has three grown children and lives in both Michigan and South Carolina. She has adopted Clemson University as her home team in South Carolina.

Brandon Maddox founded Silencer Central in 2005, where he is currently CEO.  Silencer Central, headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, is the largest firearms silencer dealer in America with locations in the forty-two states where silencers are lawful.

After attending undergraduate and pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Brandon obtained and maintains his pharmacy licensure in North Carolina, Florida, and South Dakota.  After pharmacy school, Brandon entered the pharmaceutical industry with Glaxo based in Research Triangle Park, NC.  Maddox’s career rapidly progressed through sales, sales training management, marketing management, and sales management.  He completed his MBA at Duke University.  Brandon is married to a fellow pharmacist from South Dakota, and they have two girls in high school.

Silencer Central started as a hobby job to help Brandon obtain easier access to suppressors for hunting the grasslands of the Dakotas.  He quickly realized the process to acquire a suppressor was laborious, which, in his mind, explained why so few hunters were purchasing silencers… because of the difficult government process.  He made a career out of streamlining and simplifying the process to buy a silencer, mostly by working directly with regulators to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the federal, state, and local compliance requirements.

Brandon has and continues to be active in legislative issues impacting his business and customers.  He founded the South Dakota Firearms Industry Association and has testified at numerous state congressional hearings on firearms related issues.  Maddox is honored and excited to be able to further his commitment to preserving the future of America’s Sportsman.

Corey Mason is the Executive Director of DSC, a leading international conservation organization and a member of the IUCN.  Corey oversees all of DSC’s staff, programs, growth, and mission execution.  He works extensively with federal and international delegations, policy makers, and like-minded organizations to support conservation and sustainable use of our natural resources.

Corey serves on the national Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council, Frontline Foundation Board, state Advisory Committees for mule deer, whitetail deer, and desert bighorn sheep, and is a member of IUCN’s Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Group. He is a Past President of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

Prior to his work at DSC, he had a 16-year career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department where he held the positions of Regional Director, Program Leader, and Management Area Biologist.

Corey is a published author, including both popular and peer-reviewed scientific articles.  He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Wildlife Management.

“Wally” McLallen is an avid sportsman and outdoorsman and is the founder and a Managing Director of Meritage Capital Advisors, a financial advisory boutique engaged in corporate finance, private equity origination and asset management. He has been an investor and member of the Board of Directors of The Freedom Group, the largest firearm and ammunition company in the nation, and its predecessors since 2006 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Paul Miller is Chairman of Adams Arms, LLC, and past Chairman of the Board of The Freedom Group, Inc. (now the Remington Outdoor Company).  Previously he held executive positions in the media, telecommunications and aerospace & defense industries, most notably: COO of YP, CEO of Alpha Media Group (Maxim magazine), COO of Velocita Wireless and VP of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications. Paul is an electrical engineering graduate of Penn State University, the father of two Penn State grads and an ardent Penn State booster. Paul is an avid hunter and fly fisherman, is a life member of the National Rifle Association, Coastal Conservation Association, and Izaak Walton League, and is a member of the Dallas Safari Club and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Bruce Pettet is the President & CEO of Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the world’s leader in performance sporting and tactical optics employing more than 700 people in Beaverton, Oregon. He serves on the Board of Governors for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Board of Directors of Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA), and the Board of Directors of Stimson Lumber Company.

Prior to joining Leupold & Stevens, Bruce was the President & CEO of Collective International, LLC, a Denver, Colorado-based leading youth lifestyle, athletic performance and global licensing firm, which he founded in 2004. Prior to 2004, he held the positions of President & CEO at Airwalk International and President & CEO at Brooks Sports, Inc. He also previously served as the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Mrs. Field’s Famous Brands, LLC.

In addition to his professional experience, Bruce was named one of the “Marketing 100” by Advertising Age Magazine, and an “Industry Pacesetter” by Sporting Goods Business Magazine.

During his tenure at Leupold & Stevens, the Company has been awarded 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 NASGW Optics Manufacturer of the Year, 2018 Guns & Ammo Optics of the year, 2015 & 2016 NRA Golden Bullseye Award for Product Innovation, the 2015 & 2016 Strategic Partnership Award from Cabela’s Inc., 2015, 2016, & 2017 Most Admired Companies in Oregon and, has received the 2016 Oregon Ethics in Business award. Leupold & Stevens was also the one manufacturer chosen by the White House to represent Oregon during its “Made in America” product showcase.

Outside of his professional duties with Leupold & Stevens, Pettet holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Pepperdine University, a Certificate Degree in Entrepreneurship from Cal State Fullerton and has completed Executive Education in Business Strategy at Dartmouth. He is married with three children. Pettet is an avid outdoor sports enthusiast and resides in Portland, Oregon.

Bio coming soon.

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam is a hunter, angler, and lifelong advocate for conservation and agriculture.  Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Since 1937, DU has conserved hundreds of millions of acres across the US, Canada and Mexico, thanks to more than 1 million members, volunteers and supporters.

Prior to his role as CEO, Adam was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Florida where he led the nation’s largest state agriculture department and was responsible for the management of 1.3 million acres of state forests, running the state Energy Office, and promoting the state’s $9 billion agriculture  industry.  As Commissioner, Putnam was a strong advocate for Florida’s water resources. During his tenure he expanded Florida’s Best Management Practices Program for water to more than 7 million acres, saving an average of 19 million gallons of water daily.  As a result of his leadership in water policies, in 2017 Adam was the first elected official awarded the U.S. Water Prize from the U.S. Water Alliance.

Prior to serving as Commissioner, Adam served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in 2000, Putnam was the youngest member of Congress at the time and the youngest ever from Florida. He distinguished himself as the leading voice for specialty crop agriculture in the nation’s Farm Bill, international trade and food safety.  Adam served as co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus; as a member on the Agriculture, Financial Services, Resources and Rules Committees; and chaired a subcommittee on the Government Reform and Oversight Committee. After just two terms, he was elected by his peers to be Republican Policy Chairman, and as the Republican Conference Chairman in 2006.

Adam is a fifth-generation Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Food and Resource Economics. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and served as a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute. In 2010, he was the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Florida. Adam and his wife, Melissa, reside in Memphis and have four children.

Vishak Sankaran is the President Outdoor Accessories and Golf for Vista Outdoor. Vishak has more than 20 years of experience in consumer durables, healthcare and industrial verticals. He brings a broad business acumen, creating and unlocking value through customer centric innovation and talent development. He is adept at leveraging technology to create solutions that drive customer acquisition, retention and monetization; builds entrepreneurial organizations aligned around common goals to deliver uncommon results; focuses on transformative leadership; navigating young business up the growth curve or revitalizing mature business.

Most recently, Vishak served as President Bushnell. Prior to Vista Outdoor, he was VP/GM at Craftsman, Sears Holding Corporation and VP/GM at Stanley Black & Decker. During his 10 years at Black & Decker, he served as VP Global Sourcing, World Wide Power Tools; VP Marketing , Equipment; and Corporate Director, Six Sigma.

Vishak holds a PhD and Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Bombay.

Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer in outdoor sports and recreation. The company operates in two segments, Sporting Products and Outdoor Products, and has well-recognized brands that provide consumers with a range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products.

Being born into a hunting family Steve was exposed to small game hunting early on by his father and three older brothers.  The family excelled in Scouting and being the fourth of the four boys to attain the rank of Eagle Scout Steve attained a sense of service to others and community.  An expectation that his father instilled upon all of the boys and gave impetus to Steve to give back which has shaped his Safari Club International and life journey.

In 1977 as a High School Junior he was selected by the Minnesota Chapter of Safari Club International to attend SCI’s American Wilderness Leadership School in Wyoming.  The impression left upon him by two of the volunteers of the Safari Club International Conservation Foundation started Skold down a path that has shaped his life as a conservation volunteer and big game hunter.  Steve first became a SCI member in 1980 and soon became involved with SCI’s chapter and international governance structure.  He has been involved with two of chapters as a board member and officer, served on many of the National SCI and the SCI Foundation committees, and on July 1, 2020 completed his term as SCI President.

While SCI has been Steve’s main volunteer focus over the years, he has been a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, and is a life member of Pheasants Forever and the Wild Sheep Foundation.  While working on a committee to get dove hunting legalized in Iowa it became apparent that the state needed a group to represent Iowa Sportsmen and Sportswomen, so Steve and two others started the Iowa Conservation Alliance consisting of 16 conservation organizations.

Serving these multiple organizations over the past 40 years has led Steve to understand the importance of industry relations and recognize that all hunters, fishermen, conservation organizations, and professional associations will need to work together to protect our natural resources and future hunting and fishing opportunities.

When not hunting or traveling to visit his twin 26 year old daughters Steve and his wife Sue run The Skold Companies, four specialty contracting entities providing commercial construction material and installation across nine upper Midwest states.  Along with these entities Steve is a partner in a steel fabricating company with his brother -in-law.  Although full retirement is yet two years away, capable managers in place for each of the entities allow Steve and Sue to get away from their Des Moines, Iowa home and spend time in Arizona and Minnesota with a few hunting and fishing trips fit in as well.

Mark Smith is the President & CEO of Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc, a leading firearm manufacturer and iconic American brand, where he has over a decade of proud service. He joined the company in 2010 as Vice President of Supply Chain Management, and has been a member of the senior executive team at the company ever since, eventually taking the helm in January of 2020. Prior to joining Smith & Wesson, Mark was a Director with the consulting firm of Alvarez & Marsal, where he advised and assisted clients with bankruptcy turnarounds, M&A transactions, and other complex business problems. Early on in his career, he worked in various operational management roles for Ecolab, Inc. (a developer and marketer of programs, products, and services for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare, industrial, and energy markets) and Bell Aromatics, (a manufacturer of flavors and fragrances).

Having grown up in the north woods of Canada, Mark spent most of his childhood exploring the outdoors. From an early age he was given a lifelong love and passion for fishing – passed down from his father – taking his first float plane trip at 6 years of age. During the winter months, he was a competitive skier, a passion he still enjoys today and now also enjoys snowmobiling, hunting, trap shooting, and hiking. Mark is passionate about hunting, fishing, and the outdoors – and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same. He serves on the boards of Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) and Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI).

Bob Ziehmer currently serves as the Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops where he is responsible for providing direction to advance established conservation pillars of protecting wildlife and habitat, connecting new audiences to the outdoors, and advocating for sportsmen’s rights and the outdoors.  Mr. Ziehmer serves as a liaison with various state and federal agencies and non-governmental groups to encourage advancement of projects, policy, and regulations advancing conservation and protecting our outdoor heritage.

Prior to joining Bass Pro Shops, Bob served over 25 years with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the agency responsible for managing the state’s forest, fish and wildlife resources, where his work included: leading efforts to restore elk; prairie chickens; alligator gar; pallid sturgeon; and the American burying beetle; ensuring Missouri remained a national leader in forest, fish and wildlife research and management; and served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, among others.

Mr. Ziehmer has an unwavering passion for hunting, angling, and trapping.  His father’s commitment to spending time afield with him instilled the importance of conservation and our individual responsibilities to manage fish and wildlife for future generations which he has passed along to his children.