About CSF
CSF Board of Directors
The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of leaders from the hunting and fishing industry and government relations arenas. Each of these individuals has made a commitment of service to the mission, objectives and goals of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation.
Chairman: Lindsay Thomas, Thomas Consulting
Vice Chair: Robert Model, Boone & Crockett Club *
Treasurer: Paul Miller, TechExec, Inc.
Secretary: Laurie Aronson, Lipseys
Board of Directors
* Honorary Board Member
Jeff Angers is president of the Center for Coastal Conservation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting good stewardship of America's marine resources. Angers is also active with the American Sportfishing Association and serves on ASA's Governmental Affairs Committee. Based in Baton Rouge, La., Angers travels frequently to Washington where he works with CSF and other organizations on a wide range of issues of interest to sportsmen.
Richard Childress
NASCAR racing legend, Richard Childress joined the CSF Board of Directors in hopes to bring the same level of enthusiasm and dedication he brings to racing to ensuring the rights of hunters and anglers. Calling himself an outdoorsman, Childress is as much about giving back to wildlife, hunting and fishing as he is about being a successful business man.
Childress is President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), an 11-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. An independent driver who got his start in 1969, Childress climbed out of the seat in the 1981 season, handing over the driving duties to Dale Earnhardt. Together they made NASCAR history, winning 67 races, six Sprint Cup Series championships, and along the way established RCR as one of the premier teams in all of motorsports. Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards in Lexington, N.C., as well as the Yadkin River Angus cattle ranch.
Another great passion Childress has is big-game hunting and the conservation and preservation of wildlife habitat in the United States and throughout the world. His work with groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, among many others, provides him the opportunity to make a difference in preserving wildlife habitats for generations to come.
Bruce is the Executive Vice President Human Resources and Regional Coordination for Shell in the Americas. 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
Mark is Senior Vice President and President of ATK Armament Systems (formerly ATK Ammunition Systems). An avid sportsman, Mark is well respected within the outdoor industry and conservation community with more than 20 years of outdoor industry and business acumen.
Brad Franklin serves as government relations manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation USA and has been involved with the motorsports industry for over 25 years.
Christian Gullott is the Director of State and Federal Government Affairs at Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Prior to joining to Bridgestone, he served as Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Rubber Manufacturers Association. In this capacity, Mr. Gullott served as the tire manufacturing industry's national representative and liaison to state legislatures and governor's offices. He has extensive lobbying and state legislative experience, having also worked on the professional staff of two New York State Assembly Minority Leaders. Mr. Gullott serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Fort DuPont Ice Arena, the Congressional Hockey Challenge, and has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Jefferson Islands Club. He also serves as the Co-Chairman of the L'Enfant Society of the Trust for the National Mall. A 1989 graduate of The Albany Academy, he holds a Bachelor of Arts from Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., and a Master of Arts from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife, Kristen and their two children.
Jason 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 of Sales and Marketing. 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.
Tom HornishThomas E. Hornish has served as General Counsel of Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. since December 2004, its Executive VP of Corporate Development since February 2006 and its Chief Operating Officer since March 2007. He is a retired decorated veteran with more than 20 years experience in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Hornish earned his J.D. degree in 1995 from The Ohio State University, Order of the Coif, while also attending the University of Chicago. He holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University.
As Senior Director for Government Relations for Americas Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), Brian Kelly works closely with members of Congress, their staffs, and regulators to emphasize the benefits that abundant domestic natural gas offers to the country's clean energy economy.
Brian has represented both corporations and associations, including those within the energy sector, and joins ANGA with a diverse background in strategic and tactical planning, public policy and business development.
Brian most recently served as founder and principal of BK Strategies, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm with a diverse client list ranging from small start-ups to large multinational companies. Previously, Brian was a senior director at Comcast Corporation, focusing on business development, branding and strategic planning. He was also a senior vice president at the Electronic Industries Alliance, where he directed the global public policy and communications initiatives for more than 2,500 member companies. .
Raised in Connecticut, John Larkin attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey. After returning to Connecticut, John pursued his interest in government, working for the City of Harford and the City Council. Following city hall, John lobbied for a trade association at the state and federal level. He worked for one of the state's premier lobbying firms Rome, Smith and Lutz. In 2007, John began his own consulting firm, JC Larkin Company LLC. Today, John advises his clients at all levels of government in order to achieve their strategic goals. In 2009, he was recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as a "40 under 40" in the Greater Hartford region. In addition to his work with numerous local and national conservation groups, he also serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Fuel, Inc.
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.
In April 2009, Tommy Millner was named president and chief executive officer of Cabela's, the World's Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Previously, Millner had worked for Remington Arms Company for 15 years, ten as Chief Executive Officer.
Phil Morlock
As Director of Environmental Affairs for Shimano in the U.S. and Canada, Phil Morlock oversees Shimano’s environmental stewardship programs in both the fishing and bike divisions, and represents the company in advocacy issues with federal, state and provincial governments and natural resource agencies in the U.S. and Canada. He is frequently in Washington working with CSF on Capitol Hill and groups like the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) (serving as Chairman of the ASA Government Affairs Committee on Freshwater Issues) to advance and protect the rights and privileges of all recreational anglers.
In his ‘spare time’ he represents the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) in the same fashion in dealing with Canada’s Parliament. Mr. Morlock has dedicated countless hours to the issues facing sportsmen on both sides of the border and received the 2008 Chairman’s Award for his work to establish the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus, modeled after the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.
Kevin O’Donovan
Kevin is the founder and princiapl of O'Donovan Strategies, a firm providing strategic advisory, advocacy and analysis on issues related to energy, environment and natural resource policy. From 2005 to 2011 Kevin was Director of State Government Affairs for Shell Oil, where he also led conservation outreach efforts. Prior to joining Shell, Kevin served in various positions in the Bush Administrstion including Domestic Policy Director for Vice President Cheney where he focused on energy, environment and natural resource issues. Kevin is an avid hunter and fisherman and has held volunteer leadership roles with Ducks Unlimited and Rivers of Recovery.
Jeff Paro
Jeff is a 20-year veteran of enthusiast and outdoors media and as the President and CEO of Intermedia Outdoors. Jeff knows what interests fishermen and hunters: Intermedia Outdoors is America's largest outdoor enthusiast media company, whose magazine titles include: Fly Fisherman, Florida Sportsman, Guns & Ammo, Petersen's Hunting, In-Fisherman TV, Bowhunter, Gun Dog, Game & Fish, Wildfowl, Shallow Water Angler, Shooting Times, as well as ownership of The Sportsman Channel, In-Fisherman TV, The Great Outdoors Festival, The Professional Walleye Trail, and Bassfan.com
Jeff spent 6 years with Times Mirror Inc. and Time4 Media as Sr. Vice President, and President of The Outdoor Company (Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, and Outdoor Explorer).
Steve Sanetti is president and chief executive officer of the National Shooting Sports Foundation having served in the position since May 2008. He is well known throughout the firearms community, having spent 28 years with Sturm, Ruger and Company prior to joining NSSF.
Early on, Mr. Shepard understood the link between legislation and sportsmen. He was instrumental in the formation of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Merle is a founding member the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP).
Melissa Simpson Melissa is the Director of Government Affairs and Science Based Conservation in Safari Club International's Washington, DC office. She has served the conservation community on Capitol Hill, at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Melissa worked daily with leaders across the federal government and the wildlife conservation community, building extensive coalitions with various stakeholder groups throughout the country, to increase access to public lands and improve the regulatory process for multiple-use land management.
Melissa created the charter for the first Federal Advisory Committee for wildlife conservation organizations to provide recommendations on sportsmen's issues to the secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture. She also initiated an energy liaison position for federal agencies and state game and fish departments to facilitate an open dialogue on policy issues. Melissa was the USDA policy lead for the White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy.