Peter Churchbourne - Director, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum​

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Peter Churchbourne is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist and steadfast advocate for all hunters. His passion is anything to do with the outdoors, but most important to him is hunting waterfowl with his labs, chasing turkeys, bow hunting and introducing new people to the life outside. Peter has hunted in 42 states, Canada and South America. Before becoming the director of Hunter Services at the NRA, where he was responsible for developing the award-winning on-line hunter education program, Peter worked at Ducks Unlimited for 17 years in various positions around the United States. Peter is currently a director with the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum where he is engaged in building new NRA hunting programs and fighting for hunters' rights.

Jeff Crane - President, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

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Jeff Crane joined CSF in 2002 and brings nearly 40 years of experience in on-the-ground natural resource management and policy expertise at the federal, state and international levels. A life-long outdoorsman, Jeff spent five years working in the U.S. Congress and was instrumental in establishing the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus prior to joining CSF. In addition, he has experience developing wildlife habitat management plans in the United States and South Africa. During his eight years in Africa, Jeff obtained his professional hunter's license and guided hunts for big game animals.

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Jeff serves as the Chairman of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC), a federal advisory council that reports to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. He is a past Chairman of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), the largest coalition of hunting conservation organizations. He is a Boone and Crockett member, a member of the Government Affairs Committee for Safari Club International (SCI) and served as Vice-Chairman of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Committee for the National Rifle Association (NRA). Additionally, he is a Board Member of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports.

James Cummins - Executive Director, Wildlife Mississippi

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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.  

John Daniel - ​President, National Trappers Association

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John's accomplishments include being the current President of the National Trappers Association, past President of Fur Bearers Unlimited, and past President of the Tennessee Fur Harvesters. His most cherished accomplishment, besides parenthood, is starting the Hiwassee Trappers Training Camp at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, TN. This is a free camp that has been ongoing for 16 years now and was founded on John's determination and commitment to keeping the heritage of trapping alive. John is a seasoned trapper with 40+ years of experience which includes most species of both land and water fur bearers with knowledge obtained from having trapped in many different states. Of all the fur bearers, mink remains his favorite.

 

John Daniel was born in Southeast Tennessee which is where he has resided for his entire 56 years. He has 4 children and several grandchildren. 

Tom Decker - Certified Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Tom Decker is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and works for the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.  Previously, Tom worked for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and for the Massachusetts’ Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, holding several positions including Furbearer Biologist, Director of Wildlife, and Director of Operations.  Tom works nationally in USFWS on a collaborative partnership initiative with the firearms, ammunition, boating, archery and angling industries entitled “Partner with A Payer”.

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Tom is an active member of The Wildlife Society and is a TWS Fellow and National Conservation Leadership Institute Fellow.  He is Chair of The Wildlife Society’s Hunting, Trapping and Conservation Working Group.  Tom has been active nationally with various committees of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  He has also been part of a US Technical Work Group, addressing national and international policy, research and management programs related to the sustainable management of wildlife in the United States.  Tom has received several national and regional awards for his leadership and work in wildlife management. 

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Tom is also an instructor and serves on the Advisory Board of the national Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program.  He is a certified hunter education and trapper education instructor in Massachusetts and a certified instructor in the Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports program.  Tom has BS and MS degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Worcester State University. 

Jon Gassett - Southeastern Field Representative, Wildlife Management Institute

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Jon Gassett served as Commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for eight years. As Commissioner, he provided general supervision and control of all activities, functions, appointments, and employees of the KDFWR. Primary responsibilities included oversight of all agency divisions including, but not limited to, strategic planning, personnel management, program oversight, budget development and tracking, and statutory, regulatory, and policy development. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Jon served as Wildlife Division Director (four years) and Big Game Coordinator (two years) with the KDFWR. Jon has served as President of the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and has chaired numerous committees in all three Associations. Jon serves on the Board of Directors of the National Conservation Leadership Institute and the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. 

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Jon is a graduate of the inaugural class of the National Conservation Leadership Institute and holds a Ph.D. and M.S degree in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia and a B.S. degree in Biology from Kennesaw State University.

Dan Gates - ​Board Member, National Trappers Association and the Fur Takers of America

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Dan Gates is a current Board Member of the National Trappers Association and the Fur Takers of America and is also the current President for the Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association.  He began his trapping career at the age of 12 and has turned it into a life long avocation, livelihood and career. 

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For 37 years he is the Owner and Operator of  a Wildlife Control Business while providing solutions to human animal conflicts for Industrial, Commercial, Agriculture, Residential, Utility and Defense Clients.  His involvement in local, regional and national Conservation issues allows him to actively engage at many levels to support not only trapping but hunting and fishing as well while defending, promoting and enhancing the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 

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Running a business with his wife of 32 years and his son allows the family to not only pursue what they cherish and believe in but to also do what is right for the Sportsmen Community as a whole. 

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An accomplished Wildlife Control Professional that is equally successful in Agriculture depredation complaints allows him to be a resource for private, public and government agencies alike.

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Sustaining natural resource management objectives is imperative and his and his families knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication is second to none.

Dave Hastings - President, Fur Takers of America​

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Dave Hastings is a retired High School Language Arts teacher of 40 years as a profession, but he began trapping in the early ‘60s as an avocation and has never stopped. He has trapped for fur, and for animal damage control, primarily in Nebraska, North Dakota, and Texas, but he has done fur harvests in a dozen other states, including Alaska and Canada.

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Dave has edited three trapping magazines and serves as a lead instructor at the Fur Takers Trappers College. (Furtakersofamerica.com)

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Since the late ‘90s, Dave has served as a member of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Furbearer Resources Taskforce Working Group (TWG), whose primary efforts have been to produce the Best Management Practices for Trapping. This group is responsible for overseeing the Best Management Practices, which is the single largest furbearer/trapping project in history. Over several decades, the TWG has produced a broad-scope project to test traps and trapping devices in real-world circumstances. North America has spent over 40 million on this project, based on humane standards created by the International Standards Organization, in order to recommend traps and devices that are humane, selective, efficient, and practical. Today’s traps meet these criteria, and the BMPs have the research to scientifically demonstrate this.

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These days, Dave stays pretty busy with conservation education, trapping education, and the business of steering a national organization; and a little bit of “therapy trapping.”

Senator Bill Heath - Senator, Georgia State Senate

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Senator Bill Heath, a Republican, was first elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2005 after serving one term in the House of Representatives. He represents the 31st Senate District, which includes Haralson and Polk counties and portions of Paulding County. Sen. Heath serves as Chairman of the Senate Government Oversight Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee. He also is a member of the Judiciary and Finance Committees and is an Ex Officio of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

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Senator Heath has served as a Floor Leader to Governor Sonny Perdue and on various committees such as Retirement, Transportation, Science and Technology and MARTA Oversight. Both Governor Perdue and Governor Deal have appointed Senator Heath to serve on the Fiscal Affairs Committee.

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Senator Heath was elected President of State Agriculture and Rural Leaders in January of 2010 and served as President until 2014 when he reached the term limit set in its bylaws. State Agriculture and Rural Leaders is made up of agricultural and rural leaders and Chairs of Legislative Agriculture Committees from the United States, its territories and Canada. The organization is devoted solely to issues facing agriculture and rural areas.

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Another of Senator Heath’s interests is the protection of our rights to hunt, fish and enjoy our great natural resources. Since being elected in 2010 to the Executive Council of National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses, Sen. Heath served in various capacities including Vice President and in 2018 was elected President of the Executive Council. The National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus are organized under the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the largest non-partisan caucus at our nation’s Capitol.

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Senator Heath is a lifelong resident of Georgia. He graduated from Bremen High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology at Southern Polytechnic University in Marietta. He is self-employed as both an engineer with Design Specialists and farmer with B&S Farms. Prior to being elected to the House, he served on the West Georgia Regional Airport Authority for approximately 10 years.

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Senator Heath and his wife Susan have been married for over 35 years and have two grown children, one called to preach and another called to teach. The Heath’s attend First Baptist Church of Bremen.

Chris Horton - Senior Director Midwestern States/Fisheries Policy, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

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Chris Horton joined CSF in 2010 as the Midwestern States Director. In this role he oversees and interacts with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus throughout the region. As the Fisheries Policy Director, he serves as CSF’s primary point of contact on federal recreational fishing issues, as well as assists the States Program Team staff with challenges for anglers at both the state and regional levels.

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Prior to joining CSF, Chris served as the Conservation Director for the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.). His primary responsibility was to work with and represent the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and B.A.S.S. members on local, state and national conservation issues that impact sport fishing.

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Chris received a master's degree in fisheries from the University of Arizona. Prior to working with B.A.S.S., Chris served as the reservoir research biologist, as well as the black bass biologist, for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Paul Johansen - Chief - Wildlife Resources Section, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

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Paul Johansen is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with more than 37 years of service to the citizens of West Virginia.  Throughout his professional career, Mr. Johansen has held various positions within the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, including Wildlife Manager, Assistant District Biologist, Wildlife Planner and Assistant Chief in Charge of Game Management.  Mr. Johansen currently serves as Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section where he is responsible for administering the statewide wildlife and fisheries management program.  He is honored to work with some of the finest wildlife professionals in the country and to serve some of the most dedicated hunters, anglers and other wildlife-associated recreationalists in the nation.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech.  Mr. Johansen serves on many committees for regional, national and international professional wildlife organizations, including The Wildlife Society, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  He is happily married to his lovely wife Anne, and together they have shared the joy of raising their son William.

Chris Lee - Director of Government Relations-State Affairs, National Shooting Sports Foundation

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Chris Lee joined the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. in 2019 as Director of Government Relations-State Affairs in the Midwest region. In this position, he advocates for the firearm industry in front of lawmakers in eight states. A native Midwesterner, Chris has diverse political experience that includes work on campaigns for local, state and federal offices in addition to experience with campaign finance and PACs. Prior to joining NSSF, he served as District Director for Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-2). Chris graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Master of Science in Management degree after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

 

Dave Linkhart - Director of National and International Affairs, National Trappers Association​

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Dave Linkhart and his wife Karen serve as Director of National and International Affairs for the National Trappers Association. They have a 600 acre farming operation in southwest Ohio where they raise corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, cattle and a small herd of bison.

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Dave began trapping on the family farm in the early 1960s and still traps extensively in Ohio. He and Karen also trap on crawfish farms in Louisiana where they provide animal control services while still harvesting furs and meat for sale. A large part of their Louisiana operation is the procurement of live river otter for the zoo and aquarium trade.

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Dave has been an active member of numerous local, state and national agricultural and conservation organizations. He is a life member of the Ohio State Trappers Association, the National Trappers Association and the National Rifle Association. He served as president of the Ohio Federation of Conservation Districts.

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Dave earned his BS in Ag Education and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 1972. Karen earned her BA in English from Wright State University in 1978. They have two daughters, both OSU graduates in the School of Natural Resources, and four grandchildren. 

Mike Nerozzi - Director of Policy and Planning - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

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Mike Nerozzi is the director of policy and planning for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, where he oversees policy development, legislative affairs and strategic planning. Since joining the commission in 2018, Mike has facilitated the enactment of several key legislative and strategic priorities, including providing the agency with the authority to establish license and registration fees, strengthening boating under the influence laws, and developing the agency’s new, three-year strategic plan. Prior, Mike worked for eight years on staff in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, most recently as assistant director of the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee, where he specialized in policy issues related to the environment and natural resource conservation. He obtained his BA in political science from Temple University and an MPA from Shippensburg University. Mike is currently an adjunct instructor of political science at Temple and a former field artillery officer in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. An avid sportsman, he resides outside of Hershey, Pa., with his wife, Maggie.

Sara Parker Pauley - Director, Missouri Department of Conservation​

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Sara Parker Pauley serves as the ninth Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation since its formation in 1937. The Missouri Conservation Commission announced Pauley’s selection effective November 1, 2016.

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A native of Columbia, Pauley received both her law degree and bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and did post-graduate studies in Australia as a Rotary Fellow. She previously served as Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources since 2010. She has worked as project manager for D.J. Case & Associates, a natural resources communications firm, and as a deputy director for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She has been an instructor at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources, teaching a course in natural resource policy and administration.

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Pauley began her professional career as a Policy Analyst with the Missouri Department of Conservation from 1993-1996. Over the years, though her career path varied, it has never strayed far from her personal desire to be engaged in the stewardship of Missouri’s natural resources.

Joel Pederson - Director of Government Affairs - National Wild Turkey Federation​

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Joel Pedersen grew up in Nebraska hunting and fishing with his father and grandfathers.  This early exposure to the family traditions fueled a passion for wildlife and hunting that continues to grow.  Joel still hunts and fishes with his father, but more importantly is now passing those traditions on to his daughters. 

 

Joel joined the National Wild Turkey Federation in 1999 as a wildlife biologist.  In the years since, he has worked in a variety of roles, including assisting with the restoration of wild turkeys, working with volunteers and partners on collaborative projects, and developing large scale conservation initiatives.  In 2017, Joel took the position of NWTF’s Director of Government Affairs.  In this role, Joel is responsible for guiding the NWTF’s public policy efforts at the federal and state level.   Joel’s background as a Certified Wildlife Biologist and his experience working directly in the field and with agencies tasked with managing our natural resources give him a valuable perspective to share with policy makers.   Joel serves as the NWTF’s representative to the American Wildlife Conservation Partners. 

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Joel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Nebraska – Kearney and a Master of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee.  Prior to joining the NWTF, Joel worked as a wildlife biologist for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.   Joel is a 2010 Fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute. 

Christy Plott - ​Consultant, Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council

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Christy Plott is a fourth-generation alligator and crocodile industry specialist from Griffin, Georgia.   A passionate crocodilian conservationist, Christy formed Monarch Marketing to consult with brands and wildlife agencies on the ecological, habitat, and species survival benefits of using alligator and crocodile leather.  Christy partners with luxury brands worldwide as Vice President of American Tanning and Leather Company to supply wild and farm raised alligator and crocodile leather for the luxury accessory and footwear market.   She and her family also own an alligator farm in Florida and a wild alligator skin and meat processing company in Louisiana.

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Christy is a consultant with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council as a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) representative and marketing advisor.   She holds various membership positions in a number of conservation and fashion organizations including the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, the Southeast Asian Reptiles Conservation Alliance (SARCA), the Louisiana Alligator Farmer and Ranchers Association, the International Crocodilian Farmers Association, Leather Industries of America,  the Accessories Council, and Fashion Group International.

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Christy is a recipient of the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 Alumni Award and the Top 100 Bulldog Business Award.  She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, National Public Radio, and Bloomberg News.

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Christy holds a BBA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Wesleyan College. 

Kyle Rorah - Regional Director of Public Policy, Ducks Unlimited

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As Regional Director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited’s 21-state Great Lakes/Atlantic Region, Kyle works with state and federal lawmakers to advance waterfowl habitat related public policies. He is passionate about working with Ducks Unlimited’s large membership base to increase waterfowl hunter involvement in the policy process and empower them to be citizen advocates for the natural resources we all love. Prior to joining the Ducks Unlimited Government Affairs team in 2016, Kyle was the Midwestern States Coordinator for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation where he worked closely with state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses throughout the upper Midwest. He is a Michigan native and loves to pursue all types of fish and game throughout the state and beyond. Kyle and his wife Shannon reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Director Aurelia Skipwith - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service​

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Aurelia Skipwith was confirmed on December 12, 2019, as the 22nd Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the nation's principal Federal agency dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat. Her appointment by President Trump marks the first time in history that a Black American has been selected to be the Service's Director.

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Aurelia Skipwith's interest in the outdoors and wildlife began at an early age. She spent her summers in Mississippi where she helped her grandpa on the hog farm, in his garden, and with the hound dogs. It was there that she was taught by her grandpa that, "If we didn't grow it, catch it or kill it, we didn't eat it."

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Prior to her appointment as Director, Skipwith served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior for nearly three years, where she was responsible for ensuring the protection and stewardship of wildlife, fish, plants lands and waters within the national park and wildlife refuge systems. As Deputy Assistant Secretary, Skipwith supported the Assistant Secretary in overseeing policy, planning, and regulatory actions for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

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In 2014 to 2017, Skipwith co-founded AVC Global, a block-chain enabled logistics and financing platform, for smallholder farmers and served as General Counsel until March 2017. During that time, Skipwith served as Assistant Corporate Counsel at Alltech, Inc., an all-natural international animal feed corporation and eventually progressed to the Sustainability Agriculture Partnership Manager at Monsanto, which is now Bayer after beginning her career as a lab technician and Study Director.

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Skipwith's journey to the Nation's Capital is marked by a diversity of work experiences, including agriculture, science and research, and law. She earned her B.S. degree in biology from Howard University, M.S. degree in molecular biology from Purdue University, and J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Skipwith is active in her community and an avid marathon runner.

J.D. Strong - Director, Oklahoma Department of Conservation​

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An active outdoorsman and fifth-generation Oklahoman from Weatherford, J. D. Strong landed what he calls his “dream job” when hired as Director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in 2016, after gaining 23 years of experience in conserving Oklahoma’s natural resources. While finishing his wildlife ecology degree at Oklahoma State University in 1993, Strong started as a field temporary for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) performing aquatic research. Over the next two decades, he worked his way up to Secretary of Environment for Governor Brad Henry in 2008, and Executive Director of OWRB in 2010.

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Director Strong quickly dove in at ODWC, helping institute a new, user-friendly digital licensing system and leading the ODWC through a long-overdue comprehensive strategic planning initiative. During his tenure, ODWC has expanded its public hunting and fishing land holdings by nearly 80,000 acres, including four new Wildlife Management Areas.

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Other accomplishments during Strong’s tenure include a massive renovation of ODWC’s headquarters near the Capitol, launching the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation, roll-out of a new walk-in hunting and fishing Oklahoma Land Access Program, expansion of the Stars & Stripes License Project supporting veterans and soldiers, development of NBA star Paul George’s Fishing in the Schools partnership, and fostering a new partnership with the National Rifle Association to provide free online hunter education.

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Director Strong holds a number of leadership positions at the state and national level, including:

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• Chair, United Way of Central Oklahoma’s State Charitable Campaign

• President, Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

• Chair, Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports

• Secretary of Interior Appointee, Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

• Chair of Fisheries & Water Resources Policy Committee, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

• Chair of Awards Committee, Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

• Member, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy

• Executive Committee Member, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative

Mark Tisa - ​Director, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

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Mark S. Tisa has worked for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for 33 years. He’s held positions over that time as senior aquatic scientist, assistant director for fisheries, deputy director, and now director of the agency. He is responsible for the administration of all programs and activities for the Division including fisheries, wildlife, hunter education, natural heritage and endangered species, forestry, and land stewardship programs. Dr. Tisa established the youth pheasant, deer and turkey hunt programs in Massachusetts and was the lead in the development of their new field headquarters building in Westborough; a 45,000 square-foot, zero-net energy, LEED Platinum Building. He represents the agency at both the regional and national levels and is President of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He also serves on the Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy (JTF), the Trust Funds Committee, and Awards Committee for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He earned a B.S. in Biology from Springfield College, an M.S. in fisheries science from the University of Tennessee, a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Tech, and an M.B.A. from Anna Maria College.

Andy Treharne - Senior Director of the Western States and Federal Policy, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation​

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Andy Treharne joined the CSF team as a State Program Manager for the Western United States in October of 2011. In this role, Andy oversees and interacts with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus throughout the region. As a native Coloradan, hunter and angler, Andy has a vested interest in advancing, protecting and promoting sportsmen’s issues in the West.

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With past experience working with western legislators, government officials, stakeholders and local communities, Andy brings a unique and valuable perspective to his position with CSF. Prior to joining CSF, he served as the Policy Director for the House Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly where he supported a 33 member caucus through agenda development, policy and budget analysis, and regulatory monitoring. Additionally, he has worked as a Legislative Aide in the Colorado House of Representatives and as a staff member for U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (CO) in both Grand Junction, Colorado and Washington, DC.

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Andy has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in environmental policy, management and law from the University of Colorado at Denver. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable, as a member of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners Steering Committee, as a subject matter expert for the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council’s Recreational Shooting and Hunting Committees, and represents CSF on the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports Board of Directors.