There really isn’t a single aspect of the outdoor lifestyle I can point my finger at say, “This is why I hunt, or this is why I fish.” Truth is, I love it all; from the moment I step foot out the door, to the moment I guide the boat back into the garage or return my gun to the rack, I live for time spent out-of-doors.
A few years back, I was struggling to figure out what I wanted to do professionally. Knowing I could never be satisfied with just a job, I had to define my career. In the midst of completing my Master’s at Gonzaga, I was fortunate to meet renowned outdoor writer, E. Donnall Thomas, Jr. With little more encouragement than a simple, “You can do what I do, if you work hard and commit to success,” Dr. Thomas set me on my path. In the years since, I’ve never looked back.
My official emergence in the outdoor communications industry began in September of 2006 with a small, weekly newspaper column in the Bloomington, Indiana Herald-Times. The column rapidly expanded into numerous surrounding markets, thus founding what I’m proud to consider a thriving career, today. After a quick stint at the iconic outdoor shop, J.L. Waters & Co., I was honored by an offer to join the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as Governor Mitch Daniels’ liaison. I eventually transitioned to the role of Public Affairs Specialist and staff writer of Outdoor Indiana magazine. After two years, I left to join the staff of Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. (manufacturers of nine brands of hunting and shooting equipment – Caldwell, Tipton, Wheeler, Lockdown, and more) as Marketing Manager. I’m still in the role today, and enjoying every minute of it.
I realize how fortunate I am to make a living doing what I love, amongst people I admire, in an industry I embrace. To be successful takes a lot of effort, and awards are a nice way to gauge others response to those efforts. Here are a few of the honors I’ve been fortunate to receive in the last few years:
2011 Professional Outdoor Media Association – Pinnacle Award for Magazine Writing
2009 Outdoor Media Representative of the Year – Indiana Bowhunter Association
2009 Indiana Society of Professional Journalists – 3rd place Magazine Article
2010 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers – 1st place Magazine Article
2010 Southeastern Outdoor Press Association – 2nd place Magazine Article
2009, 2010, 2011 Hoosier Outdoor Writers – Numerous 1st, 2nd, 3rd place awards for Magazine and Newspaper Articles
Industry involvement is an important aspect of growth no matter what your profession. I do my best to support both business and conservation organizations and initiatives benefiting the outdoors and our industry. Here are a few of my associations:
Professional Outdoor Media Association – <35 Committee Coordinator
Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers – Board of Directors
Hoosier Outdoor Writers – 2011 President, Board of Directors
Missouri Outdoor Communicators – 2011 Vice-President, Board of Directors
Southeastern Outdoor Press Association – Board of Directors (Corporate Liaison)
Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports – Board of Directors
National Rifle Association – Life Member
Trout Unlimited – Life Member
Federation of Fly Fishers – Life Member
National Wild Turkey Federation – Active Member
Pope & Young Club – Associate Member
Smallmouth Alliance – Active Member
Delta Waterfowl – Active Member (Howard County, Missouri Chapter Secratary)
The following newspapers are currently running my weekly outdoor column, Driftwood Outdoors:
Indiana
The Herald – Jasper
The Republic – Columbus
Daily Journal – Johnson County
Daily Clintonian – Clinton
Evening World – Spencer
Missouri
News-Tribune – Jefferson City
Fulton Sun – Fulton
California Democrat – California
The Lake Today – Lake of the Ozarks
Fayette Advertiser – Fayette
The following magazines are currently publishing, or have published, articles of mine:
Outdoor Life, Bowhunter, Traditional Bowhunter, Realtree.com, Whitetails Unlimited, Eastern Fly Fishing, Midwest Fly Fishing, Fur-Fish-Game, Outdoor Guide, Outdoor Indiana, Indiana Outdoor News, Woods-N-Water News, Tri-State Outdoors, The Gad-a-bout and Travel In.
See you down the trail…
