About Our Team

Andrew Sparks, our CEO and Head Instructor, has been immersed in the outdoor industry since childhood. His passion for wilderness survival and firearms was ignited during his time in the Boy Scouts of America, where he first developed a deep appreciation for self-reliance and adventure. Over the years, he has embraced every opportunity to push his limits in nature, successfully summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking the rugged trails of Torres del Paine, and traversing the legendary Incan Trail in Peru. His thirst for knowledge remains insatiable—despite his role as an instructor, he continually expands his expertise through books, hands-on experiences, and real-world applications.

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Beyond his personal adventures, Andrew has built a distinguished career as an educator. He has taught brewing and home distillation to survival groups, drawing from his extensive experience in the alcohol industry. For the past eight years, he has dedicated himself to firearms education, training family, friends, and students in responsible firearm ownership and safety. Now a licensed CCW instructor in multiple states through the USCCA, he is also in the process of writing a comprehensive guide on building emergency plans and "Bug-Out Bags." Passionate about equipping others with life-saving skills, Andrew is committed to sharing his wealth of knowledge to help individuals prepare for any situation.

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Russell Leonard, our Chief Range Safety Officer and Instructor, is a lifelong learner with a passion for hands-on skills and adventure. His journey has been anything but conventional—he's worked on apple farms, mastered metal fabrication in machine shops, and spent years refining his expertise in brewing. His adventurous spirit has led him on multi-day backpacking expeditions through Red River Gorge, as well as deep into the world of martial arts, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and American Boxing. In recent years, he has focused his energy on firearms training and safety, dedicating himself to mastering the field over the past three years.

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With nearly two decades in the beverage industry—where he specialized in communicating brewery history and sensory training—Russell has always been driven by a desire to teach and share knowledge. Now, as a USCCA Certified Range Safety Officer, he brings that same dedication to firearms instruction, offering a fresh, practical approach to training. Combining his diverse expertise with a passion for safety and education, he ensures that every student leaves his class more confident, capable, and prepared.​​