The Council Team
The staff at the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports are passionate about shooting sports, wildlife conservation and wild places and are driven to preserve the relevancy of these activities as part of our proud American heritage.
Dr. Steven Leath is the Executive Director for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. A member of the National Science Board and Board of Directors for the Boone and Crockett Club, he has a rich background as a former federal scientist, professor and university president. Dr. Leath is an experienced outdoorsman, avid hunter, and committed conservationist.
Charles ‘Swanny’ Evans, Certified Wildlife Biologist®, attended the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia where he earned his B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Sciences and Forest Resources, respectively. All of his work over the past decade has been conservation focused, with all aspects of ensuring the future of hunting and shooting sports being primary focus of his efforts over the past eight years. As the Director of Research and Partnerships, Swanny is a key member of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports and he has helped oversee the growth of the Council both in capacity and influence.
Taniya Bethke has a background in wildlife and conservation biology, environmental education, and community outreach. She actively builds relationships between people and the natural world in order to enhance understanding, change attitudes, increase appreciation, and overcome barriers and contributes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the conservation community to ensure that all people not only feel they belong in wild spaces, but are welcomed there by others. Taniya is the Director of Operations for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports.
Lance Cherry has more than three decades of advertising, marketing and media experience and is a national award-winning news editor, photographer and graphic designer. He has spent the last two decades in the natural resources industry, directing and leading media relations and conservation education efforts in New Mexico. In early 2022, Lance joined the team at the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports as their Communications and Marketing Manager. Lance attended New Mexico Highlands University where he earned his B.F.A. in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Visual Communications.
Amanda Pitman serves as the Program Associate for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. A lifelong outdoors enthusiast, her passion for public lands, hunting, and fishing grew exponentially once she moved to New Mexico. With an education and background in arts, photography, and writing from Texas State University and the University of Oklahoma, she looks forward to combining her passions to advance the Council’s initiatives and to promote hunters and shooters as conservation contributors.
Partnership Positions
The SEAFWA R3 Coordinator is a collaborative position among the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council), the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA).
Board of Directors
The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports Board of Directors is composed of leaders in the Conservation community. The board is focused on the business of recruiting, retaining and reactivating hunters and shooters and the development of new and sustainable strategies and tactics to solicit, engage and support these participants so vital to Conservation and American way of life.
CHAIR
Mark Tisa
Director
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
VICE CHAIR
Chuck Sykes
Director
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
TREASURER
Alex Baer
Executive Director
IHEA – USA
SECRETARY
Steven Leath, PhD
Executive Director
Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports
Dan Forster
Vice President & Chief Conservation Officer
Archery Trade Association
Ron Regan
Executive Director
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Bob Ziehmer
Conservation Director
Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s
Tony Schoonen
Chief Executive Officer
Boone & Crockett Club
Nick Wiley
Chief Operating Officer
Ducks Unlimited
Joe Bartozzi
Chief Executive Officer
National Shooting Sports Foundation
J.D. Strong
Director
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Larry Griffith
CEO/President
Bohning Archery
Taylor Schmitz
Director, Federal Relations
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Joel Brice
Chief Conservation Officer
Delta Waterfowl
Roger A. Young
Executive Director
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Scott Korvaroviks
Chief Executive Officer
Izaak Walton League of America
John Dudley
Professional Archer, Podcaster, Coach, Writer, CEO
JDA International & Nock On Archery
Jason Cloessner
Vice President & Product Development Manager
Lipsey’s
Sara Parker Pauley
Director
Missouri Department of Conservation
Nick Pinizzotto
Chief Executive Officer
National Deer Association
Bruce Cull
President
National Field Archery Association
Peter Churchbourne
Director, Hunters Leadership Forum
National Rifle Association
Kurt Dyroff
Co-Chief Executive Officer
National Wild Turkey Federation
Bryan Burhans
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Marilyn Vetter
Chief Executive Officer
Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever
Kyle Weaver
Chief Executive Officer
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Ben Cassidy
Director of Government Affairs
Safari Club International
Kevin Robling
Secretary
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
Gus Bader
President
TriStar Arms
Rod Menzer
Chief Executive Officer
USA Archery
Craig Kozeniesky
Chief Executive Officer
USA Shooting
Jason Nash
Vice President Marketing
Vista Outdoors
Paul Johansen
Chief
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Tony Wasley
President
Wildlife Management Institute
Paul Rauch
Assistant Director
US Fish & Wildlife Service