Meet our INSTRUCTORS
at the 3rd Annual Mountain Readiness Expo
Bear Independent
TJ Morris
TJ Morris, also known as Bear Independent, is the CEO of Refuge Medical, which he founded to provide high-quality first-aid kits. What started in his barn has grown into a multi-million dollar company focused on saving lives and serving God's kingdom. He is also the founder of Grindstone Ministries, a disaster relief and construction ministry, and Kaleb House, which helps restore trafficked children and families.
TJ’s YouTube channel, Bear Independent, offers a counter-narrative to misleading advice in the preparedness industry, drawing on his entrepreneurial and federal contracting experience. Since 2018, he has shared his Christian faith through Bible readings and testimonies.
The Angery American
Chris Weatherman
CHRIS WEATHERMAN, also known as ANGERY AMERICAN, is the author of 23 published works (and counting), including USA Today Best Sellers Forsaking Home and Resurrecting Home. His books include the Survivalist Series—a sensational hit that began with the Book 1, Going Home—and has now sold more than one million copies worldwide.
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In 2023, Chris started the Angery American Nation Podcast, addressing the issues affecting America today with humor, insight, and unabashed honesty. Covering a wide range of topics including politics, social issues, current events, survival, and self reliance, he challenges conventional wisdom and encourages listeners to question the status quo. The Angery American Nation Podcast aims to contribute to a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Tactical Rifleman
Karl Erikson
Tactical Rifleman is the go-to destination for advice and tips for all things military, tactical, survival, driving and shooting related. This is not just a gun or shooting page; We will have subject matter experts across various different fields share expertise learned through years of military experience.
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Tactical Rifleman is the go-to destination for advice and tips for all things military, tactical, survival, driving and shooting related. This is not just a gun or shooting page; We will have subject matter experts across various different fields share expertise learned through years of military experience. We will show you how the US military shoots, moves and communicates and how we use the latest and greatest equipment. We will show you that knowledge is the best tool for the job and knowledge is your best weapon.
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Perma Pastures Farm
Billy Bond
Billy is a versatile professional with a unique blend of skills and experiences. Having served in the US Army as a skilled Sapper, Billy honed his problem-solving abilities and dedication to precision. Transitioning into the civilian world, he became a journeyman electrician and college graduate.
Beyond electrical work, Billy also possesses a surprising talent as a trained butcher, displaying a meticulous approach in this craft. His passion for regenerative living led him to explore permaculture design, contributing to the creation of ecologically balanced environments. But Billy's journey didn't stop there. He is also the co-author of Scrapsteading.
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As a content creator, Billy reaches a wide audience, through YouTube, and podcast mediums providing valuable tutorials, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative ideas. His dedication to sharing knowledge and skills has solidified him as a respected figure in multiple fields.
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Wildcard Wilderness
Jacks Genega
Jacks Genega is an avid adventurer and full-time van-lifer who travels across the country teaching various wilderness skills with a focus on tree medicine and camp craft. Her journey into exploring outdoor skills began when she encountered an earthquake, witnessed an avalanche, and fell into a crevasse on just day one of her solo hike across Iceland’s Landmannalauger region. It was then that she thought to herself, “I really need to amplify my survival skills.” She didn’t shy away from other solo travels across the UK and Europe having traversed some of the Alps’ highest peaks, glaciers and rivers while also studying bushcraft with Woodland Ways (UK) leading up to the completion of their Northern Forest Year, a year-long intensive in Scotland’s East Lothian region, home to the famous mountaineer, John Muir. She then carried her love for the craft back to the U.S. training with and working for various experts in the fields of emergency and wilderness survival. Jacks hopes to share her love of all things bushcraft and survival to not only help others develop a shared skill set, but to aid in a sense of resilience through self-reliance through her school and brand, Wildcard Wilderness. In the wilderness, one can encounter a wildcard situation albeit a storm, getting lost, wildlife encounters, etc; but with skills, wisdom and guts one can become the wildcard and overcome any situation against all odds.
Gray Zone Activity
Wes Hightower
Meet Wes Hightower with Gray Zone Activities. Wes is a seasoned military professional with extensive experience in special operations and engineering. He began his service with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he spent three years as an infantry mortar man. He then graduated from the Special Forces qualification course as an 18C Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. Hightower spent seven years with the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as an Advanced Forces Operator in C 1-1. He also spent four years as a special forces physical and technical surveillance instructor at the Special Warfare Center and School. In his final role before retirement, he worked as a technical security advisor and surveillance operator.
The Farm & Forge
Chantal Mullin
Chantal has been Stewarding the soil and Teaching others since 2011. Her Experience Spans From Gardening to Farming! Chantal has designed, installed, and maintained edible landscapes, gardens, and this upcoming year, her second farm. From plants to animals, butchering to seed starting, she creates integrated systems that are truly sustainable and regenerative. Her hands on experience is backed by an education in Plant and Soil Science, Agriculture Education, and Sustainable Food Systems.
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“There is Freedom, Satisfaction, and Reward in growing your own food. Not only monetarily, and healthwise, but also for the Soul.”- Chantal Mullen
Mind 4 Survival
Brian Duff
Brian Duff, the founder of Mind 4 Survival, brings a wealth of experience in tactical and preparedness training. With a background that includes service as an Army Ranger with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, overseeing security at major U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, and working with the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Special Operations Division, Duff offers extensive expertise in security and survival. He has also served as a paramedic and remote medic in various conflict zones. His podcast and upcoming book, *Mind4Survival*, focus on preparedness and security.
Pete Robertucci
Special Guest
Pete Robertucci, author of *Three Days to Eden*, *Eden under Threat*, and *Eden Army*, is not only a skilled writer but also a seasoned firearms instructor with over two decades of experience. A retired firefighter and medic with SWAT medic training, Pete has operated several training companies, including the Israeli Tactical School – Daytona and Tradecraft – Daytona. He specializes in Israeli techniques for pistols and carbines and has extensive expertise in personal security, SWAT tactics, active shooter response, and home defense.
God's Good Table
Maureen Diaz
We are Maureen and Erin, a mother/daughter duo who love the Lord and love His people!After watching family struggle with health issues and dealing with her own, Maureen knew there were answers beyond the advice conventional medicine gave. She set out on a journey to learn and study traditional healing and cooking from every book she could get her hands on and every holistic practitioner she could find. She has been sharing what she has learned with her family, friends, and community for over 30 years! Maureen has a passion for teaching, cooking, kayaking, showing immense love for all the people who join her at the kitchen table, and being an amazing wife and mother to 9 children.
Troy's Gate
Randy Martin
Randy Martin, with over 40 years in law enforcement, has extensive experience across various roles, including 5 years with the state of West Virginia, 12 years with the City of Lenoir, NC, and 30 years as a sworn deputy in Caldwell County. Now, he specializes in training and education on the use of deadly force for military, special agents, peacekeepers, and law enforcement officers. Randy's presentation will focus on the facts surrounding deadly force and human reactions to high-stress situations. A key aspect of his discussion will be the impact of Troy's Gate, a system that allows for controlled studies of behaviors in these critical scenarios.
Fortune Favors the Prepared
Nick Meacher
Nick is a seasoned expert in emergency response and disaster planning with over 30 years of experience. He has a deep background in hazard and threat assessments, creating practical response plans, and developing exercises to refine those plans. He teaches national courses on communications for emergency response and leads a ham radio testing team with frequent sessions. Nick also specializes in continuity planning to ensure critical infrastructure remains functional during crises.
To make emergency planning accessible, Nick has crafted workbooks for individuals to develop family emergency plans and conduct threat assessments. His extensive writing covers various preparedness topics, from food storage to privacy management, and his mind-maps provide visual tools for effective planning.
Survival Gear BSO
Brian Loftus
Brian's passion for Preparedness began more than 15 years ago. He spent 9 years training at several survival schools across the United States and earning his first Instructor Certification in 2015. These schools ranged from Spartan Americana with Joseph Teti to Israeli Tactical School where he earned his instructor certificate in Counter Terror & Instructor CQB. He has also trained at the world-renowned Pathfinder School.
Brian has trained in environments from the Ozarks to the Appalachians and as far as the jungles of Nicaragua.
Starting his own survival gear store in 2016 and rebranded in 2020, Survival Gear: Bushcraft & Survival Outfitters was born. Brian's vision for Survival Gear BSO is to equip those interested in preparedness with the most reliable gear that can be found without breaking the bank.
Don Dunn
Special Guest
Don Dunn is a seasoned expert in preparedness and survival, with over 25 years of experience in the field. He previously owned Shield Survival, a survival food company, and Ranger Proof Arms, a manufacturer of high-end AR carbines and knives. Dunn is a skilled knife designer, with several of his blades currently in use by special operations troops worldwide. He co-designed the Angery American field blade "The Dalton" with Alan Kay, winner of *Alone* Season One, and one of his knife designs was featured on *Naked and Afraid*.
Dunn has extensive teaching experience, having collaborated with Chris Weatherman, Alan Kay, Tactical Rifleman, and Greenline Tactical, among others. He has also conducted numerous private classes and contributed to YouTube channels like Tactical Rifleman and Survival Dispatch. An avid outdoorsman and certified firearms instructor for over 20 years, Dunn emphasizes the critical importance of food storage in preparedness. His passion lies in empowering responsible citizens to achieve food independence and navigate crises effectively.
Homestead Medical
Chuck Peoples
Chuck Peoples brings over 30 years of extensive EMS experience to his role as the owner and operator of Homestead Medical. His background includes more than 20 years of public EMS service, international contractor paramedic work, and 25 years as an EMS educator. At Homestead Medical, Chuck specializes in teaching non-medical students about prolonged care, advanced wound care and closure, tactical and emergency trauma, and the management of sick or injured patients in long-term care settings.
Revelation Survival
John Galloway
John Galloway of Revelation Survival has a diverse background, shaped by his upbringing with missionary parents across the U.S., from Northern California to North Carolina. His father instilled in him a strong foundation in wilderness and homesteading skills. After graduating high school, John served for a decade in the USMC, gaining valuable jungle survival skills while working with indigenous communities in the Philippines. Following his military service, he joined the Fayetteville (NC) Fire Department, where he worked as a medic, Rescue Technician, and HazMat Technician, retiring as a Captain in 2016.
Transitioning to a full-time career, John pursued his passion for homesteading and began teaching firearms training, specializing in long-range precision shooting. He also offers wilderness skills training, aiming to share the beauty of God’s creation and the tranquility found in nature.
Nc Scout
Brushbeater
NC Scout is a former Infantry Scout and NCO with experience in top Reconnaissance Units, having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. An avid hunter, bushcrafter, long-range shooter, prepper, and amateur radio operator, he shares lessons learned from real-world experiences to help others build essential survival skills. Focused on the Small Unit approach, NC Scout emphasizes teamwork and resourcefulness in prepping and survival situations, believing small, well-coordinated teams are key to success in uncertain times. He is also the author of the bestselling books The Gorilla’s Guide to Baofeng Radio and The Gorilla’s Guide to Signal Intelligence.
Seaux Larreau
Special Guest
Seaux Larreau, a distinguished member of the Joel Hardin Tracking Program (JHPTS) since 1993, has significantly impacted military tracking and combat training. Initially part of Universal Tracking Services (UTS), he transitioned to JHPTS, integrating its methodologies into the 10th Group Special Forces Sniper program and various combat disciplines. His expertise led to his role as an instructor and advisor, where he effectively incorporated JHPTS techniques into sensitive site exploitation, counter-IED operations, and military K-9 training.Larreau's influence extended beyond military applications; he was actively involved in search and rescue operations and crime scene investigations across the U.S. and Canada. His methods earned him recognition and featured him in publications. His efforts in revising military tracking manuals and advocating for practical tracking skills over expensive technology were noteworthy. Larreau retired from the U.S. Army in summer 2016 after a 28-year career. He is now a member of Tactical Rifleman and assists with many other tactical organizations.
Shankle Homestead Leatherworks
Jim & Jess Shankle
Jim and Jess Shankle of Shankle Homestead Leather Works run a family-owned leather shop in Ohio, showcasing the potential of self-sufficient living. As dedicated homesteaders, they embody what a motivated young couple can achieve. At Fallout!, they'll be leading a youth leather make-and-take class, sharing their skills and passion for leatherworking with the next generation.
Franklin Horton
Special Guest
Franklin Horton, an acclaimed author living in the rugged mountains of southwestern Virginia, has lived a life full of adventure and eclectic jobs before finding his true calling. From his early days as a voracious reader with a dream to write, he pursued a degree in English at Virginia Commonwealth University and embarked on a whirlwind career as a radio announcer, hotel clerk, photo processor, and more. His varied experiences also include stints as a delivery driver, substance abuse educator, retail store owner, carpenter, and general contractor.Today, Horton has penned over thirty thrilling science fiction and suspense novels, immersing himself in a life atop the remote Clinch Mountain peak. His days are split between crafting gripping stories and tinkering in his workshop, just like his characters.
Building Food Security
Lori Valone
Lori Valone is the author of Building Food Security: Canning, Dehydrating, and Freeze Drying. With a focus preparing families for food supply disruptions from natural and man-made disasters, Lori Valone has spent ten years studying methods for gathering and preserving food. Utilizing canning, dehydrating and, most recently, freeze drying, she researches creative ways to add to the long term food supply for both her immediate and extended family. An avid mountain gardener, she combines home-grown and store-bought foods to extend family food security.
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Taking a page from her career background in technical program and project management, Lori emphasizes the importance of taking time to plan rather than simply storing food. Only with a plan can you know you are making progress your short-term and long-term goals and identify the gaps in your plan. Lori serves as the coordinator for a local preparedness group in her western North Carolina community and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the country.
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Grass Roots North Carolina
Paul Valone
Becoming politically active in 1994, Paul Valone founded and continues to direct two political non-profit organizations, serves as president of a third, and has created numerous political action committees. Beyond legislative activities, he continues freelance writing, hosts the show “Guns, Politics and Freedom,” and has been interviewed and quoted by dozens of newspapers, and radio and television stations. Drawing on 28 years of grassroots leadership, Valone wrote Rules for ANTI-Radicals: A Practical Handbook for Defeating Leftism as a tactical guide for defeating leftism in both politics and daily life.
As a Second Amendment advocate and firearms instructor who has been certified by the NRA and the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, a deputized Federal Flight Deck Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and a United States Practical Shooting Association competitor who has completed twenty-eight advanced defensive firearms courses and certifications, Valone knows firearms and laws governing self-defense.
Bushcraft NC
Rick Dunlap
Rick Dunlap, the proud proprietor of Bushcraft North Carolina, not only oversees the community as its dedicated Facebook administrator but also brings an impressive 18-year tenure as a certified instructor for the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI). With expertise in standard first aid, CPR, AED, basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers, and wilderness first aid, Rick has been a stalwart in promoting safety and well-being.
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In addition to his role as an ECSI instructor, Rick serves as an esteemed instructor for the Old North Council Boy Scouts of America, specializing in health and safety. His commitment extends to his role as a health officer at the Cherokee Scout Reservation, reflecting his dedication to fostering a secure environment.
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Rick's illustrious career includes a remarkable 25-year service as a U.S. Army Sergeant Major, during which he spent a decade as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, NC, with the 16th Military Police Brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division. As a combat veteran and former drill sergeant, Rick's military experience has shaped his unwavering commitment to excellence and discipline.
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Beyond his military service, Rick is a retired high school teacher in North Carolina. Teaching holds a special place in his heart, viewing it as one of his passions. Rick firmly believes in the power of passing on valuable skills to the younger generation, recognizing that this transfer of knowledge ensures a legacy of competence for generations to come.
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Bushcraft Global
Joe Flowers
Owner of Bushcraft Global, Joe is an avid outdoorsman and instructor. This friendly American lives in the mountains of North Carolina where he freezes his rear off every winter while dreaming of the jungle and the animals in it. Following his love for the outdoors, Joe Graduated NC State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology with a Minor in Entomology. All throughout that time, he ventured across the United States and beyond searching for animals, and learning primitive and survival skills. Joe had always been into knives and outdoor primitive living ever since he was a child, and with that, he started writing for Tactical Knives magazine. Since then, Joe has gone on to write for Self Reliance Illustrated, Backpacker magazine, Swat magazine, Survival quarterly, Backwoodsman, New pioneer, Master Woodsman, Equip 2 Endure and American Frontiersman to name a few.
Joe’s love for machetes teamed him up with companies like Condor Knives, and his machete and knife designs are well known throughout the knife world. Joe has also worked with custom makers to produce good dependable outdoor knives as well. Joe works frequently with TOPS knives, a US manufacturer and official sponsor of Bushcraft Global, designing for them and brain storming ideas. Joe frequently travels around the world from South America to Europe in search of the outdoor skills of various cultures, and passing them onto everyone.
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Heavy Crown Forge and Crafts
Rob Schneider
Rob is the owner/operator of Heavy Crown Forge and Crafts and an instructor for the Old World Alliance. A retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran with 20 years of service, Rob has extensive experience in multiple combat zones and operational roles, including serving as a lead mission planner for Marine Helicopter Squadron One in support of the U.S. President.
Rob’s background in military training has led him to focus on individual and family preparedness, including expertise in survival skills, emergency medical care, and safety. He holds numerous certifications, including TCCC-CLS, Red Cross Wilderness First Aid, and FEMA Incident Command training, among others. His passion for the outdoors and preparedness shapes his work as an instructor and business owner.
Gahagan Customs
Kyle Gahagan
Kyle Gahagan brings a wealth of experience and discipline to his knife-making, drawn from his military background. Having served in demanding roles, he understands the critical importance of reliable, high-performance tools. His time in the military has deeply influenced his approach to crafting knives, emphasizing durability and precision. Each blade is designed with the same rigorous standards he adhered to in service, ensuring that they are not only functional but also dependable in high-stakes situations. Gahagan's commitment to excellence is rooted in his military experience, making his knives a trusted choice for those who need superior tools in the field.
Mel of the Mountains
Melonie Stanger
Melonie Stanger, the visionary behind Mel of the Mountains, has led a life brimming with diverse experiences and profound passions. Her journey from a radio announcer and software engineer to a bakery owner, "cake engineer," and expert bookkeeper illustrates a life rich with curiosity and skill. Most notably, Melonie has dedicated herself to the ancient craft of brain tanning, reviving the art of creating buckskin hides.
Residing in the picturesque North Georgia mountains, Melonie's commitment to preserving and teaching brain tanning highlights her unique blend of tradition and innovation. Through her website, melofthemountains.com, she provides a wealth of knowledge on traditional tanning techniques and offers resources for those eager to learn this craft. Melonie’s story is one of resilience and continual exploration, embodying the spirit of never-ending curiosity and dedication.
