The Cadre
TREK
Staff Instructor + Owner
Trek spent nearly a decade with the United States Air Force as a decorated Military Police Officer and Instructor. While on active duty with the USAF, he deployed in support of OPERATIONS: ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and SOUTHERN WATCH. As a formally-trained educator and graduate of the USAF Air University College for Enlisted Professional Military Education; He has over 15,000 hours of instruction between his Military and Civilian duties and holds a national Occupational Instructor certification and an Instructor of Military Science and Technology degree as a result. Trek is a licensed and bonded Professional Investigator in the state of Michigan, a distinguished graduate of the Federal Criminal Investigator Training Program, is the founder of the Northern Woods Training Facility, and is an owner of Spectacle Lake Outdoor Club. When not teaching, Trek writes for publications such as RECOIL, Breach Bang Clear, and Monderno, discusses training and 2A issues on podcasts such as Practically Tactical, This Week in Guns, Civilian Carry Radio, Matter Of Facts Podcast, and is also a proud supporter and volunteer for the Brian Terry Foundation. Needless to say, Trek has no free time much to the chagrin of his beautiful better half.
ALLISON
Admin / Marketing + Owner
Allison has been involved in the firearms industry since 2012 between shooting and training as a hobby as well as a previous marketing job at Trijicon, Inc. With her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, you can typically find her behind the computer in all things MDFI. She is the person behind the official MDFI email account and provides all of MDFI’s marketing materials, manages the website, and tackles all admin duties. Allison also spends a good portion of her time fixing Trek’s Microsoft Paint advertising attempts.
TIM
Lead Instructor
Tim has been involved with firearms for more than 10 years that started as a hobby and eventually turned into a way of life. Tim developed his passion for instructing during his time as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army Infantry where he saw a void in practical firearms training. On top of his time in military service, he has worked in the private security sector doing a myriad of duties. Tim is devoted husband and German Shepard wrangler, a spontaneous and slightly off-pitch singer, and an active participant in several shooting sports, such as IDPA, USPSA, and 3-Gun.
BRANDON
Lead Instructor
Brandon is a man with not much free time on his hands but he always has time for teaching. As a U.S. Army combat veteran with over 12 years of combined Active/Guard service under his belt, Brandon was well versed in building trained Soldiers as Squad Leader and Firearms Instructor for his company. Now back in the civilian side of things, he helps his family run Long Range Archery and Firearms of Holland MI, and is an avid hunter, shooter, and outdoorsman. Brandon can often be found providing incredible backup vocals for his good friend Tim when not cutting loose on the dance floor.
SHANE
Instructor
After spending 4 years in the Marine Corps as an Infantry Rifleman, Shane returned to his home state of Michigan. After earning his degree in Criminal Justice, he attended the Wayne County Regional Police Academy where he graduated as class Captain. Since then he has achieved certifications as MCOLES firearms instructor, Krav Maga instructor, Taser instructor, UTM Force on Force Instructor, Certified Glock Armorer, VCQB instructor, and “making long lists of certifications” Instructor. Shane currently works as a federal law enforcement officer in the Big Mitten. When not on the line with MDFI, Shane also offers free classes on how to look intense.
DEREK
Assistant Instructor
Derek has been involved in the world of defensive firearms training for over 6 years and has been an avid sportsman and firearms enthusiast almost his whole life. He started his teaching path as an Assistant Instructor with Steadfast Applications, LLC. On top of his instructor training, Derek continues to train with numerous regional and national instructors to broaden his skills with the mindset that all responsible gun owners should be an asset to not only themselves and their families, but to society as a whole. And as a bonus, if you ever find yourself in need of “more cowbell”, Derek is your man.
GRANT
Assistant Instructor
Grant began his career in Law Enforcement in 2014 as an Auxiliary Police Officer in the state of Michigan and has since worked in Emergency Dispatch/Operations, Executive Protection, and high-value asset protection. Grant has also worked in corporate security management as a training coordinator, defensive tactics and use of force instructor. As of today, he is still coming down from the high of being the 27th runner-up to the 2006 Time Magazine Person of the Year.
KEVIN
Assistant Instructor
A long-time veteran of service to his country and community, Kevin spent more than 7 years with the Michigan ARMY National Guard as a Commissioned officer who split his time as a Military Police Offer and Instructor at the Officer Candidate School. Kevin is a sworn and active Law Enforcement officer in Southwest Michigan and he is also the current Commander for his regional Tactical Team. He is a K9 handler, Firearms/Use of Force/Defensive Tactics Instructor, and he also logs and maintains a comprehensive list of reasons on why you don’t actually want a Belgian Malinois after getting a Belgian Malinois.
MATT
CPL Training Affiliate – Foundation Defense, LLC
While Matt would call himself, “Just a regular dude.” He is actually a dedicated shooter and instructor who has been in the game for over a decade. Since teaching CPL classes since they were known as “CCW” courses, Matt has always had a goal of empowering and inspiring his students through knowledge to help them become responsibly armed citizens. Matt is a veteran member of the MDFI Alumni, an Assistant Instructor for Greenside Training of Arizona, and likes to dabble in the DIY with his company Southpaw Knots.
BRAD
CPL Training Affiliate – Minuteman Defense, LLC
Brad’s passion for shooting is lifelong; initially sparked by hunting with his grandfather as a boy. A dedicated responsibly-armed citizen, he has hundreds of hours of professional firearms training under his belt and has been a competitive shooter for a decade. Brad lives and breathes, “all things guns” as the owner of Great Lakes Custom Works, Match Director at the American Confederation of Tactical Shooters, Church Security Consultant and Team Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer and as an instructor through USCCA.