Instructors
John Monson
In June of 2003, John Monson purchased Bill’s Gun Shop & Range in Robbinsdale. At that time, John’s focus was to take a new approach to the good-old-boy’s smoky gun shop, and make it a destination location that welcomes the whole family; starting the venture of Bill’s Gun Shop & Range. He added the Circle Pines MN location in May of 2005 and the Hudson WI location in December 2012. By this point, this new approach to Gun Shops had caught on and John opened the Fargo, ND location in 2015.
Outside of professional interests, you will find John hunting and fishing as often as time will allow. He also enjoys spending as much time as possible on the lake with the family.
A lifetime member of the NRA, John’s also a 15 year Certified DNR Firearms Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, and a Certified Instructor at Bill’s Gun Shop & Range. John is also an active member of the NSSF Range Development Committee where he voluntarily assists other range owners and want-to-be owners, in the best practices of indoor range management.
John Monson
Scott Bertram
Years of Experience
- 10 years Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve including Desert Storm Active duty as a Machine Gunner
- 16+ years certified Federal Agent / Training Officer
- 1+ year NRA certified Firearms Instructor
Qualifications
As a Marine Corps Veteran, and a Federal Training Officer, Scott takes pride in his work and enjoys teaching others how to both safely and proficiently handle firearms. Scott joined the Bill’s Gun Shop team having worked as a Federal Agent and Trainer for the last 16 years, the last of which has been spent as one of their Lead Firearms Instructors. Scott enjoys recreational shooting as well as being able to instruct a wide variety of shooters from beginners, to advanced, and tactical. Scott is available for private, 1-on-1 instruction as well as group instruction.
Classes:
- Basic Handgun Familiarization
- Multi–State Conceal & Carry Renewal
- Multi–State Carry
Scott Bertram
Blake Schomas
Blake is an alumni of both University of Notre Dame and University of WI (MBA) and is a military veteran who has served in both in the US Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and in the Army National Guard as an S4 Officer (28th Div, 109th FA). Blake grew up in Illinois, but has lived in various locations and traveled to many countries for his work as a Global Marketing Director for an anchor company in the Twin Cities (25 years). He has been a resident of Hudson, WI since 2006.
Blake is an avid shooter and loves the sport. He fires thousands of rounds a year and especially likes getting new shooters introduced to target and bullseye. One of his passions is long distance handgun (200 yards and more). Blake also enjoys run and gun events where he has competed in USPSA. He currently runs the Monday Night Bullseye League (Hudson Bill’s location) and is a certified NRA Pistol Instructor.
In his free time, Blake is an avid boater on the St. Croix River and enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters and four dogs.
Blake Schomas
Dennis Jahnke
Dennis has been a Bill’s instructor since 2007. He is a NRA certified instructor, DNR certified instructor and has 15 years of experience training with handguns, rifles and shotguns. He is also an NRA member and a lifelong hunter
Classes:
- Multi–State Carry
- Basic Handgun Familiarization
Dennis Jahnke
Sean Christensen
Sean Christensen
Mike Price
Mike Price
Ben Gonzalez
Ben Gonzalez
Mark Dante
Mark
Dante
Doug Straus
Doug Straus
Evan Haakenson
Evan Haakenson
John works at the Robbinsdale location. He has an interest in both handguns and long guns and enjoys sharing his knowledge of firearms with customers. He is doing our Basic Handgun Familiarization Course and qualifications for our Concealed Carry and Renewal Course.
John Burniece
Jesse Bertram
Jesse has been shooting and part of the firearms community since he was old enough to understand what muzzle flagging was! When he is not at the range he is performing IT consulting as his passion is helping others achieve their goals and increase confidence and proficiencies regardless of the setting. Feel free to include what I teach (I am open to just about everything) and that I am available for lessons as well. If this is not what you were looking for just let me know.
Jesse Bertram
Ben Hugo
Ben Hugo
Ben Wasmund
Ben has over 30 years’ experience in public safety, specifically working in EMS as a paramedic. In addition to working as a paramedic, Ben has been an ERU and SWAT team member for two different County agencies over the past 14 years. These assignments require advanced firearms training and qualifications that resulted in his interest to increase his knowledge and skills in the firearms field. He completed his instructor certification in both handgun and carbine and continues to advance his knowledge through ongoing training and other firearms courses. Ben lives in Hudson and instructs the Basic Handgun and Multi-State Carry courses. He is also available for private, 1 on 1 or group lessons.
Ben Wasmund
Teresa Ovalle
Teresa Ovalle is a retired U.S. Marine who has always enjoyed handling firearms but did not realize her passion for pistol shooting until she took a basic pistol handling and shooting class to improve her skills and increase her comfort level with handguns. Unbeknownst to her, this experience kicked off the spark of pistol passion that would launch her interest in helping other women become knowledgeable, comfortable, and confident in their pistol handling and shooting skills.
Teresa is a certified instructor and has taught over 1300 women how to safely handle and shoot pistols comfortably and with confidence. She enjoys working with all women, particularly those new to the great sport of pistol shooting. “It’s exciting to see how their confidence grows as they become familiar with safe pistol handling and shooting, and understanding the power and confidence this knowledge brings. I absolutely love that women are joining the sport and sharing their knowledge and skills with other women. Look out boys, the ladies are here to stay!”
Teresa teaches small, co-ed classes each month at the Circle Pines location. The classes fill up quick, so grab your seat soon.
Already have the basic skills? Teresa also manages the MN Ladies Pistol League through Bill’s at the Circle Pines location. The League meets at Bill’s at Circle Pines every other Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. MN Ladies Pistol league is free to join and open to all levels of lady pistol shooters.
Teresa Ovalle
Mike Ellefson
Mike Ellefson is a career martial artist and instructor (5th degree black belt in Aikido and 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu). His academy MCFM has been located in Hudson, WI for 20 years.
In addition to civilian training, he also works in the government arena providing Defensive Tactics and Officer Survival training to local and Federal Law Enforcement.
Mike is a SME (subject matter expert) in Self-Defense/Self-Protection, Asset Retention, Weapon Retention and Applied Environmental Weaponry. Mike is a Nationally Certified Firearms Instructor and Conceal Carry Instructor.
Mike Ellefson
James Wildman
James Wildman aka Officer Wildman. Four years active duty in the United States Marine Corps. 18 years of Law Enforcement. I’ve been a firearms instructor for the past 12 years. Married with 3 beautiful children and a dog.
James Wildman
Rickey Red
Rickey Red
Mike Andersom
Michael Anderson has been teaching adults professionally since 1995, and focuses on installing the successful and sustainable skill sets designed to increase safety and survivability during a dynamic critical incident. His students are empowered and encouraged.
- Combat Focus Shooting Instructor, Defensive Firearms Coach, School Attacker Response Course Instructor.
- CSAT certified Tac Rifle/Pistol Instructor
- USCCA Certified Instructor
- National Rifle Association – Firearms Instructor in multiple disciplines including Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle.
- RangeMaster certified instructor
- Martial Arts Nerd since 1989.
With a passion for continuing education in personal defense and extreme close-quarter combat, Anderson is conversant in defensive tactics for law enforcement and active diffusion strategies.
“Efficiency and consistency. The foundational point of entry in Combat Focus Shooting allows any diligent student to develop fundamental success. My charge is to start people on the path that promotes personal responsibility, situational awareness, and building a lifestyle of increased vigilance and security. From someone’s grandmother to a person with a disability to a novice shooter to an experienced professional, CFS offers lessons in efficiency and consistency that provide terrific success right out of the gate, and are applicable in many other aspects of life. It works beautifully with what the body does naturally. You can be safer, in the parking lot on the way out of an introductory class, than you’ve ever been in your life. You can be good enough to defend yourself immediately.”
Mike ANderson
ERic Meng
Eric has over 30 years of experience with firearms and ammunition; with 12 of those years being in the United States Marine Corps working as an armory chief, corrections specialist, and primary marksman instructor. He is passionate about educating the ins and outs of firearms, safety and sharing his knowledge to help customers be comfortable and confident with their firearms. He also has been actively involved in coaching youth sports for 25 years and loves to be involved with the community in his free time.
Eric Meng
Jim Luchsinger II
Ralph J (Jim) Luchsinger II is a seasoned firearms training professional with over forty years of experience.
Retired from the United States Army, Jim has trained thousands of soldiers to use firearms safely and successfully. Including everything from small arms (rifles and pistols) to the M60 and M1 tanks (machine guns and cannons), winning several awards and commendations in the process.
Jim has also taught youth firearms safety, for over fifteen years, as a volunteer instructor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Youth Hunter Safety Program.
As a USCCA Certified instructor, Jim has taught firearms safety and Multi State Carry classes (MSCC) for the past three years. Jim is now teaching Basic Handgun safety, MSCC, and MSCC renewals for Bill’s Gun Shop and Range in Robbinsdale.
Jim Luchsinger II
Richard St. John
Years of Experience
20 years Marine Corps, 12 Years working in the S3 (Training and Operations) Training marines in different weapon systems from Pistol to 120 mm smooth boar cannon
22+ years certified Federal Agent / Training Officer, training federal offices in Basic and Advance Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun and Tactics.
NRA certified Firearms Instructor
Qualifications
As a Marine Corps Veteran, and a Federal Training Officer, Richard takes pride in his work and enjoys teaching others how to both safely and proficiently handle firearms. Richard joined the Bill’s Gun Shop team having worked as a Federal Agent and Trainer for the last 22 years. Richard enjoys recreational shooting as well as being able to instruct a wide variety of shooters from beginners, to advanced, and tactics. Richard is available for private, 1-on-1 instruction as well as group instruction.
Classes:
Basic Pistol Familiarization and Advanced Pistol training
Basic Rifle Familiarization and Advanced Rifle training
Basic Shotgun Familiarization and Advanced Shotgun training
HR218
Multi–State Conceal & Carry Renewal
Multi–State Carry
