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
Doug Straus
Doug Straus
Ben Gonzalez
Ben Gonzalez
Mark Dante
Mark
Dante
Dale Tougas
Dale Tougas
Brian Brewer
Brian Brewer
Josh Herold
Marty Olson
Evan Haakenson
Evan Haakenson
John Burniece
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
Josh Herold
Josh is a unique shooter and instructor due to his education and experience. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Degree in Criminal Justice, a Certificate in forensic psychology, and is active duty law enforcement with over 10 years of experience. He has worked in small town police departments all the way up to large tribal police departments giving him a wide range of experience and training. That experience includes, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Front Line Supervisor, Administrator, law enforcement trainer including firearms, use of force, baton use, and developing and implementing training programs.
Before, and for some time during, working in law enforcement, Josh worked for a ground crew on an ambulance working mostly rural areas with a total time on an ambulance of just over 8 years. During this time he was a DOT certified First Responder and EMT instructor teaching classes all over Minnesota.
Josh is passionate about guns, ammo and everything in between having started shooting when he was 5 years old. His background in engineering has allowed him to break down what most instructors take for granted and allows him to teach shooters of all experience levels how to do what others tell you to do but can’t really explain how and why.
Josh chooses to spend most of his off time (and awake) at a range shooting or teaching. He is a competitive shooter shooting mostly in the USPSA sport style and loves to teach new shooters, push apprehensive shooters out of the apprehensive phase into having fun, training Law Enforcement, working with competitive shooters to get an edge, coaching shooters and shooting but not necessarily in that order.
Josh is a NRA Certified Pistol and Carry Course instructor as well as a certified Glock Armorer and a MN POST Board approved firearms and defensive tactics instructor. He loves teaching and is happy to do custom classes for one person or groups in handgun, rifle or PCC.
Josh Herold
Ben Hugo
