Mark Gagliardi

National Event Chairman, CEO
certifications: NSCA LEVEL 1, USAYESS AND CSM
Mark Shoots: Browning Maxus Golden Clays

Mark is the CSWUS for OPEIU Local 277, our National Event Chair, and the Founder of Shoot for a Cure. Mark has been shooting and hunting since he was old enough to pick up a gun. He got into sporting clays in the early 2000s and founded Shoot for a Cure in 2003. In addition to shooting clays, Mark is a deer hunting fanatic and enjoys upland and small game hunting. Mark shoots many shotguns, but his favorite is his maple Browning Maxus, which he affectionately calls "Blondie."

Mark enthusiastically says that Shoot for a Cure has been the great surprise of his adult life, and anyone who meets him knows just how passionate he is about this great sport and this great cause. 

Brandon Salazar

DEPUTY EVENTS DIRECTOR
certifications: USAYESS
BRANDON Shoots: Caesar Guerini Invictus Sporting

Brandon Salazar is a third-generation steward of the Shoot For A Cure mission. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Vince Salazar—who helped start the organization in 2003—and his father, Chris, Brandon carries forward a deep-rooted family legacy of service.

A USAYESS certified instructor, Brandon is most at home on the range, where he introduces new shooters to the sport of sporting clays as the crew travels nationwide. He takes immense pride in SFAC’s history of impact, supporting vital organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and March of Dimes. Driven by heritage and a passion for the game, Brandon is dedicated to ensuring Shoot For A Cure remains a powerful force for good for generations to come.

Tom Spear

SFAC BOARD MEMBER
CERTIFICATIONS: NSCA Level 1 and CSM
ToM Shoots: browning 725 Sporting high rib

Tom Spear has been with Shoot for a Cure since 2004. After his retirement in 2011, as President for the Brick Layers Union, he became armorer and truck driver for SFAC.  Tom and his wife Lula log close to 10,000 miles hauling the SFAC truck and trailer from cost to coast to all of the events. Tom also has an intimate working knowledge of every shotgun on the trailer and along with the crew he keeps them in tip top condition. He started hunting for upland game birds and deer at a young age, and shoots sporting clays as often as possible. 

Bobby Klein

SFAC BOARD MEMBER
CERTIFICATIONS: CSM
BOBBY SHOOTS: Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting

Bobby Klein is a retired Carpenters Rep. from Northern California. He just graduated from the John Higgins CSM course last October, and has traveled with the guys to most of the events from coast to coast. He started as a child at 4 years of age learning to shoot from his grandparents and his uncle. Hunting has been a big part of his family's life for 50 years!

Bobby started shooting in Shoot for a Cure events from the beginning to represent the Carpenters Union. "It's like a big family!" he says. He loves introducing people to the shooting sports! The gun that is closest to his heart is his Grandfather's old Browning A-5, but he shoots sporting clays with a Caesar Guerini.

Mike Leong

CERTIFICATION: USAYESS
MIKE SHOOTS: BERETTA A300

Mike Leong, a Sacramento native, is a retired Carpenters Union Representative in Northern California. Coming from a family of hunters and fishermen, he began shooting as soon as he was old enough to handle a firearm. Michael is an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoys hunting waterfowl and upland game.

He started shooting with SFAC through the Carpenters Union in 2009. Shortly after his retirement, he signed up as a volunteer. Sporting Clays are one of his passions. He loves meeting new people, being involved in the community, and getting new shooters comfortable with the sport.

AJ O'Connor

CERTIFICATIONS: NSCA Level 1
AJ Shoots: Browning Cynergy

AJ resides in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. He has been with Shoot For A Cure since 2007. He first became experienced with firearms as a U.S. Marine Corps grunt and Primary Marksmanship Instructor. He is also an NSCA Level 1 Sporting Clays Instructor. AJ is an avid hunter and is happiest when he is in the woods or on a sporting clays course. In addition, as a husband, father of three and a Registered Nurse, he is passionate about the importance of medical research to cure these dreaded diseases. 

KJ O'Connor

KJ Shoots: Remington V3

KJ is a project manager for Parkitects Inc, an upstate NY manufacturer rep. for commercial playground equipment, splash parks, and pavilions. KJ’s first experience with Shoot for a Cure was in 2013 with AJ O’Connor, her boyfriend at the time, and now husband since June 2017. All it took was one round of sporting clays and KJ was hooked! AJ also introduced KJ to big game hunting and she took her first deer in 2015. The outdoors is where she’s the happiest-especially in hunting season or at a Shoot For A Cure event. KJ hopes to become a certified instructor in the next couple of years but for now she helps Lula on the East Coast keep the crew in line (or out of hand) and is always happy to be a substitute shooter at the flurry.