Colorado Springs, Colorado
Photo courtesy of Jim Mitchell
Jim Mitchell poses with Kim Rhode- Photo courtesy of Ian White Photography
Colorado Springs, Colorado – Long-time USA Shooting community supporter and Los Angeles County resident, Jim Mitchell was recently elected to the USA Shooting Board of Directors, the governing body of shooting sports in the United States.
“USA Shooting is extremely excited to welcome Jim to the board. We believe that he will make an immediate impact for the benefit of our organization and our athletes,” says Chad Whittenburg, USA Shooting Chairman of the Board. “Jim’s industry networking abilities coupled with his works across a multitude of conservation based and advocacy organizations will be immensely valuable. We are honored that Jim is dedicating his time to support USA Shooting.”
In this role, Mitchell will work with the rest of the Board to ensure USAS adheres to its mission and objectives as set out in the organization's bylaws. He will play an active role in board meetings, attend international, national, regional, state and local events as a representative of USA Shooting BOD.
Jim resides in Los Angeles County as the owner and operator of Oak Tree Gun Club with daughter Betsy. Together they have developed East Oak Tree Gun Club into one of the most comprehensive shooting sports facilities in the country. Both provide lifelong experiences through firearm instruction, sales, serving the outdoor sports and hunting organizations, community organizations, Los Angeles Police Department and other law enforcement families as well as professionals at all levels and ages. Both actively support many organizations, raising substantial funds for conservation, shooting sports, and shooting veteran organizations as well as many local organizations.
Maybe most important to note about Jim and his new position within USA Shooting is his ongoing support for USA Shooting’s six-time Olympian, Kim Rhode and his effort to fund nearly $1 million from the Shikar Foundation (where he serves as Vice President on the Board) to USA Shooting.
“I’ve been involved with Kim Rhode from the beginning, since she was 14. I built a facility for her to train. My particular interest in the shooting sports is focused on the fact that we as a country are probably the largest owners of firearms in the world, and in that respect, I think we certainly should be an organization and country that fields the most incredible shooting teams in the world. My focus will be on strengthening our feeder systems like other Olympic Sports and finding ways to fund programs that will develop more Champions to inspire the next generation,” says Jim Mitchell. “I will try to help develop that aspect of USA Shooting, together with our passionate community, we will be focused on the importance of building from scratch the shooting sports. We’ll do this through partnerships with universities clubs ranges and other places. Aiming to getting substantial money to fund future programs.”
In addition to owning and operating Oak Tree Gun Club, Jim is a patron life member of the NRA and a member of the Ring of Freedom (Receiving the Gold Jacket in 2019). He previously served as president of the Southern California Safari Club and President of the Shikar Safari Club International (The world's oldest and most prestigious hunting organization).
“Jim is a longtime supporter of the Olympic movement and USA Shooting,” says six-time Olympian, Kim Rhode. “He brings years of experience and fundraising, which will be a great asset to the USA Shooting Board of Directors. He has been a good friend and more importantly, he is a great person with a love of the shooting sports and the outdoors."
Jim Mitchell’s will assume duties as BOD member officially at his first board meeting on June 24, 2020.