Carlee and Vanja Krtolica stayed with us after hours to tell us the story about how they met up with some Navy SEALs who tested some of their products.

This month we are welcoming Carlee & Vanja Krtolica, Co-Founders of Apex Optics .

Vanja Krtolica

President & CEO, Co-Founder of Apex Optics

Vanja Krtolica is a seasoned hunter and competitive shooter, excelling in disciplines such as Steel Challenge, IPSC/USPSA, 3-Gun, NRL Hunter, and Precision Rifle Series. He’s even claimed victories in shotgun turkey shoots. Before co-founding Apex Optics, Vanja lent his expertise as a Program Manager, specializing in CyberSecurity and Large Infrastructure projects across Canada and the U.S. His blend of corporate experience, passion for the outdoors, and love for hunting in Western Canada provided Apex Optics with a unique advantage when developing its first products.

Today, while Vanja continues to compete in shooting sports whenever possible, his primary focus is on optical design and new product development. His vast experience in hunting and shooting sports drives the innovation behind Apex Optics’ cutting-edge products.

Carlee Krtolica

Vice-President & COO, Co-Founder of Apex Optics

Carlee Krtolica is the VP, Co-Founder, and COO of Apex Optics, where she combines her diverse expertise in corporate management, consulting, and competitive sports to lead the company’s operations and strategic initiatives. Before co-founding Apex Optics, Carlee built a robust career in the energy sector, specializing in fixed asset and production accounting. Her experience in marketing and recruiting have also been crucial in shaping the brand's success.

In addition to her corporate experience, Carlee served as a business consultant, advising companies on growth strategies and marketing efficiencies. She is also a published author, with her best-selling book making a significant impact in her field.

Carlee’s journey in competitive shooting began with pistol sports, particularly Steel Challenge, where she quickly rose to prominence. She won a national title in her women’s classification in 2018 and secured second place in 2019 while five months pregnant, demonstrating her remarkable dedication and resilience.

Beyond her work at Apex Optics, Carlee is a prominent figure in the shooting sports community. She serves on the board of the Canadian Precision Rifle Association (CAPRA), the national governing body under the International Precision Rifle Federation (IPRF) for precision rifle sports. In this role, Carlee helps set the qualification standards for Team Canada in world championships for both precision centerfire and rimfire disciplines and oversees the management of Team Canada each year.

This month we are welcoming Kelly Kincaid, Vice-president of special events for the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights (CCFR) and Mapleseed instructor.Kelly has been a member and a Field Officer with the CCFR since its inception. She has held many positions within the organization: Field Officer, Regional Field Officer Coordinator, Provincial Coordinator, and she is currently serving as the VP of Special Events. Kelly has helped grow the Field Officer Program in Ontario, volunteering at shows, Ladies Days, and other Events across the Province.Kelly is an IPSC shooter and Match Director for her club, a Mapleseed Instructor, Hunter, and an overall lover of guns!About SHE SHOOTS PODCAST:SHE SHOOTS is a podcast for women in the shooting community and for those interested in learning more about it. It is hosted by women who shoot, hunt, and instruct and most importantly share a passion for introducing new ladies to the sport.Coming to you on the second Tuesday of every month, the objective of SHE SHOOTS is to showcase various activities in the shooting sports and highlight the people who participate. We hope this will help you find something you are interested in learning more about and various ways to get involved.Did you know the shooting community proudly boasts over 250,000 licensed women who participate across Canada? This sport has something for everyone and it's easy to get out and give it a try.Join us every month when we host SHE SHOOTS on a variety of social media platforms. This exciting collaboration is brought to you by the Canadian University Shooting Federation, Project Mapleseed and LadyGuns.

This month we are welcoming Melody Philistin and Taylor Reich, PCC National Champions.

Melody Philistin is a competitive shooter for Team FH Munitions, and Team Apex. She is the current Handgun and PCC National Lady Champion, multi-time Provincial Lady Champion in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as the first IPSC Multi-Discipline National Lady Champion. Melody started shooting IPSC Handgun in 2022, and started shooting PCC in April of this year.

Taylor Reich is also a competitive shooter for Team FH Munition and Team Apex. He is a 3x Canadian IPSC national champion in handgun and PCC, along with multiple Alberta and Saskatchewan provincial titles. Taylor began shooting 3-gun in 2016, IPSC in 2019 and is the first Canadian IPSC shooter to have won nationals in multiple disciplines overall.

This month we welcomed Tracey Wilson, Vice-president of public relations for the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights (CCFR) to talk about National Range Day (June 1), a day created to recognize the 2.3 million licensed gun owners who responsibly, legally, and safely own and use firearms in Canada.Tracey has been a significant part of the CCFR team Since its inception and was one of the original incorporating directors. Her role and skills have grown over the years, making her a powerful, public-facing advocate. Tracey is the vice president of public relations for the CCFR and Canada’s only in-house registered gun lobbyist. Her political influence and tenacious spirit make this lady an asset to the CCFR team and Canadian gun owners.Not only is Tracey the VP of public relations for the CCFR and their registered Lobbyist, but she is also a published author, having written articles for Women’s Hunting magazines. Tracey and CCFR CEO Rod Giltaca can be seen regularly on the CCFR Radio Podcast and YouTube Channel with their “Week in Review,” and has graced SHE SHOOTS on a number of occasions to share her vast knowledge of Canada's gun communities and legislation. She is the original “CCFR Calendar Gunnie Girl” cover model and one of the CCFR Women’s Program Executive team members. In her “free time”, Tracey can always be found at the range doing special events like National Range Days and Women’s Introductory Range Days. And is a familiar face at Sports and Gun Shows like the Toronto Sportsman Show and TACCOM.Tracey is a mom, grandmother, a sports shooter, a seasoned hunter and Canada’s one and only “Gun Goddess.”

This month, we welcome Amber Berukoff, owner of Cantac Firearms, Cantac Machining LTD and candy store in Castlegar, Match Director for the West Kootenay Marksmen, President of the Castlegar Pistol Club, and the Founder/Managing Director of the West Kootenay Ladies Shooting Group.

Amber or "Lola" to her friends is a busy business owner and mom to 2 beautiful children. She is a  licensed gunsmith as well as a certified range officer.

In her spare time, she enjoys running matches, events and classes that entice women, kids and those who need help stepping into the firearms community the opportunity to do so.

SHE SHOOTS is a podcast for women in the shooting community and for those interested in learning more about it. It is hosted by women who shoot, hunt, and instruct and most importantly share a passion for introducing new ladies to the sport.

Coming to you on the second Tuesday of every month, the objective of SHE SHOOTS is to showcase various activities in the shooting sports and highlight the people who participate. We hope this will help you find something you are interested in learning more about and various ways to get involved.

Did you know the shooting community proudly boasts over 250,000 licensed women who participate across Canada? This sport has something for everyone and it's easy to get out and give it a try.

Join us every month when we host SHE SHOOTS on a variety of social media platforms. This exciting collaboration is brought to you by the Canadian University Shooting Federation, Project Mapleseed and LadyGuns.

In her community, she is a director of multiple non profits related to wildlife conservation and community management, including the West Kootenay Marksmen, Castlegar Pistol Club, and West Kootenay Ladies Shooting Group. Amber loves seeing the look of excitement that new shooters get when introduced to the sport and it is her goal to be that stepping stone for whoever needs it. 

If you need help learning more about firearms or want to join in on any of the Kootenay events, check out the websites below! 

www.wklsg.net

www.castlegarpistolclub.com

www.trailwildlife.com

This month, we welcome Teri Bryant, Alberta's Chief Firearms Officer.

This month, we welcome Vanessa Harrop, Outdoor Quest TV host and avid hunter and outdoorswoman who recently won the Grand Slam Club's Super Slam Award for 2024 at SHOT Show this year.

This month we welcomed Tracy Wilson, Vice-president of public relations for the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights (CCFR).

Tracy has been on the front lines in Ottawa as the registered lobbyist for CCFR supporting firearms owners and businesses during the hearings and creation of Bill C-21.

This month, we welcome Cathy Wolf, a northern Alberta outfitter, avid mentor for women and youth in firearms and founder of Untamed Women.

She grew up in a small agricultural town in central Alberta; where hunting wasn’t a main focus for her family. Firearms were around however, for gopher control. 

In the hunting world, she has been very fortunate in successfully harvesting every big game animal in Alberta and was first woman to do so. She has also completed her Super 10.

Cathy and her husband own an outfitting company called ⁠Wolf Huntin Adventures⁠. Through it she has met a variety of individuals and she noticed a trend that the wives, girlfriends, and partners were intimidated or uninvolved. This inspired her to start ⁠Untamed Women⁠ and help build a network for women of all levels of experience to reach out and connect through range days, fishing adventures and hunting trips.

Find her:

⁠https://instagram.com/she_alpha_wolf?igshid=MTZ5N3ZydHV4MjZ1Zw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

⁠⁠https://instagram.com/untamedwomen_?igshid=eG5hZGRvbzVoMWZh&utm_source=qr

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/cathy.wolf.10?mibextid=LQQJ4d

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551392480660&mibextid=9R9pXO⁠

Manning Range Day Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091464638922&mibextid=9R9pXO

Coming to you on the second Tuesday of every month, the objective of SHE SHOOTS is to showcase various activities in the shooting sports and highlight the people who participate. We hope this will help you find something you are interested in learning more about and various ways to get involved.

Did you know the shooting community proudly boasts over 250,000 licensed women who participate across Canada? This sport has something for everyone and it's easy to get out and give it a try.

Join us every month when we host SHE SHOOTS on a variety of social media platforms. This exciting collaboration is brought to you by the Canadian University Shooting Federation, Project Mapleseed and LadyGuns.