Candidate: Matt Hopkins
Matt Hopkins
Columbia, SC
When I was 23, I came home to find my apartment door kicked in and all of my personal belongings ransacked and scattered about. It was at this time I made the decision that I would purchase a handgun. After purchasing a handgun, I wanted to make sure that I understood how to handle and shoot that gun. I decided to sign up for a professional training class. The instructors were accomplished shooters who had competed in USPSA. I got to know them well, and after my course was complete, they invited me to the next local USPSA match. Shortly after that first local match I competed in my first section match where I won C-Class in Production division. I was hooked for life at that point!
With several years of competition under my belt, I decided to volunteer at my local USPSA club, Millcreek Practical Shooting League. At MCPSL, I served in the following roles Assistant Match Director, Match Director, and then finally President. As an active leader at MCPSL we created the first Steel Challenge Club in Kansas.
I bring firsthand knowledge of running matches, competing at all levels of the sport, and competing in matches all over the world. I have a clear vision for where I would like our sport to be in the next few years. I will represent the members and champion communication, cooperation and trust among members, thus bringing the entire sport to the next level.
Why are you seeking to be an Area Director of USPSA?
I want to change the culture of the organization to be more centered towards the members, which is the heart and soul of the organization. I also want to bring a level of openness to the organization, which would come in the way of live streaming board meetings and ensuring financial responsibility by providing members with more frequent financial reports.
Prior to announcing your candidacy, what have you done to help promote safe, fun and fair practical shooting in your area?
Some of my accomplishments have been serving as match director at Millcreek Practical Shooting League (MCPSL) for the USPSA matches. I have been a Range Officer at USPSA nationals event working on a stage. I have also done the stage setup and design for Area 6, Area 3, and Kansas sectional.
What qualifications set you apart from other candidates? What previous or current employment or volunteer experience do you have that qualifies you for Area Director?
Served on a Kansas nonprofit organization as a Board member at Millcreek Practical Shooting League with an 11-member Board of Directors for more than 8 years.
I have managed projects (new product development and multiple supply streams) and led teams that are much more complex in quantity and monetary value beyond the scope of the USPSA organization.
Attended matches at all levels from local all the way to Level 5 IPSC matches in Europe and Asia.
I’ve been competitive at all levels of the sport, from winning C class at the 2007 North Texas sectional to representing USPSA at 3 IPSC handgun world shoots.
I have represented USPSA as a delegate at the IPSC General Assembly in Felsotarkany, Hungary.
Describe the current culture of USPSA.
The organization overall is healthy and the culture is positive and with small tweaks from member provided feedback the culture can be shaped by the members and not just a small group of board members that ignore the members input to advance their personnel agendas.
Matches are taking place and members are able to shoot at over 490 clubs all over the USA every weekend of the year.
Culture is changed at the top and will filter down throughout the organization, so setting the culture at the top will be a main priority of my term as Area 6 Director.
After reviewing the bylaws, please explain what an Area Director of USPSA is responsible for and how will you fulfill those responsibilities if elected?
Area Championship match director or delegate authority to another member of match directing the area championship.
Representative of the Area 6 members on the Board of Directors that will have input on the direction of the organization.
Set the vision, strategic planning, marketing strategies, financial strategies, membership strategies, format and location of nationals, NROI policies, and NROI procedures of the organization.
What are the top three areas that need to be addressed within USPSA? As an Area Director what is your strategy for addressing them?
I think Transparency, Integrity, and Incorporation need to be addressed.
Transparency; The organization needs to increase transparency and I plan to accomplish this by doing the following 3 points. I plan to motion to live stream the monthly Board of Directors meeting through the USPSA website. I will also request to provide monthly financial reports and a yearly budget with greater details to the membership. I would also request to expand the committees to include subject matter experts to advise the Board of Directors in their respective fields.
Integrity; USPSA needs to solicit and then incorporate member feedback into all decisions that are being made on organizational decisions. I would also request to publish the results of the feedback from the membership so that the members can see what the other members want for the organization. USPSA also needs to adhere to an uncompromising removal of cheaters found in organizations and to never again allow blatant cheating to humiliate the organization.
Incorporation; USPSA needs to better incorporate all the shooting disciplines under the USPSA organizational umbrella. This includes Steel Challenge and multi gun to increase support for these two disciplines that could possibly expand the organization into markets that are not being served to the full potential.
If elected Area Director please explain how you will help support the clubs, sections and current members in your Area as well as promote USPSA to potential members?
Clubs, Sections, and Current Members; USPSA needs to provide a higher value to the clubs, sections, and current members so they continue to be a part of the organization. A couple ways to do that are transparency, integrity, and incorporation, all expanded upon previously in this Question and Answer. I think increased benefits for clubs, sections, and current members would also help but the size of the organization needs to be taken into account to manage the expectations of the clubs, sections, and members and what to expect for the increased benefits.
Potential members; all potential members need to find out what the organization is about and where to find matches to attend so they can see what the sport is all about in person. I think a very successful way to do this is by pairing new people to the sport with a mentor and helping them through their first matches.
After reviewing Article 5 bylaw 5.1 please provide an outline of your strategy for items i) through vi)
i; USPSA needs to maintain financials to continue to support the members of the organization and provide a future for the organization so future members that don’t even know USPSA exists currently will be able to come out and compete/participate in the organizations different disciplines well into the future. This includes not spending more money than the organization has and to be responsible for all expenses that are incurred with the member’s funds. This can be accomplished by providing more timely financial reports to the members.
ii; USPSA first needs to find out why members are not being retained and once the reasons why members are not continuing to be members in the organization proper decisions can be made to help retain those members in the future.
iii; USPSA should be marketing to educate existing member and showcase what the organization is to potential members. This can be done by increasing the promotion of the sport by highlighting all members with video and photo campaigns across all social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Marketing materials should also be pushed to the manufacturers to be included into the packages of complete guns so the people buying guns can see what our organization is about and come try it out.
iv; USPSA should pick adequate ranges that can support national matches that the members deserve. The National matches should be the best, most prestigious, and in demand matches throughout the year.
v; The organization should work to maintain a positive and respectful relationship with IPSC and try and coordinate with other US shooting organizations to not intentionally have certain events on the same weekends.
vi; The Board of Directors should submit any new or updated policies for NROI to the membership and never be voted on without member input being considered.
Explain your strategy to best represent the members in your area as it relates to your role of Area Director and member of the Board of Directors.
Working as a team to build unison on any projects or business that arise. I think this is important with everybody you are working with, not just the Managing Director, DNROI, and the Board of Directors.
Getting crucial feedback from members from surveys and sharing that with the membership after it is complete. This will increase transparency and provide an easier path forward for the USPSA leadership to execute on the direction of the organization for the advancement of the organization for the membership.
What is USPSA doing right?
USPSA has a broad history and has the largest active membership of all action shooting organizations within the USA.
USPSA has a Classification system where any member can see where they rank nationally compared to other members.
USPSA has a national foot print in all regions and states within the United States.
USPSA has a solid rule book and members can expect the same match no matter where in the country matches are being held.
USPSA also is in a good financial situation to guarantee the future of the organization for all future members.
What other issues do you feel that if elected you would want to address?
Increase media exposure by documenting the lifestyle of the sport. With increased media exposure it will increase the amount of potential members.
Work with successful match directors to expand and update the club manual as an available resource to clubs that are starting up or to clubs that might be struggling to help them flourish.
Work with stage designers to create and develop a stage setup resource guide.
If you are unsuccessful in your bid to become Area Director, how will you serve USPSA in the future?
I will continue doing what I have always done before I requested a petition to run for Area 6 Director. I help out during local clubs running the timer and resetting stages which every and any member is expected to do. I will also continue to volunteer at the local club matches around the southeast.
I want to change the culture of the organization to be more centered towards the members, which is the heart and soul of the organization. I also want to bring a level of openness to the organization, which would come in the way of live streaming board meetings and ensuring financial responsibility by providing members with more frequent financial reports.
Prior to announcing your candidacy, what have you done to help promote safe, fun and fair practical shooting in your area?
Some of my accomplishments have been serving as match director at Millcreek Practical Shooting League (MCPSL) for the USPSA matches. I have been a Range Officer at USPSA nationals event working on a stage. I have also done the stage setup and design for Area 6, Area 3, and Kansas sectional.
What qualifications set you apart from other candidates? What previous or current employment or volunteer experience do you have that qualifies you for Area Director?
Served on a Kansas nonprofit organization as a Board member at Millcreek Practical Shooting League with an 11-member Board of Directors for more than 8 years.
I have managed projects (new product development and multiple supply streams) and led teams that are much more complex in quantity and monetary value beyond the scope of the USPSA organization.
Attended matches at all levels from local all the way to Level 5 IPSC matches in Europe and Asia.
I’ve been competitive at all levels of the sport, from winning C class at the 2007 North Texas sectional to representing USPSA at 3 IPSC handgun world shoots.
I have represented USPSA as a delegate at the IPSC General Assembly in Felsotarkany, Hungary.
Describe the current culture of USPSA.
The organization overall is healthy and the culture is positive and with small tweaks from member provided feedback the culture can be shaped by the members and not just a small group of board members that ignore the members input to advance their personnel agendas.
Matches are taking place and members are able to shoot at over 490 clubs all over the USA every weekend of the year.
Culture is changed at the top and will filter down throughout the organization, so setting the culture at the top will be a main priority of my term as Area 6 Director.
After reviewing the bylaws, please explain what an Area Director of USPSA is responsible for and how will you fulfill those responsibilities if elected?
Area Championship match director or delegate authority to another member of match directing the area championship.
Representative of the Area 6 members on the Board of Directors that will have input on the direction of the organization.
Set the vision, strategic planning, marketing strategies, financial strategies, membership strategies, format and location of nationals, NROI policies, and NROI procedures of the organization.
What are the top three areas that need to be addressed within USPSA? As an Area Director what is your strategy for addressing them?
I think Transparency, Integrity, and Incorporation need to be addressed.
Transparency; The organization needs to increase transparency and I plan to accomplish this by doing the following 3 points. I plan to motion to live stream the monthly Board of Directors meeting through the USPSA website. I will also request to provide monthly financial reports and a yearly budget with greater details to the membership. I would also request to expand the committees to include subject matter experts to advise the Board of Directors in their respective fields.
Integrity; USPSA needs to solicit and then incorporate member feedback into all decisions that are being made on organizational decisions. I would also request to publish the results of the feedback from the membership so that the members can see what the other members want for the organization. USPSA also needs to adhere to an uncompromising removal of cheaters found in organizations and to never again allow blatant cheating to humiliate the organization.
Incorporation; USPSA needs to better incorporate all the shooting disciplines under the USPSA organizational umbrella. This includes Steel Challenge and multi gun to increase support for these two disciplines that could possibly expand the organization into markets that are not being served to the full potential.
If elected Area Director please explain how you will help support the clubs, sections and current members in your Area as well as promote USPSA to potential members?
Clubs, Sections, and Current Members; USPSA needs to provide a higher value to the clubs, sections, and current members so they continue to be a part of the organization. A couple ways to do that are transparency, integrity, and incorporation, all expanded upon previously in this Question and Answer. I think increased benefits for clubs, sections, and current members would also help but the size of the organization needs to be taken into account to manage the expectations of the clubs, sections, and members and what to expect for the increased benefits.
Potential members; all potential members need to find out what the organization is about and where to find matches to attend so they can see what the sport is all about in person. I think a very successful way to do this is by pairing new people to the sport with a mentor and helping them through their first matches.
After reviewing Article 5 bylaw 5.1 please provide an outline of your strategy for items i) through vi)
i; USPSA needs to maintain financials to continue to support the members of the organization and provide a future for the organization so future members that don’t even know USPSA exists currently will be able to come out and compete/participate in the organizations different disciplines well into the future. This includes not spending more money than the organization has and to be responsible for all expenses that are incurred with the member’s funds. This can be accomplished by providing more timely financial reports to the members.
ii; USPSA first needs to find out why members are not being retained and once the reasons why members are not continuing to be members in the organization proper decisions can be made to help retain those members in the future.
iii; USPSA should be marketing to educate existing member and showcase what the organization is to potential members. This can be done by increasing the promotion of the sport by highlighting all members with video and photo campaigns across all social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Marketing materials should also be pushed to the manufacturers to be included into the packages of complete guns so the people buying guns can see what our organization is about and come try it out.
iv; USPSA should pick adequate ranges that can support national matches that the members deserve. The National matches should be the best, most prestigious, and in demand matches throughout the year.
v; The organization should work to maintain a positive and respectful relationship with IPSC and try and coordinate with other US shooting organizations to not intentionally have certain events on the same weekends.
vi; The Board of Directors should submit any new or updated policies for NROI to the membership and never be voted on without member input being considered.
Explain your strategy to best represent the members in your area as it relates to your role of Area Director and member of the Board of Directors.
Working as a team to build unison on any projects or business that arise. I think this is important with everybody you are working with, not just the Managing Director, DNROI, and the Board of Directors.
Getting crucial feedback from members from surveys and sharing that with the membership after it is complete. This will increase transparency and provide an easier path forward for the USPSA leadership to execute on the direction of the organization for the advancement of the organization for the membership.
What is USPSA doing right?
USPSA has a broad history and has the largest active membership of all action shooting organizations within the USA.
USPSA has a Classification system where any member can see where they rank nationally compared to other members.
USPSA has a national foot print in all regions and states within the United States.
USPSA has a solid rule book and members can expect the same match no matter where in the country matches are being held.
USPSA also is in a good financial situation to guarantee the future of the organization for all future members.
What other issues do you feel that if elected you would want to address?
Increase media exposure by documenting the lifestyle of the sport. With increased media exposure it will increase the amount of potential members.
Work with successful match directors to expand and update the club manual as an available resource to clubs that are starting up or to clubs that might be struggling to help them flourish.
Work with stage designers to create and develop a stage setup resource guide.
If you are unsuccessful in your bid to become Area Director, how will you serve USPSA in the future?
I will continue doing what I have always done before I requested a petition to run for Area 6 Director. I help out during local clubs running the timer and resetting stages which every and any member is expected to do. I will also continue to volunteer at the local club matches around the southeast.
I am running for USPSA Area 6 Director because I feel that USPSA greatly needs a leader to serve the members of the organization. I will motion to have after match surveys be solicited from competitors, staff, sponsors, and host facilities for all USPSA organization ran matches and once that platform is on USPSA website and operational I will let match directors at all levels access to solicit feedback from the matches ran outside of the USPSA organization hosted matches.
I will motion to have the board of directors set the vision, strategies, and policies of the organization. With these points established the board and employees will be able have a source of when any decision is needing to be made. I will be in support of live streaming board and member meeting. I am also in support of providing timely monthly financial documents to the membership.
My first match eventually led me to my current job within the firearms industry, which I am a professional in the supply chain field. For the past 17 years, I have been competing in local, state, area, national, and even international matches all over the world. My shooting and professional career have enabled me to travel to multiple intercontinental competitions, including the countries of the Czech Republic, Serbia, Hungary, France, and Thailand.
Email Address: [email protected]