Meet Our Board

President

Having grown up 10 miles south of Fairmont, Minnesota on a small lake surrounded by farm fields, prairie meadows, and oak groves, I spent every waking moment outside doing everything that young boys do.

When I wasn’t playing sports in the make-shift backyard ball diamond, football field, or golf course, I was either running around my yard with toy guns “shooting” every bird and squirrel; or casting a line with my dad under the leaning trees on the lake in search of Crappie, Blue Gill, Carp, Bull Head, and the occasional Walleye. I was hooked and loved the outdoors.

Then grandpa introduced me to a real gun. First of course the BB gun, second the shotgun, and then a .22 pistol and .22 lever action. Target shooting became another favorite pastime.
It was my Uncle Todd however that truly introduced me to the sport of hunting when we decided to grab some .22 bolt actions one snowy Saturday to chase rabbits in the groves of neighboring farms. Not only did Todd teach me how to sneak up on the fast, little buggers; but he showed me that hunting was much more than just shooting the gun. Todd taught me how to get my gear ready before we left for the morning. He taught me how to clean the animal once we harvested one, and then later that day, he taught me how to prepare the animal for dinner. Together Todd and I enjoyed a meal of baked rabbit while telling all those who gathered about the afternoon adventures.

Shortly after rabbit hunting, I was introduced to ducks, geese, and pheasants. Duck hunting during the annual youth opener was a blast. Todd and I yet again gathered up six old, heavy, hand-carved clay floaters and set-out for a small slough behind a local apple orchard. Teal buzzed in just before light and Wood Ducks soon followed. The color of the Drake Mallard and Wood Duck were amazing. Being a Southern Minnesota Biology teacher Todd taught me about the birds, their habitat, and what they ate to survive and I was hooked. Pheasants, ducks, and rabbits with Todd, then eventually deer with dad and grandpa. There wasn’t a time of year I wasn’t thinking about being afield.

At the age of 15 my parents moved our family to Northern Minnesota. That fall and winter I was introduced to even more opportunities with the Paul Bunyan State Forest out my front door and Leech Lake out the back door. An abundance of large Walleye and Muskie, flocks of Northern Blue Bills, and Canada Geese followed by big bucks, grouse, and others filled the remainder of my high school days.
In his college years I moved onto bigger hunts like elk, bear, and mountain lion in Montana; and alligator and wild boar in Florida.  My goals in the coming years are Yukon Moose, a number of sheep and goats followed by more elk, cats, some European and African species.  

It’s not the sport of shooting that I enjoy the most. It’s the preparation, training, execution, challenges, and memories that define the story of my life.  I love the mental toughness many of these hunts take and also love the lessons learned. I love the time with friends and family.

In my own words, “I feel that as our suburban lives get busier, tech continues to take over the world, and the urban sprawl of the concrete jungle continues to expand, it is our duty as outdoorsmen and women to not only continue to pass down our values and appreciations of the great outdoors but we also need to continue to work harder than ever preserving these great natural wonders so that generations to come can have the same experiences as we have. No matter the age of your children or grandchildren, no matter the age of yourself, reach out to today’s youth and get them afield. The memories you make are priceless.”

When not hunting or fishing, I am helping clients buy or sell real estate.  I have a true passion for working with all kinds of properties. From first-time home buyers to million-dollar investors, I have experience in just about every real estate transaction type and love to get the best outcome for clients.  I take pride in being approachable and always at-the-ready. When it comes to negotiating deals my sole focus is representing the best interest of my clients.  My wife Tia, and my two young kids Memphis and Huxley, have loved getting into the outdoors lifestyle with me and have gone on many adventures with me.

I joined the SCI board in 2018 and am looking forward to supporting this organization and making new friends and memories with the members of the organization in the years to come.  

“I want to thank Brian and Ashley Smith for introducing me to the organization. I never would have realized that SCI is about so much more than just “African Safari’s”.  It really is about a wide array of safaris, adventures, and hunts all around the world, of all species of both fish and mammals.”

Travis Senenfelder

I have been an SCI board member since 2018, but an avid outdoorsman all of my life. Growing up on the prairies of western South Dakota, I had plenty of hunting mentors like my dad, grandfathers, uncles and friends.   Together we fished and hunted whitetails and mule deer, pronghorns, sharptail grouse, coyotes, and, occasionally, elk.  I learned at an early age about hunting ethics, the need for conservation, the joy of being outdoors, and the camaraderie of hunting.

Since those days I have hunted quite a few other species as well.  I was introduced to MN SCI by my friend and longtime hunting partner Chuck Diehl, a former MN SCI board member, who had also been to Africa a few times.  When I bought a hunting trip to Namibia, Chuck quickly became my 2nd hunter on that trip and we had a great time hunting and touring with our wives. My current favorite hunts are for pheasants, ruffed grouse, and sharptail grouse with my German Shorthaired Pointer.

My other hobbies are target shooting and reloading, riding adventure touring motorcycles, muscle cars, and scuba diving with my wife Cheryl, as well as underwater photography.  We have learned to love diving with sharks and have some interesting photos and videos.

I have been in the outdoor industry since 1982.  I started with Burger Bros. Sporting Goods in the Edina store in retail sales for 5 years.  When that store closed in May of 1987, I went up to Alaska and guided for Tikchik Narrows Lodge from 1987 – 1989.  Both as a fishing guide and a duck hunting guide.  I’ve also worked for Orvis and Gander Mountain in sales and buying positions.  I’ve been with North Country Marketing for 10 years as a sales rep.  We rep Browning. Winchester, Vortex Optics, GSM Outdoors, Browning Safes, Umarex and Manzella.  I’ve hunted throughout the US and Canada, as well as two trips to Argentina for ducks and doves and one safari to South Africa in May of 2021.  I am going back to South Africa next year for Cape Buffalo and Sable and a couple of days of bird hunting.

Tom Smith

I am an avid hunter who grew up hunting small game, waterfowl and deer in Minnesota. In college I started hunting in the Dakotas for waterfowl and small game. After college I started hunting in Canada and Alaska for big game. After joining MN SCI in 2004 I started hunting in Africa and have completed the Dangerous 7 Game Hunt of Africa.  I have also hunted in South America and Europe for big game and small game. I have been a MN SCI board member since 2008.

I am Gordon Jensen, one of the members of the Minnesota Safari Club International Board of Directors.  My main duties are to represent MN SCI at the various outdoor shows around the area.  It is always fun to meet and talk with people to let them know about us here at SCI and what we do.  My day Job is in sales for a building material distributer here in the Twin Cities, however most of my free time is spent in the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, camping or anything else in that realm. 

            I was born, raised and have lived my entire life here in the Twin Cities.  My family has property up in northern Minnesota and with that came my introduction into hunting.  My family has always been a “hunting family,” and over the years we have brought our friends and extended family into the fold.  My dad is a steadfast duck hunter, so growing up that is the majority of the hunting that I participated in.  Hunting with my dad has taken us across the world in pursuit of different wing shooting experiences.  In High school I started to get into deer hunting naturally and from there went on to get several North American species, like elk and pronghorn.  Eventually I plan to hunt in Africa and Europe. 

            I have been involved with SCI in the past, but only on a membership basis.  I joined the board in May of 2022 and have been enjoying my time and work here.  I am proud to work with this group and look forward to all of the things we can accomplish.