Ron Schara

Title: Executive Producer / Founded Ron Schara Productions in 1995
Email: ron@mnbound.com
Years in Industry: 40+
Experience:  Telling stories about the outdoors, meeting people who appreciate the wonders of nature...This has been the experience of Ron Schara for more than 40 years.

Ron grew up in northeast Iowa's rugged bluff country where his love of nature took him to Iowa State University.  He majored in both journalism and fish and wildlife biology.  

As an award-winning outdoor columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Ron spent years telling his tales.  His writings and observations capture the essence of the natural world.  As his newsaper popularity grew in the Midwest, Ron began painting pictures with both words and video to share his love for the outdoors.  In 1995 he launched the show, Minnesota Bound, with his black lab sidekick, Raven, as the star of the show.

Now, through television, newspaper and radio success, Ron has become a vital resource and champion for outdoor issues. 

Critics regard Ron as America's premiere outdoor storyteller. Such Praise has earned him a national following.  Ron has hosted television shows on ESPN, Versus, Outdoor Channel and Fox Sports Network.

Ron is a member of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as well as the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame where he resides.  Ron has also received the coveted, Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award,

Scott Fransen

Title: CEO
Email: scott@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 215
Years in Industry: 25+
Experience:  Scott has a long tenure in the media business in the Minneapolis/St.Paul market.  As a veteran of Television; Radio, and Out of Home advertising, Scott has a track record of building high performing teams throughout his career.  He takes pride in developing a work culture that fosters creativity, responsibility, inspiration, integrity and balance.  He couldn’t be prouder of his team at Ron Schara Productions - they represent everything he believes in.  Scott credits his parents for instilling in him a philosophy he has used throughout his business career - a drive to do things “right”, while always treating people the way we would want to be treated ourselves.   

Scott’s favorite memories involve his family, friends and the experiences of growing up in Minnesota outdoor world.  Today he cherishes the time spent introducing his daughters to the wonders and excitement of catching a trout on a fly rod or seeing a doe and a fawn in the woods. When not running to one of the girls many sporting events, Scott and his wife spend time with their daughters at the cabin, fishing, or hiking in the woods in northern Mn or the Mountains of Montana.  Scott also has two Labrador Retrievers named Gus and Izzy that he loves to chase ducks and pheasants with in the fall.           

Kelly Jo McDonnell

Title: Operations Director
Email: Kelly@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 200
Years in Industry: 20+
Personal Website: kellyjomcdonnell.com
Awards:  2012 OWAA John Madson Fellowship Grant winner; 2012/OWAA first place-Broadcast-Humor category; 2001/2002 Team Emmy winner – Best Magazine Show, Broadcast; Lorian Hemingway contest winner, short story category
Experience: Kelly Jo has over 25 years experience in the media industry. She began her career at KDWB/WDGY Radio in Mpls. (transplanting from Northwest Iowa) and joined Ron Schara Productions in 1996. Credits include producing Minnesota Bound/KARE-11 NBC; Backroads with Ron & Raven on FOX; managing all programming traffic; organizer for MN. State Fair and Lake Minnetonka Crappie Contest;  Manager of Ron Schara's personal schedule and speaking events.  She also is a regular contributing writer to Mpls. Star Tribune Travel section; MN. Parent Magazine, HerLife Magazine; current producer/writer of documentary project "My Last Breath". 

During her time off, you can find Kelly Jo attending son Hayden's sporting events; and kayaking, canoeing and traveling with her BF, Cy Dodson.

Jared Christie

Title: Managing Producer
Email: jared@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 210
Years in Industry: 20+
Experience:  Jared has worked in television as a Host, Executive Producer, Producer, Reporter, Photographer and Editor for over 20 years.  Jared began his career in Southern California and has worked in Wisconsin and now Minnesota.  He joined Ron Schara Productions in September of 2004 and his credits include History Channel – Monster Quest, Outdoor Channel – Destination Polaris, The Flush, Furtakers & Legends of Rod & Reel, Fox Sports North – Rooster Tails, Backroads w/Ron & Raven and Due North Outdoors. NBC’s KARE 11 – Minnesota Bound. Jared has won numerous OWAA awards over the years for excellence in writing.

During his off time you can find Jared playing golf, running, traveling and spending time with his wife and two boys.

Bill Sherck

Title: Producer
Email: bill@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 211
Years in Industry: 18+
Experience:  Telling outdoor stories comes naturally to Bill Sherck.  Television viewers know him better as “The Man About The Woods”; A five-time Emmy Award-winning outdoor reporter and show host.  Bill’s earned just about every award in the business for his unique style of storytelling.

Viewers can catch Bill’s work on several of the country’s most popular outdoors television programs, including  “The Flush” and “Destination Polaris” on the Outdoor Channel,  “Due North Outdoors”, “Backroads” and “Rooster Tales” on Fox Sports Networks and “Minnesota Bound”, seen on NBC affiliate Kare 11.

Bill also waxes about his weekly adventures on “Fan Outdoors” a production of KFAN radio.  Sherck enjoys sharing his stories with conservation groups, teaching as part of fishing and hunting seminars and also fishes/guides for various charity and celebrity tournaments.

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Bill’s family eventually moved to Minnesota where his father and grandfather taught him to fish and hunt. After graduation from St. Norbert College in 1994, Bill went to work in the television business.  He reported local news throughout the Midwest and eventually Fox News.  In 2002, Bill turned his focus to outdoor television. He’s been at it ever since!

Laura Schara

T itle: Television   Host
Contact: scott@mnbound.com
Personal Website: www.lauraschara.com 
Twitter: @lauraschara
Years in Industry: 12+
Experience:  Laura Schara’s versatile experience as a television host brings a special energy to the outdoors and sports world. Her outdoor TV career began in 2000 when creating and hosting the segment “Wild in the City” on Minnesota Bound, where she explored unique things to do in the outdoors right in the metro area of Minneapolis/St.Paul.

She has hosted numerous television projects including nationally televised “ATV Sport TV” on Versus (formally the Outdoor Life Network), Fox Sports Net’s live sports television show ”On the Carpet” and she currently appears weekly on Outdoor Channel - Destination Polaris,  Fox Sports - Due North Outdoors & NBC's KARE 11 - Minnesota Bound.  She's a regular guest/co-host for Twin Cities Live and appears nationally on several networks throughout the country.

 Laura’s passion for the outdoors was passed onto her from her outdoor enthusiast father, Ron Schara, who taught her all the lessons that needed to be learned to be a successful angler. Her best catch to date is a 6ft, 77lb. halibut caught off the coast of Alaska. She is also an avid trap shooter and enjoys competing with her sister on a summer trap shooting league.

Travis Frank

Title: Producer
Email: travis@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 214
Years in Industry: 4+
Experience:  Travis Frank has worked in the outdoor world for over a decade.  At age 16 he started a fishing business, guiding clients from all over the country.  In March of 2008, Travis joined Ron Schara Productions as a contributing writer, web editor and media salesman.  Today, he has taken a full-time role as producer for many of our current shows.  His producing credits include Outdoor Channel – FOXPRO’s Furtakers, Legends of Rod & Reel, Destination Polaris, Pheasants Forever.  Fox Sports Network – Due North Outdoors.  NBC’s KARE 11 – Minnesota Bound. 

Aside from producing television, Travis co-hosts local outdoor radio shows on WCCO and KFAN radio.  He enjoys outdoor photography with many of his photographs used in publications nationwide.  He’s a freelance writer for publications such as Star Tribune and Outdoor News.  Because of his passion to fish and teach fishing, he’s still a part-time fishing guide on Minnesota’s waters.  During his off-time, Travis enjoys spending time outdoors, hunting and fishing, hanging with his friends and family, and his church.

Nick Clausen

Title: Photojournalist / Editor
Email: nick@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 208
Years in Industry: 20+
Experience: Nick's career in television started in news where he worked in various markets including Chattanooga, Baltimore and Minneapolis.  Nick came to Ron Schara Productions to combine his passion of the outdoors with great storytelling.  When Nick isn't filming amazing outdoor experiences, he's ice climbing, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, or biking.
Awards: Outdoor Writers Association of America, Excellence in Craft awards; 1st Place for “St. Croix Rods,” Gear/Technical category, 2012.  1st Place “Bike Stompers” Outdoor Fun/Adventure category, 2012.   National Television Academy Upper Midwest Chapter, 2011 - Emmy for Soft Feature Series, 2001 - Emmy for Public Service Campaign, 2001.  National Press  Photographers Association, Finalist, Photographer of the Year, 2001.  RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards,RegionalAward “The Barn,” 2001

Aaron Achtenberg

Title: Photojournalist / Editor
Email: aaron@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext; 207
Years in Industry: 14+
Experience:  Aaron started his career as a television news photojournalist in 1999 and joined Ron Schara Productions in 2003. He is passionate about telling stories about the outdoors and the fascinating characters that pursue it.

Aaron, like all the photojournalists at RSP, does it all in the field: shooting, audio, lighting, producing, interviewing and whatever else can make a story better. He has filmed everything from winter camping in the BWCA, to an African safari, to a search for China's Bigfoot.

He has won many Outdoor Writer Association awards including two President's Choice Awards for "Kyle's Safari" and "Amos Garrett".

Aaron grew up in rural North Dakota, but now makes his home in the Twin Cities along with his amazing girl Tijah and their kids Christian, Gus and Elise. They love to camp, canoe, hike, fish and do just about anything else outdoors in their free time.

Michael Uss

Title: Photojournalist/Editor
Email:
Years in Industry: 10+
Experience: Michael has worked in the media business for over a decade.  He spends time behind the camera, but also produces and directs while in the field.  Michael (aka:  Mickey) joined Ron Schara Productions full-time in 2009 as a shooter/editor and has done work on nearly every Ron Schara Production during this time.  When he's not shooting for the company, he spends time editing short documentary films for his personal company, "Fistful of Media."

Eric Parker Andersen

Title: Photojournalist / Editor
Email: eric@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 217
Years in Industry: 20+
Experience:  Eric Parker Andersen is an Emmy - Award wining Director, Cameraman, Editor, Motion Graphic Artist, and Underwater DP; he has worked on everything from brand-name commercials to video games, and from TV photojournalism to travel shows (as well as documentary and feature films).  Before finding his home at Ron Schara Productions, Eric put in a decade as a TV news shooter covering everything from the heartwarming to the heart wrenching, and he also spent a decade devoted to managing his own production company.  Eric lives in Golden Valley with his wonderful gal Kat, and his lovable dog Orson.

Mark Marrinan

Title: Account Executive
Years in Industry: 29+
Email: mark@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 203
Experience:  Mark is a native of St. Paul, having grown up there, and raised his two sons, Ryan and Shane there.  Mark has been at Ron Schara Productions since 2009 and has over 29 years in the media / advertising business.  Mark has worked in newspaper, magazine, TV, radio, direct mail, and internet advertising.

Mark is currently married to the woman of his dreams, Britta, and lives in Wyoming, Minnesota with their family.  He enjoys fishing, trap & skeet shooting, golf, gardening with his wife (they have LARGE gardens), and occasionally bird hunt (grouse, pheasant, duck). Mark loves the outdoors, the woods and waters, and especially the ocean.  Maine and the Maine coast is a very special place for he and Britta.  He loves music, and plays the drums in a local Twin Cities band.  Mark also enjoys building things and remodeling in his spare time.  He was a hockey coach in St. Paul and in Wisconsin for 17 years, and coached baseball in St. Paul for 12 years. In Mark's words, "I love the television and music business, it’s all entertainment, baby!"

Larry Brenner

Title: Account Executive
Years in Industry: 33+
Email: larry@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 216
Experience:  Larry spent 31 years in Twin Cities Radio, working for Hubbard, Clear Channel and CBS Radio (in that order).  He spent most of his time in Radio Sales as an Account Executive.  Larry joined Ron Schara Productions in 2010 as an Account Executive.  Larry received several Sales Person of the Year awards while at Clear Channel and was a three time “Presidents Club” Award winner while with Clear Channel.

Larry also owns an Outdoor Dining Experience called Vino in the Valley - a working Vineyard, and Christmas Tree Farm.  When time allows, he loves spending time on his 300 acre farm in Western Wisconsin, as well as hunting, fishing and playing golf.

Don Stremski

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Robin Knauss

Title: CPA / Business Manager
Email: robin@mnbound.com
Phone: 952-545-9471 Ext: 202
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