2017 Pinnacle Award Judges
Art/PHotography Judge
Ian Merritt has been a professional photographer for more than 15 years as well as a director, producer, and creative director. He currently is a senior content producer working at the ad agency, Havas Worldwide where he curates, directs, and creates content ranging from Instagram to broadcast commercials.
He has worked for a variety of clients ranging from automotive (Subaru, Bentley, FCA, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai) to pen companies (Sharpie, uni-ball) to food-related companies (Reynolds, Hefty, Evolution Fresh Juices, Tazo Tea) to the local Chicago Hot Dog hero, Hot Doug Sohn.
He is a board member of the midwest chapter of the American Photographers Association (APA), a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and a former MAMA and POMA member. He lives in Chicago with his beautiful wife, two boys, and their dog Monte.
Book Judge
Philip Massaro is an outdoor writer from Upstate New York, whose passions include big game hunting across North America and Africa, reloading ammunition and the study of ballistics. He is the author of Gun Digest’s Shooters Guide to Reloading, Understanding Ballistics: Complete Guide to Bullet Selection, and The Big Book of Ballistics. He is a regular contributor for the NRA’s American Hunter, Gun Digest the Magazine, The American Shooting Journal and Dallas Safari Club’s Game Trails magazine, as well as appearing on outdoor television shows.
Broadcast Judge
RatedRed.com Channel Leader, Schwarzschild is an Emmy Award winning investigative reporter for CNN with over a decade of experience. He also helped launch and led a team of 90 young people as VP of programming and production at the Back9 Network, a golf lifestyle channel. Todd has also worked at CBS Evening News and CNN International.
Conservation
Gray N. Thornton is an avid international hunter and fresh and saltwater fly angler. He serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2008, Thornton served as Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club (1997-2008) and Chapter & Membership Director for Safari Club International (1990-1997.)
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bear Trust International where he serves as Vice-Chairman of Board. He has also served on the Boards of the Conservation Fund, the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa Conservation and Empowerment Fund, the Ballot Issues Coalition, the Banovich Wildscape Fund and the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation.
Thornton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing from California State University at Fresno and has earned advanced credits in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University at Fort Collins. He is a member of WSF’s Chadwick Ram Society, a WSF Summit Life Member, and a Life member of numerous WSF chapters, affiliates, industry and guide/outfitter associations. He is also a member of OWAA and POMA.
Magazine Judge
Aaron Cole is Managing Editor of Internet Brands Automotive Group’s portfolio of car sites. Forced into early retirement before his 1988 debut bout against “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for the Intercontinental Championship belt, Aaron was a longtime editor and columnist at newspapers spanning the Louisiana and Gadsden purchases and the Northwest Territories. He’s a proud Colorado native and currently lives in Denver. When he’s not writing about cars, he’s driving them. And when he’s not driving them, he’s probably eating or sleeping because you need to do that too.
Newspaper/Web
Frank Sargeant was outdoors editor of The Tampa Tribune for 25 years and a senior writer for Florida Sportsman Magazine as well as for B.A.S.S. Publications. He’s currently editor of The Fishing Wire and a regular contributor to BoatTest.com. He’s also former senior script writer for Bass pro Shops Outdoor World Television and former regional editor for Outdoor Life. His work has won over 60 national awards, including the POMA/ASA Homer Circle Award in 2011 and the National Marine Manufacturers Association Boating Writer of the Year Award in 1992. He’s author of 10 books on fishing and boating, and founder of the Frank Sargeant Outdoor Expo, Florida’s largest all-outdoors expo for more than 20 years. He has a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Ohio University, and is former president of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.