Owner
Michael has a true love for firearms and a history of parlaying personal passion into business success. An attorney by trade, Michael is also an expert in investments and collectibles who once turned a small, start-up art gallery into the largest operation of its kind in the world. He’s also served as an agent, investment advisor, and financial manager to many luminaries from the sports and entertainment worlds. With the help of his knowledgeable and experienced staff, he looks forward to making Stoddard’s his greatest success yet. Michael’s interest in firearms began when he took a series of basic shooting lessons from qualified instructors, and soon expanded to a deep fascination with all types of weapons. He’s now the personal owner of a large, museum quality collection that runs the gamut from modern-day tactical weapons to rare pieces from the Wild West and Civil/Revolutionary Wars. A family man first and businessman second, Michael married his high school sweetheart and has two beautiful grown children.
Owner
Our co-owner Ken Baye brings a wealth of business, real estate, retail and customer service experience to Stoddard’s. Ken spent 15 years at Home Depot adding new stores across the United States. In addition to his Home Depot experience, Ken is also an attorney by background and a real estate developer who has developed retail and residential real estate in the Southeast. Stoddard’s gives Ken the opportunity to combine his interest in firearms with his retail, customer service and business experience. With the benefit of the extensive experience of the Stoddard’s team, Ken’s vision is to make Stoddard’s the first stop for firearm and shooting enthusiasts. Ken is very happily married and has two beautiful grown daughters.
Manager
Dant grew up in the woods of Georgia learning to shoot from his father, both for sporting and hunting purposes. After attending college at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, he rediscovered his love for firearms while working in the hunting department of a local sporting goods store. Subsequently, he was hired on at a gun shop and shooting range. After only a few months time he was promoted to the management team, where he remained for about five years while also taking part in local competitive shooting. Now Dant is ready to apply his knowledge and expertise by helping the customers of Stoddard’s. His goal is to provide a friendly, laid back environment where people can come to safely learn about and practice the skills of sport, defensive, and tactical shooting. Among Dant’s favorite guns are his Springfield 1911s, HK USPs, and a HK Mark 23. An active member of the NRA, Dant is also a Certified NRA Pistol Instructor, Personal Protection in the Home Instructor, Range Safety Officer Instructor and has been highly reviewed for his classes and the improvement that students show from his instruction. He is also a certified Glock Armorer and budding gunsmith. When not at work, Dant enjoys spending time at home with his wife and son.
Assistant Manager
Tim was introduced to firearms at an early age and has been shooting regularly since the age of six. His grandfather, a WWII Vet, loved buying and trading guns and had a regular booth at an Alabama flea market. Tim was with him every chance he got, buying and selling his first gun (an RG 22lr) at the age of eight. At twenty-one his grandfather took him to obtain his Georgia Firearms Permit, which he’s held ever since. After several years of hunting and informal shooting, Tim began competing in bowling pin matches, IPSC, and practical shooting events. He eventually graduated to sporting clays, competing at a high level in at ranges across Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. During this time he also began loading his own shells for high-volume shotgun practice and competition on an MEC 9000 G progressive press, starting with Skeet and Trap but eventually progressing to Sporting Clays, Five Stand, and FITASC, with some International Skeet and International Trap thrown into the mix. Tim has had the fortune of training under Olympic medalist Dan Carlisle, from whom he œlearned a lot about sustained lead, follow through, and the benefits of shooting more choke than you think you’re going to need. He’s also practiced with Olympian Travis Jackson and squadded with such greats as Casey Atkinson (first female shooter to attain Master Class and subsequent NSCA Hall of Fame induction), Tre Sides, Linda Joy, and Seminole Gunworks-sponsored competitor Michael Nudd. Tim has also been interested in reloading for many years. He began on basic Lee equipment, but soon upgraded to an RCBS Partner Press and Rock Chucker Press for greater ease, accuracy, and quantity. He then moved to Dillon progressive presses like the Square Deal B and RL550B for true volume quality reloads. Beyond firearms, Tim’s greatest joy comes from being the proud father of seven children.
Assistant Manager
Raised in a shooting family, Jason grew up hunting and participating in many different types of shooting sports. His early experience at Mountain Man Rendezvous and Seminole Indian War re-enactments sparked a lifelong love of history and antique weapons. While attending Florida State University his focus shifted from sport to defense. He learned from diverse sources the use of the martial pistol and shotgun, as well as unarmed methods. Jason believes that in all areas of life, education is paramount. As an NRA certified instructor, he is ready to put this belief to use at Stoddard’s to assist customers in furthering their knowledge of the safe and effective use of arms. His favorite guns include older Smith & Wesson revolvers, riot type shotguns, and medium framed semi-auto pistols. If you bring an old gun into the store, it is a safe bet that Jason will want to look at it. When not at work Jason enjoys woodworking, leather craft, metalwork, and spending quality time with his lovely wife.
Sales Clerk
Adam works a full time career as a Firefighter/ EMT in metro Atlanta. He spent time in the Army where he trained as an infantry soldier on multiple weapons systems. Adam has been shooting both handguns and long guns for over twenty years, and is constantly working to improve his knowledge on new and different firearms. He enjoys shooting everything from pistol courses to skeet and trap. Adam is a certified Glock armorer and has over two years experience in retail firearms sales. His passion for firearms is centered around handguns and he enjoys everything from semi-auto pistols to revolvers. When not working as a firefighter, at the shop, or shooting, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife Angela.
Sales Clerk
Paul started sport shooting in his early teens and his shooting interests have expanded and grown over the years. Although he is a Florida native, he traveled extensively as a military brat. He has lived most of his life in Georgia and has strong interests in defensive and tactical shooting. Paul is an active participant in IDPA (Independent Defensive Pistol Association) matches and can often be seen on the range during the IDPA matches hosted by Stoddard’s. When he is not behind the counter at Stoddard’s sharing his extensive knowledge of tactical firearms, Paul finds time for softball, baseball and skydiving. He also has his own landscaping business.
Sales Clerk
Gary grew up in the mountains of North Carolina where he taught himself to hunt and fish at an early age. He moved to Georgia in his early teens and then joined the Marines where his love of firearms grew. After his service in the Marines, he joined Glock, Inc. as the District Manager of Law Enforcement Sales and as a firearms instructor. He also taught numerous Glock 18 and advanced armorer’s classes. Gary also worked for Beretta USA, where he was Regional Manager of Law Enforcement Sales. He is an NRA law enforcement instructor for handguns and shotguns and has over 20 years experience teaching firearms. He currently teaches classes at Stoddard’s including basic firearms and home defense classes and will also be teaching advanced tactical classes. Gary married his high school sweetheart, Josie, and has three daughters and four granddaughters. In addition to shooting, he enjoys hunting, camping, hiking and riding his Harley.
