What is Riverbank Products up to?

I’m glad you asked

I have a lot of fun at what I do and I hope that comes through in a lot of the photos that I post to Instagram and Facebook. Life isn’t all fun and games though.  There is hard work too, but I try to make it as much fun as possible.

Here lately, I’ve been asked by a ton of different people, “what do you do for a living?” Well, its a very good question and every answer I give seems to start with “I help people…” The rest of that sentence changes more often than most people change bed sheets and probably more often than some people change underwear.

Sometimes it pays better than others. Regardless; I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing and I’m trusting God to work the rest out. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like he shows up when I want him to, but he hasn’t let me down yet.

Simply Blessed

At the expense of sounding conceited, God has blessed me with the ability to do a million different things well. Although, for someone with ADD, sometimes it seems like a curse.  The reality though is that, I’m so blessed I can’t fully comprehend at times.  I haven’t found many skills that I can’t at least do pretty well. I can’t really say I’m the best there is at many things either, so I’m a jack of all trades in every sense of the word.

Growing up with the parents I have, is why I am the way I am.  They have been such a blessing to me and I’m thankful for them always.   God’s blessings abound in my life.  I’m human and fail often. I’m well aware of that, but I feel like since God has given me these gifts, I need to help as many people as possible.  So that is my goal.  “I help people…”

What Brought You Here

After college, I bounced around a couple of things and then spent several years working in the corporate world chasing the dollar. Essentially, I ran the R&D and Technical support side of a manufacturing company for several years.  My job led me to the company’s management team and my role was part engineering, part marketing.  My knowledge base allowed me to connect with those in the field as well as those in the chemistry lab.    I met a ton of great people, traveled all over the US, and become some what of an expert in my field.  That said, and without going into great detail, it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine. In the end, there are more important things than the dollar and my time there ended.  I sacrificed a lot in an attempt to help other people and missed out on a lot of my Mom’s life as she battled cancer.   During my last few months there, it became increasingly clear that the company was moving in a different direction than what God had for me.  It was during this time that I started Riverbank Products.

Riverbank Products Begins

When Riverbank Products first lifted off the ground​, I had some product ideas that I wanted to work on that I thought would really help people. I also wanted to be able to create a company that would allow me to provide a service to others in the outdoor industry. I chose to focus on the outdoor industry because thats where my passions are centered. If you have to work, you might as well work at something you enjoy and what better than combining a desire to help other people and the Outdoors. Riverbank Products was born and has since become part marketing company and part product development think tank and part consulting firm.

For several years I had thought about how dangerous and difficult it was to use a spotlight at night while running an outboard motor with a tiller handle.  The trim controls are never very ergonomic and you have to sit the light down or hold it between your knees to adjust the trim.  I’d seen several people adapt the trim controls onto the spotlight but every one I’d seen somehow used duct tape, zip-ties, frayed wires, extension cords and all sorts of homemade contraptions.  I knew that I could do better. So, I made a prototype the correct way and found a manufacturing company to produce the light for me.  The NightRunner Light was born.

With my first product out there, I needed to market it and my company.  Not only that, but it needed to be in a creative way with little to no budget for marketing. So, I created The Frog Giggin’ Tournament Series By Riverbank Products​. I wanted to promote my company as well as others in a family friendly environment that would encourage kids to get outdoors. It was great because about all you need to frog gig is a good light.  You don’t even need a gig.  Most people just catch them by hand.  The Frog giggin tournament was it.

With running any event, good sponsors are key.  T.P. Outdoors was one of the first sponsors that leaped into the frog giggin tournament series. (Pun Intended)  The Petrus family shares my love of the outdoors and a passion for getting others outdoors.  Bill Petrus and some of the T.P. Outdoors Adventures crew came out and filmed a show at one of our first frog giggin tournaments.  I didn’t know it at the time but a good friendship would be formed from this that would lead to so many other things.

Filming an Outdoor TV Show

I’ve dabbled in video and photography off and on for several years going all the way back to high school and photography even earlier than that.  An opportunity to incorporate outdoor videography into Riverbank Products repertoire came up when a dear friend asked me to tag along on his Elk hunt in southern Colorado.  One thing lead to another and I’ve now been involved with T.P. Outdoors Adventures show for a couple of years.

Like most guys in the south, I’ve been watching hunting and fishing shows for a long time.  The Outdoor channel, Fox News or The Blaze and a little food network or history channel are about the only channels that I really watch.  Being a fan of outdoor shows is one thing, but before T.P. Outdoors Adventures, I could have never dreamed that I would actually be involved with a hunting show.

In a way, its because I’ve always seen ego driven people on tv, self promoting and bragging about the deer that they just killed.  To be fair, that is a gross generalization and I know that not everyone is like that.  I also know that a lot of it is just a sales pitch to keep product endorsement deals going.  There are an awful lot of “I”s in this post, but I’m just not that person. At least I try not to be.

I have a hard time selling something that I don’t believe in and I’m not very good at self promoter.  I’d rather be honest with people and I love serving others.  Helping other people is exactly what happens on T.P. Outdoors Adventures.

If you haven’t seen the show,  please check it out.  Its only maybe once a year that you might see me on tv hunting.  Most of the time, I’m behind the camera.  And I’m perfectly fine with that.  Over the course of several shows, you may see Bill or another T.P. Outdoors personality taking a deer or something more crazy like gator hunting or catfish grabbing, but the majority of what you will see is what we call a Pay-It-Forward Adventure.  You will see far more of Bill taking an injured veteran fishing or a disabled kid hunting than bill killing yet another deer.

You see, taking another person hunting and especially someone that is not as fortunate to have grown up in the outdoors is far more rewarding than killing another deer.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to hunt but once you’ve taken one deer, your next deer isn’t quite as special.  Then you start hunting a special deer.  Maybe its a thick 8 point or a wide 10 point you have been chasing.  You my hunt him for 2-3 years before you get him.  Thats special for sure, but the reward of putting the gun in someone else’s hand, focusing on serving another person, and working hard to make sure that their hunt is special for them, now that is an amazing experience.  Seeing the other person actually make that happen is surreal.  Now try to capture that on video.  Thats what T.P. Outdoors Adventures is about to me.

Its only part of what I do, but as I’ve done more and more of it, its the part I live for.  I almost feel like its a nonofficial ministry of sorts because I get to show the love of Christ to the people I hunt with by serving them.  I mean, thats what Christ did right?  Christ didn’t come and shout “look at me, look at me” everywhere he went.  He had tons of followers for sure and he was outspoken yes, but he was always teaching and serving others.

Now you might say, “wow that sounds like a lot of fun and a noble cause, but does that pay the bills?”  No. Not entirely. I have other projects.

Havoc Boats

Havoc Boats has been a client for a long time.  All of their current videos and marketing materials like their website and brochures have been produced by Riverbank Products.

We even did the early CAD drawings for the first Havoc boats.  Based on those drawings, we showed that it would be difficult, yet not impossible, to create the side profile that is unique to the havoc hull profile.  This latter came into play as the boats entered production phase and Havoc worked to ensure that the profile worked from one boat to the next.

I don’t want to steal any thunder or recognition from Tim Scott.    The cult following that Tim has generated and the boats that he builds makes it an easy sell.  I’m just one guy who has helped out along the way.  Check out Havoc Boats at a dealer near you.

Support For Our Veterans

The very first episode of T.P. Outdoors Adventures that Bill Petrus asked me to help film was with an event for Warrior Hunts.  Warrior Hunts is a non-profit organization that helps get post 9-11 combat veterans outdoors through hunting and fishing weekends.

The event that we were filming on that first episode was dubbed Deerpocalypse.  Warriors from all over came to north Louisiana with one task in mind, Hunt Deer.  I got the privilege of filming and working with several warriors that weekend which also happened to be on the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  It was a special time and I’m not sure who had more fun, me or the warriors.

Since then, Riverbank Products has filmed numerous events with Warrior Hunts.   I’ve been working with John Nolan, the director of Warrior Hunts to help promote the organization and build it into a bigger, more sustainable non-profit.  For more information about Warrior Hunts and to stay up-to-date on future events, Like their Facebook Page.

While Riverbank Products is most involved with Warrior Hunts, we have also worked with other organizations as well.  One such organization is Wounded War Heroes.

Through T.P. Outdoors Adventures, we have filmed several events with Wounded War Heroes.  One of the most memorable was a south Texas turkey hunt with Matt Cole and Chuck Williams.  Both warriors were able to complete their grand slam on this trip.  It was an amazing hunt.

After the hunt photos are common practice in the outdoors.  On this, the final day of the hunt, Matt finally made it happen.  It was an afternoon hunt and by the time everyone got back to camp, Light was fading fast.  Now, Texas sunsets are some of the most beautiful sunsets the eye can behold.  This one was one of those and there wasn’t much time.

I saw this scene unfolding and ripening faster than an old banana.  As the sun seemed to speed its descent toward the horizon, and with only seconds to capture the essence of the hunt, I knelt down, backed everyone up, and grabbed this shot.  Wounded War Heroes now uses photos from that hunt in many of their promotional materials.

Another group is called Lone Star Warriors Outdoors.  I got the chance to meet Chris Gill, the organizations director, during a hunt with Warrior Hunts.  We shared a blind together during Doepocalypse weekend.  Although Chris didn’t get to harvest a deer, we did have a great time and he shared with me a little about what Lone Star Warriors Outdoors was doing to support veterans who were returning home.

In december of last year, Approximately 20 veterans converged on ranches around San Angelo Texas for a deer hunt.  Most thought they would be roughing it with white bread and porknbeans.  What they found when they got there was accommodations, meals, that blew their minds.  Not only that, but they were supplied with every pice of hunting gear they would need sans socks and underwear.  To say they were treated like royalty is an understatement.

I was able to tag along with Jose Martinez.  Jose was injured during combat, but that hasn’t stopped him.  He was able to successfully complete a dream hunt that weekend.  The Emotions that flooded the blind after that, are off the charts.  Check it out in the video below.

Other Projects

You’ve probably heard the phrase “never trust a skinny cook.” Well, I always say never trust anyone who doesn’t like to eat.  I’m here to tell you that I like to eat.  I may be thin, but don’t let that fool you.  I don’t  just like any food though.  No blan banquet food here.

One of my favorites is pork. Whether its thick slice bacon or slow smoked porked butt, hard to beat pork.  There is not a bad day that can’t be at least helped with bbq pulled pork.  I mean think about it.  Here in the south, someone dies and while the family is mourning the loss of great aunt suki everyone from miles around shows up at the house with bbq pork and baked beans with extra bacon.

As a pork eating crusader, My secret weapon of choice when it comes to doing battle with a pork butt is a product I launched a couple of years ago called Bayed up BBQ Rub.  This seasoning blend is fantastic on pork and a lot of other stuff as well.  Its great on chicken and burgers or even just to add a little kick to popcorn or eggs.  But, what this seasoning was really made for is WILD HOGS.  Of course you don’t have to use wild hogs but if you have hogs on your property, you need to try this seasoning.  You’ll be happy you did.

Here to Help

These are just a few of the things I’m involved with.  I’ve also done commercials and corporate work for various companies.  I’ve filmed events of all sorts, even a few weddings here and there.

Essentially, I love helping others and I’m here to help.  When I first started Riverbank Products, the Night Runner Lights was the very first product that I developed and marketed on my own.  It was also at that time that I adopted Mathew 5:16 as my mission statement for Riverbank Products.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mathew 5:16

Sometimes “christian run” businesses seem to flaunt a christian symbol and then run their business in a completely opposite direction.   I make no bones about the fact that God is the center of my business, but I’m often cautions of how I portray that fact.  I don’t want to ever take advantage of others and I hope that through helping other people, Christ will be shown  in a mighty and graceful way. If you need help with a project, Contact me.  riverbankproducts@gmail.com

Warrior Hunts Golf Tournament, Wine Tasting and Auction Set for The Memorial @ Frenchmans Bend.

Warrior Hunts Golf Tournament, Wine Tasting and Auction Set for The Memorial @ Frenchman’s Bend

Monroe, LA (May 12, 2015) – For the first time, Amicus presents The Memorial @ Frenchman’s Bend will benefit Warrior Hunts, part of the North East Louisiana Veterans Association.

Warrior Hunts is a locally managed non-profit that organizes hunting/fishing weekends as a way to get combat veterans outdoors. “The outdoors experience has proven time and again as one of the best ways to get these heroes out of the house and help begin the healing process.” Said Lt General Donny Wurster, USAF Retired. Warrior Hunts seeks to provide a stress free weekend for our American heroes and if you’re a witness to it, the “Thank You” given to them provides a lasting impression of our State, Nation and Families in Northeast Louisiana.

Activities are set to kick off at 6:oopm on Thursday May 21^st at Frenchman’s Bend with a sponsor appreciation event. The event will include a wine tasting as well as a live auction and a silent auction, which will also start Thursday and carry on through the weekend. Auction items to include:

• 105mm artillery shells from the Special Operations’ AC-130 Gunship
• Custom Warrior Hunts themed fire pit from Porter Iron Works
• In Home Chef Experience(s) with Chef Pat Nolan
• Golf Getaway to Kingwood Texas (Tin Cup movie location)
• Autographed Boxing Gloves from boxing legend George Foreman, Sports Memorabilia from local athletes
• Hunting Trips and more…

In addition, ULM’s Coach Berry is scheduled to speak prior to a flag ceremony Equipment items sought by Warrior Hunts, including deer stands, and Hunting gear will be on display to show donors how their funds are being spent.

Friday night is “RED Friday”. RED is for: Remember Everyone Deployed. In honor of those in harm’s way, wear some red, or even better. Show your support for Warrior Hunts and Pickup a RED Warrior Hunts T-shirt at T.P. Outdoors.

Flag retirement ceremonies have become a tradition at many Warrior Hunts events. In an era where some in our society are prompting the practice of disgracing the flag, this special time at Warrior Hunts events is set-aside for warriors and friends to retire Old Glory with honor and dignity. A flag lighting ceremony with a new flag will follow the flag retirement and JPS Equipment will fly a large US flag high above Frenchman’s Bend from Thursday through Sunday.

On Saturday and Sunday, it’s golf, golf and more golf. Warrior Hunts will present players with mementos on #1 Tee Box while Local vendors/volunteers feed players on holes 4 and 14, with another “feed bag” location being planned now. Retired USAF Master Sargent John Nolan, Jr., the Director of Warrior hunts said, “Warrior Hunts Alumni and Families will be on hand along with teammates associated with our three year old mission of putting our Nation’s Heroes into Nature. Almost 200 Warriors have participated in Warrior Hunts events so far. We are on track to serve 100 for this year alone. We’re making a difference right here, right now, with the right people”

The Memorial Golf Tournament at Frenchman’s bend is presented by Amicus. Additional contributing sponsors include Skyjacker, T.P. Outdoors, Batteries n Bulbs, Twin City Outdoors and more. For more information about Warrior Hunts, check out their website at www.warriorhunts.com. To register your golf team, contact Frenchman’s Bend at 318-387-2363

# # #

About Warrior Hunts of NELVA

Warrior Hunts of NELVA is an all volunteer 501c Non Profit that started in 2012, with two injured veteran hunters.   Warrior hunts are a way of giving back and helping wounded combat veterans and active duty special operators connect and cope with combat injuries. By 2014 over 100 Warriors and Family members hosted so far.

Warrior Hunts of NELVA P.O. Box 903 West Monroe, La 71294 Tax ID/EIN 59-119-1272 NELVA is a Non-Profit   Organization warriorhunts@gmail.com 318-235-5454

www.warriorhunts.com

Practice Shots with the DJI Phantom Vision+

I’ve been looking at the DJI remote controlled cameras for some time now to add to our arsenal of gear for some really cool camera angles.  But this morning while I was visiting with our friends at T.P. Outdoors, Bill Petrus had just finished showing me his new DJI Phantom and we were discussing upcoming T.P. Outdoors Episodes when I got a txt about shooting some video promos for the new Havoc Boats by Titan Marine.

Tim Scott with Havoc Boats and I had been discussing shooting a promo for some time, but it just hadn’t happened yet. My initial thought was wow, how cool would that be to be able to shoot some arial video for the promo with this type of setup.  What a coincidence that it would work out now.  Or was it?  Coincidences don’t just happen you know.  (Romans 8:28)

So, I was a little elated when Bill offered to let me borrow his new toy, I mean tool, to shoot the video.  But then fear set in. We will be shooting over WATER.

I don’t know if your aware of this or not, but water and electronics don’t really mix very well.  Couple that with the fact that these things aren’t exactly cheap.  Then factor in that even with a GPS guided, gyro stabilization, and built in flux capacitor, more than one of these things have taken a dive into the drink.

So, I spent a little time this afternoon practicing with the new DJI Phantom Vision+ camera drone before setting out to film with it for real. I flew it earlier today but it was a very short flight.  The Phantom has an approximate 15-20 minute battery life, and an hour re-charge time.  to some, that may seem like a short time, but it really wasn’t that bad.  I was able to get quite a lot practice this afternoon.  Practice makes perfect and I’ll need all I can get to make sure I don’t crash and drown in the river.

After playing around with it a little, I was able to get some pretty interesting shots and I was amazed by how stable the camera was.  When holding a camera manually, it can be quite a challenge to get good stable footage from a moving vehicle.  I recently got to try my hand at it from a real helicopter and it was nearly impossible to hold steady.  But, the gimbal on this thing works very well as you can see from some of my test footage. So, wish me luck tomorrow and pray that I stay out of the water hazards.

LSU fans could soon be calling the hogs from the air?

The University of Arkansas and LSU have held a long rivalry on the football field chasing the pigskin, but Louisiana residents may soon control the skies.

Helicopter hog eradication programs are growing.  Texans have been using the practice for a couple of years now with huge success in both the quantity of hogs removed and in economic gains due to commercial activities that have risen form these activities. Organizations like Vertex Aviation Group have grown and adapted to help land owners, outdoor enthusiast and even many tactical enthusiasts like SHWAT control hog populations.

The success of these types of programs could soon have many LSU fans calling the hogs too. All SEC rivalries aside, this week the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has announced plans to implement regulations that would allow the practice in Louisiana.

According to a recent Louisiana Sportsman article,  “Landowners, or groups of landowners, would have to contact LDWF and provide authorization to the permit holder to take hogs on their property. And the landowners could provide permission to the aviation companies to use ‘subagents’ like gunners or observers to directly participate in hog control activity.”

Interested parties are encouraged to voice their comments and any possible concerns to the LWFC during the open comment period.  Camille Warbington, LDWF Wildlife Division, Post Office Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, or email cwarbington@wlf.la.gov prior to Aug. 30, 2014.

Its unclear whether the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will follow suit, but in addition to Texas, and possibly Louisiana, Oklahoma passed legislation allowing the practice in 2013.  Arkansas, as Ricky Bobby would say, “if your not first, your last”.  All I’ve got to say is AGFC should consider the practice and remove any and all obstacles to help not just control the hog population in Arkansas, but eradicate it.  We’re ready for some cooler weather, some good BBQ and lets win some ball games this fall.  “Woo Pig Sooie – Razorbacks.”

Filming Wounded Warriors

I’ve had the oppertunity to work on some awesome stuff lately for the T.P. Outdoors Adventures TV Show. I’ve been filming some hunts with those guys for Wounded Warriors. Helping people has always been one of my main focuses in life, but these wounded warriors are some special people who really deserve it.

Just being a part of this, I’ve kinda been on a high now for the last few weeks since we first started filming. It’s just really incredible. Not what I’ve done. It’s not about me, but about being with these guys. Hearing their stories while sitting around the camp fire or in the blind.

One of the first things you notice is the camaraderie between these guys. They are truly like close brothers. (I guess you bond pretty quick when the enemy starts shooting at you.) Then you notice how…”beat down” doesn’t quite seem like the right phrase, but how even though they have scars, both emotional and physical, they are eager to get back to normal. Yet there is no normal anymore. You can’t take away the pain that they have, the things they have seen, the things they’ve endured. You can only share your normal and the things you love with them. For me, that’s the outdoors and Christ’s love for us.

Over the course of these events, There seems to be a legitimate healing that takes place. One guy stated that he didn’t really get very excited about anything anymore since coming home, but he sure got excited when there was an 11 point buck standing in front of him. I heard one person mention “this is what we were fighting for. There are good americans here at home. We’re protecting them and this way of life.”

It’s a little hard to think about someone protecting our hunting rights and our second amendment rights while fighting in another country. But the reality is the enemy hates our way of life.

To some degree, I’ve taken hunting for granted. I’ve hunted since I was about 5 years old. It’s hard to imagine that these guys have been fighting for us to have the opportunity to hunt. To watch the sun rise in a free country.

The outdoors is a connection that we share with these guys. It’s something that we both love. Being able to capture that, Bottle it up, and put it in a video to share with others is an amazing experience. I’m privileged to be a part of it.

The first episode aired on KNOE and KAQY last weekend. If you missed it, you won’t want to miss it again this weekend or for the next few weekends. You’ll see some of these patriots hunting and having a good time with their closest buddies.