Nick Clausen - Videographer/Producer
Nick Clausen has been an inspiring videographer ever since 9th grade where he produced the Friday Video Show at Central High School in St. Paul, MN. Since then, he went to college at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he received a B.A. in Radio-Television. He then covered the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 while working in Chattanooga, TN. Then he moved to Baltimore, MD, and then back to Minnesota where he worked for KARE-TV and KSTP-TV.
Awards: Finalist for the National Press Photographers Association, Photographer of the Year, Four regional Emmy's for the National Television Academy, Excellence in Craft awards for the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
When I'm not begging my wife Laura to go camping, I'm whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, or ice climbig. I also love to throw the tennis ball around with our dog Ellie.
Favorite MN Bound Stories: Probably my favorite story (sorry Ron) was when Bill Sherck and I went to Alaska. There we gallivanted with Kodiak Bear, caught silver salmon, and climbed the Talkeetna Mountain Range. My next favorite story would be a trip Ron and I took to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There, we caught yellowfin tuna and striped bass. Our guide, Captain Tim Barefoot gave us a first class tour where we observed humpback whales and dined on some of the best seafood I've ever had!
Favorite Ron Moment: Ron was shooting a standup for a story we were shooting on Stearns. He put on an inflatable lifejacket and as he pulled the cord and the jacked squeezed around his nexk, I saw his eyes grow to the size of golf balls. I think it startled him a bit, and we all had a good laugh. It's good to see he's still enthusiastic after all these years of catching fish, its still like he caught the very first one.
Aaron Achtenberg - Photojournalist/Producer
What I do at Ron Schara Productions? Like everyone else here, I kind of do it all from shooting and editing stories, to on-lining shows, to commercial production. But what really excites me most is shooting and editing the stories. I love going out and gathering a good story. Experiencing a new place and meeting new people is definitely one of the highlights of the job.
My favorite trip - Ron Schara and I spent a week on the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We fished for tarpon in the Gulf of Mexico and a few other fish in the jungle backwaters. I saw so many amazing things there it was an experience unlike anything else. Crocodiles, sloths, monkeys, lizards and many beautiful birds made capturing pretty pictures fairly easy. It was a beautiful place and I will never forget it.
My favorite story was shot on a little trout steam near Red Wing, MN. We met the president of Carleton College, a passionate fly fisherman. He fishes in a tie and teaches fly-casting to the students at Carleton College.
One of my favorite Ron moments happened in Omaha, NE at the national pheasant fest. Ron likes to razz me about being from North Dakota. The usual jokes: No plumbing, no electricity and everyone is related. Well, we were at the conventions and met a few people from my home state. As it turns out, one guy happened to be my Dad's boss from a long time back, and another happened to be my wife's cousin. I'll never hear the end of it from Ron. I guess we are all related in North Dakota.
My home is now in Ramsey, MN. I share the house with my wife LeAnn, son Christian(3), daughter Elise (3 weeks) and a lab named Jack.
Travis Frank - Producer
It's all about "Livin the Dream" for this kid. If it's an outdoors activity, you can be that he'll be pursuing it. From a very young age he had the love for the outdoors running through his blood. Over time Travis became a very accomplished fishing guide, becoming well known for his obsessions with the "Mighty Muskie." He enjoys every opportunity to teach and show the ways of his outdoor world.
Joining the Schara team in March of 2008, Travis took on the responsibility as a go-to guy for everything web. He currently wears many hats in the company and is now an Associate Producer along with Marketing, Sales and Web duties that keep him occupied on a non-stop basis.
Travis graduated with a 4 year business degree in 2006 from the north woods of Bemidji State. When he's not casting a bait or chasing game in the woods, he enjoys helping out in his community and church, mentoring young kids, hanging with his family and his great group of friends.
Although he is a rather young guy, he is very gracious for his role with the company and appreciates every opportunity that has been given.
Some major goals: Some day I want to be in the Hall of Fame for any of my passions, fishing, hunting, writing. There is no greater honor than being recognized for great accomplishments, and I have many years to accomplish them. I also look forward to catching bigger fish than Ron on every one of our adventures (sorry Ron).
Livin' The Dream!
Don Stremski - Production Assistant
Don began his love of video with a class at the local Public Access cable station in 6th grade. he majored in Photography at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, and has a degree in Television Production from Brown College.
He thinks he can trace his inspiration to learn the technical aspects of television when a test pattern interrupted a Gilligan's Island re-run when he was three or four, prompting him to wonder just what, exactly, they were doing down at the TV station...More importantly, how he could fix whatever it was that had gone wrong.
Since then, he has ensured that thousands of hours of quality programming have successfully broadcast without a dreadful "We are Experiencing Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By" slate, thus proving that television can be good for young and impressionable minds.
Don lives in South Minneapolis, where he can be found riding the bike trails on his recumbent bike, playing disc golf or enjoying the many fine cultural and art events the Twin Cities offers.