BIG ROCK SPORTS, LLC
GRAHAM, NC

All Sports was founded by Arlo Elliott in Portland, OR. Soon after becoming a part of Big Rock Sports, the facility was moved to its current location in Clackamas, OR. Tom and Annette Carlson started a fishing tackle wagon jobber business out of their house in Brainerd, MN. By 1973, they’d moved into a 1,000-square-foot building in Sauk Rapids, MN and began operating as Carlson Sports. Dick Henry founded Henry's Tackle Company in Selma, NC. He moved the company to Morehead City in 1971 and changed the name of the manufacturing division to Sea Striker. To help meet the needs of the growing fishing industry on the West Coast, Autry’s Worm Ranch (AWR) was established in San Diego, CA. AWR supplied fishing tackle retailers with high-quality fishing baits. By 1986, Warren Avis had brought All Sports, Carlson Sports and Henry’s into the Avis family. These three distribution companies would later form the foundation of Big Rock Sports. Calcutta, originally a bait company, was born in Florida during a time when quality frozen bait was scarce. Making sure fishermen were armed with the “Best Damn Bait” was the company’s number one priority. Big Rock Sports was born when a group of investors led by Adrian Holler acquired All Sports, Carlson Sports and Henry’s from Avis. Soon Big Rock brought Autry’s Worm Ranch into the fold. Big Rock Sports purchased Calcutta and expanded the brand into a variety of product categories, including fishing tools, tackle bags, sunglasses, rainwear and technical fishing apparel. Big Rock Sports opened a cutting-edge 300,000-square-foot distribution center in Hamlet, NC. The warehouse distributes a full range of fishing, hunting, shooting, camping, electronics and boating supplies. Big Rock Sports expanded its North American operations into Canada by acquiring Inland Pacific Distributors, Ltd., a Canadian sporting goods distributor. Sea Striker and Star Rod brands came home to the Big Rock Sports family through a purchase from President and Founder Dick Henry. Big Rock Sports acquired Headquarters Taxidermy Supply, the fastest growing taxidermy supplier in North America. HQ carries the highest quality and most modern manikins in the industry. Big Rock Sports announced a major restructuring of the company in order to manage accelerated growth. The company enhanced its focus on Shooting Sports and Fishing/Camping/Marine. To enhance the restructuring process, Big Rock Sports launches a new brand that includes a redesigned website, all-new digital services and an updated Big Rock Sports logo. Big Rock acquires KTL Canada, a leading fishing tackle and outdoor recreation distribution company in Eastern Canada Big Rock Sports Chairman Adrian Holler, an avid angler, named Big Rock Sports after a series of underwater peaks and plateaus about 40 miles off the coast of Morehead City, NC. The area is considered to be the premier spot for marlin fishing on the East Coast, and is the location of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. Although Big Rock Sports does not have a direct affiliation with the tournament, our private label brand Calcutta is a Major Sponsor. Ed received his B.S.B.A. in marketing and international trade from Appalachian State in 1986. Before joining Big Rock, he was a Senior Operating Advisor for JP Morgan Partners, assisting with the evaluation of current and potential investments from an operating perspective. In addition, Ed was the Chairman of the Board for SiTeco Lighting, a JPMP portfolio company in Germany that provides lighting solutions. Ed joined Big Rock in 2005 as President, taking over his current CEO duties in March of 2006. Ed and his wife Faith live on a horse farm near Big Rock’s headquarters in central North Carolina. Andy began his career with Big Rock Sports in the mid-1980s as a Henry’s Tackle salesman in Florida. Over the next 18 years, he held executive sales and marketing roles at Polaroid, Disney and Department 56, while completing his MBA at Georgia State University. In 2006, he returned home to Big Rock Sports. Since that time, Andy has served as a key member of Big Rock’s Executive Team, holding the roles of Vice President, Senior Vice President and Executive Vice President, as well as President of Big Rock’s Canada Division. In early 2016, Andy was named President of Big Rock Sports. Prior to joining Big Rock Sports in 2005, Jay served in human resource leadership positions for Classic Leather, Inc., Corning Cable Systems and RSI Home Products. He is a native of North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University. After graduation, Jay served four years as a Captain in the US Army. Pat joined Big Rock Sports in 2013. He has a BS in Accounting from Northern Illinois University and a Masters from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and is a CPA. Pat has over 18 years of experience as a CFO of manufacturing and distribution companies, mostly in the consumer products industry, such as Newell Rubbermaid, Mother’s Cookies, United Technologies and NASCAR. Pat and his wife Georgia have three children and live in central North Carolina near Big Rock’s headquarters. Prior to becoming Senior Vice President of Sales, Brian Phillips led the Business Development team. Previously, he worked in the consumer goods industry at the Jarden Corporation, United Technologies and Kidde PLC. Brian was recently named to the SGB Top 40 Under 40 list, and he currently lives in central North Carolina with his wife and two sons. Prior to becoming Senior Vice President of Sales, Brian Phillips led the Business Development team. Previously, he worked in the consumer goods industry at the Jarden Corporation, United Technologies and Kidde PLC. Brian was recently named to the SGB Top 40 Under 40 list, and he currently lives in central North Carolina with his wife and two sons. Since its inception in 1996, Big Rock Sports has grown at an extraordinary rate, and Big Rock’s leadership team is a big part of the reason why. They work to ensure that everyone—vendors, retailers and employees—benefits from our growth. Because of their guidance, Big Rock is one of the largest distributors of firearms and fishing gear in all of North America.