Conejo Valley Archers

Mike Broder

Like most people my archery experience started when I was a child.  I attended a summer camp that had an archery program and was immediately hooked.  Presently I am a Regional Coach with the NAA. I received my Level 3 training in 2007 and Level 2 training in 2005 at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Chula Vista, California.  In November of 2008 I attended a High Performance Seminar  at the OTC in Colorado Springs.  For the last 3 years I have participated in our JOAD program as one of the four main Coaches. With the assistance of my fellow instructors we have put on dozens of private parties and have managed to train 3 dozen or more Basic Instructors and a half dozen Intermediate Instructors.  What I like to do most is teach.  It gives me great pleasure to help people reach their goals, watch them progress and know I had something to do with it.

Dave Dragan

Hi, I'm Dave Dragan and I became involved with Conejo Valley Archers JOAD because of my daughter, Carissa in May of 1998. This was after she was introduced to archery while attending middle school in Mooroark. We found out about the range, came out and met Coach John Norberg. Coach Norberg founded the JOAD Program and soon became Carissa's coach, launching her 10 years of success in the sport of archery. While watching Coach John train and teach Carissa, I soon realized that I also wanted to learn how to coach. Over the years I learned from my friend and mentor Coach John, and became a NAA Level 2 Certified Coach and Instructor. With the help of Coach John Downey and Coach Mike Broder, our program continues to grow from the 8 to 10 kids when Carissa and I first got involved, to over 50 full time students and growing! I hope to continue Coach John Nordberg’s methods of coaching & training young archers, which is to always instill positive reinforcement, encouragement, and a mental attitude that each child will carry with them through their scholastic, personal & professional life. That success I have seen the result of in Carissa's many achievements in the sport and her personal life! I look forward to continuing to watch our program grow, and to be involved in the many successes of all our young students in the great Sport of Archery!!!

John Downey

John has been a member of Conejo Valley Archers for almost 10 years, and is also a Level II Archery Instructor for the Conejo Valley Archers JOAD program. Currently a member of NFAA, CBH, and NAA. Received Level Two Archery Training from Level 4 Olympic Coach Lloyd Brown at the US Olympic Training Center. Started shooting a long bow shortly after birth, over 50 years ago. Passed over to the “dark side” two years and began shooting a compound bow. A man of many hats he currently is the CVA Tournament Director and Club Secretary (was railroaded into Club Secretary shortly after joining CVA).

Rob Kovac

I became involved with archery in 2003 when my then 10-year-old daughter Tabitha came home from summer camp one day and said she "wanted to do archery". My wife Denyele found CVA on the web and we ventured out to the range where we found Coach John Norberg and Coach John Downey running the JOAD program. After coming to the range every week for about 6 months I noticed that the two coaches were very busy and I started helping out in the shed handing out equipment. As time went on I became more interested and involved in the coaching aspect and with two good examples to learn from I soon became a Level I Coach. I continue to learn from Coach Norberg and the other coaches at CVA and as of Nov. 2008 became a Level II Coach.

Rick Pugh

I am an NAA Level 2 Coach, NAA Certified Judge, National Bow Hunter Education Foundation Instructor, California Bow Hunter Safety Instructor. I was also recently elected to the Board of Directors of the State Archers of California where I am also the Chairman of JOAD and Youth Archery for California.

I got my first bow as a birthday present at the age of 5, shot my first deer at the age of 16, and have been into archery ever since. When I am not on the range with my two sons, Adam and Andrew, I am spending time with my other three children (yes five in total) and my wife Lisa. I truly believe in developing the sport of archery and dedicate almost all of my free time to helping where I can. In the next year I plan to continue to focus on the development of JOAD and Youth Archery programs and promoting archery as a sport at the local and state levels.

Richard Carpenter

I was an archery hunter from my childhood through my late twenties when life got in the way and did not pick archery back up until my youngest son bugged me into taking him to try archery. I started out as a parent hoping his son would enjoy archery as I had, but over time I saw what a great program the coaches had put together and when John Nordberg decided to retire I knew I wanted to help keep the program alive. I received my level one coaching credentials from Coach John Downey. I later received my level two Coaches certificate and hope to start my level 3 certification after the mandatory year waiting period is over. Coach Kurt Hoberg and I are currently teaching an eight week beginners archery class that we hope to repeat later in 2009.

Kurt Hoberg

I have been shooting archery for three years and have been a Level 2 Coach for nearly a year. I grew up rifle and pistol shooting and got into Archery when my wife, Rose, became interested in the sport and "suggested" I try it! One day shooting and I got hooked!  I am interested in all disciplines of Archery; however I shoot FITA Recurve equipment. One of the aspects of the sport that I really enjoy is recurve bow tuning… which is a good thing as I have four bows to keep running as my family shoots as well.

Future coaching plans include Level 3 Coach training, and possibly a Level 3 High Performance Coach certification. Until then, I enjoy helping at CVA's JOAD program and continuing my knowledge of this fascinating sport.

Rose Hoberg

I’ve been involved with the club for five years and a member for about four years. I have been doing archery for 5 1/2 years starting with the Cub Scouts and then with CVA. I usually shoot FITA but also really enjoy the club shoots and 3D events. Always recurve! I’m an NAA Level 2 Coach and also an Archery Merit Badge Counselor for Boy Scouts.

Bonnie Marshall

Our children really do lead us to wonderful places! My daughter Emily was interested in archery. After trying other programs, we had such a great experience shooting with the CVA club. I was so impressed with the program, the coaches, the equipment and the beautiful park that the range is in. After our first year shooting at Conejo Valley Archers, I knew I wanted to be able to give back to the club, so I went for my Level 1, Basic coaches training. I really enjoy teaching new students the basics that are so important to the sport. Our private party training is also a great way to show people how easy archery is to learn but how it takes a lifetime to master. I would like to go for my Level 2 during 2009.  I have a great appreciation for the pure form of the sport and choose to shoot bare bow. I enjoy the challenge of hitting that gold spot without any mechanical aids. I have been a teacher or coach for many sports including baseball, softball, soccer and karate and love introducing people to this great sport.

Laura Loya

I have been a member of the club for three years after getting back into archery after 20 years. I first tried archery at girl scout camp and hated it. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn while my best friend was hitting the target every time (she went on to become a state champion in high school). Six years ago, I was helping out at cub scout camp where they allowed the adults to shoot during lunch. It turned out that I was a "leftie" and switching bow hands made all the difference. I am now a level 1 instructor and an archery merit badge counselor. I enjoy both the FITA program and traditional field archery with its challenge of shooting without sights and stabilizers.