Our Team

Jim Kauber

President/Director of Training

The Site’s President and Director of Training is former Navy SEAL Master Chief, Jim Kauber. After serving 20 years in the SEAL Teams, Jim continued post 9-11 employment in support of allied military and US Government national security related assignments worldwide.

In a training capacity, he held positions as the primary precision rifle instructor for the US Department of Energy’s Central Training Academy, Gunsite Academy, Blackwater North, O’Gara Group, Cheytac, Global Options, and The Site, in addition to training law enforcement snipers and European coalition Special Operations Forces’ snipers in support of OEF. Jim was recently the High-risk Training Safety Officer for Naval Special Warfare Command, Coronado, CA overseeing all SEAL and Special Warfare Combatant – Crewman, SWCC hazardous training programs.

Jim personally teaches Precision Rifle, DMR and Hunting Rifle courses.

Steven Stovall

Pistol, Shotgun, Carbine, and Tactics Instructor

Steven Stovall is currently a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, IL. Steve has over 20 years’ experience training police officer’s firearms and tactics, as well as over 15 years of experience training civilian’s firearms personal and home defense tactics.  Steve is a current Emergency Response Team Member, acting in an operator role. Additionally, Steve has previously served as lead pistol, carbine, shotgun, and home defense instructor at THE SITE.  Steve has recently spent several years working as Team Lead with the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program through the U.S. State Department.

JOE LIDBURY

Advanced Pistol, Carbine and Sniper Instructor

Joe has been a police officer in the state of Wisconsin for 20 years.  He is currently a detective with the Investigative Services Unit.   Joe was previously assigned to his agencies Special Investigations Unit where focus was tactical narcotics operations and fugitive apprehension.  With fifteen years assigned to his agencies call-out based tactical team, Joe obtained certifications in multiple disciplines.

Throughout Joe’s career, he has been involved in critical incidents.  This experience, combined with extensive training, provides him with an expertise The Site would like to share with firearms enthusiasts and the law enforcement community.  Joe’s certifications include:

PRW Sniper Instructor

Snipercraft Sniper Instructor

The Site Designated Marksman

Impact Training Sniper

WI State Recognized Handgun Instructor

WI State Recognized Carbine Instructor

WI State Recognized CCW Instructor

Defense and Arrest Tactics Instructor

SPEAR Instructor

SPEAR Ground Defense Instructor

SPEAR Applications for the Gunfight

NTOA Ground Defense Instructor

FBI Basic SWAT

Angela Spalla

Introduction to Speed Shooting Instructor

A current Chicago Police Officer, Angela has been on the force for over seven years. Since graduating from the Academy she took competitive shooting seriously, winning her first National recognition in 2021 in USPSA and since then has won over 25 Lady Category, and Class competitions in pistol, carbine and shotgun shooting disciplines. To date she has 9 national recognitions in multiple shooting disciplines which include ProAm, Glock Sport Shooting Foundation GSSF, Steel Challenge and USPSA. Additionally, Angela is a Grand Master in the shooting sport Steel Challenge and continues to relentlessly pursue her passion for competing. 

In efforts to afford the high volume of practice and match ammunition, Angela immediately started to reload her pistol ammo, fine tuning winning quality ammunition. Her first endeavor teaching was a program for women and young adults in gun handling and basic safety and has now brought her National ranked expertise and teaching skills to The Site. What started as a motivation in gaining experience in defensive shooting and tactics turned into acquiring over 500 hours of certified training hours with the pistol, rifle, and shotgun. Angela teaches The Site’s newest course offering, Introduction to Speed Shooting.

Lara Spanic

Precision Rifle, Reloading for Precision Rifle Instructor

Lara Spanic has been a national rifle competitor since she was 15 years old. As a sponsored shooter for The Site Firearms Training Center, Alpha Munitions, Trigger Tech, Masterpiece Arms, TS Customs Rifles, Atlas Bipods and Barnes Bullets, Lara has competed in dozens of long-range precision rifle competitions across the United States and Canada to include PRS/NRL, F Class and 300 meter rifle. Coached by Jim Kauber and an attentive student of reading the wind, Lara enjoys the challenge of shooting long distances, especially 1,000 yards and beyond. Lara is an avid reloader, enjoying the study of ballistics and the process of building precision ammunition. She became a member of the Forster Pro Staff in 2019.

In addition to long-range precision rifle, Lara competes in 50M three-position smallbore and International 10M air rifle. She is the 2020 Wisconsin State 50M Outdoor Champion, qualified for the 2020 Junior Olympics in 10M air rifle and is aiming to eventually compete in the Olympics and ISSF World Cup.

Lara has a boundless enthusiasm for gaining and sharing knowledge with others. She finds it especially rewarding to discuss and analyze the mental aspects of shooting sports and is always willing and excited to help others. 

Brian Hester

Pistol and Carbine Instructor

35 year law enforcement officer and trainer.
Master firearms instructor University of Illinois
Law enforcement recruit basic firearms instructor
Illinois Concealed carry instructor
Brian’s law enforcement career was spent in patrol and as a handgun / carbine instructor. His teaching techniques are modeled after the Modern Technique created by Col Jeff Cooper