A South Florida Success Story
By PJ DelHomme
People find it hard to say no to Mark Woodard—even though he’s not exactly scary. There are no visible neck tattoos. His demeanor rivals that of a friendly neighbor who’s always willing to lend you his miter saw. In fact, he looks like anyone’s grandpa with a head of thinning hair, cut short, and a gray mustache.
A veteran of the trades with UA Local 630 for nearly four decades, Woodard understands that bonds are built on (and off) the job site. Based in South Florida, you might think Woodard is a golfer. You’d be wrong. An avid outdoorsman, Woodard enjoys fishing, hunting, and shooting, which explains his interest in reviving the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) South Florida Sporting Clays Shoot, which is coming up on March 14.
There was a time when the South Florida shoot was struggling. After a few years of lackluster participation, the event quietly disappeared from the calendar. Woodard wouldn’t let it go. In 2021, he walked up to the USA booth at a convention with a simple question: When are we doing another shoot? And Woodard took things from there.
Since its return in 2022, the event hasn’t just recovered—it has exploded. Under Woodard’s leadership, participation has surged by 54%, and revenue has skyrocketed by 124% in just four years.
“As far as finding a committee guy, he’s the golden goose,” says Chris Piltz, USA’s Events Manager. “You get guys who love to shoot, but there’s so much behind-the-scenes work that goes on. And then there’s Mark, who’s in a leadership position, wants an event, and understands the pride that goes along with that event. Mark gets that. He puts the work in.”
The Power of the Personal Ask
Woodard’s secret for growth isn’t a complex marketing strategy or a secret. It’s built on honesty and the courage to ask for support. Prior to an event, he sends individual emails and makes personal visits to contractors and vendors.
“He’s not afraid to ask sponsors to contribute. That’s extremely important,” says USA Events Coordinator David Pollard. “He is the example, in my opinion, of a person who is boots on the ground and how you grow an event. What he does is fascinating to me.”
For Woodard, the motivation is simple: the vendors and contractors who profit from union labor should be the first to support union causes.
“He’s not afraid to make them aware that they are making money thanks to union members, and now it’s time to give a little back,” Pollard adds.
Woodard approaches these conversations with the same straightforwardness that has defined his career.
“My key to that is being honest with everybody,” Woodard says. “It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”
When it comes to the actual fundraising, his philosophy is resilient.
“If you don’t ask, you can’t get,” he says. “If someone says no, you don’t get mad, you just move forward. And if they want to donate $25 or $50, everything helps.”
A Family Affair
What sets the South Florida Shoot apart is its atmosphere. It isn’t just a networking event but also a family reunion. When Woodard shows up, he brings the whole crew. His wife and daughter-in-law participate in an all-women’s team—an initiative Woodard pushed for—while his granddaughter follows along. On the course, Woodard shoots alongside his son on their Local 630 team.
At the most recent event, 15 members of the Woodard family volunteered on-site. They are the first to arrive to help set up and the last to leave after breaking everything down.
“The whole family is there with him. They stay after the shoot,” Pollard says. “Mark is a unicorn in the world of volunteers. If we had a Mark at every shoot, we wouldn’t have to worry about much of anything.”
Building Community
Woodard’s vision for the USA in South Florida has expanded beyond the shooting range. This year, the USA will host a youth fishing event the day after the shoot at a Scout camp near West Palm Beach. True to form, Woodard didn’t wait around for supplies—he went out and got them.
“I told David [Pollard], ‘Let’s give something back to the community,’” Woodard says. “So I went back to the contractors, and got six contractors to donate $250, and I’m waiting to hear back from some others.” The money helps pay for lunch, a backpack, and even bait.
This community focus reinforces the camaraderie that Woodard believes is the backbone of labor.
“These days, you might be the only trade on a job site. The shoots bring us all together and creates camaraderie between the trades and contractors,” Woodard says. “It’s not about hitting clays. It’s about keeping us all strong together.”
A Hand Up
Back in 1988, Woodard remembers buying his first house for $35,000 and being laid off from his job the same day. Plus, he had two young kids at the time. The union helped him find another job just three days later. That experience cemented his belief in the union’s “better wages, better life” promise, and his focus remains on helping others.
“For me, it just feels good to help people,” he says. “Something I’ve always kept in my head is that you only get one chance at life. You never look down on somebody. The only time you look down on them is when you give them a hand up.”
Want to see your local USA event reach new heights? Mark Woodard and the USA events team suggest a few tried-and-true strategies in this article.
