We consider everyone involved in the Fly Fishing Show as one big family; including staff, exhibitors, temps, volunteers, celebrities, fly tiers, and anyone else involved with the production of our shows.  We include everyone as part of the family because it is a family run operation.  We hope to get to know you better.  Here is a little introduction of our full time staff:

Chuck Furimsky, Director and CEO:  Chuck has been the director of the Fly Fishing Show since day one.  He founded the Fly Fishing Show with his partner, Barry Serviente, nearly 20 years ago.  Chuck formed a fly fishing show held at Seven Spring Mt. Resort in Pennsylvania in 1986.  Several years later he met Barry, who was running as small fly fishing and book show in central PA.  Together they came up with the idea of a fly fishing only show to be held in Somerset, NJ.  The event was so well attended that the fire marshal shut the doors to any additional people.  Today, the Somerset location is the largest fly fishing specific show in the world and the Fly Fishing Show has expanded to locations nation wide.  Barry retired in 2008.

Chuck is an avid fly fisherman and fly tier.  He is the sole director of the International Fly Tyers Symposium.  He designs flies for Raineys Flies, and had developed a tying material made from leather called Bugskin.  He began fishing as a young boy in McKeesport, PA and developed his fly fishing skills under the late, great George Harvey while attending Penn State.  He never misses the opening day of trout season in PA and enjoys a calm day at sea on his boat "Ole Man Winter".

Ben Furimsky, Co-Director:  Ben has been around the Fly Fishing Shows since the early days.  He has been an exhibitor, a demonstration fly tier, and a featured fly tier.  He works full time as a fly fishing sales representative in the rocky mountain area.  He is a contract fly tier for Montana Fly Company and still manages to guide part time on the Gunnison River.  Two years ago he became the Co-Director for the Fly Fishing Show.  He is in charge of the Fly Tyers Row as well as the Learning Center.  He also works on advertising and general office work, including upkeep of the website.  Ben enjoys catching anything that he can on his fly rods.  His favorites are Trout, Stripers, and Permit, but can't resist casting to Tarpon and any other fish that people think are too big to catch.  He has fished from Alaska to Zambia and loves to travel because of the great places fly fishing can take a person.

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Dave Sewak, Office Manager:  David runs the day to day operations of the Fly Fishing Show office. Before coming to the fly fishing show in 2007 he worked for 13 years in Federal, State & non-profits in community enhancement, Abandon Mine Line Reclamation and Recreation infrastructure projects in Southwest and South-Central Pennsylvania. In addition of running the office Dave still serves on numerous watershed and conservation boards.  In his spare time he is out with his three children Aedan, Cassidy & Sage, usually fishing, berry picking or hunting with the older ones.  In addition to fly fishing Dave actively hunts, particularly upland birds with his Brittany and also has a large garden and raises chickens.  Dave’s wife Kristin is the President/Founder of Natural Biodiversity a regional organization that promotes eradicating invasive plants and re-introducing native plants, she tends to volunteer him for a lot of mule work and cooking for the groups workdays.

Emily Hicks, Office Assistant:  Emily has been working for Chuck in his retail stores for years and now has added office assistant to her list of dedicated service. She joined the Fly Fishing Show staff in 2007 after a hiatus to stay at home with her daughter, Emma Drew. In addition to working in the office she is active at her daughter’s non-profit Verna Montessori School, and is a board member for the Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund. The fund was set up to honor her brother who was killed in the line of duty last November while working for the FBI in Pittsburgh. She is getting better every year with her fly fishing and has learned to fit right in. Her record keeping and organizational skills are a much needed cog in our successful show wheel.

Janet Furimsky, Director of Ticket Sales:  Janet is the wife of Chuck for nearly 40 years now.  You will see her as you enter the gates of the Fly Fishing Shows.  She is the Director of Ticket Sales and is there to check in exhibitors, celebrities, fly tiers, and run the ticket sales during operational hours.

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Bennett Mintz, Public Relations – Show Promotion:  Working in public relations, media relations and show promotion is fly-fishing industry veteran Bennett J. Mintz.  Ben maintains his PR/advertising office in suburban Chatsworth, Calif., representing or consulting with some of the industry’s leading manufacturers as well as lodges and destinations. 
    Ben “plants” Fly Fishing Show stories in the regions where shows are scheduled beginning a month in advance.  He works with local outdoor writers and editors scheduling interviews or feature stories with fly-tiers, speakers and various personalities and exhibitors in an effort to increase interest and attendance. 
    Mintz has been affiliated with the Fly Fishing Show for about four years.    

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All info on this site is as accurate and timely as we can make it. Please note that changes beyond our control may occur before the actual show dates. If you need to confirm anything just before each show, please check this web site or call us at 1-866-481-2393.