BEHIND THE BRASS

Finding Purpose: A Conversation with Bob Davis, Head of Marketing at AmmoSquared

There’s a lot that goes into AmmoSquared, and a lot of it comes down to the people.

This month, I sat down with Bob Davis so you could get to know the guy behind our marketing a little better: his journey, his family, what he’s learning, and what keeps him moving forward.

Journey to AmmoSquared

Take us back to before AmmoSquared. What were you doing, and what was happening in your life when this opportunity came along?

"I was Vice President of Marketing for an agency and organization in Washington, D.C. I saw a small job posting online — AmmoSquared was looking for someone to lead marketing. I'd always wanted to get into the outdoor or firearms space, and I thought: no better time than the present."

What initially drew you to AmmoSquared?

"It came down to culture. Everybody thought alike about America, the Constitution, and defending the Second Amendment. It was clear this was a place I wanted to be part of."

What surprised you most once you were here?

"People, from the executive team down to the warehouse, were free to be who they were designed to be. Nobody had to put on a suit, a tie, or a mask to satisfy some corporate boardroom or investor. I could be myself and use my God-given talents to help the company move forward."

You've been here almost two years now. What has this season taught you that you didn't expect to learn?

"Hire for culture first. It's a mantra a lot of boardrooms repeat and pat themselves on the back for, but rarely practice. Believe me, I’ve been around a lot of virtue signalling in my career. AmmoSquared actually lives it. You can teach processes and systems. Culture is different."

Culture and People

How would you describe the culture at AmmoSquared to someone who's never worked here?

"Fun and living with intention. We take what we do seriously, but we don't take ourselves seriously."

What makes the people here different?

"They're authentic. Scars, bruises, humor, all wrapped up into one."

As AmmoSquared grows, what do you hope we never lose?

"With any growing company, you run into challenges: systems, hiring enough people, finding the time to invest properly. AmmoSquared has been no different. We're constantly upgrading our systems and processes to serve our members well. You really see what people are made of when things get challenging. It's been a joy to work through difficult stretches with people and come out the other side better than we were. That's what I hope we protect as we scale: the spirit of looking forward."

What does "living the mission" look like for you personally, not just as an employee?

"To be even more mentally and physically prepared. I've taken my training more seriously, training Thursdays with several members of our ammosquared crew before we come into work, getting our reps and movement in, maybe a session on the weekend. Preparation requires repetition of your skills. It's also made me more focused on my posture with the world. And become more of an advocate for what we need to do to protect our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our nation."

This Season of Life

What season of life do you feel you're in right now?

"Personally, I'm enjoying the fruits of the labor and years of skill-building that came before AmmoSquared. Professionally, we're in a season of preparing AmmoSquared for explosive growth in 2027. We are doing something special, and it’s neat to be a part of it."

What's inspiring you these days?

"My grandson inspires me to be better than myself. It’s like I get a do-over from being a parent."

Have your priorities changed over the last few years?

"As  I move through seasons of life, it's less about what I have and more about the legacy I leave for my family and the people I choose to associate with. While I keep my circle small,  at the end of the day, it's about the next life and making sure the church is full of people I somehow had an impact on and hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant…”"

What are you learning about yourself in this season?

"That you never really stop learning, no matter what season you're in. The moment you stop being curious, you stop growing. Staying a student is what develops you into a better person, a better leader, a better father, grandfather, and friend. Have friends that are older than you and more that are younger than you. Love, live, learn, and laugh... a lot."

What matters most about the person you're becoming, apart from the career you're building?

"I’m always relearning the value of patience. Everything worthwhile takes time. You plant a seed. You water it. You give it enough sunlight, and you let it grow. Only then do you get to harvest it. Business is no different. Neither are relationships. Growth can’t always be rushed, and the things that come too easily rarely mean as much. There’s something different about what you’ve had to build, nurture, and work for. You appreciate it more because you know what it took to get there."

Who or what has been influencing you lately?

"The Old Testament books of Job and Ecclesiastes, they're so raw and so real in the end."

Quick Fire

Coffee or energy drink? Depends.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird.

Favorite way to spend a Saturday? Coffee on the porch or grabbing a greasy spoon breakfast with the wife.

Favorite caliber? 9mm

Favorite range day essential? A thing I call the  “Double Tap”. A mixture of an orange sugar-free Monster Energy Drink and a 42g protein shake over ice. Boom Boom.

Favorite book you've read recently? The Devil's Hand, By Jack Carr

One word your coworkers would use to describe you? Authentic

If you weren't doing marketing, what would you be doing? Building hospitals and racing cars.

Best advice you've ever received? You can only draw from three buckets: time, talent, or treasure.

What's on your bucket list? Running with the bulls in Spain in 2027 with my son.