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 What happens when a 16-year-old girl trips in the mud on a deer hunt and comes home with an idea that changes an industry? You get Otis Technology — and one of the most inspiring origin stories in the entire 2A space. This episode, we sat down with Heather Pleskach, VP of Marketing at Otis, live from the last day of SHOT Show 2026. Heather didn't just tell us about gun care — she unpacked nearly 18 years of watching an industry evolve, a brand grow from a field kit to a household name, and what it really means to carry the torch for a company founded by a teenage girl who refused to quit.

We got into Doreen's wild SHOT Show story (yes, the lipstick and heels are real), how Heather cold-submitted a resume with zero job openings available and somehow built a career, the growing presence of women in the 2A space, and why gun maintenance isn't optional — it's stewardship. Whether you just bought your first firearm or you've been in the field for decades, this one's got something for you.

Off the Beaten Path — where every trail has a story.

Show Notes: Guest: Heather Pleskach, VP of Marketing — Otis Technology Website: otistec.com | shooters-choice.com Topics Covered:

• Doreen's origin story: mud, a stuck stick, and 500 units at SHOT Show 1985
• Sneaking into SHOT Show at 16 with heels and hairspray
• Heather's 18-year journey from cold resume submission to VP
• Women in the 2A space — then vs. now
• Why gun care is stewardship, not a chore
• Shooter's Choice acquisition and what brand legacy looks like
• Otis's education-first YouTube content strategy
• What's coming big from Otis later in 2026 (teaser only 👀)

Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations. 

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode.

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