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January 19, 2023
Dave Baron Honored with NSSF Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award
LAS VEGAS — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, today presented its highest honor—the Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award—to Dave Baron, former owner and CEO of Baron Technology, a Connecticut-based firm known throughout the firearm industry for its quality engraving and finishing services.
The award was presented at NSSF’s annual Members Meeting during the industry’s annual trade show, the SHOT Show®.
The NSSF Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves by their long-term commitment to the success of the industry and by their support of NSSF’s mission to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports.
Throughout his career, Baron has given back to this industry and the people—youth and adults—who use its products responsibly for enjoyment in recreational shooting and hunting. His dedication to supporting youth programs monetarily and with his own time connects with his passion for conservation and doing his part to help the shooting sports endure.
After six years with the U.S. Marines, Baron joined the family business in 1982, the year it was founded by his father, Frank. Baron has spent his entire career there, rising to president, CEO and owner. The company, which grew rapidly, made its mark engraving and detailing countless collectible firearms and other products—many of them used in fundraising auctions to benefit worthy causes.
Baron’s particular interest has been to support youth participation in the shooting sports as well as children who struggle with illness and disease. He has been a board member and president of the Kids and Clays Foundation, which supports Ronald McDonald House through fundraising clay shoots around the country. He currently serves on the boards of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, 4-H Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Foundation.
His life of service and generosity has brought him other accolades, including twice being named SHOT Business Person of the Year, earning the NRA Personal Achievement Award and being named to Outdoor Life’s “25 People Who have changed the Face of Shooting and Hunting.”
Baron has long supported the NSSF and its Project ChildSafe® firearm safety program, the NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA. He was a founding member of Youth Shooting Sports Association, which was organized to deliver firearms, ammunition, targets and supplies to youth shooting programs across the nation.
“Dave Baron is a kind, generous person who has always looked for opportunities to lend support in the shooting sports community and outside of it to help those in need,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “His example of giving back inspires us all.”
Said Baron, “My passion has always been with developing the next generation. They need to love shooting and conservation just like we do. The future of all we hold dear depends on our best efforts now!”
The award’s namesake, Ken Sedlecky, had a long career at Smith & Wesson, was inducted into the National Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame and was known for mentoring new youth and adult target shooters.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
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