In a classic American upbringing, Mike Gimmarro played football throughout his childhood in the rapidly expanding Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs. When he wasn’t chasing a football, he took to the outdoors with his cousins. He credits his extended family with introducing him to the world of hunting and fishing. It was in the woods, streams and lakes of the Midwest where he and his cousins forged their relationship with each other and a fondness of the outdoors. It was this positive relationship that would one day lead to a profitable business venture with his cousin, Bryan Hurt. Then, as now, he understood that the outdoors allows a person to take a breath and think clearly about life and sort through the different challenges that come along with it. This clarity and connection with nature would serve him well as he grew from a young man into an accomplished business owner.

With his successful football career in high school, Gimmarro was on track as the perfect prospective student to attend Northwest Missouri State University. However, real life paths usually have many interesting twists, and Gimmarro’s trek would be no exception. Gimmarro’s college bound direction changed when he met an Air Force recruiter in the school cafeteria one day. It was this brief conversation and a brochure that beckoned his interest. He found himself returning to the conversation and thumbing through the Air Force brochure later that day when he was at work. After reading through it several times, he decided to gather more information. He swung by the recruiter’s office on the way home from work and there he gained the insight he needed to make his decision. Through additional discussion and self-reflection, he realized that he wasn’t really sure what he wanted to study in college. He was, however, very sure that he didn’t want to accumulate a bunch of loans while trying to figure his life out. Ultimately, he recognized that enlisting was not just a good deal, it was a really great opportunity.

Gimmarro parlayed this opportunity into a rewarding career as an Aircraft Fuel Systems Mechanic. Like every airman enduring basic training, he was challenged from every angle. His successful endurance of multiple tests revealed the unique skills necessary to become a highly skilled aviation specialist. With absolutely no margin for error, only a select few could take on the challenge of keeping military aircraft in flight. Initially stationed at Offutt Air Force Base outside of Omaha, Nebraska, his expertise sent him on several missions to the Middle East and Europe. He was deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar in February, 2008 until June of 2008. His dedication and talent were recognized when he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal. The following year, in December 2009, Gimmarro served at FOL Curacao, Netherlands, Antilles until January of 2010. Afterwards, he was deployed a second time to Al Udeid AB, Qatar from December until March of 2010. Upon his return to the United States, he was stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. From there, Gimmarro was deployed to Al Dafhra AB, UAE in September 2012 until March 2013. His work ethic and talent were awarded with a second Air Force Achievement Medal. The following year, in July 2014, he was deployed to Al Dafhra AB, UAE until November, 2014. From March, 2016 until May, 2016, he was deployed to FOL Curacao, Netherland Antilles. In a fitting confirmation of the risks he accepted and the commitment he demonstrated during his career, Gimmarro was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal as he bid farewell to the Air Force. This international journey, and every trial within it, allowed him to develop the skills that would insure a lifetime of success.

When he looks back, he says the biggest surprise when he got into the military was becoming accustomed to the schedule. Working multiple shifts in a given week, including overnight stints, was beyond any challenge he had faced in his young life. Once he learned how to flex between the shift-work and adjust to different sleep schedules, he really enjoyed his time serving in the Air Force. To this day, he misses the sense of accomplishment he felt when he worked on the planes. There is no greater pride than being devoted to excellence in one’s work and this ethic would serve him well throughout his life.

In the absence of his extended family back in Blue Springs, Missouri, Gimmarro found a very unique camaraderie among the military personnel. There is something extraordinary about the fusion of these diverse lives that meld in one common goal: to defend and serve the citizens of the United States of America. Comprised of these singularly focused men and women, the military offers relationships that cannot be found in any other career. Gimmarro concedes he still misses his military family.

The challenges he faced in his ten years of military service were decidedly different, but no less taxing than his transition back into civilian life. Through his hard work in the Air Force, he had earned enormous success and respect. Humbling himself to be just “a normal guy” as he puts it, and starting back at the bottom was the most grueling aspect of his move into the civilian world. About the only thing he enjoyed during this time of transition was not shaving. Hindsight is always 20/20. In the thick of this lifestyle change, it can be very difficult to discern how transferable the skills learned in the military actually are to a successful civilian life. Gimmarro offers several points of advice to fellow veterans making the jump from military to civilian life. First, he highly recommends taking full advantage of the transition classes that the military offers. He acknowledges he did not take the classes as seriously as he could have. Listen closely, he advises, because most of what they said would happen, did, in fact, happen in his personal experience. He also found that the VA was an excellent resource. When he really struggled in those early months, he found services at the VA that assisted him in sorting out what he was feeling so that he could move forward.  Once he worked through the initial emotional challenges, he found that the tried and true military skills of structure and hard work transformed his civilian life into a success.

After his fourth deployment, Gimmarro was now armed with a maturity and insight that only a veteran of the Air Force could have. With ten years of service behind him, he knew it was time to build a new career for himself. When his cousin Bryan Hurt presented Gimmarro with an opportunity to invest in a fishing lure company, he leapt at the chance. Confident in his organizational skills and work ethic, Gimmarro, for the second time in his life, recognized a really great career opportunity.

Gimmarro and Hurt purchased the family owned Rippertail Fishing Lures in 2015. The company was started in 2007 by a close family friend who was committed to developing high quality fishing lures. As avid fishermen, they understood the products needed for various fishing situations and immediately appreciated the line created by the former owner. The wide variety of finely crafted durable baits presented an excellent opportunity to expand into the national market. Gimmarro and James developed an online website and began to offer their products via the internet. However, the cousins value their relationships with fellow bait shop owners and always encourage customers to purchase locally, if possible.

Enthused about this new business venture, Gimmarro sees a bright future ahead. He currently attends University of Missouri-Kansas City where he is pursuing a degree in Business Administration. Through his hardest days, he found that the gift of solace came in the great outdoors. Whether it is a walk in the woods amidst the damp fall leaves or peaceful perch along a quiet cool lake, nothing is more healing than connecting with nature.

For more information about Rippertail Fishing Lures, visit: http://www.rippertaillures.com