Kevin Provagna Named as interim AC for Mid Atlantic
Kevin Provagna of Medina, Ohio, has been appointed as interim IDPA AC for New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. 
Kevin is a member of the Southern Cuyahoga Sportsman Association (SCSA) in Medina. He is part of a team that runs the weekly indoor matches every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Provagna says, “I am a Master in ESP and CO, both by bump, and currently shooting SSP with a Walther PDP. This gun will stay in my holster until I bump to Master or can no longer see the front sight – except for occasional matches with my beloved revolver.”
The new leader relates how he started shooting. “As a business owner with warehouse space, I would get late night calls from the security company to inform me that the motion sensors were activated and that the police would meet me there to investigate. It was always a bird flying around and after several calls the police stopped showing up. It was up to me to clear the building with a racing heart and to fight off either a burglar or a bird. My first experience with a gun was a Glock 17 over 15 years ago. I bought it to calm my nerves during these calls. I knew nothing about how to shoot and was more nervous than ever as I cleared the building. Once I shot my first IDPA match I was hooked and still am! After 15 years of shooting matches once or twice a week I am just as excited about the sport now as I was back then.”
His vocation and hobbies play into IDPA. “I am a recently retired business owner (30 years manufacturing automotive metal parts) except for occasional consulting jobs. As I was heading into retirement, I knew I wanted to spend more time developing this sport that I love.
My hobbies include all things guns. Re-loading, 1911 and revolver gunsmithing, shooting with my wife (happily married for 36 years) and kids. I dry fire several times a week with the help of my 6-year-old and his nerf gun.”
Kevin’s next shooting events are planned for the year. “Besides our weekly local matches, I am working with our dedicated team to finalize the Ohio Burning River Blast in June. Looking forward to shooting: Indiana State, WV State, Great Lakes Regional, Pennsylvania State, Ohio Burning River Blast, Ohio Defensive Pistol Challenge, Michigan Tri-County, and IDPA Nationals – if they let me in with 10 points. Did I mention the Burning River Blast?”
Expressing thanks for the folks he has worked with, Provagna says he is “thankful for all the outstanding volunteers at my home club SCSA and all the other club volunteers who give their time to develop IDPA. Past ACs John Reihner and Jeff Fletcher for all the time they spent in support of IDPA in this area.”
“IDPA offers the development and testing of skills under competitive pressure and should be fun”, he says. “The people who participate and volunteer are the best. Our stage design and shooting rules allow us to shoot an endless array of creatively designed stages and yet they all retain a familiar feel. You may not know how you are going to be challenged, but you know what to expect.”