Hosts Erica Chin and Maggie Reese broadcast live from the Otis Technology booth at SHOT Show 2026. They welcome Heather Eckhardt from OA Defense to discuss the company’s growth and their commitment to female shooters.

The conversation centers on the new 2311 Pro pistol, which Maggie and Erica praise for its balance and exceptional trigger. Heather explains the technical aspects of the firearm, including its ported barrel and ambidextrous controls.

They also discuss the physical demands of the sport and the importance of ergonomics for different body types. Heather shares her transition from a professional shooter to an industry executive.

The episode concludes with information on how to find OA Defense products and a celebration of their platinum sponsorship for the "She Never Quit" event.

Link

• OA Defense: oadefense.com (Subject of the episode; discussion of the 2311 pistol). (00:45)
• Otis Technology: otistec.com (Booth hosts at SHOT Show). (00:35)
• She Never Quit: (Women's shooting event mentioned as a partnership). (02:50)
• USPSA: (United States Practical Shooting Association mentioned regarding Limited Optics division). (11:25)

Key Takeaways

• The OA Defense 2311 provides custom-level features (ported barrel, lightning cuts, elite trigger) at a production price.
• A 1911 70-series trigger can be made drop-safe for defense without losing its crisp feel.
• Women are increasingly filling leadership and technical roles in the firearms industry.
• Proper firearm ergonomics, like integrated "gas pedal" thumb rests, significantly improve recoil management.

Key Words

• 2311
• OA Defense
• SHOT Show
• Trigger Snob
• Ported Barrel
• She Never Quit
• Limited Optics
• FFL
• Drop-Safe
• Gas Pedal

Have you ever wondered what it takes to go from being a wedding DJ to the CEO of a major technology company? In this episode, we talk to Brad McIntyre about his long career at Otis Technology. Brad has worked at the same company for twenty-five years and has done almost every job there. He started as a designer and worked his way up to the very top.

Brad explains how the people he worked for taught him about money, building things, and using data. He also talks about how much he loves going to big trade shows to see his friends from all over the world. The company is like a big family where everyone helps each other out. They even make all their products in New York to help the military and police. If you want to learn how to grow in your career, you should listen to this story. Check out the full episode to hear more about how Otis Technology stays successful!

Links

• Otis Technology (OtisTech.com) - Mentioned at 19:55 as the primary website for their products.
• SHOT Show (shotshow.org) - Mentioned throughout (e.g., 0:18) as the venue for the recording and industry gathering.
• Bass Pro Shops (basspro.com) - Mentioned at 19:22 as a major retailer for Otis products.
• Scheels (scheels.com) - Mentioned at 19:23 as a retail partner.

Key Takeaways

• Career longevity allows for deep, cross-departmental "tribal knowledge."
• Soft skills from unrelated fields (like DJing) are highly transferable to executive leadership.
• Authentic marketing often requires "real-world" conditions (like actually dirty equipment).
• American manufacturing thrives on direct feedback from the end-users (military/LEO).

Keywords

• Otis Technology
• SHOT Show 2026
• Brad McIntyre
• Firearm Maintenance
• Lean Manufacturing
• AS ISO 9100
• NSN (National Stock Number)
• Tribal Knowledge
• Upstate New York
• Gun Cleaning Kits