Our Team
Mark D. Lee Jr - President
Mark Lee is the President and Founder of Casting Beyond the Combat. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Mark joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman in 2010 after graduating high school. He went on to complete the Tactical Explosive Detection Dog (TEDD) program and deployed to Afghanistan as a K9 handler. As a young Private First Class, Mark led patrols, scanned for IEDs, cleared landing zones for medevacs, and carried out countless high-stakes missions—relying on his faith and his dog to make it home safely. After leaving the military, Mark faced his own battle with PTSD. Traditional therapies didn’t always bring relief—until he discovered a foundation in Florida that taught him how to build custom fishing rods. That hands-on experience gave him a sense of calm, purpose, and direction. It stuck. Inspired by that gift, Mark founded Casting Beyond the Combat to pass on the same healing opportunity to others.
Today, Mark lives in Southeast Louisiana with his wife Shirley, daughter Addison, and son Sonny—named in honor of his best friend who tragically lost his life to the invisible wounds of war. Through his work, Mark honors his friend’s legacy and stands by the belief that no veteran or first responder should be left behind.
“We aren’t broken men and women—we had a completely normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Sometimes we just need a little reset, something to focus our minds on, and a good dose of the outdoors to get us back on track.”
Shirley Lee - Vice President
Shirley is a proud mother of two beautiful children and wife to Mark. She has dedicated her life to non-profits for working dogs, and also for veterans. Shirley was raised in Naples, FL where she graduated from Gulf Coast High School and soon after began training dogs, specializing in Working and Sport dogs such as German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. She served on the board of Big Cypress German Shepherd Rescue and began training dogs in 2016. She worked with Mission K9 Rescue, a rescue dedicated to helping our nations working dogs. Upon having children, she returned to work outside of the dog world and into a professional setting. She now works remotely full time, and in her free time continues to train dogs via her own business in Thibodaux, LA. You may not see her out on the water as often as she’d like, as she is behind the scenes overseeing day to day operations and all administrative duties.
Drake Poiencot
Born in 1989 in Lafayette, LA and raised in Dularge. Drake is a dedicated charter fishing captain and owner of Bayou Boy Charters. Adopted at 18 months, he’s also overcome struggles with addiction and alcoholism, embracing a powerful belief in change and rebirth. A proud husband and father of three, Drake lives by Christian values and cherishes the outdoors. When not captaining, Drake enjoys the marshes of Dularge, quality time with family. He is fueled by faith and passion for life on the water.
With 30 years of dedication to the fire service, Todd recently retired from the Greater Naples Fire District, where he served as an Engine Lieutenant/Paramedic for 20 years and later as a Training Lieutenant. He has earned numerous life-saving awards, including recognition for rescuing a victim during a structure fire.
Todd is a Florida-certified Paramedic, Fire Instructor II, Fire Officer II, and Safety Officer. He is also trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Counseling. Todd is a proud US Navy veteran, having enlisted after graduating Lely High School in Naples, FL in 1991.
Beyond his professional achievements, he enjoys traveling with his family and supporting his son’s BMX racing.
Now joining CBTC, Todd brings his integrity, leadership, and dedication to serving Veterans and First Responders.
Todd Nugent
Robbie Hunziker
Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Robbie Hunziker is a craftsman at heart with a deep-rooted passion for building, faith, and the outdoors. For over 27 years, he has worked as a professional farrier, running Hurricane Forge, where his love for working with his hands found a natural home in the art and discipline of horseshoeing.
Guided by a strong belief in God, Robbie strives to live with integrity and purpose in everything he does—whether working with clients, developing new products, or casting a line in search of the next tournament-winning redfish.
With a lifelong connection to the water and a sharp eye for innovation, Robbie founded Shore-Up and co-founder of Secure Outdoors, two companies born from a desire to improve marine safety and enhance the boating and fishing experience. These ventures allow him to merge his craftsmanship with his love of the marine industry, creating tools and products that help others enjoy the outdoors with greater ease and peace of mind.
An avid redfish tournament angler, Robbie spends his free time traveling the Gulf Coast in pursuit of the perfect catch. For him, being on the water is more than a sport—it’s a lifestyle, a challenge, and a connection to something greater.
Whether he's forging steel, developing marine gear, or reeling in the next big one, Robbie brings passion, faith, and a strong sense of purpose to all that he does.