Kaufmanns' Streamborn, Inc.

Lance Kaufmann

Lance Kaufmann continues to run the company as he has for the last 36 years, only now as the sole owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, Inc. and Kaufmann’s Fly Fishing Expeditions, Inc. He is involved in every aspect of the business and runs
everything with “customer satisfaction” as his first priority. You can find Lance in the store on a daily basis, willing to share his extensive knowledge in both fresh and saltwater fly fishing. He has fished many of the best destination spots around the globe and continues to search for the next “place to go”.

Tresa Kaufmann

Tresa is our Office Manager and Customer Service/Public Relations Leader. She is also the creative specialist behind the store displays and layout. Tresa was a well recognized Interior Designer in the greater Portland area, having since retired to spend more time working on company projects. When not taking care of all the little details to keep us running, she can be found looking for that perfect fly fishing destination with her fishing partner, Lance.

Jerry Swanson

Jerry Swanson runs Kaufmann’s Fly Fishing Expeditions, Inc. He has been with us for over 30 years, and is passionate about fly fishing and travel. His knowledge on fishing regionally and worldwide, how to get there, and where to stay is second to none. He is truly a “been there done that” guy. Add his technical knowledge in tackle, his being a master spey caster, and a premier fly tyer, and you see why he is a valued member of our staff.

Randy Stetzer

Randy Stetzer is our Operations Manager/Buyer, and also oversees the three retail stores. He has been with Kaufmann’s since 1980, working in every capacity we have had. Randy also spent 13 seasons guiding and teaching the fly fishing schools in our river operations. He has to his credit a national best seller: “Flies; The Best One Thousand”. Randy is the reason things run smoothly at Kaufmann’s.

Joel LaFollette

Joel LaFollette is the Portland, Oregon retail store manager. He is a passionate fly angler whose knowledge expands the traditional art to modern techniques. Joel also hosts many of our destination trips, with experience to all the great “spots.” Being the “King of Peacock” his fly tying skills are endless in technique and material selection. Joel’s expertise is a valuable asset to customers fishing a variety of waters and species.

Tiesha Kaufmann

Tiesha Kaufmann is an avid outdoor enthusiast, road cyclist, and mountain biker extraordinaire. She is followed by her partner in crime “Sasha the Shepherd” who is rarely more than 5 feet away. Tiesha runs our mail and online ordering systems, and oversees problem solving company wide. She is a very accomplished fly angler, having fished some of the world’s premier destinations. She knows her stuff.

James "Jad" Donaldson

James “Jad” Donaldson is do it all kind of guy here at Kaufmann’s. His knowledge and expertise allows him to be able to fill in for anybody that takes a day off to go fishing. Be it on the phone or behind the retail counter Jad knows his products and fishing. When not here in the Portland shop, he will be on the river either guiding clients or fishing for himself. There is no in between, he is in the shop or on the water. Jad teaches all our local spey casting, fly fishing, and fly tying classes.

Jakob Lund

Jakob has been fly-fishing since the age of eight, waving sticks at Sea-run Browns and pike in his native country of Denmark. For almost 20 years now Jakob has called Oregon and its rivers his stomping grounds. Aside from working in our Tigard shop and talking about Deschutes Redsides and North Coast winter Steelhead, Jakob spends each fall guiding wilderness fly-fishing floats in SW Alaska. With previous experience in the flyfiishing industry, his overall knowledge and advice is a welcome addition to the Kaufmann team.

Mitch Harris

Mitch has been fishing since age 6, exploring the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as well as hooking largemouth on golf courses and farm ponds. Once obtaining a drivers license his search for fish broadened to the Shenandoah watersheds and the spring creeks of Southern Pennsylvania and Maryland during college. Residing in the west for the last 13 years, Mitch has been a guide in Montana, Oregon and Alaska pursuing all species of Pacific salmon, steelhead, trout, and char with both single and double hand rods. Always up for a smallmouth bass or snook trip as well, you'll find Mitch at Kaufmann's, manning the website and graphics duties.

Bob Aid

Bob Aid, a long time employee in both the Seattle and Bellevue stores since 1989. Has “been there done that” so to speak. From Christmas Island bonefish to Florida Tarpon; Ascension Bay permit to Gulf Coast redfish. Bob can direct you to the tackle you need as well as tell you some great stories. Bob’s first love is the Yakima River in Eastern Washington, and when he is not in the store, you will find him guiding clients down the “Yak” as he has done for over 15 years.

Don Kojima

Don Kojima is another well traveled angler in our Washington staff. He has been to some very exotic destinations. Next time you stop by our downtown store ask him about some of his traveling exploits. However, if you just plan on staying local he is “in the know” on the beach fishing and the desert lakes. He will have the latest reports, and advice regarding patterns and techniques, leading to tight lines and bent rods.

Greg Tompkins

Greg can be found in our Seattle, Washington store and has been a fixture there for quite some time. He has fished his way from Alberta, Canada to the Rockies of Montana, numerous waters of the Puget Sound area, Alaska and islands of the Pacific. An expert fly tyer since the early 70's. His patterns are what it takes for fish anywhere. Fly patterns and their construction techniques continue to be his passion.

Blake Lovering

Blake was born and raised in Yakima, Washington and grew up fishing the Yakima and Naches rivers, along with various small creeks and lakes. Being a very creative person fly tying naturally followed, along with drawing, painting, and sculpting fish. In his early 20’s he worked as a fly fishing guide in the Ketchum/Sun Valley area. Blake now splits his time between fishing, fishing art projects, and working in our downtown Seattle Store. His wealth of knowledge and experience in tying and fishing is a plus for our customers.

Kevin Becker

A Kaufmann employee since 1995, now working out of our Bellevue, Washington Store. Kevin has been foul-hooked with the trout bug since the first time he cast his eyes upon their sleek forms. The Henry’s Fork, Silver Creek, Firehole, Madison, Big Hole, Rock Creek, Provo, Deschutes, Yakima and all the destination lakes have taught him much about the ways of the trout, and molded him into an exceptional caster and tier, as well. When not in the shop, or instructing (Kevin teaches many of our classes), you can be sure he is not too far from the trout, if not just right on top of them!

Todd Ormsby

Todd can be found in our Washington Stores filling in for others while they are out chasing fish. He is a well traveled fisherman with an affinity for Southeast Alaska. He has been frequently sighted in the Sun Valley and West Yellowstone areas, and has been known to haunt a flat in the Bahamas or Christmas Island on occasion. Todd feels his home waters are the "Yak" and the North Bend area of Washington. A well versed tier, he loves to work with others on technique or material challenges.

Staff