Aiming Higher: How AG & AG Is Reshaping Women’s Shooting
Sonja Washington, facilitator of the AG & AG Bell County – TX Chapter,
high-fives a AG & AG peer after finishing a training exercise at the range.
It wasn’t exactly the “dark ages,” but in 2011 women were still a rare sight on the shooting line. When Julianna Crowder noticed the absence of other women at IDPA matches and concealed carry classes, she was inspired to host a “Girls’ Night Out at the Range” to make a welcoming place for them. With this first get-together, A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) was born.
One month later, Robyn Sandoval’s husband learned of Crowder’s next event and signed Sandoval up. That single gesture changed her life — and soon after, it helped change the industry.
Today, Robyn Sandoval, alongside COO Sandra Woodruff and Training Director Tatiana Whitlock, shares how AG & AG has grown into a national powerhouse for women in shooting sports, and what lies ahead.
Leadership Team Backgrounds
Robyn Sandoval, President/CEO/Owner
“I don’t know if I was more scared of shooting the gun or meeting other women who shot guns or going to a dirty gun range — or all of it,” Sandoval recalled with a laugh, describing her first time at the range with Crowder. “But I went, and I pretended to know what I was doing.”
That moment marked the beginning of something much bigger. After Crowder was featured in IDPA Magazine, instructors from across the country reached out to express interest in replicating the model.
“It just turned into a ‘thing’ almost overnight,” Sandoval noted. “We had to decide what to call it — a club, a chapter, an affiliate, a franchise. We had to make it up, it didn’t exist.”
As interest surged, Sandoval’s unique skill sets proved critical. With a background in publishing — writing law books and auditing manuals for banks — she had already led a transition to online systems and marketing models.
“I had to learn to code, design, market, make it interesting. I just took my day job and applied it to firearms training,” she shared.
In 2013, she and Crowder became 50/50 partners in the business and grew the club into the nation’s largest firearms organization for women. A decade later, Crowder moved on to new passions, and Sandoval bought out her share.
“It was an opportunity to guide AG & AG forward in new ways,” Sandoval said.
Today, Sandoval is the steady hand and passionate voice guiding AG & AG into its next era, one built on community, empowerment and industry collaboration.
Sandra Woodruff, COO
Woodruff joined AG & AG in 2019 and became COO Jan. 2024. With a deep background in systems administration, she was the right leader to modernize operations and improve internal processes.
“We needed to be able to collect facilitator credentials and report on them efficiently,” she explained. “Moving to a product that allowed our facilitators and A-Team members to update their records was a big deal.”
She also oversaw the selection of a new accounting firm and the adoption of technologies to streamline AG & AG’s operations.
“It’s all the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Woodruff shared, “but it makes us more efficient and transparent as an organization.”
Tatiana Whitlock, Training Director
Whitlock first encountered AG & AG in 2013 at its National Conference.
“That was my first AG & AG event, and it has been an incredible journey ever since,” she recalled.
After Crowder and Sandoval read about her in the NRA’s Woman’s New Energy program, they invited her to speak and instruct at the conference.
“Being surrounded by 300 women who were dedicated, passionate and energized completely shifted my understanding of what it meant to be a female shooter in the U.S. They broke every stereotype,” she said. “That immediately sold me on A Girl & A Gun and its mission.”
When longtime Training Director Kathy Jackson retired, Whitlock was asked to step into the role.
“Those were big shoes to fill,” she admitted. “But the growth I’ve seen in AG & AG, both in numbers and in the depth and merit of our training, has been profound.”
What’s In Store For The Future
Sandoval
Sandoval’s vision continues to drive AG & AG’s evolution. She’s currently working with the NSSF and NRA to formalize partnerships that will bring AG & AG chapters into more ranges and deliver foundational programs like First Shots and Women on Target through AG & AG’s network.
The AG & AG National Conference is already one of the most sought-after events in the shooting community, selling out in 30 minutes this year with 750 students and over 500 on the waitlist. While Sandoval doesn’t plan to significantly expand capacity, she’s introducing new “tent cities” for additional workshops and dry-fire classes to broaden offerings.
“We’ve become the largest women’s organization in the country dedicated to training,” she stated. “Everyone wants to be at our conference; students, instructors, vendors. It’s electric. It’s magical.”
Reflecting on AG & AG’s rapid rise, she said, “I’m just grateful to deliver quality content that people find valuable. Our membership is approaching 9,000 — larger than any other women’s shooting organization. My goal is for A Girl & A Gun to be the first brand people think of when they think of women and firearms.”
Woodruff
Woodruff is focused on continuing improvements behind the scenes.
“Since I came on, we’ve hired more staff to take on responsibilities Robyn used to juggle herself. It’s allowed her to focus on strategic growth and innovation,” she reasoned. “And now we have a strong board of respected members helping guide our future.”
Whitlock
Whitlock is proud of what AG & AG offers its members.
“We provide more than just a place for women to shoot. It’s solid training, skill development and encouragement to pursue opportunities beyond the range,” she remarked.
She highlights programs like Sniper Academy, Upland Adventures and DRIFT Academy, a unique blend of driving and shooting.
“What we’re doing now is light-years beyond what existed a decade ago. And that’s the secret: continue offering engaging, diverse opportunities that meet women where they are and inspire them to grow.”
How Ranges Can Benefit
When Sandoval speaks to range owners and retailers, she emphasizes women are not a one-time sale.
“Women aren’t a transactional opportunity; they’re a relational one,” she asserted. “They’ll come in for training, but they’ll also buy their firearm, safe, cleaning kits and ammo. And they’ll keep coming back.”
She points to NSSF’s 2014 study, which found if training is presented at the point of sale, women close nearly 100% of the time.
“That’s why having an AG & AG chapter and trained facilitators at your range makes a difference,” Sandoval advised. “It brings women into the community and supports the business, too.”
AG & AG’s model is designed to benefit everyone involved.
“We’re transparent about that,” she added. “We want to grow our membership. We want ranges to gain loyal customers. We want instructors to have students. We all win when we work together.”
AG & AG remains a beacon for what’s possible when vision meets dedication — and when women are given a safe, supportive space to learn, grow and lead.
