Meet the Team | Click the image for more info!

 

Sean Manning
Owner / Manager

White Birch Armory was founded in 2014 by Sean Manning. Sean is a Purple Heart recipient who spent 8 years serving with the United States Marine Corps. There, he deployed multiple times to Iraq as a Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper. Before starting WBA, Sean spent 10 years working in the firearms industry as an Engineering Technician and later, Testing & Evaluation Manager. Sean is also a master firearms instructor and Precision Scoped Rifle Competitor. When not running his business, he is often learning new DIY skills or relaxing at his family cottage in Maine.

David Guard
General Manager

Dave served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for 10 years as a Motor Transport Operations Chief. He is an Iraq veteran who also served in Africa and Central America. Before joining White Birch Armory, Dave worked for 5 years in the firearms industry as an Engineering Technician, Rifle Assembler, and Testing & Evaluation Supervisor.  When not working, he is an avid outdoors-man who can usually be found hiking, fishing, or taking in the NH sites on his motorcycle.

Joe DiChiara
Director of Sales & Marketing

Joe originally joined WBA in 2023, stepped away for two years to lead Sales and Customer Service operations for a national travel company, and returned in 2025 to oversee WBA’s sales, marketing, and revenue growth strategy. Joe brings over a decade of experience leading teams, driving sales performance, and building customer-focused organizations.

A U.S. Army veteran, Joe served as a tanker from 2006–2010 and deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the 4th Infantry Division. His military background heavily influences his leadership style, emphasizing accountability, teamwork, and execution under pressure.

Joe is an avid firearms enthusiast and hunter with a deep respect for responsible ownership, training, and education. He is passionate about shooting sports and the role firearms play in personal responsibility, recreation, and community; values that strongly align with White Birch Armory’s mission and culture.

Outside of work, Joe proudly embraces his nerdy side. He enjoys board games, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, tabletop RPGs, video games, and Warhammer 40K. He is a devoted family man, married with three wonderful boys. Originally from Revere, Massachusetts, Joe moved to Dover, New Hampshire in 2016 and fully embraces the Granite State lifestyle.


Brylye
HR Manager

.

Brylye Collins brings over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and leadership development, with a career rooted in building strong teams and helping people grow with intention. She began her career in retail operations, which shaped her hands-on leadership style and deep understanding of frontline teams and customer experience. Today, she is known for her people-first approach, focusing on creating alignment between individuals and organizations to drive both performance and long-term success. Her leadership style is grounded in authenticity, accountability, and connection. Brylye is passionate about helping others build confidence, develop self-trust, and navigate both career and personal transitions with direction and purpose. She is a certified career coach and relationship coach and is currently completing her degree in psychology. Whether working with business leaders, professionals in transition, or individuals seeking deeper relationships, her approach remains consistent: intentional growth and genuine connection. She is deeply committed to fostering positive workplace cultures and supporting employee development at every stage of the employee lifecycle, bringing a thoughtful and strategic lens to hiring, engagement, and retention. Brylye is also actively involved in her community, serving as Board Chair of the Woodman Museum and as a member of the admissions committee for the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and is a strong advocate for women’s heart health. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially near the water, has a love for travel and new experiences, and has a strong passion for entrepreneurship and building ideas that create meaningful impact.

Alan
Operations Manager

Alan grew up near Fort Kent, Maine “in the middle of nowhere”. He spent much of his early career in the church world working in various team building capacities. Developing people’s skillsets is his passion. When he isn’t pouring over spreadsheets, or in team meetings he loves making BBQ on his Big Green Egg and pellet grill. You’ll occasionally find him on the trail or the backyard rink – and more recently on the disc golf course.

Dan
Senior Bookkeeper

Dan grew up in Massachusetts, however, he spent every summer in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire from the time he was born through college.  After graduating from UMass-Amherst, Dan spent several years doing marketing and event management for TNN Sports before settling in South Florida for 17 years, working in the hospitality industry while managing various bars and restaurants.  Dan returned to New Hampshire several years ago and has put his financial management experience to work handling our accounting and bookkeeping.  In his spare time, he can be found on the golf course, enjoying the summers on Lake Winnipesaukee, or watching his beloved Patriots, Red Sox, or Bruins.

Shelby
Website Sales Manager

Shelby is the Website Sales Manager at White Birch Armory, where she leads online sales and helps ensure customers receive clear, accurate, and trustworthy information. She joined White Birch Armory in 2017 and has worn many hats over the years, supporting general operations, Law Enforcement sales, and now web sales. Prior to White Birch Armory, Shelby spent four years at SIG SAUER, gaining hands-on experience across multiple departments. Her roles included Packing, Range Coordinator in the Production Test Range, QC Coordinator for the Quality Control department, and Coordinator in the SIG Custom Shop. She later became a Firearms Technician I in the Custom Shop, performing billable service and repair work. Along the way, she completed numerous armorer certification courses, giving her a deep understanding of how firearms are built, tested, and maintained, and why accuracy and quality matter at every step. Her background spans both the technical and customer-facing sides of the firearms industry, allowing her to bridge detailed product knowledge with real-world customer needs. Originally from Florida and now living in New Hampshire, Shelby is a mom of two who enjoys fishing and spending time near the ocean.

 

John
Commercial Sales Manager

John found his passion for shooting sports at a very young age. He has held roles at pro shops and ranges in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire before finding his permanent home at White Birch. Before entering the firearm industry, John served as a lead audio engineer for a traveling concert production company. When he is not at WBA, John enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts, and hanging out by the lake.

Rachel
Programs Supervisor

.

Rachel became interested in the firearms industry because of her love for her country and the importance of preserving the Second Amendment, as well as wanting to learn how to protect herself with a firearm. Born and raised in North Jersey, she decided to stretch her wings and branch out for college, briefly attending UNH. She quickly fell in love with New Hampshire for the freedom it offers, and never wants to live anywhere else. She has a background in the hospitality industry with some experience as an event planner. When she is not greeting customers and helping with membership services, she enjoys gardening, crocheting, jamming to music, and baking.

Chrissy
Membership Coordinator

.

Born and raised in New England, Chrissy developed a strong connection to the outdoors from an early age. Much of her life has been spent attending and working at summer camps, experiences that fostered both a love for adventure and a passion for helping others. She enjoys travelling, crafting, and playing music in her free time. Outside of work, you can often find her caring for her chickens or exploring the open road on her motorcycle. She values opportunities to connect with people, learn new skills, and embrace the adventures that life has to offer.

Noah
Marketing Specialist

Noah serves as a Marketing Specialist at White Birch Armory, where he combines a deep-rooted passion for firearms with a strong background in business strategy and customer engagement. Noah has some previous experience competing in Precision Rifle Series events.

Before joining White Birch Armory, Noah worked in the hunting industry, where he played a key role in marketing initiatives focused on connecting outdoor enthusiasts with innovative products and experiences. His work there helped sharpen his ability to translate technical product features into compelling, customer-focused messaging.

At White Birch Armory, Noah brings together his competitive shooting background, industry knowledge, and marketing expertise to help grow the brand and connect with customers who share his enthusiasm for firearms, shooting sports, and the outdoors.

James
LE/Gov Contract Specialist

James brings five years of industry experience across civilian firearms sales as well as military and law enforcement markets. He offers extensive knowledge of modern handguns, rifles, and optics, and is dedicated to helping customers find solutions that align with their needs and experience levels. With a strong commitment to safety, education, and professionalism, James fosters a knowledgeable and welcoming environment both on and off the range. His diverse background enables him to effectively support first-time buyers, seasoned enthusiasts, and professional users alike.

Jon
Web Developer

Jon is White Birch’s resident computer geek, providing onsite support for WBA’s computer systems including our custom-built Birchware inventory and business management application.  His background includes more than 20 years of business database design and programming, including plenty of time listening to users gripe and then figuring out how to fix those gripes.   Off the clock, Jon is a science fiction fan, amateur military historian (which is where his interest in firearms got started), birdwatcher, sports and wildlife photographer, and nature enthusiast. 

Greg
Warehouse Supervisor

Greg served 4 years in the Air Force as a Security Forces Lead guarding nuclear resources in the tri-state area of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. During that time, he found a passion for the firearms industry, especially for antique firearms and picked up blade smithing as a hobby. When he’s not at work he’s either spending time playing with his daughter and two dogs, or in the woods either hiking or hunting.

Shane
Maintenance & Facilities Specialist

Shane served in the Navy for 5 years primarily as a Shipboard / Aviation Firefighter on USS Decatur & USS Boxer. When he wasn’t on a ship Shane augmented to The Naval Special Warfare Center Medical Unit, Naval Base San Diego Unaccompanied Housing Unit, or The Vice Admirals Boat House. Shane finally returned home to New Hampshire and joined WBA as a Skill Bridge Intern in March of 2024. He can usually be found on the Sales Floor adjusting his hearing aids.

Dominic
Manager of Retail Merchandise

Dominic took interest in the firearms industry at the age of 15 with his first job as RSO and merit badge counselor at his local Boy Scout camp in Connecticut. After graduating from UNH, he gained experience as a firearms trader, appraising and acquiring used firearms. Dom can typically be found enjoying some trigger time on the range or heard jamming out to a variety of musical genres on his drum set.

Tom
Retail Sales Supervisor

Tom moved to NH in 2014 and fell in love with the world of firearms. He is passionate about optics and suppressors and loves educating new firearms owners. In his free time, Tom likes to cook, backpack, and shoot with his friends.

Kyle W.
Retail Sales / Range Safety Officer

Kyle works full time at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and supports the team part time here at White Birch. He has been with White Birch since October 2025 and brings a strong work ethic and attention to detail to everything he does.

Outside of work, Kyle is an active USPSA competitor, regularly participating in competitions to sharpen his practical shooting skills. He’s also a fan of PC gaming and enjoys dabbling in computer repair and custom PC building. When he’s not working or competing, you’ll often find him upgrading hardware or fine-tuning his next build.

Adjunct Instructors

Chunk
Warehouse Manager

Chunk’s workday consists of SuPAWvising his warehouse employees playing ball, sleeping on the job, squeaking his toys as loudly as possible, and tricking his coworkers into bringing him outside so he can sunbathe. Big sister, Kitty, is wondering when someone is going to report him to HR.

 

In Loving Memory
Bozo & Kitty

Bozo and Kitty were very special dogs to all of us here at White Birch Armory. Many customers remember being greeted by their smiling faces and wagging tails during the early years of White Birch Armory. Both pups were loved by everyone they met and always looked forward to Mondays when they could see their friends in the office.
Bozo: 2016 – 2022
Kitty: 2020 – 2024