About Go Bag USA

Bruce is a writer, entrepreneur, and long-time advocate for practical preparedness. As the founder of Go Bag USA, he has built a brand that reflects his belief that readiness doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive — it just has to be done right. His mission is simple: provide high-quality, dependable gear that real people can use when it matters most.

With decades of experience in the publishing industry, Bruce has worked on everything from recipe books to fiction novels, developing a sharp eye for detail and a dedication to delivering value to his audience. His career as a serial entrepreneur includes owning and operating multiple successful businesses, each built on the same principles that guide Go Bag USA: quality, integrity, and a focus on solving real-world problems.

A lifelong traveler and active member of the RV community, Bruce understands firsthand the importance of being prepared on the move. Constantly on the go, he knows that unexpected situations can happen anywhere — whether you’re crossing state lines in an RV, camping in the backcountry, or navigating an urban power outage. This mobility and versatility are reflected in the Go Bag USA product line, designed for everyone from families to adventurers to road warriors.

Bruce is also an accomplished author with numerous published works to his credit. His most recent book, Ready, Set, Go! How to Plan for Natural Emergencies – For You, Your Family and Your Pets, is a practical guide to staying prepared and protecting the people (and pets) you love when disaster strikes.

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Monique Aquion has always understood the importance of being prepared. From annual family camping trips in Sedona and snowy adventures in Pinetop to relaxing on the beaches of Rocky Point, she grew up embracing the outdoors — and with it, the need to be ready for anything.

Now a mom of five, that mindset has only deepened. Whether navigating day-to-day motherhood or planning family outings, she knows that preparation isn’t just practical — it’s essential. Her personal commitment to readiness is one of the many reasons she’s such a strong fit for Go Bag USA.

With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, branding, and social media management, Monique brings a wealth of expertise in online strategy, relationship building, and brand growth. She has partnered with businesses and organizations across Southern Arizona, creating tailored content that connects with local audiences and drives measurable results. Her ability to combine creative storytelling with data-driven insights ensures that Go Bag USA’s message resonates with customers and reinforces the company’s mission of practical, real-world preparedness.

As Go Bag USA’s Brand Manager, Monique leads the company’s social media outreach and digital engagement, crafting campaigns that help families, travelers, and adventurers stay informed and ready for anything. Her passion for community connection, coupled with her skill in elevating brand presence, makes her a driving force in helping Go Bag USA grow while staying true to its values.

Ron is the Webmaster for Go Bag USA, combining his love for the outdoors with his expertise in building and managing digital platforms. Born in California, raised in Colorado, and now living in Arizona, Ron has explored beaches, rivers, lakes, mountains, islands, and deserts all over the Western Hemisphere (always with his own version of a “go bag” close at hand).

A husband and father of five, Ron travels widely as a scuba diver, exploring sites from the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Grenada, and Honduras to the Florida Keys and the kelp forests at Catalina Island. His adventures have included hang gliding, hot air ballooning, canoeing, rafting, snorkeling, and more.

The importance of emergency preparedness was driven home during a 15-day canoe trek through the mountains of British Columbia, where glacier-fed rivers made hypothermia a constant threat. Every item had to be carefully portaged in waterproof drums, as the lack of electricity and phone service made a quick rescue nearly impossible.

Having lived in both the frozen Rocky Mountains and the scorching Sonoran Desert, Ron understands how quickly conditions can turn dangerous — whether from icy roads, triple-digit heat, or sudden storms. His experience fuels his belief in preparedness as a way of life, whether packing survival gear for the backcountry or keeping his laptop ready to work from airports, beaches, and buses through the jungles of Central America.

Joshua is a seasoned Public Relations expert with 26 years of experience helping brands shape their stories and connect with the right audiences.

His career began at top PR agencies working with large international brands such as Bayer Corp., IBM and Little Debbie Snack Cakes, where he developed a deep understanding of corporate communications and how to harness the third party endorsement of the press within both consumer and endemic spaces. Seventeen years ago, Joshua launched Steinfeld Consulting, a boutique PR firm specializing in media relations, content creation, media training, and crisis communication.

Joshua works primarily with organizations that support people with disabilities, as well as driven entrepreneurs aiming to reach their business goals. Known for his strategic thinking, business development skill set and steady guidance during high-stakes situations, Joshua has built a reputation as a trusted advisor in the PR field having created hundreds of customized programs for dozens of clients.

Originally from Vermont and Massachusetts, Joshua now calls Southern Colorado home. When he’s not working, you can find him traveling with his two daughters, enjoying live rock music, or finding balance in a hot yoga class.

Aaron Salts is a passionate outdoor enthusiast that from a young age, was immersed in nature as a Scout, where he learned essential survival skills. These formative experiences ignited a deep, lifelong connection to the outdoors, one that continues to shape his adventures and guide his philosophy on outdoor exploration.

An experienced hiker, he spent over two decades involved in gold panning utilizing his survival skills. A dedicated advocate for sustainable outdoor practices, he understands how critical it is to protect the delicate balance of nature.

A key part of his outdoor philosophy is being prepared for the unexpected, and he advocates for emergency preparedness in the wilderness. Aaron emphasizes the importance of carrying the right gear, understanding basic first aid, and knowing how to respond in critical situations to ensure safety in the back-country.

He believes every outdoor adventurer should have the skills to respond calmly and effectively. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the terrain and weather conditions, and preparing for everything from sudden storms to temperature extremes.

James was born in and raised in Sacramento California. His passion for understanding the atmosphere grew early in his childhood while traveling across the United States with his parents during the stormy spring and summer months. The shapes of the clouds, lightning, hail, and wind all fascinated him. Throughout high school, James was determined to be accepted by colleges that offered degrees in meteorology.

After graduating on the Dean’s list with a Bachelor of Meteorology from San Jose State, James had aspirations to chase and capture (by means of photography) what most people run from… tornadoes. For the next several years during the month of May, he, along with several of his close meteorology pals would meet in the Great Plains. Their mornings would consist of analyzing severe weather patterns and reading technical discussions from the Storm Prediction Center. By late morning, the hunt was on. These trips would span over several states and cover thousands of miles.

James bore witness to enormous dust storms that lowered visibility to a few feet, hail large enough to destroy windshields, flash floods that nearly swept his car down river, being temporarily blinded while he drove through flying tumbleweed, gazed at hanging mammatus clouds that filled the horizon, lightning that snaked across the upper reaches of the troposphere, and of course a couple of nearby tornadoes.

Those experiences taught him the importance of being prepared for whatever curveball nature throws. He is involved in the selection of the various items in each of the Go Bags.

James received the 2018 National Weather Service Isaac M. Cline National Award for Meteorology