STORM CHASING TOURS
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Meet The Team
| Lanny Dean - Owner/Lead Forecaster |
Number of Tornadoes Seen: 297 Lanny Dean is one of the best STORM CHASING GUIDES in the market and is an 22 year STORM CHASING veteran! You may have seen Lanny on the hit show "TORNADO HUNTERS" that aired on TRUTV. He and his video have also been seen on THE WEATHER CHANNEL, STORM STORIES, CNN, ABC, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, TLC, THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, MSNBC, NBC, REALTV, INSIDE EDITION, FOX NEWS NETWORK, as well as in many local Television markets throughout the United States and Canada. Lanny is also a former member of "THE OUTLAW CHASER'S" and has witnessed and filmed 297 tornadoes and many hurricanes to date. Lanny was awarded "Storm Chaser Of The Year" in 2005 and 2007. He is the only current STORMCHASING TOURS owner/operator to receive that award and hold it multiple years. Lanny holds a B.A. in Electronic TeleCommunication. Lanny recently worked for KJRH Channel 2 in Tulsa as their severe weather photographer, prior to KJRH, Lanny worked for KAKE 10 in Wichita, KS as a severe weather reporter and photographer. Lanny is an award winning photojournalist and reporter and recently received an Emmy nomination for his weather reporting. He has also won several SPJ awards for his photography, Lanny was awarded HM for his photojournalism by The Oklahoma Association Of Broadcaster for an investigative story he shot in 2008. He is trained in meteorology and is a Severe Storm Expert and one of the best weather forecasters chasing today. Lanny is the owner of Extreme Chase Tours and lead forecaster. |
| Laura Dean - Radar Support/Logistics |
 Number of Tornadoes Seen: 10Laura Dean is the wife of Lanny Dean and a 12 year storm chase veteran. She has seen a total of 10 tornadoes including the infamous Throckmorton Texas F-3 tornado from very close range. Laura gives complete radar and logisitic support while we our on tour and pulls double duty reserving and booking our motel rooms. She has been trained in operational meteorology and radar support and is the backbone for Extreme Chase Tours. Laura is an avid photographer and it is one of her main passions. She also enjoys cooking, fishing and has recently started bowhunting. Laura loves nature and just being outdoors. She and Lanny have been married for almost 12 years and has as much passion for storm chasing as anyone! You might hear Laura giving us updates while we are on tour so feel free to say hi! |
| Jeff Smith - Business Consultant/Lead Nowcaster |
 Number of Tornadoes Seen: 38Jeff Smith is the Lead Nowcaster and business consultant for Extreme Chase Tours and a 16 year veteran stormchaser. Jeff brings this 16 plus years of storm spotting and storm chasing experience to the team in order to help provide you the best storm chase tour experience on the planet. Jeff's obsession with weather began when he was five years old as an F-3 tornado was ravaging the East side of Tulsa OK in December, 1975. He and his family watched the tornado from his bedroom window tear up the city. Since that day, Jeff has had a passion for witnessing Mother Nature's fury wherever it may take him. In elementary school, Jeff's teachers grew concerned because he was always drawing different tornadoes. Those stunts actually got his parents several phone calls from school...often resulting in a sore backside :) Jeff has seen many tornadoes. One of the most notable was on March 12, 2006 where he and chase partner TJ caught rare footage of the after dark F-3 Delaware Co. Oklahoma tornado. When not on tour Jeff takes on the duty of nowcaster. He has nowcasted for several well known chasers including owner Lanny Dean. Jeff's radar interpretation skills are impeccable and second to none and he can get you to the storm of the day! Jeff is a devout Christian. Without being overbearing he shares God's love with those around him. He became a Christian a little more than 11 years ago and has been called to youth ministry. Currently he is the Children and Youth Director of New Life Baptist Church in Claremore, Oklahoma. He also heads up Mission of Compassion, a disaster relief ministry that helps those that have been affected by natural disasters. For more info please see: www.missionofcompassion.com Jeff currently chases for KJRH Channel 2 in Tulsa Oklahoma where he helps provide ground truth reports and warnings to the public |
| Chad Berryhill-Business Partner/Lead Guide/Staff Photographer |
Number Of Tornadoes Seen 26 Chad Berryhill has lived in Oklahoma all his life and has seen all kinds of severe weather, but his love for extreme weather started after he witnessed the 1991 Billings/Red Rock OK, F-4 tornado live on TV. That event sparked a deep interest in Chad to study and learn more about severe weather and tornadoes. Chad currently attends Oklahoma State University and majors in Geography. He also holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science. He has been trained in meteorology and has a specialty in forecasting and nowcasting severe weather. Chad also pulls double duty as our Lead Tour guide/driver and weather forecaster. His hobbies are flying, scuba diving, photography, hunting, fishing, and just being outdoors. He eats just about anything, so hide your snacks. If you have Mike & Ikes, he will be your best friend!! Chad is also our house photographer so don't be surprised if you see him taking pictures of you! During the "off season" Chad owns and runs his own photography business, shooting weddings, senior pictures and family sittings. You can see more of his work on his website at: www.chadberryhillphotography.com or click here |
| Jill Gilardi - Lead Meteorologist |
 Number of Tornadoes Seen: 4
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| Tyler Mleynek-Videographer/Producer |
 Numbers of Tornadoes Seen: 0Tyler Mleynek is our professional videographer, producer and motion graphics specialists. He has over 6 years of experience in video and film productions, mainly behind the camera or in the editing suite. Tyler has a very diverse background that has given him the skill and level of professionalism he possesses today. After graduating from Full Sail University, Tyler took a position at KAKE TV in Wichita, Kansas, as a photojournalist which is where he and Lanny met. Tyler then moved to the Kansas City, Missouri area and holds a position with a production company as their lead shooter, editor and head of motion graphics. Tyler always keeps himself busy with side projects, many of which have aired on national and local networks or in major corporations. His has a deep passion for what he does it it certainly shows! Tyler was instrumental in getting the very first idea and concept for the show Tornado Hunters off the ground and helped with the very first cut of the "Outlaw Chasers Beyond The Storm" as well as one of his lastest creations, "The Fossil Hunter" which can be seen here: or by clicking the link here http://www.fossils4cash.com/ Tyler is very happily married to his to his loving wife, Lauren, and comes from a large and loving family. He has many hobbies including deer hunting, being in the outdoors, film and animation work and many others. You might see Tyler on one of our tours shooting and filming for any possible production work so don't be surprised if he has a video camera pointed at you, just smile and wave if you see him! |
| Eric Duncan-Forecaster/Guide/driver |
 Number of Tornadoes Seen: 73Eric Duncan is 8 year storm chasing veteran and has seen 73 tornadoes to date. He is one of the original team members of Extreme Chase Tours and is currently one of our guides and drivers. He also pulls double duty as a forecaster and now-caster. Eric has seen his fare share of severe weather and tornadoes including the infamous Greensburg EF-5 tornado that leveled the town of Greensburg, KS. This tornado killed 13 people and Eric was right in the middle of it. He survived the tornado and afterwards received national and world wide attention due to video of his rescue efforts after the tornado. Eric helped to pull many people out of the rubble and saved many lives that night. His video of the Greensburg tornado and rescue was recently part of a documentary that was seen world wide on The Discovery Channel. Eric has forecasted for the likes of the US Navy as well as Extreme Chase Tours. His expertise and ability to keep a cool level head when driving in close proximity to a tornado is second to none and he has witnessed a number of tornadoes from very close range. He has been interested in severe weather and tornadoes since he was a young boy and is one of the most passionate chasers chasing today. Eric has been trained in operational and synoptic meteorology and specializes is mesoscale features. His hobbies and interests include photography, videoography, fishing, hunting, music and spending time with his family and friends as well as his girlfriend. |
| T.J. Smith-Radar Support/Driver |
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Number of Tornadoes seen: 20