Gene Robertson
Owner / Tour Guide
636-575-6404
Hometown: Madison, Illinois
I am a Certified Storm Spotter for the National Weather Service since 2004. I have been in the Fire Service since 1983 and hold various certifications related to my field. I witnessed first hand tornado damage in 2004 which prompted me to become a storm spotter. My fascination with weather guided me to form P.D.S. Storm Tours so that I can share my love of storms with everyone.
During my off time from work and chasing, I spend as much time as I can with my family and my chase partner to whom I married in April, 2001. I enjoy photography, camping and traveling to see new things. Barb and I have 5 children, Michael, Justin, Kari, Whitney & Corey, as well as 3 grandsons, Timothy, Matthew and Noah.
Name: Barbara Robertson
Owner/ Tour Guide
636-575-6497
Hometown: Cahokia, Illinois
I have been a Certified Storm Spotter for the National Weather Service since 2004. My interest with storms began when I was a child as I would stand out with my Dad, while Mom yelled at us to come in. We all start somewhere, right? I have also worked in numerous medical fields because of my passion to help others. My most recent was working in Cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine. I left to pursue a career from home in 2010. I currently am part owner of P.D.S Storm Tours and an Independent Tupperware Consultant in the Metro St. Louis area.
Storm chasing has been in me since day one, but found a chase partner in April 2000. I have always loved the outdoors, camping, hunting, hiking trails and then came photography. You will occasionally find me riding a bike. Do they make Hail shields for bikes?
After finding that “partner” in 2000, I married him April 2001. Gene and I have 3 sons and 2 daughters, which in return gave us, so far, 3 grandsons.
Name: Dennis Jones
Owner/ Tour Guide
573-480-3505
Hometown: Crystal City, Missouri
I became interested in the Fire Service at 14 years old. I graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Business Management. I entered into the Fire Service as a career in 1970 and obtained my Associated Degree in Fire Protection Technology in 1976.
After taking my first Weather Spotting class in 1999, I became interested in storm chasing from the beginning. I have been actively chasing since the early 1990’s and have witnessed all type of weather. After meeting Gene in 2006, I realized we both had the same interest in storm chasing. We decided to form P.D.S. Storm Tours to share our excitement of chasing with everyone.
In addition to storm chasing, my other interests include photography, model railroading along with creating rolling stock for Microsoft Train Simulator. I am a global moderator on an active model train website known as Mophouse Forum. I share creations and work for a 3D rail simulator Company known as Ed’s Trains.
I am married to Jeanie and we have 5 children. We reside in Camdenton Missouri where I am Division Fire Chief for the City of Camdenton and Jeanie works for Lake Regional Hospital in the Emergency Room.
Name: Colt Forney
Meteorologist
Hometown: Denton, Kansas
I am one of 2 meteorologists who provide chase forecasting for P.D.S. Storm Tours. I am currently attending the University of Oklahoma in Norman majoring in Meteorology. I have been storm chasing since 2005, mainly local, within several counties from home and then began chasing hardcore across the Great Plains in the Spring of 2008. I have averaged greater that 25,000 miles a year chasing since 2008. I am a member of Basehunters, a group of chasers who document severe weather and tornadoes. Most recently, our videos of the Iowa tornadoes in 2011 and the devastating Joplin tornado of 2011 have made national and international headlines and the videos have been seen all over the world.
In my free time, when not chasing, I like to camp, hunt, go four wheeling and caving, as well as traveling and photography. I chased with Gene and Barb Robertson in 2010 and was asked by them to become a part of their chase tour company.
My family still resides in Denton, Kansas.
Name: Isaac Pato
Meteorologist
Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts
I am a meteorologist and chase forecaster for P.D.S. Storm Tours. I attend the University of Oklahoma in Norman to which I will be graduating with my Degree in Meteorology in 2012. I met Gene & Barb Robertson during a storm chase in 2010, and was asked by them to become one of their forecasters.
Within the last year, myself and 3 other Meteorology companions formed the Basehunters Storm Chasing Group. Our pictures and video has been seen worldwide and we have received recognition from various media outlets for being in the right place at the right time to witness severe weather.
I have been a serious sailor since I was a child. I work as a sailing instructor during the summers. I have also been a lifelong weather enthusiast and I have been storm chasing ever since I moved to Oklahoma.
I also love to camp and go caving. I am a die hard Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan.
My family still resides in Massachusetts and my father is also a sailor.
Name: Joe Lawton
Webmaster / Photography Instructor
Hometown: Owensville, Missouri
My occupation is IT Department for a private resort and all-around computer guy & photographer. My facination with storms goes back to when I was a kid, but really amplified when I was going to college in Phoenix, Arizona back in 2000. That is when I began to chase the desert monsoon storms and photograph lightning. In 2006 I became a trained weather spotter for the National Weather Service in St. Louis. I have been watching and reporting severe storm activity in and around the area between Jefferson City, MO and St. Louis MO.
I also teach photography techniques to individuals and small groups. Primary focusing on controlling the camera using the manual & creative functions, I show people how to capture streaming waterfalls, night shots such as stars, and lightning storms. Other hobbies include ghost hunting, bicycling and coming up with crazy contraptions!
My job here is creating and maintaning the PDS Storm Tours website. As the site progresses, I will be adding more pages and features.
