Meet John Hiers | Co-Owner & Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Hiers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We have always had a servant spirit and wanted to find a business that we felt could benefit the community. But, it also needed to have substantially. With Pine Mountain being a tourism community we looked at have a Froyo Shop or a cycling shop. Then in the middle of making our final decision Covid hit. We took a step back for a couple of months and reevaluated the situation. In late March we made the decision to go forward with a bicycle shop and on May 1st 2020 Chipley Cycle opened its doors with an overwhelming response.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My background is in Sales Management. I retired from an electrical manufacturing company where I was a Sr. Sales Manager and trained the sales team on products and how to selling them in all areas of the marketplace. I also worked with engineers, specifies, contractors & distributors to ensure our products were the ones chosen to be used in new and renovated construction projects.
Dawn and I also owned a horse stable where she taught lessons & trained horses while we raised our children. Her love of equine and our entrepreneurial spirit has now been passed to our oldest Daughter who owns and operates Legends Arabians.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are so Blessed to be in a wonderful town here in Pine Mountain. Within a five mile radius of town we have a fantastic Historic Downtown area which is home to multiple antique shops, clothing boutiques, and restaurants to fit everyone’s tastes. We are also the home of international acclaimed attractions like Callaway Gardens & Resorts, FDR State Park, Pine Mountain Trail(23-hiking), Wild Animal Safari, The Man of War Trail(Rails to Trails) & Mountain Top Inn lodging & MTB Trails. It’s a beautiful area that beckons for an outdoor lifestyle.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If not for the support of my business partner and amazing Wife Dawn Hiers. None of this would be possible. She was behind me from the beginning as we conceived this dream and supported it while still holding a full time position with the Harris County Chamber. She now works beside me full time as the business has continued to grown and require additional manpower.
Also, our customers are amazing being very supportive and loyal as we’ve grown and understanding our vision for what this business can be and we want to take it. Many of our customers have become family and help us with the same pride of ownership that Dawn & I have in what we do.
And lastly, our home town of Pine Mountain as I’m not certain they really understood what we saw and had planned for them as we opened during the time when everyone else was closed due to the pandemic. But they have been an amazing. From Pat & Julia Keating @ Pine Mountain Tourism, to our fellow business owners, local politicians & residents. See how a local cycling program brings a healthier community and better connections and attracts others to want to join has been I think the biggest surprise to all.

Website: https://ChipleyCycle.com

Instagram: ChipleyCycle

Twitter: ChipleyCycle

Facebook: ChipleyCycle

Other: You can find us everywhere as “Chipley Cycle”

Image Credits
Thank you to our friends and family that have joined us on all of our Chipley Cycle Adventures, and members of the Pine Mountain Riders “Chipley Cycle Casual Riders”club.