WE RIDE!!
From left to right: Chris, Jim Sr., Jennifer, Josh, Cat, Marty, Dave,
Tony (middle), Brian, Tracy, Jim Jr., Greg, Bill, Steve C.
CHRIS HAWK - SALES MANAGER

I started working at Gover Harley-Davidson on May 8, 2000. Before that, I was a Quality Engineering Technician at Panasonic. When I saw the ad in the paper it sparked my interest. I’ve been a motorcycle “nut” since I started riding at around four years old. Before stopping at Gover’s to pick up an application (at that time the store was located in Painter Creek), I had only been into one other Harley-Davidson store. I was a Suzuki guy through and through, but I figured a motorcycle is a motorcycle and at least I would enjoy the atmosphere. Boy was I wrong! Once I was hired I was immediately immersed in all things H-D. T-shirts, hats, jackets, boots, gloves, and eventually, a bike. The life style, the camaraderie, the merchandise, it was all so new and comfortable. There is a saying, “if I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand”. To me, the saying makes perfect sense. I’ve put more miles on each of my Harley-Davidson® motorcycles than probably all of my other bikes put together.

Well, needless to say, I’m fully committed (maybe committable) now. I’ve performed just about every job in the store. I started as the “parts guy” but for many months I was also responsible for ringing up Motorclothes and General Merchandise to help out when it was just me and the Gover family running the store. Eventually, I was able to work mainly in Parts and Service. When we moved to the new store (here in Piqua) Jim Jr. and Tracy asked me where my heart lied because we needed to bring on more staff and segregate the departments. Tracy would sometimes joke with me because she said it seemed as though I lived vicariously through other peoples bikes… I absolutely loved helping customers pick out parts and accessories to put on their bikes. Naturally, when given the choice, I chose Parts. I wasn’t long before I became supervisor of the entire Parts Department. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was responsible for both the Parts and Service Departments. What a task! It was a lot of work but I gave it my all. The Gover’s noticed my efforts and my dedication to the company and we started talking about me becoming General Manager, which I did in 2004. This brings us up to today. Most of my time is spent managing the Sales Department, but I am also responsible for supervising the Finance department.

I am the father of two young boys who take priority in most of my free time. Luckily, they love to ride also so I do get some saddle time. I currently own a 2006 Softail®.

I am a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve. I’ve dedicated 13 years to serving my/our country and consider myself a proud patriot.

GREG FOUGHTY - OPERATIONS MANAGER

Hello! I am Greg Foughty, General Manager over Service, Parts & Accessories, and Business Development. I currently reside in Troy, Ohio with my wife and stepson. I retired my glove after 20 years of playing fast pitch softball, I am an avid motor sports fan and I enjoy playing golf (when time permits).

I became part of the Gover Harley-Davidson/Buell family in October of 2004, but I have been a customer since 2001 and a H.O.G. Chapter Member since 2002. I proudly ride a 2003 Heritage Softail®.

While growing up in West Liberty, Ohio I learned a very important lesson from my parents: whatever you want out of life you will have to work for it. This might explain why my work history is so diversified. I started out as a machinist in a high school work program. After that, I worked for Hobart Corporation in the foundry division. I decided I wanted to do something more challenging, which led me to the trucking industry. I drove trucks cross-country for five years, but eventually decided to stay in one place… That place was KTH Parts Industries in St. Paris, where I worked for 20(?) years in Material Service, Production Control and, finally, Logistics. As the Logistics Supervisor I coordinated equipment and shipments between four plants (two in Ohio, one in Alabama, and one in Ontario Canada). As I was beginning to toy with the idea of retiring from KTH, the opportunity to work at Gover’s came up and I welcomed yet another opportunity in my professional career.

While working for the Gover family I have had to tap into knowledge I have learned from just about every other previous job I’ve ever held. The biggest part of being able to do my job effectively is (trying to) stay organized and having the support of the Gover Family and all of my fellow employees. As a former customer and now as an employee, I can certify that they are a great group of people who are dedicated to helping their customers have an enjoyable experience every time they visit the store.

I went to school at MMI in Arizona in 1989 to be a tech. From 1990 to 2003 I worked with several Harley-Davidson dealers as a service tech.

In 2003, I came to Gover Harley-Davidson/Buell. I started out working at the parts counter. I took the job in the Parts Dept. because I wanted to try something new. I have enjoyed working in the Parts Dept. It proved to be just as challenging and interesting as service.

A lot of people never even know I work here unless they are purchasing a bike. I work with customers on financing and go over the paperwork when they take delivery of their bike(s), which keeps me busy in an office back near the service write-up area. The joke around here with some of our customers who see me out in the showroom is “Hey, who let you out?!”

I love to ride as a passenger; I have my permit but haven’t taken the “next step” yet. I really want to learn to ride and I have my eye on a FLSTN – Softail® Deluxe.

I think it shows by my actions that I really love my job and being part of the Gover H-D family. Coming from a background with 20 years working in my own small family business (farm equipment) it was nice to be able to find a job with some of the same family values.

I have been a technician all my life. In 2005, I decided that 38 years of wrenching was enough and requested the opportunity to move to a different position. In the summer of 2006, I took over the Warranty Administrator job. My primary responsibility is to process warranty claims, but I also do bench checks (double checking a bike after the technician has finished the repair), help out customers who come in for service work, and I still help the other tech’s diagnose problems and learn how to do jobs they’ve never done before. I enjoy the opportunities I get to work with you, our customers. It helps me understand your needs and expectations and it also helps me stay up on current trends and changes in the industry.

For pleasure, I ride a 99 FLHTCI and in my free time I enjoy shooting and spending time with my dog.