Inspired Entrepreneurship

John Thames, Founder and Publisher of Covey Rise magazine and Bourbon+, tells his story of how a deep-seat- ed passion for the outdoors fueled his transformation from a part-time magazine hobbyist to an international publisher and brand strategist in the emerging wildlife lifestyle marketplace. “Growing up in South Alabama, my grandfather and family owned and operated a utility pole business. He also owned 2,000 acres of hunting land,” said Thames, who received his degree in Business Administration from Auburn’s College of Business in 1996. “From as far back as I can remember, I would join them on hunting and fishing trips where they would entertain customers in the business. The entire outdoor hospitality experience — the travel, the cooking, the bird dogs — was engrained in me from the very beginning. I was raised in the world of hunting and fishing on that land, and I loved it.” The Harbert College of Business sat down with John as part of its Harbert Entrepreneur Spotlight initiative to hear how his early passion for the outdoors grew into an unex- pected entrepreneurial success. Fromhobby to international publishing powerhouse: JohnThames is living the dream