The Legend of Big O’s
We are often asked about the name of our shop and the Big O’s brand. We could tell you in a sentence or two, but really, it’s BIGGER than that.
The Rocket Scientist
Many long short years ago, there was a rocket scientist. By day, he designed impressive structures for airplanes and other flying objects. He knew his work was important, but he felt like he was missing something. Deep down, he knew he was supposed to do something BIG to change the world.
The Old Golf Cart
One day, he came across an old golf cart. He bought the cart, made it look fancy and drive even better. Then someone wanted to buy it! He sold this cart and felt good about his accomplishment and creation. So, he bought another old golf cart, fixed it up and made it look fancy like the one before. And he sold that one too!
The Start of Something
He started to think that maybe, just maybe, he was on to something. He continued working hard at his rocket scientist job during the day, but he started to think that his custom golf carts could be more than just a hobby, and he started to see a BIG business in his mind.
The Little Man
Then one day, a little man who had been a part of the rocket scientist’s life, who we will call “O,” looked at the rocket scientist and said a few words. It wasn’t much, but those words were powerful.
Something happened in the heart of the rocket scientist. A dream was born. Being a rocket scientist was cool, but he knew he could do more to change the world around him as the golf cart man.
Freedom
He wanted freedom. He wanted to be in charge of his day so that he could spend as much time with O as possible. He knew if he did, he could learn from O, and O could learn from him.
The day came for the rocket scientist to walk away from his rocket scientist job and the golf cart man was officially born.
Big O's
It was time for the golf cart man to think of a name for his golf cart business. He thought and he thought and one day, he looked at O and realized the name had been there all along. He would name his company Big O’s!
O wasn’t very big in stature, but it was his heart, mind and will that were Big! He inspired the golf cart man, who wanted his company to have a big heart to change the world around him, just like O.
A Small Boy. A Mighty Spirit
“O” was Owen, the first-born son of the golf cart man. And even though Owen was just a small boy, his spirit was mighty. His heart loved Big, his brain thought Big, and his ideas were well, BIG! And the Big-ness he possessed was just what the golf cart man needed to be inspired to be the best golf cart man in the country, and to change the world around him.
Inspiring Change since 2013
Big O’s Golf Carts was officially born in 2013, and every day still, Owen continues to inspire his Father. He also loves to be in charge of and inspire his three younger siblings and friends to do great things.
We hope his Big ideas help inspire you change the world around you. After all, the best journeys are when we are in the pursuit of something bigger than ourselves.
Andy
Owner & Founder
Andy. The Man. The Myth. The Legend. The Owner and Founder of Big O’s Golf Carts, and also the father of the real life Big O. He is the GOAT of golf carts. (We aren’t being mean and calling him a goat, it stands for Greatest Of All Time.)
Andy’s responsibilities around the shop know no bounds, but his chief responsibility is to provide leadership and guidance to the staff and to set an example of excellence to be above reproach in every aspect of business. Andy got this crazy idea to start a golf cart company after he bought, customized, and sold his first golf cart out of his house a few years back.
His favorite thing about what he does every day? Working with the amazing staff that makes Big O’s what it is each and every day. When he isn’t being the Best Boss Ever or B.B.E., he loves to design and build and he finds the process therapeutic. (This is why he is an engineer by profession, because let’s be real, most people try for five minutes and then throw the screwdriver.)
He enjoys strolling the aisles of Home Depot to figure more efficient ways of working on the golf carts by using different tools that he finds. When he isn’t solving problems that he didn’t know he had, he loves to focus on building business systems that operate efficiently, even when he isn’t around, so he is the main man without having to always be the main man.
One thing that Andy values is working every single day to better himself by listening to other successful business owners, reading books about business, mentorship, and being the best version of himself. He also stays in consistent communication with mentors in his life to make sure he is always on the right track personally and professionally.
Andy can also juggle, which seems like a random thing to throw in right now since he bio was getting kind of serious, but that’s exactly why it was thrown in.
Andy is also a beast on the racquetball court, can play six different instruments, and once opened for the Beach Boys with his college band. Rock on! He loves any food that involves the Italian genre and he really appreciates a good cheesesteak sandwich.
Andy is married to the love of his life, Ashlee, whom he says is the rock of their household. He credits her with always going along with his crazy business expansion ideas and is always right with him every step of the way. Together, they have five amazing children that they hope to raise up as fearless entrepreneurs, whom will one take over the Ilg business empire and continue on with the legacy that their parents started.
Last, but most importantly, Andy gives credit to God every day for helping him to overcome his own fears of success and going out on his own. He realized many years ago that starting a business wasn’t about money, it was about pursuing a “why” bigger than any obstacle, and one that scares you out of staying where you are.
Success, Andy says, isn’t about being wealthy, it’s about looking back and realizing how many people lives were changed for the better because of a dream that he and Ashlee chose to pursue. Andy, there are a lot of people that are glad you followed this crazy unction and decided to start Big O’s!
Ashlee
Owner & Marketing Director
Ashlee is a full-time Mompreneur and the 'Mama Bear' of Big O’s. She is the co-owner, marketing director, Andy’s wife, and the mom to the inspiration behind the O in Big O’s.
While her tasks vary according to the day of the week, Ashlee is all hands-on deck all the time. Most days, she is up late working behind-the-scenes, or keeping the Big O’s crew caffeinated, or out on the golf cart paths taking pretty pictures for marketing projects.
She is passionate about giving back and paying forward the success in business she and Andy have had. She loves being able to give to causes and organizations that she believes in and her motto is “To whom much is given, much is required.”
Ashlee loves to have the freedom to pursue her passions that entrepreneurship has afforded her. Big O’s would be lost without Ashlee and we are thankful for everything she does!
Jaime
General Manager
If you’ve been to our shop recently, you’ve very likely met Jaime, our beloved General Manager. She is all hands-on deck all the time, and we are pretty sure her middle name is “handled it.”
She and her family are official residents of The Bubble now, after moving here from New Jersey. And while her Northeasterner accent is still going strong, she’s got this Southern hospitality thing down pat. When you meet her, you’re immediately friends-like-family.
As our General Manager, Jaime’s days are definitely nonstop – and she loves it! She says her favorite part of working at Big O’s is being a part of our big adventure.
We agree that she’s in the right place at the right time too, and we're so thankful Jaime is here for this great adventure!
Logan
Service Advisor
Logan is the cool, calm and collected voice you hear when you call us about service being done on your golf cart. With a background in the automotive industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our service team.
In his free time, Logan enjoys bringing out the best in everyone around him and spending time with friends.
We are so thankful to have Logan with us!
Ariana
Front Receptionist
Meet Ariana! She is likely the first voice you'll hear when you call us, and the first smiling face you'll see when you visit. And if you're lucky, you may even catch her singing!
If you are renting one of our golf carts - Ariana's got you! If you just bought a golf cart - she will put a big bow on your experience. And if you need your golf cart serviced with our team - Ariana can help with that too! Trust us when we say, if you need something - Ariana is your person!
When she's not helping to make your day brighter at our shop, Ariana loves to spend time with her family and enjoy her favorite rice & beans with oxtails recipe.
We are so thankful to have her here!
Asif
Service Tech
It's definitely true that Asif brings his A-Game every day at the shop. No matter what golf cart parts the sales or service teams need from him, Asif is always one step ahead of them and making sure it's done right.
When Asif isn't working, you can find him cruising around on his custom-designed Big O's cart (with not-so-subtle Big O's stickers and decals), wearing his Big O's trucker hat, and listening to his favorite tunes on his LED-lighted Sound Bar from Big O's. We're pretty sure he has Big O's tattooed across his back, but we can't confirm it.
But in all seriousness, Asif is the kind of team player we always hoped for, and we wouldn't be able to chase all of our big goals without him!
Logan ("LT")
Diagnostic Technician
Meet Logan - otherwise known as "LT" and "The Man Who Will Get Your Cart Back on the Paths." He's our diagnostician extraordinaire and he brings both passion and expertise for repairing anything your golf cart needs.
Besides his next-level skills in all things electrical and lithium power, he is known for impressive singing, dancing, and gymnastics splits! (Yes, you read that right!) I'm just saying, if you bring him some Orange Chicken you might be able to get him to show you his moves.
When he's not showing off his skills, he can be found fishing or adding to his sprawling DVD & media collection.
He's also a fellow adventurer, as he recently moved to Peachtree City from California - sight-unseen! We think he made an amazing choice and are so glad to have him on our team.
David
Lead Service Technician
David is one of our original All-Star golf cart technicians - and he’s in it to win it! His favorite thing about working for Big O's is getting to work for Andy because he thinks Andy is the best boss on the planet.
When he's not making golf carts purr like sleeping kittens, he loves to shoot 9 Ball, which is a fancy way of saying he likes to "play pool."
And when he's not doing that, he loves to work on his ’66 Mustang that he is completely restoring.
David lived on a ranch in Arkansas for two years and delivered over 150 baby calves, and that is by far the most interesting thing we have heard about anyone in a long time.
But on a serious note, David has been an amazing mechanic and we are grateful to have him on our team!
Juan
Service Technician
Juan is one of our most beloved Service Techs, and he can almost always be found drinking a Coke and singing his way through every battery job, golf cart upgrade and test drive throughout the day.
He is the "come early and stay late" kind of guy, always ensuring he leaves the shop and the team in better shape than he found it. His tenacity in being excellent in everything he does is inspiring.
Juan is also responsible for helping us all become more fluent in Espanol, as it is his primary language. Estamos agradecidos por nuestro amigo Juan!
