Today we’d like to introduce you to John Heard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born and raised in Memphis Tennessee, I grew up watching my grandmother and my mother cook, when my brother and I became of age, my mother passed the spatula down to us. My first and favorite meal to make to this day is a grilled cheese sandwich; you can never go wrong with a classic comfort. I was 14 when I was entrusted to make homemade scratch biscuits and it was in that moment when I realized I enjoyed cooking. I attended Wooddale High School where I was lead Tenor Drum and finished School at East High school where I was Battalion Commander for the JROTC program. During my time as the Battalion Commander for my high school the US Marine Corps recruiters came and recruited me with an anticipated career with the Drum and Bugle Corps. I spent ten months in the Delayed Entry Program where unfortunately, I was in a car accident and injured my left arm and lost all movement and feeling in my left hand. I thought in that moment my life was over, without movement in my hand I was unable to pursue either of my passions. After seven months, I got 100% feeling and movement back in my left arm and was able to start cooking again. I moved from Memphis to Atlanta in 2005, and I worked for one of the nation’s largest cellular carriers, this is where I met my beautiful and supportive wife Eugenia and we had our oldest daughter. In 2010 decided to reclaim my passion and apply for Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Art Institute of Atlanta. I externshipped at Pinehust the nation’s first golf resort. Working at Pinehurst jump-started my career from all the knowledge I gained. In 2011, I graduated Le Cordon Bleu at the top of my class and was a member of the Honor Society.
Fast forward to 2013-2016, I worked for Heritage Golf Links as the Food and Beverage Director. During my time working at Heritage, I lost my mother to Cancer of the small intestine, it was a devastating year losing my mother, my grandmother and my unborn daughter (Eve). In November 2016, I was blessed with my son, my wife and I were ecstatic in the birth of our baby boy after all the loss we had recently experienced. In 2019, I worked as the Food Service Director for GA Tech, however I got laid off due to COVID-19. In 2020 I opened my own consulting business, CJH Hospitality Group, where was I was connected to Nouveau and began working as the Food and Beverage Director at both Jonesboro and College Park locations. The owner, Ebony Austin, who was very inspiring because she opened her restaurant during the pandemic and through her success as a restaurant owner, I saw that it was possible for a restaurant to thrive during COVID-19. In January 2021, my wife and I found out that we were expecting another baby girl and once again, we were over the moon. September 2021, I was unfortunately involved in a hit and run accident where the doctors found I had a tumor on my pituitary gland, which required brain surgery. I had my surgery in March of 2022, which took four weeks to recover. It was during this time I was asked by the owner, Chip Burns, to return to Heritage Golf Links but this time with the great opportunity to have The Just BBQ Company inside of Heritage Golf Links. Chef John Heard is bringing the essence of Memphis to Georiga, I hope you are ready because we are turning up the heat.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
1997: I got into a car accident where I lost all mobility and feeling in my arm 2015: Lost my mother to cancer of her small intestines
2019: COVID-19
2020: I was laid off from GA Tech as the Food Service Director
2021: Car Accident
2022: I had brain surgery
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Just BBQ Company is a family-owned BBQ Restaurant that was built on Love. Our First Love is God. Our Second Love is family. Our Third Love is Barbeque. The Just BBQ Company is a true Authentic Memphis Barbeque Restaurant where our smoked meats are prepared low and slow, creating an experience that will transport you to the home of the blues and the BBQ capital of the world!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I feel the most important part of my success is my strong foundation and my work ethic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.justbbqcompanyllc.com
- Instagram: @thejustbbqcompany
- Facebook: The Just BBQ Company at Heritage
- Twitter: @JustBbqCo
