The Flying Joe
By Jessica Luther

Both John and Becky Ohm are fighters, not only in their commitment to keeping their coffeehouse The Flying Joe open and thriving, but literally- both are fighter pilots in the military.  Their story started when they were doing pilot training in Columbus, Mississippi; Becky had graduated from Bowling Green State University as a flight instructor with her commercial pilot certification before joining the Air National Guard and John had attended the Air Force Academy before becoming a maintenance officer on B-52s. 
           
“John asked me out the night I graduated from pilot training,” Becky laughed.  “Good thing I had another course that kept me for six more weeks.”
           
The two later drove to Arizona together when Becky went to F-16 training school; that car ride cemented their romance.  John was deployed to Germany soon after, and Becky was headed to Toledo.  Returning unexpectedly, John flew Becky to New York City and proposed to her on the Empire State Building.  After commuting back and forth to Germany for the first six months of marriage,  an understanding commander granted her a leave of absence, and they were able to the next six months of marriage together in Germany.  When they returned stateside, John went to Oklahoma and Becky back to Ohio; she would visit him two weeks out of the month- it was then that their love of coffeehouses began.
           
“We found a local coffee shop that a military wife ran, and it was a place we relaxed together,” she said.  “We talked about opening our own shop, and John wanted it to be a neighborhood place, like the ‘Cheers’ of coffeehouses.”
           
When John returned from a year in Korea, both were finally able to settle down together in Perrysburg, close to home for Oregon, Ohio, native Becky.  As John searched for a job, the idea of opening their own coffee shop came up once again: in January of 2007, The Flying Joe started brewing.
           
They have cultivated the atmosphere of a friendly local place, Becky said, getting to know their customers and staying involved in the community by sponsoring different events and local high school sports teams.  They have an open mike night and live music; classes like coffee cupping, the caffeinated version of a wine tasting; networking events for local businesses and free Wi-Fi for those using The Flying Joe as their office. 
           
Becky explained they serve Specialty grade Class 1 beans, the top five percent in quality in the world; their niche is their espresso-based lattes, especially the Flying Joe Mocha, a blend of espresso, white chocolate and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and caramel.  However, running the business hasn’t always been easy.  They opened during a particularly frigid winter and have watched coffeehouses pop up and then disappear around them. But their military training keeps them on their toes; Becky especially is no stranger of overcoming obstacles.
           
“I was the only female fighter pilot in Ohio and the first one in Toledo,” she explained, saying the program wasn’t even open to women when she first joined the military.  “There were a few people who didn’t want me there, but I stuck with it and tried to find a way to change their minds.”
           
This perseverance served her well in business, as well as her personal life.  Around the time they opened the store, John and Becky were also trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant; Becky said this was a tough time, professionally and personally.  Though they got pregnant relatively easily, Becky had three miscarriages between August 2006 and September 2007.  She started fertility treatments, and they got pregnant again but lost the baby within one week of hearing its heartbeat for the first time.  They started fertility treatments once more and got pregnant; the first ultrasound went well.  At their next appointment on December 31, 2007, however, the technicians couldn’t find a heartbeat.
           
“I laid there on the table sobbing uncontrollably. I just could not believe what was happening, again,” she recalled.
           
After that, Becky and John took a break before starting treatments once more. Returning from vacation in Key West in April of 2008, Becky knew she was pregnant again.  With a lot of hope and trepidation, Becky met with her physicians, Dr. Karnitis and Dr. Bishop, and discovered a strong heartbeat.  On January 6, 2009, their son Zachary Arden was born.  The following September, this time without the help of fertility drugs, they found they were pregnant again.  Their second child is due in June.
           
“I'm sure this would have been a lot easier without owning a coffee shop,” Becky acknowledged. “But I guess I would have to say that if you fail at something try again, because you just may have better luck the next time around.”

If you found this story interesting, informative or inspiring please let John and Becky know! You may contact The Flying Joe at 419-931-0273, email theflyingjoe@me.com, visit their website at www.theflyingjoe.com or stop by their shop at 2130 Preston Parkway in Perrysburg, Ohio.