Next in our series of Allen-Stevenson alumni who are founders is Peter Bloeme ’71, founder of Hyperflite, a company that makes professional discs for dogs; Skyhoundz, an international disc dog competition; and Atlanta Rocks!, an indoor climbing gym with multiple locations. Read below to learn more about Mr. Bloeme’s path to becoming and entrepreneur and what else besides his Allen-Stevenson education inspired these creative business ideas.
Tell me a little about yourself and the businesses that you have started (Skyhoundz, Hyperflite, Atlanta Rocks!).
Well, I've had an amazing life of highs and lows starting with growing up in The Dakota where I experienced the NYC blackout, watched the filming of Rosemary's Baby and met John and Yoko Lennon, to attending Allen-Stevenson from grades one through six.
I won the Men's World Frisbee Championship in 1976 and the World Canine Disc Championship in 1984, among many other titles and world records, with my dog Wizard. I am proud of my appearances on The David Letterman Show and the Disney movie "Flight of the Navigator." After that, I became the director of the largest canine disc competition series in the world, which led to my starting Hyperflite to make professional discs for dogs and Skyhoundz, an international disc dog competition. It's a long story which involves traveling, teaching, writing books, and producing videos throughout the world.
Some professional highlights include performing in Hiroshima at the Japanese baseball all-star game in front of 40,000 fans with four Japanese frisbee dogs during the seventh inning break for 10 minutes and opening for Queen at Earl's Court in London. My partner and I performed human frisbee freestyle for the audience as they arrived. I also met Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter after attending his "Sunday School" service in Plains, Georgia.
My other business venture, Atlanta Rocks! started because my good friend Jeff Perry owed me $200 and he paid me back with climbing gear. We traveled for work together and wherever we went we visited indoor rock-climbing gyms. There wasn’t an indoor climbing gym in Atlanta, so we decided to open one there. We opened our first gym in 1995, a 5,000 square-foot space, then opened another one in 1999 that was over double the size of the first one (12,000 square feet). At the end of 2008, we closed the first gym and at the end of 2018, we closed the second, but we very much enjoyed them!
What inspired you to start your own company and these particular businesses?
My dad was an entrepreneur, having started his own PR firm in New York City, and I think I got that from him. He passed away just before my sixth year at Allen-Stevenson. Now my son Wesley (25) is running his own pressure washing business, WiseGuys Pro-Wash in Atlanta. He took it from a summer job to put him through College to a $1,000,000 business in revenue in 2020.
How did Allen-Stevenson influence where you are today?
While I can't say I was the most dedicated student, I gained my love of photography, carpentry, music (orchestra), and sports at Allen-Stevenson. I didn't enjoy writing lines, but I remember fondly getting my first SLR camera and learning to process and print black and white film. I remember playing violin and conducting the orchestra for our most famous piece: "The Stars and Stripes Forever." I remember building a bench without any hardware. I remember being delighted to see a back-cover photo of me stealing home plate in the A-S newsletter. A-S was a wonderful experience and set standards and goals for me to continue to strive for the rest of my life. And, my classmates were awesome: Alexander "Sas" Peters ’71, Jeff Beers ’71, Joe Kearing ’71, Peter Hollender ’71, Mitch Powers ’71, Al Lewis ’71 to name a few. I love those guys!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to start their own company?
In my life, I've held normal jobs and worked for other corporations. I hear so many people complaining about having to go to work, upset with their jobs and praying for retirement. I have always felt that work was interesting, challenging, educational, and fun. One of the great things about owning your own business is that while you work hard, you are also able to take time off when you feel like it. I was able to travel with my kids for various athletic competitions and vacations during the summer while other parents were having to work. My work involves traveling throughout the world, so I was able to see, experience, hear, taste, and drink things that I wouldn't have been able to do any other way.
So, I guess my advice is, and I know it may sound corny, but follow your dreams. Do what you want to, go where you want to, as long as you can do so responsibly. Never give up learning and experiencing life. We all experience highs and lows in this life, don't get too high or too low. Whether for work or play, pursue your passions whatever they may be and don't let people tell you that anything is impossible. Keep learning, keep experiencing, keep growing, find mentors, set goals, live, love, cry, and grow. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
My life and goals have never been focused on money, but to live life to the fullest and leave this world a better place in one way or another. I want to go out having won life!
