Meet Angel Hacker | General Manager – Indian Motorcycle of San Diego

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angel Hacker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angel, what is the most important factor behind your success?

For me personally, I like to ask myself a question and see if it applies, is growth apparent? Sometimes success is hard to measure, however I like to follow the saying in business there is no neutral gear. In business it’s just like racing, if you’re not moving forward you’re moving backwards, and that’s an attitude for success in our industry.

So as long as we’re moving forward in our day to day, and making advancements in our processes, procedures, practices, and talents then we’re making the right moves. So rather than measuring my “success” I like to measure “did I grow? Did that employee grow? Did the department grow into something bigger, or better than it was before? Did profits increased, even if marginally?”

As far as the success of the brand, and dealership, I believe the same concept is true, just in the perspective of our customers. Do the customers continue to choose us over competition? Do customers feel comfortable coming to us about questions, concerns, hopes, and expectations? Do customers feel as invested in the brand as we do! That’s a huge win for me, is if a customer is as involved and passionate as one of our team members we’re all on the same team. If what we provide and present makes customers feel at home, and a sense of belonging, everything we do is worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I get to have a very special job as General Manager of a premium Indian Motorcycle Dealership. My job is ensuring everyone that works at the shop, has all the tools, resources, and abilities to do the very best job they can. I maintain the culture, integrity, and business practices of an adult Disneyland! Of course that comes with its own challenges, but I remind myself daily how damn lucky I am to have the opportunities that I have had and the dreams I get to help come true. Not only do we sell, service, and rent Indian Motorcycles but we also are industry leaders in electric bikes! Being some of the first to deal in Super73 E-bikes, Rayvolt bikes, Ride1UP bikes, and even OneWheel electric boards.

I started in this field as many do, with just a hunger to learn more about motorcycles and maybe score some great discounts on gear and accessories. Haha. I’d burnt out in my first career of being a professional dog trainer, and a good friend of mine suggested I try selling motorcycles for a little while just to try it out. I was hired on as a Sales Associated at RideNow Powersports in Arizona, and the journey unfolds from there.

It was definitely far from easy, actually my first month on the job I was in a serious accident leaving me with a broken spine that required emergency sugary. It sparked a drive in me I didn’t know I had, or I had not tapped into yet, to just “give me a chance. I will not give up.” That accident and injury changed my life, for the better. I now look at everything within my life as events don’t happen to you, they happen FOR you and it couldn’t be a more tested fact, regardless of who you are. As I’ve grown through my career and journey within the motorcycle industry that has been my core value, just don’t give up, and you can make this work for you. It’s ok to try and then fail, however it is better to have failed, then to have never tried at all, from Mr. Roosevelt himself always said. Those failures have massive value!

My hope is that others can understand just how much power, and opportunity they possess, just by being them. Just by being alive, in this world, in this Country, and that you CAN do whatever you set your mind too. You truly are the best person you can be!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Where to start in San Diego!!! This is by far the greatest city in the whole entire Country, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The 1st stop would have to be Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach each with their own charms and character. Getting lunch at Sand Bar with a spicy margarita and some amazing fish tacos is pure bliss no matter how many times you’ve been. My all-time favorite? Ramen Ryoma in PB. I love ramen, and San Diego delivers. Regardless of all the wonderful small businesses all three beaches are always beautiful, and always put my heart at peace. I get to take a mini-vacation just about every weekend to one of these beautiful beaches.

Next we’d have to take a day trip to the Zoo, and another day trip to SeaWorld. I have always loved animals, and my favorite childhood field trips were always to the Zoo so to have one of the world’s best Zoos in my backyard? How do you not want to share that with friends and family. Same with SeaWorld, how many opportunities in the world do you get to see real life WHALES up close and personal? It’s also a great reminder to see all of the rescues and protection programs of wild animals both places provide.

Lastly, San Diego’s hidden gem, The Ramona wine Country! It’s probably not too often San Diego is associated with farm land, country vibes, and mountain views however Ramona is my little get away spot. Being from a small town in Arizona, Ramona sooths my home sickness with a nose full of country side. Stop by one of the many, many wineries, grab a tasting flight and pull up a chair on a porch and just enjoy the sun on your skin. If I could spend every Sunday out in Ramona I probably would!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Oh man, there’s really so many people I don’t have enough space in this interview to hit them all, but I’ll mention the ones that really mean the most to me. 

Tim Broadhead, our dealership owner CEO. Tim didn’t know me from much more than a face on YouTube videos presenting Indians from a state away and he took a chance on me, and continues to do so over and over again. I came into this dealership with the mindset that I will make this work, no matter what needs to be done, and his ability to believe in me and allow me to have space to fail and learn has been completely priceless.

Chris and Christina Chesnut from Tucson, AZ. Christina is by far one of my most cherished friends, and I am the most grateful for Chris, her husband, whom just so happens to be the one whom employed me at Indian Motorcycle of Tucson. Chris also took a chance on me, and my husband, and brought us into his life both personally and professionally in ways I can never truly repay the level of growth I developed just by being around a man as strong as he is, and his wife whom is equally a force to be reckoned with. Even though we’ve moved away and started our own adventure in another state, I will never stop loving and respecting the Chesnut gang.

My husband, Brad Hacker. I met Brad at Ridenow Powersports and was blown away by his talent and knowledge, and the longer I was around him the more I came to learn how amazing of a person he was. Brad has taught me so many of the tips, tricks, and approach to being good at what we do for work. I don’t believe I would have stuck out those first couple of hard years as a sales person without Brad’s leadership and guidance on how to be really good at selling motorcycles. Not only could I not hope for a better partner in business, I couldn’t be more blessed to have an ultimate team mate. I love hanging out with him! We can, and do, basically everything together and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s the biggest blessing I’ve received in this life, was bringing Brad into it.

Everyone else that has helped shape me into whom I am weather professionally, or personally the list is endless! I cannot express how grateful I am for previous managers that taught me their tips and tricks, personal trainers whom helped shape my health and fitness to better achieve the mental capacities needed to excel, to books I’ve read that will never leave me. I could write an entire book just on the people whom taught me how to better be me.

Website: www.indianofsd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeljunehacker/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-june-hacker/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angel.holewa/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmv-lCskF6f1v3x8FJfRvtQ

Image Credits
Emma Merdovic our on site Marketing Specialist San Diego Reader