In July 2015, I became a member of the Phoenix Cigar Club in Arizona. During my brief time there, I frequently visited a cigar lounge in Ahwatukee, where I formed strong friendships with the regulars. Noticing the current president's reluctance to implement certain changes, I reached out to him via email to express my intention to start my own club, and he graciously gave me his support. Coming from a background that values structure, respect, and sound business practices, I first discussed my idea with Chico, who enthusiastically agreed to rally others to join.
That day, I began developing the concept, creating a name and logo, securing a domain, and building a basic website. I ordered shirts in various sizes and gold pins that read "AHCC Founding Members." The initial skull design was created by a close friend who owns a tattoo shop in Tucson; it served as his company's mascot, and he generously allowed me to use it. From the very beginning, this skull has represented us, and it will forever be a part of our club's identity.
A few weeks later, I invited everyone interested to the lounge for food and drinks, where I presented the club's structure and purpose, and I even hired a photographer I had met on Facebook. The founding members included Dee CEO, Chico COO, James CFO, Joe, Brady, Shannon, Trevon, Johnny, Phil, Rashad, Isaiah, Brandon, and Ecova. Ecova made history as the first woman to join our group and was also employed at the cigar lounge. Brady, the youngest member, worked alongside her at the lounge.
Unfortunately, we lost Brandon, an impactful Founding member, a few years ago due to health issues. Our inaugural year, we hosted a couple events at a restaurant, featuring raffles for cigar accessories, a thrilling sports car ride, and an exhilarating helicopter tour over the Arizona Valley. Our second event took place at a restaurant and nightclub, where we unveiled the club's inaugural barber pole cigar, aptly named "Secret Society." It was a fantastic occasion filled with enjoyment, and the guests thoroughly appreciated the cigar. We also enjoyed escaping the lounges and restaurants to venture into the desert, where we could unwind by shooting our guns, savoring cigars, and simply soaking in the experience.
As the club started to gain local popularity, I decided it was time to establish a structured organization with specific roles to facilitate future events and expansion. During this period, we recognized the potential for nationwide growth, and after discussing it with Chico, he predicted rapid success." A post on our Facebook page about launching chapters in various states led to New York becoming the first chapter, igniting a swift spread westward. However, as the club expanded, some individuals who joined after 2018 began to feel entitled to the logo and name, despite having joined three years after the club's inception. Managing such diverse personalities inevitably led to numerous challenges to this day.
I aimed to create a fair environment within the club, ensuring that all members could benefit from its growing reputation. We embrace diversity and do not exclude anyone based on age, nationality, religious beliefs, political views, or demographic factors. Each chapter was granted the freedom to operate independently, provided they adhered to the club's bylaws, allowing them to produce merchandise featuring the club logo to fund their activities, such as purchasing cigars and attending events. Initially, this approach worked well, but soon some individuals began to exploit the system, leading to missing funds and unauthorized use of the club's logo by other businesses. As structured guidelines were introduced to address these issues, discontent arose, and slander spread, with some attempting to tarnish the club's reputation. Every individual who criticizes the club or me cannot claim that I have personally targeted them. Their objections stem from rules they refuse to accept, believing them to be unjust in their perspective.
Ultimately, only those who truly understood the vision remained, and the club achieved global recognition in just a few years. It raises the question: for someone who wanted to uplift others on this journey, how difficult could it be to simply act in the club's best interest? Unfortunately, there are always individuals whose nature is to create chaos, often stemming from their own unfulfilled lives, and they resort to trolling.
Since many people want to know where the number 13 came from, it's my way of paying homage to those who started with me. The number 13 has no connection to any motorcycle clubs, gangs, witchcraft, or the Illuminati. I was raised in a loving two-parent household with wonderful parents who instilled strong morals in me. Throughout my 45 years of life, I have never been incarcerated or used drugs. I've been happily married to my wife for 28 years, and together we have successfully raised our two sons.
Ash Hole Cigar Club has garnered significant attention from major cigar manufacturers, influencers, and podcasts. Founders James, Chico, and Dee aimed to actively contribute to the cigar industry rather than simply enjoying the perks, so we reached out to the Cigar Association of America to help address potential threats to our beloved hobby. We proudly became the first social cigar club to sponsor the association, and now, in our third year of collaboration, we continue to make an impact. Despite facing criticism, AHCC has established itself as a prominent social cigar club, committed to supporting the industry and advocating for our rights alongside the Cigar Association of America while building valuable relationships with key players.
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