Joe's Biography

Born and raised in the Olympia area, Joe Hyer graduated from Tumwater High School in 1991 before spending 2 years in Washington DC , studying International Politics at The George Washington University. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Pacific University in Oregon . In both high school and college, Joe was heavily involved in academics, speech and debate, and community service. He became an Eagle Scout in 1991, and worked 9 summers as summer camp staff for the Boy Scouts.

In 1995, Joe embarked on a new project, founding and co-owning The Alpine Experience, a retail store dedicated to Mountain Sports Equipment. The company moved to its permanent home in Downtown Olympia in 2000, renovating and occupying the old Hyak Lumber Building on Olympia Avenue . In 2004, they also opened a sister company, the Warehouse Rock Gym, a full-scale indoor climbing facility. In October 2008, Alpine Experience acquired a second location, Olympic Outfitters.

In addition, Joe has served the community in the following ways:

Past board member and President of the Olympia Downtown Association, with work on Marketing, community relations, and governmental relations.
9 years volunteering as a company advisor and speaker for Washington Business Week, fostering business education opportunities to Washington youth.
15 years with the Olympia Mountaineers, serving as Climbing Chair, Treasurer, First Aid Chair, and Conservation Chair.
Past member of the City of Olympia Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
3 years on the Bridge Marketing Team, City of Olympia Gateway Corridor Project .
Active member, Outdoor Industry Association – lobbying team, 2004-2005 Capitol Summit in Washington DC .
Current Board member and Treasurer, Cold and Hungry Coalition, providing homeless outreach services within the region.
Editorial Board Member, the Olympian newspaper, 1997.
2004 Co-Chair, Olympians for a Livable Community – campaign to fund City's Parks and Sidewalks Plans.
Honoree, 40 under 40, Puget Sound Business Examiner, 2004.

Joe currently enjoys climbing, backpacking, skiing, traveling, community service, and reading and writing. He is building an extensive rare book collection, and enjoying the walkability of living and working in the core of our community … Downtown Olympia, of course.

In the Summer of 2004, a vacancy opened on the Olympia City Council, and Joe applied to further his interest in livable cities and community service. He was appointed to Position 7 in August of 2004. He was re-elected to the council in 2005.