Jim Hilliard was born and raised in Plant City, Florida. Jim graduated from Florida Southern College in 1979 where he met the love of his life Vicki and moved to Ohio to take a sales position with Lanier Business Products. After 30 years as a sales rep, sales manager & district manager he left to go in business for himself with his friend of 25 years Tom Fenig. Tom left Lanier in 1993 to start Lightscapes. A year later 1994 and was looking to franchise the business and who else to test the process with than someone you know and trust, his good friend Jim. After a couple years the franchise took place, and the company was renamed to Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.
Jim’s office has received the top franchise award in 2000 & 2001, highest increase award 2010, 2011, 2017 & 2019 & 2021 highest service response award 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021, consistently maintaining a Google (5 star) rating. Jim’s has also been one of the most reliable franchisees as well as has consistently been in the top ten office in the company every year since the beginning. Jim has held many roles in the design & improvement of the franchise system with Tom over the years including the Advisory Council in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 & 2021. Jim also won the new honor of the Best in Show Project of the year in 2020, with the “Haussler Castle home”.
Jim spent 15 years coaching his son in the Centerville area in football with the Centerville Wee Elks & basketball with the Centerville Basketball Club. He also spent 15 years coaching his daughter Amber with the Centerville Lady Elks, The Centerville Softball Club and The Dayton Lady Hoop Stars (the local AAU Program). Jim also spent many hours at cheerleading events, dance recitals, chaperoning high school dances & countless wrestling events.
When Jim is not working, he spends most of his free time now with his wife Vicki and their family, especially his grandkids as with the fact his kids have all grown up now. Jim likes to hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, spend time with Vicki in the UTV/side-by-side out in the woods or spend as much time possible at Lake Cumberland on the boat (No Voltage 4.6) or in the RV somewhere with the family seeing the beauty the world offers.