Guy Hochstetler, Board Member

Guy is retired from IBM (and JPMorgan) where over the years he served in roles of IT Solution Architect in both services and sales organizations. He also spent a few years working in the FinTech industry for blockchain startup, R3 as a Director in Professional Services. Though retired, Guy maintains deep interest in environmental causes, especially in raising awareness of how humans are integrally connected to earth as one of its many biodiverse species. One of his first retirement activities was co-chairing the Rivers & Lakes committee as part of the IEEE Standards Association’s “Planet Positive 2030” initiative.

Guy has long been drawn to the outdoors, enjoying sea kayaking, hiking, and generally just being in nature. As a young man he achieved a BS degree in Forestry from Purdue University, after which achieving an MBA from Indiana University. Across his career Guy discovered the synergy of the IT skills and knowledge he acquired over the years, with the ecological awareness of earth’s natural resources. When it came to technical problem solving he could “see the forest for the trees”. ;)

Originally from Indiana, Guy and his Japanese wife, Atsuko (originally from Tokyo) moved from a longtime residence in Maplewood, NJ (NYC metro area) for the friendly small upstate South Carolina city of Greenville. Greenville has embraced us with its wonderful friendliness, and offered us its majestic outdoor surroundings from the local Swamp Rabbit trail system to the nearby big lakes and mountains, and the not so far away coast. We’re forever thankful for it all.

Q&A WITH Guy

Q. What is your favorite outdoor activity?

A. Sea kayaking. I appreciate feeling the energy of moving water, especially ocean swells. Sitting in a kayak I feel like an otter. You can quietly move around encountering flora and fauna you might not see from shore or even from a power boat. Noticing the changes in nature is fascinating as you move from creek to river to estuary to sea.

 

Q. What is the best vacation you've ever been on, or one that you have upcoming? 

A. So far, it’s the recent Galápagos Islands trip. Knowing it from afar and experiencing it first hand is dramatically different. Seeing the blue-footed booby mating dance was phenomenal. Discovering the unusual variety of animals was eye-opening. How does a penguin end up in the same place as a pink flamingo? How does an iguana, a land animal, evolve to have a separate marine species that swims and relies on algae for food? While snorkeling a penguin and sea lion swam around me. They’re so fast! The sea lion nudged me. I like to think it just wanted to play since I found no bite marks on my leg. =o

 

Q. What is the best piece of advice for taking care of the Reedy River?

A. Be open to learning. Set your phone aside, go outside and observe. Observe how the Reedy River as a watershed is interwoven and interdependent with surrounding natural systems. Look at all the insect activity. Have a think about what’s happening below your feet in the soil. Now consider the impact of choices we make and ask yourself, where does the water go now when it rains (across pavement to a drain) versus where should it go (the soil)?

 

Q. What's your favorite book?

A. A couple books stand out, one is “The Sea Around Us” by Rachel Carson sharing an eye-opening explanation of how the planet works from ocean currents perspective through poetic prose. Also I admire, “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold who delivers an ecology education via his personal nature log, seeing the land as a living thing. There’s clearly a correlation here as to why I’m involved with Friends of the Reedy River. ;)