Cary Koch, 32
Government Relations/Lobbyist, Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff and McCollister Law Firm
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Playing professional football for 6 years.
- Earning the right to play in two Grey Cup championship games, the Super Bowl of the Canadian Football League.
- Working with stakeholders to shepherd a bill through the legislative process and eventually having it signed into law by the governor.
COMMUNITY:
He serves on the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Board of Directors as well as the Dunham School Alumni Council; is also the executive director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A professional football player
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
I was a page in the House of Representatives at 16. I learned about government, professionalism and how to collate hundreds of bills and persevere through hundreds of paper cuts.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Working at a Christmas tree farm in Baton Rouge. I was fully into character with a beard, plaid shirt, coveralls, boots… the most asked question was, “Did you cut these yourself?”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
City Club – Wilbert Salad
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My family
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
I am fortunate to be able to work alongside my dad, Johnny Koch, and learn from him the business side of things. We have always been extremely close, but our relationship has transitioned from being my biggest fan on the football field to now being my boss. If you know my dad, it is never a dull moment!
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
Entrepreneurs who successfully create companies to solve the most basic problems.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Facebook, mainly for family and keeping up with people; Instagram, to show the world my beautiful wife and kids; Twitter, this platform has become the political vehicle most people are using to get their messages out; and LinkedIn, for business networking.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
200 texts
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I let my battery die.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
Zero. But I do have 20 unheard voicemails. If it is urgent, please don’t leave a voicemail, just text. Most of them are the classic, “call me back when you get this.” What is this, a 90’s country music song?
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Mile IQ. This app is for mileage tracking. Since I spend a lot of time on the road, this is extremely helpful to organize my business at the touch of button.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Drones and artificial intelligence
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Spam emails and robocalls.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Coffee for breakfast.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
Being involved in state politics and government affairs gives me an unique platform to be helping Baton Rouge and the state a positive place to live, work and play.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When I stopped getting carded for buying beer.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Austria. We spent Christmas in Vienna visiting my brother and his family while he finished schooling for his doctorate at Humboldt University of Berlin
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Power wheel. It was a yellow and black 4 wheeler… I was the coolest kid on the block!
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Teleportation. I want to cut out travel time and traffic when trying to get anywhere!
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
“Legs” I was always fast and the name just stuck
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
Never really been too superstitious about anything, even in football. But I would never miss pregame chapel!
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
The Road Runner. I only have one speed…FAST.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Louisiana craft beer #DrinkLocal
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
The Killers – “Mr. Brightside”
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Matthew McConaughey in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
“The grass is not always greener on the other side.”
PETS?
I have a lovable rescue dog named Juno who was found on the downtown streets of Baton Rouge.
HOBBIES?
I like to tinker. I’m a DIY type of guy. I like to work on cars, small engines, building furniture, crafting and building forts with my kids!
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Other than the biggest day of my life marrying my bride Tyler, a big moment that changed my life is when my grandmother died. I was the youngest grandchild from all sides of the family and had a very special relationship with her. I wish my kids would have been able to meet her, but she is remembered daily and her legacy still lives on.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
How fast technology advances.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Watching my kids grow up knowing they will be the leaders of tomorrow.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Relationships matter.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, my wife Tyler plus three kids plan on being here for a very long time.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
After growing up here and now raising a family, I can see the overall quality of life in Baton Rouge is improving. The city has so much more to offer after being away for almost 10 years. I love returning home and seeing the growth and new developments. Along with the growth brings has brought more traffic and infrastructure needs to our city.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
Learn how to play the piano, go skydiving and visit Greece!
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
