Meet Jaime Koch! Jaime grew up in a village on the western side of the island of Papua New Guinea, which is part of Indonesia. She found herself nearly 9,000 miles from home at Wofford College on a soccer and academic scholarship before settling down in Hall County.
Currently she works as an FABP Analyst at XPO Logistics, and will be graduating with her MBA from the University of North Georgia in May. She is the proud mother of her five year old daughter, Alina Grace. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, working out and spending time with friends. Jaime loves to travel and goes home to Indonesia as often as she can.
We’d like to thank Jaime for her contributions to the Hall County community, and for sitting down to tell us a little about herself.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “It really kind of fell in my lap shortly after I graduated college. I was new to the area and started getting involved with coaching soccer in Hall County. It was through the coaching that I actually got connected with my employers and the rest is history. I’ve been here for over 12 years now and I love the people and work culture at my company.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “El Sombrero – the Texas fajita nachos without chips and extra jalapenos.  And Mellow Mushroom – the Holy Shitake pizza.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “Almost 13 years”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Hall County?
A: “Steve Wisehart is one of the most interesting people I know, because he has such a wide range of knowledge about so many different things. He’s brilliant.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I’ve always wanted to go to Bora Bora, because it’s exotic and tropical. But any chance I get, I love going back to Southeast Asia. The main countries I would want to visit are the Philippines (because I went to high school there), Thailand (because my mom grew up there and I love the food and people), and Indonesia (because it’s home).”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “Well, I grew up in a tribe, so I didn’t grow up going to watch movies in theaters. I will say a movie theater experience that stands out in my mind was watching ‘Titanic’ on the big screen in Singapore.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “To look at failures as opportunities to learn and become a better and stronger person than you were before.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To take my daughter to a different country every year and to take her to Bora Bora when she graduates college.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “Counting Crows (who I’ve seen countless times already), Dave Matthews Band and Michael Jackson.”
Q: What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Honestly, there aren’t a lot of things that make me nostalgic about Hall County necessarily, but I always associate the Inn Between Deli with Hall County.”
Q: Choosing anyone: with whom would you love to have lunch?
A: “My paternal grandmother who was such a strong role model in my life and loved me no matter what. There’s been over 12 years of my life that have happened since I’ve seen her and I’d love to sit down and talk to her, get her advice and hear her laugh. If I could pick where we’d meet, we would definitely go back to the island I grew up on, West Papua, because my love for the people and country comes from her and my dad.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The community I’ve established here.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “I would like to be established in my career, settled down with my daughter and just enjoying life with my friends and family.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “Well, I grew up in a tribe, but most people who know me already know that. I do speak three languages: English, Indonesian, and Moni.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Papua, village, Alina”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.