<body><div>In our October 2024 issue, we caught up with three South Sound professionals to discuss the hobbies that help them find enrichment both on and off the clock.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=06HA0w_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06HA0w_0wFiGUs800" width="1142" height="1436" ><figcaption>Carrie Whisler with her horse, Brandy.&nbsp; Photo by Carrie Whisler</figcaption></figure>Carrie WhislerSenior vice president and chief credit officer, Olympia Federal SavingsAnyone who works with Carrie Whisler knows that when she wraps up her work for the day and heads out of the Olympia Federal Savings office with her dog, Tigger, in tow, she’s more than likely headed to complete her farm chores.Whisler grew up in Thurston County, and due to her mother’s career as a horse breeder, she spent a sizable portion of her childhood on horseback. In high school, Whisler became interested in working cattle and reining and discovered she could do both competitively through reined cow horse events.The reined cow horse discipline includes three events: herd work, where the horse and rider work to separate a cow from a group of cattle; rein work, where the rider and their mount perform a pattern that typically involves awe-inspiring moves such as sliding stops, spinning, and flying lead changes; and finally, fence work, where the duo is tasked with maintaining control of a singular cow.“I think a lot about cow psychology,” Whisler said with a laugh.Today, Whisler has three horses she keeps at her home: her main mount, Brando, also known as Maytown Moonshine, whom she has raised since he was a foal; her gelding, Sebastian, known in the arena as Jules Jackson; and lastly, her mare, Brandy, also known as Brandy Neat, whom she employs for less competitive activities such as trail rides and river swims with friends.When asked how she balances her barn life and work life, Whisler credited her supportive team at Olympia Federal Savings.“I’m really lucky to work with the people I do and our amazing executive management. The team is like my family, and they know that this is something I’m passionate about,” Whisler said. “It’s a lifestyle, and it makes me who I am.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3iSwDD_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3iSwDD_0wFiGUs800" width="1466" height="1104" ><figcaption>A dorado Schaffert caught off Magdalena Baja, Mexico, in 2022. Courtesy of David Schaffert</figcaption></figure>David Schaffert President and CEO, Thurston County Chamber of CommerceFor the last 26 years, David Schaffert has served as the Thurston County Chamber’s president and CEO. He first became involved with the local chamber because of his interest in the county’s economic development scene due to its ever-evolving nature.Almost three decades later, Schaffert spends his workdays supporting chamber operations; attending meetings about valuable regional partnerships; and bolstering community infrastructure, workforce development, and strategy development and implementation, to name a few of his duties. After a toiling week of work, Schaffert likes to let off steam by spending time outside as an avid sportsman who fly-fishes and hunts waterfowl. He even dabbles in woodworking and has crafted his own boat.“I got started fly-tying and fly-fishing as a freshman in high school. A teacher of mine took me fly-fishing in Everett’s saltwater estuary for sea-run cutthroat (a type of trout), and that first outing changed everything,” Schaffert explained. “I was introduced to a tight-knit community of lifelong fly-fishing enthusiasts (whose) dedication and passion made a huge impact on me.”The learning never stops, Schaffert said, but after decades of honing his skills, he has carved his own lane in fly-fishing. The sportsman enjoys pushing the traditional boundaries of what species of fish can be caught with a fly rod; annually makes trips to Mexico to chase in-shore and off-shore species; and is tracking salmon, tuna, and trout almost year-round in Washington.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4OJ8Ix_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4OJ8Ix_0wFiGUs800" width="1866" height="1108" ><figcaption>Schaffert poses with a striped marlin caught in the East Cape, Baja, Mexico, in 2023. Courtesy of David Schaffert</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2h7yWE_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2h7yWE_0wFiGUs800" width="1851" height="1120" ><figcaption>Schaffert’s dogs Roxy and Solo with a couple waterfowl. Courtesy of David Schaffert</figcaption></figure>“Like most hobbies, learning to hunt and fish was a step-by-step journey of constantly learning and evolution,” Schaffert explained. “I picked up waterfowl hunting in college and, for the most part, taught myself. It has a pretty steep learning curve, but if you dive in and stick with it, you figure out what works along the way.”Even though Schaffert claims to be no expert in training field dogs, he’s trained his two companions, Roxy and Solo, to join him in his waterfowl hunts.“They get more excited to hunt than I do.” Schaffert said. “The thing about dogs is they burn so bright but for such a short time, so I really cherish the time I get with them and the memories we make together.”When asked about how he balances leading the Thurston Counter Chamber and enjoying his hobbies, Schaffert said that it’s about seeking out those little pockets of time to dedicate to what you love — even when things are busy.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2jjudQ_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2jjudQ_0wFiGUs800" width="1619" height="1281" ><figcaption>Amy Anderson (center) with some symphony-mates. Courtesy of the Tacoma Concert Band via Facebook</figcaption></figure>Amy Anderson Collection management director, Pierce County Library SystemLike many young people who have been through the public school system, Amy Anderson took up a musical instrument alongside her fifth-grade classmates. But unlike many peers, she has yet to put her French horn down despite the passage of nearly 35 years.As her 9 to 5, Anderson works as Pierce County Library System’s collection management director, where she and her colleagues are responsible for procuring and delivering assorted materials throughout the county’s libraries.“The collection management department is particularly interesting to me here at PCLS. A couple years before I joined, they went through some processes to try to be more efficient about how quickly we’re getting books and other things into people’s hands, and I just thought that was really exciting. I wanted to see what more we could do,” Anderson said.When she’s not at work, Anderson is one of 60 members of the Tacoma Concert Band, which has received regional, national, and international acclaim as a premier symphonic band.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3F6rwP_0wFiGUs800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3F6rwP_0wFiGUs800" width="1884" height="920" ><figcaption>Courtesy of the Tacoma Concert Band via Facebook</figcaption></figure>“As an adult, I just get different things out of playing. When I was young, I enjoyed the competition and trying to make it into the best groups. But now, it’s cool because the principal of my horn section was actually my very first horn teacher back in the day,” Anderson said. “I’m the leader here at work, but when I go there, I get to be a part of the team and kind of just fit in and work with others.”Another aspect that Anderson enjoys about being part of her local concert band is that it gives her an opportunity to seriously practice her instrument alongside others but still hold her career at the library.“Community symphonies are exciting because there’s an opportunity to keep playing, even if you choose to not pursue music as a profession. There are professionals in the band, which I think is great, but there’s also room in the groups for everybody, no matter what their job is,” Anderson said.For anyone interested in picking up an instrument or joining their local concert band, Anderson recommends folks get out and see the local music in their area, whether it’s a symphony or local band.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Beyond the Office: A Look at the After-Work Hobbies of South Sound Professionals

In our October 2024 issue, we caught up with three South Sound professionals to discuss the hobbies that help them find enrichment both on and off the clock. Senior vice president and chief credit officer, Olympia Federal Savings. Anyone who works with Carrie Whisler knows that when she wraps up...