Jeff Hock:  

I graduated college with a BA in Environmental Sciences, after a little European travel and brief spell substitute teaching in the Camden school district. Then, fresh from graduation, I taught GED math and science in Camden for 2 years. Saved my nickels, traveled to Alaska in 1975 and never returned to NJ, except for visits. Set up my tent in Anchorage with a box of dehydrated food and $700 to my name. Pumped gas for 2 weeks, then went to work for the State of Alaska and was hard at it until I retired in 2006. I've had the privilege to travel statewide in various capacities; as a fish biologist, habitat biologist, environmental biologist, ecologist, and environmental specialist. In 1989, within 24 hours of the incident, I was face-to-face with the Exxon Valdez where it landed on Bleigh Reef. Since 1996, my responsibilities were a bit more administrative in nature, managing data and people, as opposed to doing science in the field, and that was AOK by me. In May, 2005, I was Acting Water Quality Assessment & Monitoring Program Manager and retired from State government in September, 2006. Post-retirement, in 2006 I took an Anatomy & Physiology college course.  Survived well enough, but decided that pursuing a second career in nursing was not the best available use of my limited time and resources. So in early 2007, I was sharpening skates, mounting cross-country ski bindings, assembling and repairing bicycles and fitness equipment on a part-time basis. Since then I've done some part-time environmental consulting for 2-3 years related to the cruise ship industry in Alaska.  I've also worked full-time gigs lasting a year or more with Lockheed Martin and the US Coast Guard.  I've also popped and sold gourmet popcorn in the summer of 2012 at my daughter's gourmet popcorn shop right here in Juneau! Married in 1980, my wife, Kristin, and I h...Expand for more