Jean-Claude Rochat: An Evergreen Career
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SAN FRANCISCO—Jean-Claude Rochat has pursued several fields of interest throughout his lifetime, from music to mathematics to the culinary arts. However, when it came to a professional livelihood, he decided to stay with a trade that had been perennial since his youth: arboriculture. “Growing up on a farming community in Switzerland, I was exposed to forestry work from a young age,” he remembers. “By the age of 15, I was doing forest management professionally. After taking a few years off to study music in the United States, I returned to Switzerland and began a landscaping apprenticeship for the city of Lausanne, eventually earning my arborist certification. Later, I returned to the U.S. to study mathematics, during which time I did tree work to support myself. My tree service business began to grow bigger and bigger, and eventually I decided to stick with tree work as a full-time career.”
Today, as owner of Arborist Now, Inc., Jean-Claude says his favorite part of his job is being involved in the arboriculture industry. “I love this industry and I’ve enjoyed watching it evolve and become more sophisticated over the years. I also like meeting other arborists, sharing knowledge and experience, and working together to lead the industry toward further improvement.”
A resident of San Francisco (where he lives with his wife, Carine, and their children), Jean-Claude spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes.
“My main hobby is making food,” he says. “On my childhood farm, we would make our own cheese, bread and charcuterie, and that’s a tradition I carry on today. I also brew my own beer. It’s my own little homestead and I enjoy sharing it with my family and friends.”
In regard to a professional philosophy, Jean-Claude espouses the importance of ethical principles. “My staff and I try to be as transparent as possible when dealing with customers,” he explains. “We keep our promises and really take ownership of everything we do. Of course, we’re not perfect, but we always strive to do our very best.”
When asked what he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Jean-Claude says he’d go back to the homestead. “I’d definitely buy a farm and continue to make my own food, but on a larger scale since I would have more access to raw materials. I’d have cows, chickens, goats and a big garden—just like when I was growing up.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite type of tree?
Q: The yew tree is very special to me. We have them in Switzerland and they’re very rare and amazing.
Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Espresso—or better yet, ristretto, which is even more condensed than espresso.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Tadich Grill in San Francisco.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Russia.
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