Rod Walters - A Character With Character
...because interesting people are more fun to work with
I grew up in the town of Darien, Connecticut and have been a thrill-seeker from an early age. I spent three summers in high school in Wildwood, New Jersey on the Jersey Shore playing summer league ball, surfing great breaks in Cape May during hurricanes and learning the realities of life. This was well before Snooki was on the screen, mind you! I was playing college football when I discovered rugby, truly a gentlemen's game; this lead to pig roasts on the Cape, rocket fuel punches, and ten years of devoting my body and soul to the game. I moved to San Francisco to play rugby after college and toured England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand, where I undoubtedly committed countless sins along the way. To make ends meet, I gave up bartending and I started a professional career in the software industry. Along the way, I found the love of my life, had four wonderful daughters and managed to keep my body relatively intact, despite my best efforts. I did manage to "Beat on the Brat" with the Ramones at the Hollywood Palladium, shoot a 76 (no small feat if you truly count every stroke), snow and waterski on the same day (please see the lake in the background) and taste some of the finest scotches in Scotland. Most recently I changed industries and discovered the true joy of being a "consultant" and acting in the best interests of the client.
Your favorite cuisine?
There is a simple, clean and completely natural elegance to the way Italians prepare and consume food. After years of frequenting the greatest restaurant in the world - Al Forno in Providence, Rhode Island - I am a disciple of Cucina Simpatica.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Black Label Scotch.
What natural gift would you most like to possess? Why?
To drive a 100 mile an hour fastball 520 feet into the deepest parts of center field. I would prefer to do this with two outs, two strikes, down three runs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 of the World Series, with the entire world speechless during that split second when the pitcher releases the ball before you hear the crack of the bat. This would be the ultimate feat!
If you were a vehicle, which vehicle would you be and why?
A Ford F-150 truck. This is the best designed, most durable, strongest, hardest working vehicle on the road that represents greatness of America and ingenuity. Today, even when loaded with technology and modern comforts, it offers great value and utility for the price. Too bad my wife would kill me if I brought one home.
When was a time you were indomitably confident?
A basketball game against the Ridgefield Tigers. We were down one point with four seconds on the clock and the ball was inbounded to me at half court. With no hesitation, I dribbled three times and shot from well beyond the arc and - swish! Winner!
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Rod is a Partner. Hiring Characters with Character is one of Kalypso's core values - click here to learn more about our values and firm culture
Topics: Characters with Character, Kalypso Culture, Kalypso Employees, Kalypso Values, Keep Kalypso Weird, Rod Walters
About the Authors
Rod Walters, Partner Rod brings over 25 years of experience in PLM and enterprise software solutions to Kalypso's clients. He has served the retail, high technology, communications, manufacturing, utilities, and transportation industries. Read more articles by Rod Walters
Reagan Pugh, Raconteur Reagan likes to watch, read and tell stories. He often wishes he was Batman - you know, grappling hooks. Read more articles by Reagan Pugh
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