Eight was Not Enough

Since we're profiling each member of Office Nomads in the reverse order they signed up, you already know that eight members was not enough, but since I loved that show as a kid, I couldn't resist using it as a headline for member number 8: Campbell Cooper.

Campbell comes from Napier, New Zealand which means he traveled the farthest to be a member of Office Nomads. His 7,000-mile plus trip beats out member #10, Henrik, who originally comes from Denmark. Campbell's route to Office Nomads was somewhat winding as he's worked in a number of exotic, international locales including Singapore, the Philippines, London and Melbourne. For all his international travels, this is the first time he's ever worked and lived in the U.S.

Campbell's professional life has been focused on commercial food companies which partially explains why he's lived in so many far-flung cities (he also has a travel bug, so the urge to experience new places is a part of his DNA.) This time around, it was a job setting up a new business for Dutch food ingredients company SVZ that brought him to our fair shores.

Because the company's main U.S. office is in Eastern Washington, Campbell said there was a lot of discussion about where he would be based and where he would live when he first signed on. He travels a lot for work, so being near a major airport was key and if you've spent any time in Eastern Washington, you know there's nothing major about it. Seattle, he says, was a perfect fit for him and since there is no need for him to be in the office all the time, the company agreed.

Campbell told me that he was thrilled to find Office Nomads. Without it, he'd have to be setting up a full office with all the headaches and responsibilities that come with doing that, and he'd still be working alone in a country and city where he didn't know anyone. When Office Nomads turned up, Campbell says he knew it was right. First, it would give him some social interaction with other professionals in his new home and second, he'd just be meeting new people, no matter what they do.

Now Campbell sits across from Robyn who is an urban planner which has given him an interesting insight into American cities.

When I asked him how Seattle compares to all of the exciting places he's lived, Campbell said, "It's great. It's an international city with a big Asian influence." He (like the rest of us) likes all the opportunities to get outside and says it's not all that different from life in New Zealand and Australia. If that's true, I'm going to see if I can find a way to get myself down there for an extended period.

You know what's next in this countdown series on the Nomads: Lucky Number 7! Stay tuned...