Jay Kerig

Children:

Oak A. Kerig, Deep Tissue Massage Therapist and Puerto Vallarta Crossfit Instructor.

Grandchildren/Great Grandchildren:

none

How long have you been coming to PV?

One year--my son drew me here; his first visit was in 2009.

When and why did you join the IFC?

My life and career is International Affairs. On arrival in town, I heard wonderful things about the organization.

Are you still working? If so what do you do?

no

Are you retired? If so what did you do?

Retired a year. And relocated from New York City. I lived in Park Slope, the community of US Sen. Charles Schumer and Mayor Bill De Blasio. After five months in Puerto Vallarta, I traveled to NY, Sardinia and Italy for four months researching modern sustainable agriculture, tourism and swimming in the Mediterranean, and the Etruscan civilization. I returned with my household goods last October. Currently getting acclimated, making notes for a PV "GreenMap" and learning Spanish.

If you could do it all over again what would you do differently?

I would not change much---In my former career, the sixth--I had great bosses, Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, and Hillary Clinton (who honored me for work in food diplomacy), as well as fascinating work in international exchange programs, in the heart of Manhattan at the US Mission to the UN. I served on the boards of several not-for-profits, including Greenmarket.
I worked in 2 World Trade Center for Mario Cuomo for 9 years, advancing food production in the region, preserving farms, and launching the system of farmers' markets in NY, 2nd to California.
In 1992 I had an office at the top of 30 Rockefeller Center, with terrace, to plan the first "New York Restaurant Week" for the Democratic Convention .
I traveled widely for the US Department of State for ten years.