10 YEARS

A decade is a long time. If you’re lucky and have longevity in your genes, 10 years is 10 percent of your life. Think about when you took your baby home from the hospital and then suddenly watched her perform all the lines to Mathilda as a 10-year-old on stage. A lot can happen in 10 years.

I have been putting out a magazine every month for 17 years, and for 10 of those, Hunter Kostylo has been by my side. At first, she was more “right outside my office,” a brand-new graduate from the College of Charleston, learning the ropes from her predecessors Kelly Stroud and Catherine Davies. When they moved on, she stepped up—in a big way.

Technology changes dramatically over 10 years. Social media platforms have popped up that barely existed a decade ago. Hunter has grown and adapted in a constantly changing work environment with new challenges taken on with her can-do (if at times slightly grumpy cat) attitude.

Recently, as our online presence grew, she transitioned from behind the camera grip to beloved personality on the CH2 social pages. Although a lot of it happens behind the scenes, she’s always there with an encouraging word or phrase when recording the antics of famous local musician Jevon Daly and myself. “There ya go,” is her go-to phrase when we finally get the script right or do something funny.

I’ve joked for a long time that I’m the heart of CH2 and Hunter is the brain. She’s kept our frenetic sales team organized and on track (mostly Kim Crouch and Morgan Ambler) for 120 issues now, and that is no small feat.

When someone comes into my office with tears in their eyes, I know what’s about to happen. Thankfully, the turnover around these parts is especially low, so it doesn’t happen often. It did, however, happen last month. Hunter Kostylo—my right hand, my work wife, my constant CH2 sidekick—is moving to Charleston soon for a great opportunity (I’ll get you, Will Hengemuhle!) and new adventures.

The CH2 girls (and Jevon) wish her the best and want her to know she will always have a place here if she ever decides to come back home.

We love you Hunter. You will kick ass at whatever you decide to do and will be missed terribly. As you start your new life in Charleston, never forget these words that you’ve seen hanging in my office for years now: “If you can be unable to can and do and so cannot that it do be like that and that sometimes.” (Ritchie Dryer).

XOXO,

Maggie Washo 

P.S. This is a fantastic issue full of content about dads. Happy Father’s Day!