TWC actively works with its alumni to provide students with a series of opportunities to learn about different industries during a special lunch series [1]. Whitmer and Worrall, LLC [2] hosted the most recent lunch event.
A small bi-partisan government relations and strategic counseling firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., Whitmer and Worrall currently employs 3 out of 6 TWC alumni. Mariel Calhoun [3], Executive Assistant and TWC alumna ('10), and Thomas Worrall [4], founding Partner and TWC alumnus ('90), hosted and spoke to a small group of seven spring interns from Brazil, Mexico, China, New Jersey and South Carolina.
Students included:
- Marcela Alvarez, student from Gobierno del Estado de Hidalgo [5] & Hidalgo intern
- Matthew Au, student from The College of New Jersey [6]and Law & Criminal Justice intern
- Sungeun Heo, student from Ohio Northern University [7]and Law & Criminal Justice intern
- Dae Hyung Jee, student from Seoul National University [8] and Business & Global Trade intern
- Tácio Éden Lobo, student from Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) [9]and Prudential Foundation Global Citizens intern
- Jesica Ray, student from Dickinson College [10] and Law & Criminal Justice intern
- Gao Ya, student from Peking University [11] and Prudential Foundation Global Citizens intern
Calhoun is a recent graduate of Furman University [12]and joined Whitman and Worrall as their Executive Assistant in June 2012. She interned with the firm during her TWC summer internship in 2010. Calhoun shared some words of wisdom with the group of current interns, stating that the "best thing I ever did was to constantly follow up and check in. If you work hard for your employer, they'll do just about anything to help."
She then introduced her current employer and former internship supervisor, Worrall, who expounded on his long line of experience. His time in D.C. began when he completed TWC's fall semester internship program with the Heritage Foundation [13] in 1990. Since then, his background has included positions in government affairs, campaigns, finance and legislation.
It was in 2005 when Worrall founded Whitmer & Worrall, LLC, with Martin Whitmer. During the lunch event, Worrall discussed what the firm does in more detail, specifically from a lobbying perspective.
Questions and Answer Session with Thomas Worrall
Jesica Ray: "I noticed that lobbyists and consultants tend to have campaign backgrounds. Is that a prerequisite for the position?"
Worrall: "While most consultants have lobbying and Hill experience, I didn't. But I was a "Bush Maverick" and worked on Mitt Romney's finance team. Those experiences really helped build my network without actually working on an administration."
Marcela Alvarez: "What would you consider your biggest success?"
Worrall: "When Clinton won the presidency in 1992 and in 1996, I had already started working on developing Republican policies. Looking back, I realize now that you can learn more from political losses and it taught me how to be more reflective. The most important moment for me was when Bush won in 2000 since Republicans had lost two times before that."
Matthew Au: "Can you tell us more about your path right out of college? Did you continue straight from your undergraduate institution to the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) [14] at George Washington University?"
Worrall: "I encourage recent graduates gain experience. It was my experience that gave me a very good idea of what I wanted to pursue in regards to a career. My graduate school experience at GSPM was also very unique because I completed a year of grad school, took off a year to manage a Congressional race and then I went back. In college, it's very rare to know what you want. My advice is to get in the game, work hard and impress the people you work for. If you're patient, there can be a lot of mobility. In politics, you can start managing a campaign at the age of 25. You can be young in this business and move up quickly. What's really great is that it's the talent that matters and you can interface with really important people. You don't even have to wait your turn."
Jesica Ray: "How did you get involved in the technology sector?"
Worrall: "The Silicon Valley and new technology were just starting to get on the radar. I did outreach in places like the Silicon Valley, Austin and Boston when Congress was grappling with privacy and digital issues from a policy standpoint. I also formed the Republican Technology Advisory Board where I assisted in growing technology practices at firms."
TWC would like to thank Whitmer and Worrall, LLC for hosting our students for another successful alumni lunch! The insight that comes with speaking to professionals with years of experience proves to be invaluable for every student participating.
[View photos of the event on our Flickr channel] [15]
