NED PRICE ROB MCDONELL
LIZ ALLEN
White House Director of Broadcast Media
White House Deputy Commuications Director
Whom do you most admire professionally? People in public service who recognize the work they do is important, but don’t act important. Free time activity: I enjoy a yoga, playing soccer, visiting art galleries and, of course, I look forward to not checking my Blackberry.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Reading the letters and emails people write to the President. It’s a privilege to read their stories, many of which move us to tears or laughter, about how their daily lives have been impacted by things we’ve worked on. Free time activity: I like to cook! Going home and making a good meal is a great change of pace from a computer screen.
KORI SCHULMAN White House Deputy Director of Digital Strategy What is the most rewarding part of your job? Utilizing technology and social media to connect Americans directly to the president and his administration. Something people would be surprised to hear about you: I contemplated pursuing a career in comedy before joining the Obama campaign in 2008.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| M A R C H | washingtonlife.com
Director for Strategic Communications, National Security Council What is the most challenging part of your job? The pace. The scope and breadth of the issues the National Security Council handles are immense, so there’s truly never a quiet day. And every time I’ve thought a day would be light, relatively speaking, at least — world events have dictated otherwise.
CAROLINE ADLER
KATE BEDINGFIELD
Director of Communications, Office of the First Lady
Director of Communications, Office of the Vice President
What is your advice to people aspiring to succeed in your profession? Do not be above the grunt work. I moved to D.C. to be a press assistant for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2007. I still prioritize the basics that I learned in the most junior job of a campaign press operation: keeping a messaging calendar; ensuring transcripts, schedules and press releases go out quickly; tracking clips; and being responsive to reporters.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Hearing from friends or family members outside of Washington and having them mention that they are really connected with something they saw, read or heard the Vice President do somewhere. Women you admire: Jen Psaki, Adrienne Elrod, Laura Nichols, Stephanie Cutter, Maura Keefe and Anita Dunn.
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