- Hometown: Richmond, Va.
- Role: Committee operations director for the Virginia House of Delegates
- Years of legislative service: 22
“There is a magnet on our refrigerator with a quote from Winston Churchill: ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going.’”
Hooe
Why did you choose to work at the Legislature?
It was serendipity! Earlier in my career, I was a news videographer. Covering the General Assembly was NOT a coveted assignment amongst the video corps. As visual artists, we preferred ribbon-cutting events, fires, etc., not talking heads—and that’s not a reference to David Byrne, whose music I love! After several gap years spent raising children, my oldest son expressed an interest in an after-school internship with the House. Simultaneously, I learned about hourly session positions, and the rest is history.
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
I’m a pretty good baker.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
My kindergarten teacher, Sister Bernadette, told us to be kind to one another and clean up our own mess.
Who or what inspires you?
My five children inspire me every day. They are good citizens and have been successful in their personal lives and professional careers. Along the way, they experienced failures and disappointments, but they never gave up. There is a magnet on our refrigerator with a quote from Winston Churchill: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
What’s one thing you love about your state or territory?
I love the geographic diversity of Virginia and the flowers and foliage that accompany each season.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
I’m currently reading beachy books for entertainment. The Cure and the Talking Heads are on my playlist. “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” is my podcast of choice—it makes me laugh. I’m watching “Clarkson’s Farm” and the Summer Olympics.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Use the email icon above to suggest a legislative staffer for the “Staff Snapshots” series.