VCC Magazine Fall 2019

V irginia C apitol C onnections , F all 2019 26 A ssociations AARPVirginia –804.344.3059 David DeBiasi, ddebiasi@aarp.org Alliance for Construction Excellence (ACE) Andy Porter, Chairman , 703.658.4383 Fraternal Order of Police, VA State Lodge John Ohrnberger, johrnb@aol.com Speech-Language-HearingAssociation ofVirginia (SHAV) Amber Handon, President • www.shav.org Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Dr. Brenda D. Long, Executive Director , 540.760.250 Virginia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy www.vamft.org Virginia Association of Realtors Terri Suit, CEO , o) 804.249.5702 c) 804.381.1222 Martin Johnson, Senior VP of Gov. Relations , c) 804.514.9830 Anthony Reedy, VP of Political Operations , 804.249.5719 Mary Lawson, Legislative Relations Director , 540.230.6310 Erin Barton, Deputy Legislative Counsel , 804.249.5033 Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Ray LaMura, President , 804.780.1776 Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs Chip Condon, President , 1.800.913.2727 Virginia Education Association –804.648.5801 Jim Livingston, President Kathy Burcher, Government Relations Virginia Motorcoach Association, Inc. Doug Douglas, Government Affairs , 434.376.1150 Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Scott Garber, President , 540.332.3885 Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Robert Bragg, President , 434.882.8238 Virginia School Counselor Association Emily Goodman-Scott, Chair ; Julia Taylor, Assistant Chair www.vsca.org Virginia State Firefighters Association Ken Brown, President , 804.971.7983 Voter Registrars Association of Virginia Allison Robbins, President , 276.328.8331 E ateries Rueger’s Restaurant & Bar 901 Bank Street, Richmond • 804.343.7300 (Inside The Commonwealth) S ervices Gus’s Shoe Repair 528 East Main Street, Richmond • 804.782.6959 www.shoerepairrichmond.com H otels Berkeley Hotel (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.780.1300 • 1200 East Cary Street, Richmond The Commonwealth (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.343.7300 • 901 Bank Street, Richmond Adjacent to General Assembly  Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown (Special Session rates available) 804.788.0900 • 555 East Canal Street, Richmond Linden Row Inn (Special Session rates available) 804.225.5841 • 100 East Franklin Street, Richmond American Cla i Agenc Aurelia (Rita) Dyson Financial Health Advisor 517428 Office: 804-612-3284 Cell: 804-908-3692 1518 Willow Lawn Dr. Richmond, VA 23230 growwealth100@gmail.com https://aureliadyson-house.myhomehq.biz/ We offer a value package of solutions: Life, Annuities, Health, Medicare and Debt Elimination Program If I could show you how to get out of debt in nine years or less including mortgage, credit cards, student loans and taxes, would that be a conversation you would like to have? The Lighter Side of Lobbying The Five Jasons By Ken Jessup This incident caught me off guard, and I must say, it is so typical of being visually impaired. For many years I shared office space with a number of lobbyists. One office in particular always had a student intern. Each year I would show up to theVirginia General Assembly Session, introduce myself to all the new interns and invariably one particular lobbyist would have an intern named Jason. For over four years this went on, every year a Jason. I often joked about it and shared the story with friends always laughing at how my office mate found a Jason to intern for him. The story ended here for many years…. until the opening night reception of the 2012 Session. A few political consultants go together and sponsor receptions for legislators and staff during session. I was one such sponsor for the opening night reception. As I was introducing my client to various attendees, I saw the old office mate and just had to have my client meet him. Of course the conversation turned to the Jason story. I just learned that all the Jasons were the same guy each year! Vision impairment can really be a hoot at times! Ken Jessup worked as a lobbyist for over 20 years. He has represented a wide variety of clients, including people with disabilities. He currently serves a chairman for the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Editor’s note: In the January issue we plan to honor some of the significant people who have died in the year 2019. If you would like to include someone, please contact Bonatwood@capitolsquare.com . V