Today’s post comes from current Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellow Elliot Friedman.

For the past three years, I have had the incredible privilege to learn and grow as a Bryce Harlow Fellow. When I first applied for the fellowship program, I never could have imagined how fortunate I was to join a group that is dedicated to promoting ethical advocacy and enriching the lives of professional advocates. However, after the last three years, I know that I could not have grown into the lobbyist I am today or represent my association the way I do today without what I have learned from my time as a Bryce Harlow Fellow.

One of the most beneficial aspects of the Bryce Harlow Fellowship is the mentoring each fellow receives. During the year, each fellow is as assigned a mentor who is an active lobbyist and member of the Bryce Harlow Board. The Bryce Harlow staff considers the preferences of each mentee and mentor when choosing mentoring pairs and tries to find each fellow a mentor well suited for their specialty and professional goals. In my time as a fellow, each of my mentors has helped me in different ways including career planning, giving strategic advice, or welcoming me into the network of all of the lobbyists in his firm. One of these relationships has developed so strongly over time, that my association now regularly co-sponsors events with my mentor’s lobbying firm. My association would not have had access to or known about these events without the relationship I have with my mentor. Furthermore, while each fellow has an individual mentor mentee relationship, the Bryce Harlow beoard is also a dynamic network, full of members who are easily accessible and happy to assist fellows as they move to advance in the advocacy world.

Beyond the mentorship that I have received as a fellow, the friendships and connections I have made with other fellows have been some of the most rewarding parts of the fellowship program. Developing connections with colleagues while simultaneously balancing a full time job in advocacy or government with the pursuit of a graduate degree is a difficult task. However, the Bryce Harlow Foundation has built an incredible network for current and former fellows to use for professional, academic, and social pursuits. The Bryce Harlow Foundation fosters this through regular events with members of the board, including a fantastic “people you should know” lunch series, introducing fellows to a wide assortment of speakers designed to assist in each fellow’s professional development. Additionally, fellows often get together informally to continue building relationships.

Finally, the generosity of the foundation to its fellows is quite meaningful. Graduate school is an expensive endeavor, and the financial assistance has given me serious relief in meeting my financial obligations as I pursue my degree.

Again, I cannot overstate the benefit I have received from the Bryce Harlow Foundation over the past three years. If you are eligible, I highly encourage you to apply. I look forward to welcoming you as a Bryce Harlow Alumni to one of the best organizations in Washington.

Elliot Friedman is the Legislative Representative and PAC Manager for the National Association of Postal Supervisors and is a third year evening student at The George Washington University Law School.

As the Bryce Harlow Foundation enters into its 33rd year, we are proud to welcome the most recent additions to our board. Five new governors were confirmed at the Board of Governors Annual Meeting this week. Joyce Brayboy of Goldman Sachs Group, Geoff Davis of Republic Consulting, Beth Fowler of Korn/Ferry and Rich Gold of Holland & Knight – we welcome you and look forward to your leadership and service on the board.

Joyce Brayboy serves as vice president of government affairs for Goldman Sachs, a position she has held since November 2009. Joyce has had a long history in public service and government relations. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she spent nine years working for former U. S. Representative Melvin Watt. In addition Joyce worked with the Glover Park Group, a well-known D.C. firm that specializes in government relations and strategic communication. Joyce is the recipient of the second annual Trailblazer Award from the Congressional Black Associates and she was honored as “Lobbyist of the Year” by the Washington Government Relations Group.

Geoff Davis is the founder of Republic Consulting, LLC, a government affairs consulting firm. As a former Member of Congress from Kentucky’s 4th District, Geoff served as chairman of the Ways & Means’ Subcommittee on Human Resources. His priorities included regulatory reform, tax relief to working families and energy independence, to name a few. Prior to serving in Congress Geoff owned and operated a small consulting firm specializing in lean manufacturing and systems integration.

Beth Fowler is a senior client partner at Korn/Ferry where she leads federal, state, regulatory, and public policy searches on behalf of many associations, corporations and firms. Prior to her career at Korn/Ferry, Beth worked in government relations at The Michael Lewan Company and APCO Associates. Adding to Beth’s stellar resume, she also served as a presidential appointee working with the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the Department of the Treasury as well as the Republican National Committee during the George H.W. Bush Administration.

Rich Gold is a partner at Holland & Knight where he specializes in legislative and environment law as leader of the firm’s public policy and regulation practice group. Prior to his tenure at Holland & Knight, Rich worked in the public sector, including stints with Senator Lloyd Bentsen and EPA Administrator Carol Browner. The environmental and energy expertise that Rich brings to his practice create the focus for a wide range of substantive issues from chemical security and food safety to transportation and energy efficiency and production. Rich also writes and speaks out about the important role that lobbying plays in the development of sound public policy.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation’s 25-member board of governors is selected from the nation’s finest corporate government affairs offices, trade associations, and consulting firms. It has worked hard to position itself as the principal nonprofit organization in Washington, DC that promotes the highest professional standards in lobbying and government relations. Joyce, Geoff, Beth and Rich share our mission and we’re delighted they have joined our team.