36: Dads in Government Relations + Public Affairs

Parents At Work

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two working dads who work in government relations: Clif Porter and Jeff McNichols.

Clif is the Senior Vice President of government relations at the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 for-and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living residences, and facilities for the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He has been married for 31 years and has three children (Chanel, 28, Christian, 25, and Clifton, 22). He has served in various leadership positions within his local church and has been actively involved in several professional and community organizations.

Jeff is the Director of the Alliance for Congress at the Partnership for Public Service, a new program committed to strengthening the institution of congress to better serve the American public. His career in government affairs began in 2004 when he left the Navy to work as a congressional staffer. Subsequent opportunities took him to the Department of Defence and the Boston Consulting Group. Jeff has been married for eight years and has two children (ages 5 and 3)

The four of us dug into the life cycle of a government relations career, what it’s like to work as a congressional staffer, the adjustments to make when one has to constantly travel for work to ensure that they still stay engaged as a parent, creating a work environment where parents feel that their family life is considered, thriving at raising kids while building a successful career, and so much more. Cliff and Jeff’s candor on their experience as working parents in the government relations space was not just incredibly insightful but inspirational. Stay tuned for more.

Show Highlights

• Clif’s “Quarterback and running back” working parent story (02:56)
• Being an older dad: John’s joyous experience as a working parent (05:27)
• How working in government service has been beneficial in achieving work-life balance (07:42)
• Why working as a congressional staffer is a “Young person’s game” (09:00)
• The parental friction and challenges that Jeff had to overcome when his government affairs career started picking up (11:45)
• Adjustments to make when you have to travel for work and need to stay engaged in your parental role (13:17)
• Having an honest conversation with your boss towards helping you achieve work-life balance that will support your parenting efforts (16:35)
• Leading employees who are parents and being sensitive to their needs (18:07)
• Workplace supports that Jeff found helpful as he became a working parent (20:07)
• Transitioning into the non-profit sector from government relations, at a time when the federal government is so far behind in providing support structures for working parents (22:00)
• Current changes in government relations that are affecting working parents (26:52)
• The broad impact of the merger of working life and real life (29:25)
• Best piece of advice from Jeff for navigating life as a working parent (31:20)
• Valuing coordination between parents and how powerful it really is (34:17)
• Flying the Kite: Achieving big things by celebrating small victories (36:14)

Links and Resources

• Win the Day By Dr. Mark Batterson
• Jason's Website
• Jason on Linkedin
• Lori's Website
• Lori on Linkedin