The ornate woodwork, luxurious carpets, and intricate wall coverings can be awe-inspiring. And sometimes the hot air can catch you off guard.
“I took a field trip to the Capitol when I was a child. It was my favorite field trip. During the trip I remember sitting in the House of Representatives chamber as well as sitting in the Senate chamber, and being completely awe-struck by everything,” said Kylene Fredrick, newly appointed consultant in the government affairs group at Murtha Cullina.
“Who would have thought that years later, I would be working in government on a daily basis there.”
Today, Fredrick represents the interests of non- and for- profit organizations as a lobbyist. She got her start in government as an intern for state Sen. John Kissel’s campaign and has also held positions as a legislative aid and previously worked for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities as a legislative analyst and lobbyist.
Fredrick chose to advance her career at Murtha because “the actual government affairs group has a sparkling reputation at the Capitol.”
Fredrick, 27, said, “There are still not enough women involved in the political arena. Women have made great strides, but I still see a substantial amount of improvement necessary with getting women involved. It makes me very proud to be a part of the political arena as a young woman today.”
Fredrick completed a degree in political science and psychology from the University of Connecticut and is currently working on her MBA from Southern Connecticut State University.
She said that while her classroom experience helped her understand the background subject matter, it wasn’t until she was “knee deep in it” that she completely understood how politics works. And now that she knows the inner workings, she’s addicted.
“I love being super busy. I’m always on my toes. It’s constant chaos.”
Despite basking in the glory of the chaos and confusion commonly known as the legislative session, Fredrick reminds herself that it is most important to keep her personal views separate from her professional goals in lobbying.
Looking to the future, Fredrick said she would not be interested in being a legislator at the state level because of all of the demands, but might be interested in getting involved in town politics. n
Amanda Blaszyk is a staff writer for the Hartford Business Journal.
