‘When I first expressed an interest in running for political office, a sage attorney and politician told me, “That’s great but, whatever you do, don’t screw up your marriage or your finances.”
What do you do?
I am corporate counsel to LEGO Systems. Inc., where I serve as legal business partner for our business units in North America, South America and the Pacific. My responsibilities include general commercial law, employment law, real estate, insurance, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust law, licensing and intellectual property. I’ve also pursued public service. Since 2004 I’ve had the honor of serving as mayor of West Hartford, which is a volunteer position.
Please describe your career path.
Mine has been a dual legal/political track. I attended college and law school in Washington, D.C., with the goal of getting into politics. It was a great experience, which included an internship with the White House chief of staff. But I wanted to return home so, after graduating law school in 1999, I moved back to Connecticut and joined the Updike, Kelly & Spellacy. I spent approximately six years there as a litigator, with a roughly one-year sabbatical serving as chief of staff to the Secretary of the State. Thereafter, I became an in-house lawyer when I joined The Hartford Financial Services Group, where I practiced for over three years before moving to LEGO Systems Inc. in 2009.
Politically, about 18 months into my legal career, a vacancy opened up on the West Hartford Town Council. In early 2002 I became deputy mayor. In 2004, I became mayor, and I’ve served there ever since. I learned a valuable lesson about seizing the moment because I had come very close to not running that first time. In a roughly six-month period, I went from being a 27-year-old sitting on the sidelines to the number two elected official in my hometown.
What’s been your biggest challenge professionally?
The daily balance between my professional obligations and my mayoral duties, particularly the challenge of addressing problems that don’t respect schedules and deadlines. Since becoming a parent, I’ve noticed more acutely the difficulty of being mayor with never a true day off and family time conflict.
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
I’d like to be known as a good husband and father. Career wise, I would like to be a general counsel or be serving full-time in a public service capacity.
What is the best advice you received?
When I first expressed an interest in running for political office, a sage attorney and politician told me, “That’s great but, whatever you do, don’t screw up your marriage or your finances.”
How are you involved in your community?
Since 2001, I’ve served on the West Hartford Town Council. For the past nine years I’ve been mayor. A wonderful part of the job is that I’m invited to work with innumerable community, business and religious groups, getting to know people I’d likely never even meet if I only practiced law.
