December is now upon us, and as everyone is in the midst of work, family and holiday season obligations, it is important to take some time this month to get into “PRO” mode in preparation for 2023.  What is PRO mode, you ask?  Well:

P is for Planning – December is a great time to take a look back at your planning strategies for this year and make some tweaks to get yourself ready for 2023!  Do you typically put off work projects, travel plans or other things on your “to do” list until the very last minute, no doubt causing you stress and anxiety?  Assess why this is the case and think about some ways that you might be able to improve your “tackling that list” timing!

R is for Reflecting – December is also a great time to begin reflecting upon the current year:  What were your wins or significant accomplishments?  What were your challenges? Who were the people this year whom were your greatest allies, and whom made the biggest impact on you? What are your goals for 2023?

O is for Organizing – Remember those goals for 2023 that’s now on your radar?  December is a great time to start organizing to set yourself up for achieving those goals!  Maybe you get yourself a new planner and some colorful pens for writing down your next steps? Or, maybe you begin decluttering your home or office space in preparation for the new year and a new outlook?!

As you prepare for 2023, don’t forget to also take the time to reach out to those in your circle and ask them how they plan to get into “PRO” mode for 2023?  I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season, and all the best for the coming year!

Meet Gamble Hayden, Coordinator, Federal Compliance Services!

What are your areas of expertise?

I am a member of the Compliance Team focusing primarily on issues related to Federal lobbying such as registration and reporting.  I am also the coordinator of the organization’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

How long have you been with State and Federal Communications?

I have been with State and Federal Communications for over 7 years, and I’m also a former client!

How do I help our clients?

I assist the Associate Director of Federal Compliance Services with the filing of our clients’ Federal LD-2 and LD-203 reports.  In addition, I support the Assistant Director of Compliance Services with information related to the filing of our clients’ State Contribution Reports as well as our Corporate Contributions Compliance (C3) Program.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 2019 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

The ALC is the CBCF’s leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans in the United States and globally.

I attended a number of very informative and impactful sessions, beginning with the Black Women’s Roundtable focusing on the power of the black woman’s vote.

I wrapped up the ALC by attending the “Not for Sistah’s Only” session. The session focused on the importance of getting EVERYONE out to the polls in November 2020!

As a multiple time attendee of the CBCF’s ALC, I always feel renewed and empowered. This year’s Conference was no exception!

For more information on the work of the CBCF, check out their website at www.cbcfinc.org

Women in Government Relations (WGR) held its 2019 Hill Day on Wednesday, May 1st.

I was among those “Storming The Hill” as a member of WGR’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

As a first-timer for Hill Day, I visited Senate offices along with members of WGR’s Health and Social Policies Task Force Team A.

We had the opportunity to speak to Senate staff about the mission and vision of WGR, and share ways that Members of Congress and their staff can support the organization.

WGR’s Health and Social Policies Task Force Team A met with staff from the offices of Senators Susan Collins (ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kamala Harris (CA), Maggie Hassan (NH), and Debbie Stabenow (MI).

Women in Government Relations (WGR) recently completed its Leadership in the 21st Century program, Cohort 7, with leadership coach Paulette Pidcock. The program was billed as “an experiential, transformational leadership development program designed to expand leadership capabilities and to create and nurture personal and business relationships.”

Participating in this program was a great opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and really take some time to think about how I view myself, and how others view me as well; particularly as it relates to a business environment.

It really taught me a great deal about myself, my leadership capabilities, and overall just what makes me “tick” in my personal and professional life. I would definitely recommend the program, especially for women who have been working for awhile, but might be wondering “am I truly living up to my full potential?”

Thank you so much to Elizabeth Bartz for encouraging me and allowing me to take this class! I would highly recommend this class because it makes you do some deep digging and sometimes there are some uncomfortable conversations, but in the end you come out on the other side with a greater perspective on everything!

Gamble Hayden (center) pictured with her fellow WGR leadership program classmates

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend this year’s 46^th Annual Legislative Conference hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).  The theme of this year’s conference, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, was “Defining the Moment, Building the Movement.”

Once again, the CBCF provided an opportunity for attendees to gain important, relevant, and timely information on a variety of topics, particularly the upcoming 2016 presidential election! In addition, this year’s conference provided a great opportunity for networking and saying hello to some old friends, while making some new ones along the way.

For more information on the Annual Legislative Conference and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, please go to www.cbcfinc.org.

Enjoy these fun photos from recent events:

Elizabeth Z. Bartz in Washington, DC with the DC staff, Rebecca Pixton South and Gamble Hayden at the WASRG happy hour.

Gamble Hayden at the PLEN Women in Public Policy event in Washington, DC.

Last week, I attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), which was held in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. During the four-day conference, I attended a variety of sessions focusing on the issue of Health Disparities, Women’s’ Representation in the Media, Voting in the 2016 Election, and Racial Injustice — just to name a few. I found the sessions very engaging and informative. The speakers were knowledgeable and thought-provoking, and they definitely inspired me to roll up my sleeves and “stop talking and start doing!”

In addition to attending the educational sessions, the ALC is a great opportunity for networking and the exchange of ideas. I ran into some old friends, and made some new ones as well! I am looking forward to attending next year’s ALC – won’t you join me?

Yesterday was my first time to attend a Public Affairs Council (PAC) conference. The Digital Media and Advocacy Summit was great!

I really enjoyed the sessions – they were timely and relevant, and I loved the variety of speakers. I also think it speaks volumes about the quality of the conferences organized by PAC, when you get to the last session of the day and the majority of attendees are still awake and present!

Take a look at the summit’s amazing agenda. I will definitely plan to attend future PAC Conferences.