From Clients to Constituents: How Will You Choose to Make an Impact?

From my very first job out of college, I’ve always wanted my role to be on the front line – working directly with clients and customers. As a former college football player, I felt comfortable in environments that required “performance under pressure,” because I knew those were the places where I could make a difference for my team and clients. My desire to work where I can make an impact has shaped my career choices and ultimately led me to join Real Chemistry in 2021. Having spent many years working in life sciences, I knew the reputation and expertise Real Chemistry had in the industry. More importantly, I knew joining Real Chemistry presented an opportunity to perform under pressure and make an impact at an organization on the front line of healthcare. And that’s exactly what my experience has been during my time here.

As anyone who is fortunate enough to bring their passion to their work knows, you don’t just turn off that passion after work hours. Many of us find additional areas in our lives to channel that desire to make an impact, to be part of something greater than ourselves. For some, it is teaching, coaching or giving to charity. For me, it has been serving my community through our local government. A few years ago, my wife and I moved into a new home in Randolph, New Jersey, to raise our family – and we immediately knew we wanted to get involved and help shape the future of our town. We both volunteered to serve on township advisory committees and, this past year, I was fortunate enough to be considered to fill a vacant seat on the township council.

Serving on a committee that meets twice per month and an occasional weekend is fairly manageable in the juggle of balancing work, family and life in general. But to step into a role as a councilmember is a much different commitment. It’s an opportunity to have a great impact on my community. But, council meetings, township events and hours of reviewing and voting on issues such as local zoning ordinances and combined action resolutions is also a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Not surprisingly, the first question I was asked by the township council during the interview was, “Does your employer support you taking on this public service role?” Fortunately, as a Real Chemistry employee, I was easily able to answer that question: Yes.

One of the core values at Real Chemistry is to be impact-obsessed in all we do – both in our work with clients and in our communities. When I approached my managers about the opportunity to serve on the Randolph township council, I was met with overwhelming support and congratulations and even pride. I knew serving as a councilmember would be a significant, perhaps even daunting, commitment, but the unquestioned support from my managers and my teams at Real Chemistry made me confident in my decision and ability to serve.

Having served as a councilmember for about five months, I am now campaigning to retain my council seat, which means even more township events and connecting with hundreds of residents and voters every day. This is something I simply would not be able to do without the support of my colleagues or the flexibility provided by our hybrid work model at Real Chemistry. Traditionally, I’m more of an “office guy” and enjoy going into our offices in New York and New Jersey a few times a week. But, during this campaign season, it is critical for me to spend time in Randolph. With our hybrid workplace policy, I’ve seamlessly transitioned to a majority work-from-home arrangement. I’m able to be more effective in my work for clients and in my role serving our community thanks to the flexibility we’re provided as Real Chemistry employees. And for a company that promotes impact as a core value, the people and policies at Real Chemistry encourage all of us to maximize the impact we can have in our professional and personal lives.

Each of us can find ways to make an impact and give back to our communities. I’ve found my impact serving on the township council, another way for me to be on the front line – but supporting constituents rather than clients. I know that public service is not the right approach for everyone, but there is one thing all of us can do to impact our communities, and that is to VOTE.

As we approach the 2022 General Election on Tuesday, November 8, one of the simplest but most important ways to make an impact is to cast your vote in your local elections. Take my word for it – local elected officials play an outsized role in shaping our communities compared to federal or even state officials. If you want to make an impact in your town or county, knowing where your local candidates stand on issues that matter to you – and voting for the ones you align with – is one of the best ways you can do so. Today, many companies, including Real Chemistry, are making Election Day a company holiday, giving employees an opportunity to cast their ballots and have their voices heard. No matter where we live or what we do, it’s so important as members of society to make a positive impact – to give back, pay it forward and leave this planet a little better than when we got here. I’m grateful to have found a company that empowers me to do just that.