RICH THOMPSON, DIRECTOR, POLITICAL PROGRAMS

Rich Thompson has spent the last two years and eight months at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Political Programs. Previously, Rich worked as an Aide in the Ohio Senate to President Keith Faber as well as serving as Campaign Manager & Political Director for Ohio Senate Republicans. He received his BA in Political Science from Ohio Dominican University. Rich currently lives in Columbus with his wife, Gretchen.

Get to know Rich Thompson in this next installment of our Employee Spotlight.

15 RANDOM QUESTIONS FOR RICH

 

1. Favorite part of your current job?

My favorite part is traveling throughout Ohio meeting with candidates for the General Assembly. I also enjoy working with Ohio’s local chambers of commerce on advocacy initiatives at the state and federal level. Additionally. I consider acting as a millennial advisor to Bob Schmitz who works in our building one of the highest honors of my career thus far.

2.  What do you do when you are not working?

I made a new year’s resolution to write once-a-day in a journal, so I’ve been doing that along with going to yoga.

3. What is your favorite quote?

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt

4. If you could have dinner with two people – living or dead – who would they be?

My late grandfather Richard & Pope Francis.

5. What do you think has been the most significant change in society during your lifetime?

The 24-hour news cycle.

6. What two books do you consider a MUST READ for everyone?

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is my favorite book of fiction. Non-fiction would probably be Robert Caro’s four-part biography of Lyndon B. Johnson.  I find him to be one of the most fascinating characters in American History.

7. If we asked your family & close friends to describe you in one word, what do you think they would say?

Eccentric.

8. Where is your favorite place to dine out?

In Columbus my favorite place to eat is Spagio in Grandview. Out of town, The Matador Room in Miami.

9. Where is your favorite place to vacation? 

Maine, Las Vegas, South Florida.

10. Do you have a secret family recipe? If so, what for?

I only know how to make cheese quesadillas and bloody marys.  My wife is a great cook and cannot stomach anything I make, so I mostly just assist her.

11. Career Highlight?

Never losing a political race that I worked on and going undefeated on OCCPAC general election endorsements in 2016.

12. What are your three MOST favorite things?

Spending time with my wife, playing golf with my dad, Thanksgiving with family

13. Are you afraid of anything? 

I really don’t like driving.

14. Tell us one thing that most people don’t know about you.

I play drums but retired.

15. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Continuing to advocate on behalf of Ohio’s business community and living life to the fullest.