Today we’d like to introduce you to Blair Lawton
Hi Blair, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Northwest Iowa. After graduating from Morningside College in Sioux City, I spent most of the next decade working on campaigns (mix of electoral and issue organizing). I met my wife while in Eastern Iowa working on President Obama’s re-election campaign.
Our family moved to Anamosa in 2020. After the 2022 Iowa Caucuses, I looked for career opportunities that would keep me closer to home and allow me more time to spend with family. In July, I started as the Executive Director of the Anamosa Chamber of Commerce.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest challenges were with my career choices in 2014 and 2016. Shortly after marrying my wife in 2014, I moved up to Anchorage to work on Senator Mark Begich’s re-election campaign. It was tough being a way from my wife and did put some stress on our marriage. During this time, she moved from Minnesota back to Iowa to be closer to family.
In 2015-2016, I was very busy with the Bernie Sanders campaign, followed by working on a congressional race in Central Iowa. My wife had recently given birth to our eldest daughter. I did not do a good job prioritizing family time. Eventually my wife and daughter moved to Eastern Iowa, while I remained in Central Iowa finishing up the campaign.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I enjoy several things about my current job. There are two I’ll share about today.
1. I work to set up multiple coffee meetings per week, as well as attend community meetings held by other organizations. I really enjoy having the opportunity to meet new individuals, learn about their goals for Anamosa, and find out how I can be most helpful.
2. I really enjoy event planning. This role has given me an incredible opportunity to plan events that fit in well with my passions (ex. multiple 5K runs, Disney Trivia, and Pumpkinfest).
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending time with my family makes me happy. Our family enjoys being outdoors, watching sports, attending Renaissance Festivals, and all things Disney. My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Disneyland for our 10th Anniversary and we are currently planning to take a Disney cruise as a family to the Bahamas next Summer.
I also enjoy running. It helps me relieve stress and set goals for myself. I averaged 40-50 miles a week as I prepared for my first ultramarathon in June.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551859024541
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blairlawton
