Politics. It’s been my lifelong passion. But, like many people, I postponed deep involvement in my “hobby” during my career. Now I’m retired, reenergized, and reconnected to my roots. During the late 1960s, I was a high school activist, involved in my fair share of political protests. Later, in my first semester at Rutgers University, I accepted a spot in an exciting field-study project offered to a few students in my political science class.We went to Iowa for a semester of pre-campaign prep work for a well-known Iowa Congressman. I lived with a family in Iowa and worked directly with the Congressman’s administrative assistant—who later became the senator from Iowa.The impact of that experience stayed with me throughout the decades of a business career. My interest in politics never wavered, but I became an observer with little time for participation.In retirement, I’ve come full circle.I am excited to be in the middle of the fight for the very consequential issues and challenges our country is confronting, through my volunteer work with the Wake Country North Carolina Democratic Party.My career in business has been immensely helpful as I work to connect, interview, and place hundreds of volunteers—each of whom is as passionate about the direction of our country as I am. My dad (who worked into his 80s and lived to a few months shy of 100), used to tell me, “Douglas, you’ll get some of your best education in business.” And he was right.Equally activist and businessman, he set a great example for me. I like to think he’d be proud.