Rich Hobbie
Graduate Degree & Year: Ph.D., 1975
Job Title & Organization: Executive Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Why I Do What I Do: I have dedicated my career to helping improve the efficiency and equity of the labor market
.
Favorite Glenn School Class and/or Professor: My favorite class was a public finance course in the economics department called “Fiscal Federalism.” My favorite professor was Fritz Stocker, a good economist with practical experience and perspective.
Last Good Book Read: The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World 1700 – 2000, by Niall Ferguson
Last Good Movie Seen: The PBS Classic, I Claudius.
Hobby: Tennis
Latest Personal or Professional Accomplishment: Winning a grant to co-direct a study of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provisions implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor along with Professor Burt Barnow of Johns Hopkins University.
Favorite Quote: “Always remember the bottom line should be the top line” – Alice Rivlin to a group of new Congressional Budget Office employees at the beginning of the organization in 1975.
What was your motivation for attending the Glenn School? I had just finished a MA degree in economics and wanted to apply my knowledge in government. The Ph.D. program offered me an opportunity to translate theory into action.
What is your favorite Glenn School memory? The wise counsel of Professor Clint Oster when I was starting to look for a job in anticipation of finishing my degree.
Briefly describe your career path and how you ended up with the job you currently have? I worked at the Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, House Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. Department of Labor, The Lewin Group and now, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. I spent 12 years as an analyst and then applied my analytical knowledge, skills and abilities to policy making for the House Committee on Ways and Means. I continue that effort today as I lead an association of states with a $3 million budget and 17 employees.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current and future Glenn School students? Focus on developing knowledge and skills and don’t specialize early in one’s career if one can avoid it. Be an analyst first.
What is the most valuable thing you took away from your Glenn School experience? Knowledge of the federal budget process and policy issues.
What would your Glenn School classmates be most surprised to know about you now? I took early retirement from the federal government when I was 52 years old; began another career as a consultant and then as an executive in the nonprofit sector; just enrolled in Medicare; and have no plans to retire again.
Click here to contact Rich Hobbie
Job Title & Organization: Executive Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Why I Do What I Do: I have dedicated my career to helping improve the efficiency and equity of the labor market
.
Favorite Glenn School Class and/or Professor: My favorite class was a public finance course in the economics department called “Fiscal Federalism.” My favorite professor was Fritz Stocker, a good economist with practical experience and perspective.
Last Good Book Read: The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World 1700 – 2000, by Niall Ferguson
Last Good Movie Seen: The PBS Classic, I Claudius.
Hobby: Tennis
Latest Personal or Professional Accomplishment: Winning a grant to co-direct a study of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provisions implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor along with Professor Burt Barnow of Johns Hopkins University.
Favorite Quote: “Always remember the bottom line should be the top line” – Alice Rivlin to a group of new Congressional Budget Office employees at the beginning of the organization in 1975.
What was your motivation for attending the Glenn School? I had just finished a MA degree in economics and wanted to apply my knowledge in government. The Ph.D. program offered me an opportunity to translate theory into action.
What is your favorite Glenn School memory? The wise counsel of Professor Clint Oster when I was starting to look for a job in anticipation of finishing my degree.
Briefly describe your career path and how you ended up with the job you currently have? I worked at the Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, House Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. Department of Labor, The Lewin Group and now, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. I spent 12 years as an analyst and then applied my analytical knowledge, skills and abilities to policy making for the House Committee on Ways and Means. I continue that effort today as I lead an association of states with a $3 million budget and 17 employees.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current and future Glenn School students? Focus on developing knowledge and skills and don’t specialize early in one’s career if one can avoid it. Be an analyst first.
What is the most valuable thing you took away from your Glenn School experience? Knowledge of the federal budget process and policy issues.
What would your Glenn School classmates be most surprised to know about you now? I took early retirement from the federal government when I was 52 years old; began another career as a consultant and then as an executive in the nonprofit sector; just enrolled in Medicare; and have no plans to retire again.
Click here to contact Rich Hobbie
