What You Don’t Know About Robert Hay Jr.

Title: Executive director, Association of Government Relations Professionals
Organization: Voice of the lobbying and public policy profession,  representing 1,100 registered lobbyists and advocacy professionals in 10 countries. Members follow organization’s code of ethics, plus organization provides education, social events and a certificate program. 
On the job: Since September 2014.
Biggest revenue generator: Spread out between professional development, in-time programming and membership fees.
Biggest challenge: We rebranded a year ago from the American League of Lobbyists. Most members weren’t registered as lobbyists and the name wasn’t representing the entire advocacy profession. Rebranding is a multi-year process of getting people used to the name; reaching out to new audiences, including international members; and making sure education and content is useful to people in all types of advocacy. 
Association career: It started at the American Veterinary Association as an intern during college. When the person I reported to left, they called me. I worked there two years and worked at ASAE for eight years before taking this position. 

Grew up: Suitland, MD.
Current home: Alexandria.
School: Catholic University. 
First job: Bookkeeper for the National Capital Bank on Pennsylvania Ave. My grandmother was the bank manager. 
Job in another life: Starting midfielder for the Arsenal, a football (soccer) club in London that plays in the Premier League. 
Person living or dead to meet: John Adams - would love to pick his brain about leadership. 
Daily habit: Run a few miles every morning. 
Favorite movie: The Godfather.
Favorite vacation spot: Hershey Park for the annual winter festival. 
Bucket list: Be at the World Series at Nationals Park.
Family: Married seven years; daughter (5), son (17 months); and Welsh Corgi. 
Hobbies: Running, reading, coaching daughter’s soccer team and movies. 
Startling fact: I write regularly for a soccer website called WorldSoccerTalk.com.