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NUCA NEWSNUCA Government Relations Department Hosts Summer InternsThanks to the Washington Center for Internshipsand Academic Seminars, NUCA’sGovernment Relations Department hasbeen enjoying the company and servicesof two summer interns. A college seniordouble-majoring in Political Science andPhilosophy at the University of Scrantonin Scranton, Penn., PJ Tabit is, in his ownwords, “bridging the disconnect betweentheoretical and practical learning” by spendingJune and July as a NUCA GovernmentRelations intern. In addition to writing thismonth’s “Inside Washington,” PJ has beenattending congressional hearings, schedulingmeetings with freshmen legislators forthe purpose of introducing NUCA, updatingthe Government Relations pages on theNUCA Web site and attending classes andlectures at the Washington Center. His futureplans include pursuing a master’s degreein Economics.Colleen Riette Wetherill, also a collegesenior, attends New Mexico State Universityin Las Cruces, where she is doublemajoringin Government and Law and Society.NUCA Government Relations staff iskeeping her busy attending congressionalhearings, updating the Clean Water Council’sWater News Update blog, enteringdata collected at the spring WashingtonSummit into Vocus and, like PJ, attendingclasses and lectures at the WashingtonCenter. She is also scheduled to writenext month’s “Inside Washington.” Havingcome to the nation’s capital with theidea of checking out a possible career as alobbyist, Colleen is now thinking that lawschool might be in her future.“We brought PJ and Colleen in becausethey are bright and have a stronginterest in the legislative process,” saidBen Gann, NUCA Government RelationsCoordinator. “Congress is very busy thissummer tackling water infrastructure,health care, climate change and highwayauthorization, so they received a greatNUCA Government Relations CoordinatorBen Gann is working closely with summerinterns PJ Tabit and Colleen Wetherill.deal of exposure to legislative issuesthat could have long-term implicationsfor the nation. As for their contribution,they have been a real asset to the GovernmentRelations Department.”July 2009 | Utility Contractor 35National Utility Contractors Association