LeadingAge New York Adviser Winter Vol. 1 | Page 6

Spotlight Welcome Dylan Wrixon Meet Dylan Wrixon, government relations analyst Dylan is the newest addition to LeadingAge New York’s advocacy and public policy team. What attracted you to bring your talents to LeadingAge New York? LeadingAge NY has been proven to be one of the top places to work in New York State and offers many opportunities for me to showcase and use my skills from my past work experience. Tell us about your past experiences and strengths that will lend themselves to this new role. The combined experience I have with the law firm Wilson Elser and the New York State Assembly allows me to approach issues from all angles. I have been involved in budget negotiations and a wide variety of issues. In the New York State Assembly I was responsible for the Government Employees Committee, the Woman’s Task Force and Child Care workgroup. Tracking a wide variety of legislation has led me to this great opportunity at LeadingAge NY. What are your career goals and how do you hope to grow through this role? I hope to be able to further understand the complex issues that relate to seniors in New York State and make a positive impact. I plan to grow extensively by learning these issues and contributing as a member of the team to the great work done by LeadingAge NY. Did you have a mentor in your life and how did that relationship help build the person you are today? My mentors included many of the lobbyists at Wilson Elser. They help me to build knowledge, understand issues and ultimately understand the process of New York State legislation. After leaving Wilson Elser, my coworkers in the New York State Assembly broadened my view with a variety of issues that assisted me in learning how to understand constituent issues and to further understand the legislative process. What keeps you up at night? What keeps me up a night is a loaded question. If it isn’t my eight month old son, my dog or issues with my home, it is legislative issues that are out of my hands. I do everything in my power to keep everyone informed about legislative issues, but when it comes to breaking bad news, such as a bill we advocated for that doesn’t go our way, it’s never easy. Do you have any special interests that help you maintain work/life balance? Tell us something surprising about Dylan Wrixon. Work/life balance for me is simply taking care of my family to the best of my ability. What are we without family? I wake up every day and ask myself how I can make things easier for my wife to better take care of and help our son develop. What did we ask that we should have asked to know the real Dylan? One question that no one would know to ask given my role at LeadingAge NY is my unique collection of degrees. I originally received my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and my Master’s in Educational Psychology. The degrees I possess combined with my experience make me a very well rounded individual that is ready to take on any complex issue. 5 Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Winter 2015