Jared Abelson's Colleagues at Friends of Don Beyer
Jared Abelson's Contact Details
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Baltimore,Maryland,21240,United States
Friends of Don Beyer
Jared Abelson's Company Details
Don Beyer, former Lt. Governor of Virginia and Ambassador to Switzerland, is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia's 8th congressional district. Don has spent 40 years building his family business into a successful, community-based collection of auto dealerships in Northern Virginia. A 1974 summer job at a car dealership sparked his love of business, and by 25 Don became general manager and went on to purchased the business in 1986. In 1989, Don was first elected as Virginia's Lt. Governor. He became the first champion for Virginians with physical and sensory disabilities. While leading Virginia's Poverty and Welfare Reform Commission, Don passed the state's landmark welfare reform legislation, which has served as a model for federal reforms. As Chair of the Virginia Economic Recovery Commission, he passed permanent pro-business reforms and co-founded the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Following his two terms, Don remained active in Democratic politics and committed himself to giving back to his community. For 14 years he chaired Jobs for Virginia Graduates, the state's most successful high school dropout prevention program, and served as President at Youth for Tomorrow, a home for troubled adolescent boys. He served as the Virginia Chair of both the Clinton-Gore and Kerry-Edwards campaigns, the Treasurer and Virginia Chair for Howard Dean, Finance Chairman for Mark Warner, and a volunteer with the Gore presidential campaign. After Don and his family actively helped then-Senator Obama win his first caucus victory in Iowa, he went on to spend 2 years as the President's Mid-Atlantic Finance Chair. In 2009, President Obama nominated Don to serve as his Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. At the U.S. Embassy, Don worked to impose tough international sanctions to bring Iran to the bargaining table and led efforts to crack down on Swiss bank secrecy. Don and his wife Megan live in Old Town, Alexandria.