Looking back on your career so far, is there a particular issue or experience that shaped the way you approach government affairs?

I would say the Affordable Care Act was a really big one in 2009. We worked on the medical device tax, but it was also just a fundamental shift in healthcare policy.

I think that there are smaller efforts where I learned the most. And sometimes they don’t even necessarily contribute to anything J&J product related. It’s about doing the right thing and reflecting our Johnson & Johnson credo.

One example is the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. Lorna Breen was a doctor who was at the forefront during the beginning of COVID in New York City. She ended up taking her own life in April 2020. J&J partnered with the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation to develop legislation that would help healthcare providers who needed to seek mental health treatment without worrying about the stigma or compromising their license.

It didn’t have anything to do with any of our products. It doesn’t have anything to do with selling anything. It has to do with our love and respect for healthcare providers.

You’re approaching 10 years on the Public Affairs Council’s Board. Why has staying involved with the Council been important to you, and what’s your favorite part of being involved?

Our voices matter. Advocacy matters. Narratives matter. Being able to tell our own story instead of having somebody else define it is critical for organizations.

I think one of the greatest values of the Public Affairs Council is not only the networking and the camaraderie, but learning from each other. The Public Affairs Council brings together the nexus of business and advocacy and policy and politics, because it’s all complementary. There’s no better organization to convene the forum to have that dialogue and learn from each other.

You’ve worked in Washington for over 30 years now. Looking ahead, what excites you the most about public affairs?

I think what I’m excited about is this next generation of talent, of commitment, of passion. I’m also very fortunate to work at a company that is curing and treating the most serious diseases and illnesses to save lives. To be able to do that for my job and love it too is a real privilege.

I’ve heard that you’re in a rock band. Can you tell me a little bit about that? How did you get involved in music?

I was always musical as a kid. I played piano and sang and played the flute. When I got to Washington, I tried out for The Alexandria Singers. A few days later, a guy called me to ask me to go do open mics with him and a friend. So that is what we did, two guitarists and me.

And I understand your husband joined in?

That band broke up, so I decided I was going to start my own band. The one person I didn’t have was an electric guitar player. A friend said there’s this kid Scott in my office, he’s really smart, he is a great writer and he’s really good on the guitar. So we auditioned him. Four years later, we got married. We just celebrated 23 years.

We have been together playing music since 1999 as Blame It On Jane. We’ve opened for bands like Better Than Ezra and Blues Traveler, played for almost all the inaugurals, the conventions, hundreds of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, birthday parties and fundraisers, but we also play at Pearl Street Warehouse down at the Wharf.

What’s it like playing music with your husband?

I would say the family that plays together stays together. I know how lucky I am. My husband’s incredible. Scott’s not only our lead guitar player, but he writes all the music. Anybody who’s seen our band, they’ll be like, Scott is phenomenal.

I hope you can come out and see us sometime.