Work

Dylan Conley

Democrat, R.I. District 2 Congressional Candidate

Biography

Early Experience

I had a myriad of jobs growing up, some better than others. I was an omelet cook in the school cafeteria for a while. I interned for the PawSox one summer. Another summer, I interned with Patrick Kennedy to learn a bit about local politics. I didn’t understand how fortunate I was to be able to work unpaid internships until much later in life, but I have always been thankful for the opportunities and hope I have earned them with my work.

I also volunteered for Deval Patrick. I worked for David Axelrod at the time, but this was before I understood networking so there is 0% chance he has any idea who I am. Funny story – when I applied for the Deval Patrick campaign job, I had actually applied to work for Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney. I just wanted a job in governance. I was more interested in governing than campaigning (still am). But, before my interview, Mitt’s secretary looked past my new suit, took one look at my foot-long curly hair, and told me I was in the wrong place. She was right, I was left, so I left.

I worked at a super exclusive country club for a little while. It was a fun job and it gave me strange glimpses of extreme wealth. I also worked at an Applebee’s for about a week until they scheduled me during a Boston College home football game, so I quit. Being able to quit a job over college football was another privilege I didn’t understand until later in life. I don’t know if we are all fools at age 19, but I certainly think I was.

Fenway Park

My best job story though: Fenway Park. My mother is a human resources VP, so I knew that companies of a certain size need to post all their jobs online. I was always obsessed with the Red Sox, but once I read Moneyball, I had to get a position in their Front Office. I developed a habit of checking the Red Sox employment opportunities page. When I was a freshman at BC, the Sox posted a job opening I was interested in: “Assistant General Manager.” I printed out my resume, put my suit on, hopped on the T and went to the Red Sox Front Office at then 4 Yawkey Way. When someone from Human Resources finally met with me and I told her I was applying for the Assistant General Manager job, the widest grin spread across her face. I’ll never forget her smile at that. I wanted to be the next Brian Cashman, a baseball guy for life. She smiled and told me she’d find me something. Sure enough, I got hired to the street crew. Not exactly front office work, but it was much better. The street crew assembled and disassembled the fencing and the NESN stage on Yawkey Way, but during the games we could go anywhere in and around Fenway. It was a dream. I listened to the White Stripes on my iPod while watching Josh Beckett warm up in the pen. We could sneak off to play Wiffle Ball on Overton Street or grab a bite in the media lounge. I split a sandwich with Keith Hernandez once because there were no tables left in the media room during Pedro’s return to Fenway. I once let Roy Halladay into the ballpark. That was a huge honor. I loved that guy. I met Will Ferrell and another guy on the street crew actually pulled a prank on him. It was amazing and Will loved it. 

Believe it or not, I also met Donald Trump while working for the Sox. It was just Trump and I in the elevator. Neither of us spoke. There you have it – a boring Donald Trump story.

Law Firm

I graduated from Boston College, finished law school at Florida State, and topped it off with marrying the girl of my dreams. When I married Jenica, I snapped out of a general malaise and started to really dig into life. I had always worked here and there at my father’s law firm, but now I was really engaging. The law firm grew from three attorneys to six and we moved to downtown Providence. At the law practice, I became the attorney for several municipalities, town councils, unions, planning and zoning boards, licensing boards, school committees, housing authorities and private clients engaging local governments. I love it. From Westerly to Johnston to East Providence to the Providence Board of Licenses, I have been deep into the weeds on how government really works. 

I get the opportunity to work directly with the people on issues that really impact their lives. I’m able to protect the rights and interests of communities I care about, instead of faceless corporations. The highlight of my career was my appearance before the RI Supreme Court. The professional and intellectual challenge to perform while being simultaneously questioned by five of the brightest legal minds in the state was phenomenal. I wish I did it once a month.

Career Growth

Since I returned to Rhode Island from law school, I’ve gone from posting my opinions on Facebook to publishing editorials. I’ve grown from litigation support staff to arguing first chair in Federal District Court and Rhode Island Supreme Court. I’ve grown from fence disputes between neighbors to fighting monopolies. Under my lead, the Providence Board of Licenses transitioned from chaos to unprecedented order, efficiency, and renewed appellate success. I went from being a Roger Williams University Paralegal Studies Program student aide to Teacher of the Year. In my free time I helped make Millennial RI what it is today, I volunteered on several campaigns, managed a few others, served on the United Way’s Policy Board and became Vice Chairman of Federal Hill House Association. At home, my wife and I didn’t just buy a house, we started a small real estate business. We’re up to four units and an AirBnB with one massive historic renovation completed. Give me an opportunity and I will make more of it that you could have imagined. I love work, and I am just getting started.

But that is not who I am. While it gives you a glimpse of what I am capable of and it shows you my
capacity for work, it does not help you know me. To learn more about me, follow the links below: