Alex Youn
Senior Strategist
Storefront Political Media
AAPC caught up with new member, and recent 2017 40 Under 40 Winner, Alex Youn.
AAPC: Why did you join AAPC?
Alex: Networking and relationship building.
AAPC: When did you know this was the career for you?
Alex: I was raised in a Union household (mother C.W.A., father Teamsters) and have always been around political activism. When I was in college, I volunteered for a few political campaigns, but I wasn’t aware you could actually have a career in campaigns. In 2005, I was approached by a US Senate campaign to join as their press assistant. 12 years later, I’m still helping and advising candidates and organizations on their races.
AAPC: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Alex: If you are looking for a campaign job, don’t focus on the current election cycle. Focus on what you want to do in the next election and what you need to do to get there this cycle.
AAPC: How do you manage high stress situations?
Alex: While in college, I was a part-time manager of a movie theater back home in Nashville during the holidays. I always had the chance to see whatever movie I wanted for free. These days if I need to get my mind off the week’s event, I will slip into a movie on a Friday night. Of course, not for free anymore.
AAPC: What’s on the horizon for Storefront Political Media in 2017?
Alex: The team at Storefront has some amazing things happening in 2017, but more importantly, we are heading into the second year of business for two of our political technology products – SpeakEasy and Storefront Digital. Both of these tools allow candidates and organizations to communicate with voters for usually 30% less than what traditional consulting firms cost.
AAPC: What was your biggest win?
Alex: Most recently, we helped elect Portland, Oregon’s mayor, Ted Wheeler, to office in a crowded field of candidates. We ended up winning outright without having to face a runoff election.
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