Chazz Clevinger lives and breathes politics. A University of North Carolina alum, Clevinger has had his fingers on the pulse of Washington D.C. for nearly a decade. He began his career working as an intern for a United States Senator before moving into a job at the White House. He has had his hand in getting politicians elected to office and working in public affairs.
With a wide ranging scope of experience, Clevinger is now CEO of One Click Politics. The former White House staffer now oversees the company’s strategy in the US, Canada, and Australia.
One Click Politics is a technology platform which enables organizations to mobilize their constituents to influence policy and legislation. It is an innovative approach that looks to take politics into the 21st century.
Under Clevinger’s watch, One Click Politics has flourished. Clevinger has turned One Click Politics into the leading digital advocacy platform. Both non-profit and for-profit organizations use One Click Politics to build engagement among their advocates to address their most important policy and legislative concerns. These organizations and their advocates can change the world from a smartphone.
Totalprestige Magazine recently sat down with Clevinger to talk about One Click Politics, his career and life as a CEO.
Chazz, please tell us about One Click Politics and the services you provide?
One Click Politics is a non-partisan, enterprise level technology and consulting company that provides cloud based advocacy software solutions to political, public affairs and government relations professionals in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Our mission is to provide innovative, affordable, and integrated approaches to online advocacy across the world. Clients depend on our strategic insights and technology solutions to achieve a measurable impact on policy outcomes at every level of government.
How can corporations and associations benefit from One Click Politics?
Our platform allows corporations to mobilize their internal and external stakeholders – e.g., members, employees, wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, investors, and/or consumers – for the purpose of driving multichannel communications to elected officials in order to influence policy outcomes.
The world of digital politics is poised for major growth. The next generation of government relations professionals will be able to leverage the largely untapped power of data-driven, multichannel engagement platforms like One Click Politics to engage their advocates and influence policy outcomes in a more effective way.
Please let us know what sets your company apart from competitors?
We primarily hire people with backgrounds in cloud based technologies as well as politics, public affairs, and government relations. This has allowed us to create a culture of people who understand advocacy, are passionate about policy and who understand the legislative process.
We also have a heavy focus on sticking to our “One-Click” brand by being a platform that requires the fewest possible steps to take action for an end user. People are busy and our competitors have tools that require someone to spend 20-45 seconds to submit a web form. I can send an email, tweet, and Facebook post to my elected officials (or all elected officials) on my iPhone with one click of a button in less than five seconds using One Click Politics.
How did the company begin and what have been some of the highlights?
The company began in 2009 with a mission to enable companies to engage their constituents and simplify their communication with congress. We are proud to be a leader in the online advocacy space.
Chazz, what is next for One Click Politics?
We’re focused on creating the most advanced, user-friendly and robust multichannel communications technology platform for connecting an organization’s advocates with their elected officials across the globe. We have a solid footprint in the United States, Canada, and Australia and we are looking to expand our reach.
What is the most challenging part of your work?
One Click Politics is a successful story of targeted, organic growth. A key challenge is maximizing our creativity, resourcefulness, and customer impact while maintaining a sound financial footing. Close to a decade of experience working on political and public affairs campaigns and technology have been invaluable to me in leading the company.
Chazz, what led you to this unique career?
My passion for politics. I began my career interning for my US Senator prior to working for the White House. Next, I ran a small political consulting and public affairs firm, before doing stints at a large government relations technology company and a well-respected K Street public affairs firm. My professional experiences and passion for the intersection of politics and technology led to my eventual role as the CEO of One Click Politics.
What is a day in your life like?
It’s always hectic. I pull down 70-80 hours a week of work. I usually jump between internal meetings with my sales, development, support, and marketing teams to external meetings with clients, prospective clients, and channel partners. Sometimes I’m at our company office. Other times, I’m working from home, at the airport, on a train, or cranking through LinkedIn, Slack, and Salesforce apps from the back of an Uber. I’ve learned to work from anywhere.
What makes you smile?
Lots of things: a good joke, a satisfied customer, a text from someone special, winning a big contract, helping others succeed, making a contribution to charity, or simple things like enjoying a long summer drive on the open highway.
What scares you?
My biggest fear is government interference in the lives and activities of its citizens. Whether it’s illegal spying, exorbitant tax hikes, or over-regulation of free commerce; I’m an adamant believer in individual liberty and free market economics.
What is your greatest achievement?
When I was 24; it was my thesis on the political use of religion and job at the White House. At 27, it was masterminding a political campaign victory for a candidate who was down 26 points in the polls four months before a general election. At 33, it’s the impact I’ve had as the CEO of One Click Politics.
What is your secret talent?
I’m a good writer and pretty good singer. I have written over fifty poems, various short stories, essays, and industry articles. My first major writing project was my honors thesis in college on the political use of religion. My thesis advisor helped me hone my love for writing and research by teaching me the value of brevity when communicating complex ideas.
Which historical figure do you most admire?
I was a political theory and ancient history double major in college, so that’s a really tough question. I take courage from the stories and lives of countless historical figures, whose lives provide inspiration to me daily. If I had to pick one, I’d say William Wallace. I’m Scottish and a fan of the film Braveheart, so his story of determination and grit in against the atrocities of the Medieval English monarchy resonate with me.
Chazz, do you have any hobbies?
I love travelling both for work and pleasure. I also like to hit the gym to keep myself physically fit and mentally sharp.
What are you never without?
Its cliché for me to say this as a tech executive, but I’m never without my iPhone. Like many professionals, I’m always on the move. I might be on a plane, train, taxi, in a hotel, at my company office, or working from home, and having my smartphone with me is essential for conducting business on the go.
Can you share two of your favorite quotes with us?
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Teddy Roosevelt
What drives you?
I’m the oldest of three male children, the grandson of two highly decorated combat veterans who received the Silver Star, and the son of a father with relentless focus and dedication. Excellence is part of my family culture. However, my entrepreneurial drive comes from my hatred for “bosses.” Most supervisors I’ve had were very demanding, power-hungry managers – not leaders – with a few notable exceptions. I always promised myself I’d ascribe to an empathetic, servant leadership style when I ran my own company. That’s probably why I have almost zero turnover with my employees. I hire the right people, pay them well, and then get out of their way so they can do their job, while providing appropriate guidance and accountability.
If you had the power to change just one thing in the world what would it be?
I would revolutionize access to education. If I had Bill Gate’s money; I’d develop a global learning platform that could be accessed on low-cost, solar powered devices with built-in satellite internet that could be easily distributed and accessed anywhere in the world. My parents are both seasonal missionaries in Kenya and through their experiences I’ve seen how a few hundred dollars can feed, clothe, and educate a child in a third world country for almost a year. Education is a vibrant portal to opportunity and the best gateway for achieving global advancements for the underprivileged.
What advice would you give to anyone starting a new business?
Choose something you are passionate about to pursue as an entrepreneur even if the earning potential for that industry isn’t as high as others. I had the opportunity to attend an Ivy League law school with a clear path to high earnings as a corporate attorney, but I turned it down to pursue my love for politics and civic technology. Passion is “life fuel” that burns far brighter than mere motivation. If you don’t love what you do; you will always lose out to a competitor who is willing to work day and night to manifest their passion and vision into reality. I’ll never be Mark Zuckerberg, but I’ll always aim to be the very best version of myself.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for the opportunity to be featured. If anyone wants to reach out, please do not hesitate to connect with me on Linkedin.
For more information on Chazz Clevinger and One Click Politics, please visit: www.oneclickpolitics.com/leadership
