Jordan Wilson
Director of Member Services
Committee on House Administration
Want to meet the Director of Member Services who wants to sell camel rides in Morocco and have a man bun?
Oh, you should talk to Jordan Wilson!
Recently featured in our Top 10 Culture Leaders list, Jordan Wilson is the Director of Member Services, Modernization, and Innovation for the Committee on House Administration.
In the past month, Jordan celebrated his 10-year anniversary of working on the Hill and took the opportunity to reflect on the start of his career.
Growing up in Chesapeake, Virginia, Jordan’s Sunday school teacher was his Member of Congress. Every Sunday at church, Jordan would get to hear from the source about what was happening in D.C. that week. Until 12th grade, Jordan also struggled with a learning disability at school, which brought him closer to his Member.
“I think that struggling at school, but then also every week seeing a Member of Congress up close talk about all the cool, awesome things they were doing… Somehow in my little Jordan mind, I thought, ‘I'm going to do cool things like that one day,’” says Jordan.
Jordan attended his Member’s Sunday school for about 10 years, and is still close with him to this day. When he was a senior at George Mason University, the Member helped connect him with different Virginia offices, including the one where he got his first internship and worked for seven years.
Now, Jordan is celebrating 10 years with a position he describes as his “passion job.”
“My motto to myself is ‘I want to leave places better than I found them,’” says Jordan, “Never forget the interests that you have along the way because you never know how they're gonna come back and get you. I hope the institution's better off because I was here.”
⬇️ Get to know more about Jordan ⬇️
🔗 CNCT with Jordan about…
His latest interior design project
French toast from Matt & Tony’s 🍞
Ideas for modernizing Congress
The French Martini and bread basket at Le Dip 🍸
The 10-Year Plan 🔒
When we first get started in our careers, it’s pretty common to have a five or 10-year plan – especially for a group as ambitious as staffers.
Celebrating 10 years of working on the Hill, Jordan thought about how different his career would be if he were locked into a 10-year plan. Ten years ago, Jordan’s work on the Modernization of Congress or in Member Services, which he describes as his “passion job,” didn’t even exist.
“If you'd asked little Jordan to be locked into a five- or 10-year plan, I would have missed the joy and the awesome opportunity I have to serve here now,” Jordan says.
So… What is Jordan’s new 10-year plan?
🐪 “I want to sell camel rides in Morocco and have a man bun. I want to own a bookstore. I plan on being an international best-selling author. And I will have an interior design company called JW Interiors. So get on the list now.”
Sure, having a 10- or even five-year plan is a great way to set personal and professional goals, but Jordan’s Hill journey is a great argument in favor of staying open to opportunities.
When asked what his bestselling book would be about, Jordan said, “I like to think I'm living it now.”
❤️ Jordan’s Favorites
Coffee Spot: Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie
Bar: Lost Boy Cider
Happy Hour: Find him at an embassy!
Lunch Spot: Le Diplomate
TV Show: Ted Lasso or Schitt’s Creek
Movie: Secondhand Lions
Jordan’s Creative Side 🎨
On the Hill, your brain needs to be on at all times. As our readers might know, this can leave you feeling a bit burnt out towards the end of the day. One way Jordan likes to give his brain a break is by working with his hands and “creating something physical.”
The son of a construction company owner, Jordan grew up with a passion for interior design. He’s often inspired by little things – like bricks and trees – that guide him to larger projects like renovating his condo, tearing it down to its studs, and recreating it exactly how he wants it.
📌 “I have 50 million Pinterest boards for the 50 million homes I'm going to build one day,” says Jordan.
Jordan also enjoys creating the occasional abstract art piece – whether it be paintings or writing. He wants to do more “just letting out whatever's in [his] head onto a canvas.”
If you and your brain are feeling burnt out after work, try taking a page out of Jordan’s (international best-selling) book.
Jordan’s Capitol Corner
🌮 Cafeteria Order: Taco Tuesday at PX Taco
📝 Best Out-of-Office Workplace: When WFH, Piece Out Del Rey with an affogatto
👔 Hill Closet, Sponsored by: Polo, Zara, Coach, or Louis Vuitton
🙏 My Hill Holy Grail: Premier Protein, Cafe Latte
Advice for Younger Staffers
As someone who meets entry-level staffers for coffee about 10-15 times per week, Jordan is a source of wisdom for any one looking to climb the Hill. Here’s the throughline for most of his coffee meetings:
1️⃣ Give yourself grace
“Applying to jobs, sending your resume out, networking, interviewing, and then not getting the job or coming in second – these are not fun things. They require perseverance.”
2️⃣ Enjoy the process
“I wish I could just go back to little Jordan and say, ‘I know it's tough. I know you've got anxiety. I know this is your fifth late night this week. But, trust the process because what you're learning now is invaluable.’”
3️⃣ Bloom where you're planted
“Look for the gaps in your operation … Senior managers do recognize those things … Just take every opportunity you can. The more tools you have in your toolkit, the better.”
Staffer Advice
“If you're kind, you treat people well, you advocate for yourself, and you keep at it, you will get there. It will happen for you.”
- Jordan Wilson