Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
Don’t let the ‘former’ thing fool you. Former Governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore and former Washington Redskins player Charles Mann are busier and more successful than ever.
Mann, who played defensive end for the National Football League for both the skins and the San Francisco 49ers, helped found the Good Samaritan Foundation with his Washington teammates; has been named a Washingtonian of the Year; has served on many health care boards; been aligned with ESPN, BET and WUSA TV as a reporter; has been a spokesperson for brands like McDonalds and Diet Coke; has been involved with many charities including the National Kidney Foundation, Children’s Hospital, United Way, the Ronald McDonald House Charities and has been married for over twenty five years and has three children. Nothing ‘former’ about that!
Charles Mann and Gov. Jim Gilmore
The duo were guests of CLICKED at Rialto in Georgetown – “a group that brings together leaders and authorities in their field and emerging leaders for a curated experience with the intent to connect leaders who inspire and help one another achieve personal and professional goals in upscale, lively social settings. With curated dinner parties and brunches wine and liquor tastings and exclusive outings at the hottest spots and private homes in the Washington, DC area, CLICKED functions as a traveling country club,” according to their mission statement. Their motto is: Connect, Aspire, Achieve. Rialto was both upscale and lively.
Private room at Rialto. Photo credit: Janet Donovan
“Four years ago, I started CLICKED,” said Earl Pinto, “with the central purpose of connecting people that don’t know each other because of geography, different disciplines – and I wanted to connect them in a way that enriched them in a personal and professional way. So we have been doing these dinner parties for four years and have had over a thousand guests come. We’ve had members of Congress, members of the Cabinet, high level (diplomats?) and politicians and celebrities who come to these dinner parties because what they enjoy most is a curated social networking experience.”
We weren’t sure what a “curated” networking experience was but if it includes menus like the Seared Salmon w/Soft Polenta, Asparagus and a Tomato Ragu or the Grilled Hanger Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, and a Mushroom Demi-glace, then count us in.
Jim Gilmore with Earl Pinto
“What we endeavor to do is start a membership model that is exclusive, is limited, closely and carefully vetted. We’re trying to do that so we can create a community of upscale professionals who care about each other personally and professionally and that requires a couple of things: 1) that they are professionals who have achieved a certain level of success 2) that requires that people are generous and really interested in helping others and 3) that they are engaging people, people that you want to be around. Our membership model is going to start this summer because we have an overwhelming demand for this kind of tailored, curated social networking.” There again, if it includes Classic Tiramisu or Chocolate semi Freddo with a white chocolate raspberry sauce, then count us in for the “curated” networking.
Hallie Lukens, Matt Coursen and Brodie Gregory
Dinner host Matt Coursen, who told us there are over 1000 people in his real estate firm of Jones Lang LaSalle, set the tone for the evening. Each guest had to relay what their ‘super powers’ were and how they give back to the community. Naina Singla is a style expert and owner of STYLE’N. She has partnered with the International nonprofit organization Dress For Success to provide styling services and other assistance to disadvantaged women who are are entering the workforce and are committed to taking charge of their lives. Rebel Desk founder Kathleen Hale wants us to get off our butts, get away from the computer and get in some treadmill exercise. She is trying to pass the word along that excessive sitting is a health hazard. Oops!
The most popular ‘super power’ of the night though was Dr.Aneesh Singla who heads up the National Spine and Pain center. He wants to help you with your neck and back pain. Guests were prepared to clear off the tables and engage in some serious massage therapy.
Amanda Wood and Naina Singla
Jim Gilmore was the first to speak, but chatted with Hollywood on the Potomac prior to engaging in table talk.
“Virginia is very much like the nation,” said Gilmore “It’s no longer a purely Southern state, a conservative state or even a liberal state. It’s a state that is very much like The United States of America. We have a little of everything – a maritime community – an American community. We have mountains and rural communities; it’s a big state.”
Renee Courtland and Justin Lange
We asked him about the back and forth between Republican and Democrat winners. “Yes I do recognize that. It means the candidates really have an obligation to share their vision as to what they want to do for the people; and if you want to do that successfully, you can get elected.” Having said that, we asked him about current Governor of Virginia who did that successfully. Now Governor Terry McAuliffe and former Governor Gilmore held positions of power at the same time – McAuliffe as Chair of the Democratic National Committee and he as Chair of the Republican National Committee back in the early 2000’s.
So it was apparent they must know each other pretty well. “I know him personally,” said Gilmore. “He’s a very engaging personality, I like him personally. But, he’s a liberal Democrat.” Gilmore went on to say that it is still too early to know how his policies will affect the Commonwealth, but seems willing to wait and see and go from there. Our you listening Congress?
Jessica Kirchoff and Sonya Bernhardt
He currently seems pretty focused on infrastructure and jobs. He is the founder of American Opportunity.org and the President & CEO of the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think tank, and has also served as Chairman of the National Council on Readiness & Preparedness, is President of USA Secure, a non-profit homeland security think tank and is a political commentator on Fox News. But what we thought was amusing that we discovered after the dinner: He became one of the first former office holders to start a personal blog, The Virginia Patriot.
Charles Mann with dinner host, Matt Coursen
Charles Mann might want to take note from Gilmore as to how win in the political game. We hear that he is being pushed to get in the ring. “I don’t need to be pushed,” said Mann. “I haven’t thrown my hat in the ring yet, but am strongly considering it. I’m already doing a lot of community work and to me the next level of giving back is a career in politics. I’m 52 years young and so ultimately since I have been married for 29 years, ultimately whatever I consider doing it will need the stamp of approval from my lovely bride. I have three children, they don’t have a say. It will be in Virginia, since I live in Virginia. Since I have no former references in regards to politics, it would not be Governor. I do know that I am positioning myself by going back to school and finishing my degree and doing the things necessary to put myself in a position just in case I want to do something. But right now, I am looking at all kinds of options.” We sure hope he has the good doc on speed dial.
