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"One of the things I appreciate most about the Economic Club network is that it welcomes leaders from all walks of life to the stage.

I have enjoyed hearing perspectives that span the full spectrum of American leadership. Former President Barack Obama has addressed the Economic Club of Chicago on multiple notable occasions. The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. recently invited award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell to its stage, and has hosted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. David Rubenstein, of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., has interviewed executives like Johnson & Johnson's Joaquin Duato and public servants like D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Recently, McKissack & McKissack's President Carmelo Torrisi and I attended Rubenstein’s interview with former Vice President Mike Pence, who was at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. to promote his new book, “What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience.” At our table was also my friend and AEC titan, Linda Rabbitt, founder of Rand* Construction® and a Children's National Hospital board member. It was great to experience the event with her and catch up as well.

The moment that truly stayed with me from the event was a brief exchange with the former Vice President. When he mentioned that he was familiar with McKissack & McKissack, I shared the story of our family's five-generation legacy as builders, beginning with our earliest ancestors and continuing through the generations that followed. It was especially meaningful to see that our company’s history and impact are recognized far beyond the projects we build, reflecting a legacy that continues to inspire and connect people.

In our conversation, Vice President Pence recognized what I have always believed to be true: that the McKissack & McKissack story is, at its heart, a deeply American story.

Because regardless of where any of us sit or what we believe, there is something powerful about the themes of perseverance, craft, hard work, and legacy. They transcend dividing lines. That's the story of my family, and in many ways, it's the story of this country. I left that evening grateful for that recognition, and I appreciate The Economic Club for cultivating the kind of space this country needs more of, one that reminds us we have far more in common than we think."

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- Deryl McKissack

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