Bekah Jones' work takes her from Newcomerstown to Congress and now Google

Bekah Jones is an 2000 alumnus of Newcomerstown High School, and furthered her education at the University of Rochester in 2004, and later the George Washington University Law School as a member of the 2009 graduating class.

These days, she resides in Arlington, Virginia, where she works as a strategy counsel for Google.

Prior to living near Washington, D.C., she has spent time all over the globe, as well as in the halls of Congress. Her most recent move led her to working for one of the largest companies in the world.

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Please tell us a little a little bit about your family and what you enjoy in your down-time.

I live in Arlington, Virginia, (10 minutes from Washington) with my dog, Raffi. Most weekends, you can find us walking on the National Mall or exploring the trails in the D.C. region.

When I am not hanging with him, I’m an avid concertgoer and can often be found with friends in one of the many music venues around Washington.

What was your major in college?

I was a psychology major in undergrad but started taking political science classes in my final year, which got me interested in law.

After college, I worked for my grandfather (Ron Getchey, another N.H.S. graduate) at his law firm in San Diego and eventually decided to pursue a career as an attorney.

Please tell us about your current job and the places you have lived and visited.

My career has taken me all over the globe, into the halls of Congress, and most recently to one of the largest companies in the world.

After graduating from law school, I joined a firm in Washington, D.C. and counseled clients on international trade and regulatory issues. In 2014, I took a leap and moved to Singapore to assist the firm in opening a new office. I spent the next few years representing clients and conducting investigations throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

I visited the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and a thousand other places in between because of the opportunities afforded to me by that job. It truly exceeded my expectations in almost every way.

When the pandemic hit, my international travel ceased, and I wanted try something new. After some thought, I applied for and landed a role as oversight counsel for the House Energy & Commerce Committee in Congress. There, I conducted investigations into the federal agencies and industries within the committee’s jurisdiction, working on issues related to the pandemic, energy prices, crypto mining, and nuclear waste cleanup, to name a few.

A few months ago, I made another move and I am currently employed as a strategy counsel for Google in Washington, D.C. In this role, I spend my days helping the company prepare for and respond to high-risk government investigations and regulations globally. It’s a challenging and overwhelming position but it’s been very interesting so far!

What advice would you give to someone choosing the same college major?

My advice would be to work hard, keep your eye out for opportunities coming your way, and don’t be afraid to take advantage of them, even if you are just a kid from rural Ohio.

When I was growing up in Newcomerstown, I never dreamed I would have been able to do all the things I’ve done so far. But when each new opportunity presented itself whether it was going to law school, moving to another country, or taking a new job; I dove in headfirst and tried my best to make it successful.

I should also say that my greatest fortune is having parents and siblings who have supported me every step of the way — shoutout to Steve and Sherry who have literally moved me to the other side of the world and back and a dozen other apartments in between!

What would you like to highlight for us, and what do you miss about Newcomerstown?

I don’t know that I appreciated it at the time, but I can say with confidence that Newcomerstown was a great place to grow up.

I attribute much of my success to the foundation and values instilled in me by my family, community, church, and my many teammates and coaches over the years. I think each of these people and experiences taught me a great deal about working hard, approaching life with humility, and treating others with respect no matter their background.

Those are lessons that have served me well and kept me grounded wherever I’ve traveled over the last 20-plus years. Newcomerstown is a special place and I’m grateful for my time there and continued connection to the community.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Bekah Jones has worked for the federal government and now Google