In 2016 Janelle Bynum was elected to the Oregon state legislature over a more seasoned, better known opponent. How did Janelle do it? By working harder - and working smarter - and focusing on her message of "Passing Opportunity On." She talked to us about how that message reflects her own life. Her parents sought out academic opportunities for her growing up, including engineering classes that led Janelle to become an electrical engineer who got a full scholarship to college from Boeing. After working as an engineer and earning an MBA, Janelle and her husband had the opportunity to become small business owners as McDonald's franchisees in the Portland, Oregon area.
Janelle developed an early interest in politics growing up in Washington, D.C., and she was inspired to run for office by her passion for education and access to quality education. As a parent of four kids in her local school system, and as an employer of local teenagers, she had a firsthand look at the impact of the local schools on the community. She talked to us about her varied career path, why she feels it's important to have younger women in politics, and how being a legislator is a bit like speed dating. (There are lots of 15 minute appointments, and "they have to bring me up to speed and move to a position in that time period.")
Janelle Bynum is already on her third career. A childhood interest in engineering led to a college scholarship to study electrical engineering. After working at GM and getting an MBA, Janelle switched gears and moved to Oregon to run four McDonald's restaurants with her husband. Janelle was inspired to run for state representative by her passion for quality education, where she now represents metropolitan Portland. Her advice to anyone running for office? "Know your why."
