SCOTT LEVY, 32
Attorney, Adams and Reese
At 22, Scott Levy was on the ground in Florida during the last stretch of the 2004 presidential campaign that propelled George W. Bush into his second term. In 2005 he served on the advance team to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to determine accessibility for Bush’s visit. These days, both politics and community service remain in Levy’s repertoire: He’s a governmental relations and litigation attorney, and a volunteer for Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, Boys Hope Girls Hope, among other causes.
Inspiring book: The Lone Survivor
The determination of former Navy SEAL Marcus Lutrell and his fellow Navy SEALs, and their commitment to our country and their mission, while much more daunting is an example of how important persevering can be.
Major professional accomplishments: Member of the campaign staffs in Louisiana and Florida for President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign; member of advance team for multiple domestic and international presidential visits for President George W. Bush; working with charter schools in an effort to reform public education; assisting in the development of a government contracting practice area for the firm.
Volunteer and community involvement: Volunteer attorney, Baton Rouge Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Project and Thirst for Justice Programs; Volunteer attorney, East Baton Rouge Family Court’s Self Help Desk; Volunteer/Mentor, Boys Hope Girls Hope Baton Rouge Inc.; board of directors, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.
PROFESSIONAL
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Veterinarian, basketball coach, police officer, doctor, professional tennis player … but never a lawyer!
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I was a mail clerk for an insurance company during high school, and that experience helped lay the foundation for me to become a leader in the workplace. Understanding how other people do their jobs and appreciating their impact and importance on the overall success of the organization is something that I have tried to carry on with me, no matter the matter professional setting.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge? Bistro Byronz or the City Club.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better? As leaders in the community, I believe we are called to invest our human capital—our time, our talent, our skills—within our own community to help those that need it. Whether it is volunteering at a specific event or just spreading the message about the incredible non-profits that call Baton Rouge home, we all have a moral responsibility to make this investment. I also believe it is incumbent upon all of us to expose our families–both at home and at work—to the vital non-profit community.
How many times will you try something before admitting it doesn’t work? 3 or 4.
What is your best productivity hack? Prioritizing my weekly schedule on Mondays and then communicating those priorities to my assistant so she and I can discuss other projects she may be working on for other people that I may not be aware of. It is really not a “hack,” it’s just communication.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? Mac
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? Phone call.
How low will you allow your remaining battery life to get (in %) before you have an anxiety attack? I have a Mophie case for my iPhone that provides an extra 100% battery life. Even with that, I get nervous when the battery (before activating the Mophie) gets below 50%–which is usually before lunch!
How many unread messages are in your inbox right now? 0
Are you quick to adapt to new tech, or did you hang on to that flip phone way after it became obsolete? Usually pretty quick. I got my first Backberry in 2004.
PERSONALITY
How many times do you hit the snooze button? 2-3.
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? n the go.
Is the glass half empty or half full? What’s in the glass? alf-full.
What’s your motto? The short speech that Coach Jimmy Valvano gave in 1993 is jam-packed with some many inspiring messages but the part I try to live my life by is “to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality.”
When did you realize you had grown up? August 3, 2009. It was the day my daughter Adi was born—our first baby. Thankfully she is healthy now, but she had some lung development issues at birth that required an extended stay at the NICU and I had to bounce back between the NICU and the main hospital as my wife Candace recovered.
Which living person do you most admire? My wife,because of the sacrifice she has made to stay home with our kids. Her day-in, day-out responsibilities are so much greater than I anything I do.
What is your greatest extravagance? A bottle of Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon.
What trend do you really wish would come back? Flip-up sunglasses.
What is your favorite journey? Preparing for the bar exam … kidding! The last 60 days of any political campaign can be exhilarating, but being on the ground in Florida during the last stretch of the 2004 campaign at the age of 22 was quite a journey that I will never forget.
On what occasion do you lie? Little white lies to conceal birthday and anniversary presents for my wife.
When and where were you happiest? After college, I moved to Washington, D.C. and met my wife there. We were young, in a great city, and really had no responsibilities other than ourselves. I would not trade it for where we are now with our three kids, but we were happy—young and in love.
Which talent or superpower would you most like to have and why? I would love to be able to extend the day by a few hours when needed—and shorten it as well.
If you worked for the CIA and needed a top-secret alias, what would yours be? Walker Weil.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Speak less and listen more.
What’s your most treasured possession? A samurai sword my grandfather gave me before he died. He brought it back from the South Pacific where he served 44 consecutive months during World War II. He never told me how he got it, but I know it meant a lot to him.
If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live and why? The Virgin Islands. Life is simple there and you realize how unimportant all of the “things” in life can be. Just let me take my family, Blue Lizard sunscreen and a couple of beach towels, and we would be set.
What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty.
What do you miss most about the ’90s? An NBA that was worth watching. I long for the days of Magic, Michael, Larry and Isiah.
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach? High school civics/government.
What is your theme song? “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.
If you could go back in time 20 years, what advice would you give yourself? Pay attention to the world around you, not just “your world” because that world around you is your world.
What useless piece of information will you never forget? The Chicago Cubs did not play their first night game at Wrigley Field until August, 1988.
What makes you laugh every time you think about it? 2003 Ski Trip—bus ride and plane ride back to Baton Rouge. I will leave it at that.
Who’s the most famous celebrity you’ve ever met? President George W. Bush. One of the highlights of my life was working for a very honest, decent man.
LOOKING AHEAD
Three things on your bucket list: Take my family to the LSU vs. Georgia football game in Athens, a paradise getaway with my wife on some little island and a weekend of sleep (three kids five and under).
If you have children, what concerns you most about the future they will inherit? I have a real concern about being able to calm the fears and concerns my kids are exposed to every day when they are not around us. I fear they will be completely inundated about the many disconcerting things in our world. I want them to know that there is a lot of good that happens in this world and they need to be a part of that good.
What would be your advice for future Forty Under 40 honorees? Invest in the community, not just financially, but invest your time, your talent, your name. Get involved with a nonprofit. Get your co-workers involved in a nonprofit and do what you can to give back.
