AASD Grad is Communications Assistant for D.C. Based Business Roundtable

Rayna Valenti

Rayna Valenti is a 2008 graduate of the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania.

Blessed with brains, beauty and physical skills, Rayna was a high achieving student athletic at Austin High School. Her senior profile lists the following leadership positions, academic, activity and athletic achievements:

• Class President - Grades 7 - 12
• National Honor Society President - Grade 12
• Vice President - Grade 11
• Student Council President - Grade 12
• Student Council Vice President - Grade 11
• National Honor Society - Grades 10 - 12
• Student Council - Grades 7 - 12
• Enrichment and FCCLA - Grades 9 - 12
• Yellow Ribbon Club - Grades 10 - 12
• Yearbook Business Manager - Grade 11
• HOBY Representative - 2007
• Flaming Foliage Candidate
• NYLC Alumni
• Scholastic Scrimmage Member
• Mock Trial Team
• Volleyball Team - Grades 7 - 12 
• Basketball Team - Grades 7 - 12
• NTL First Team All Star
• Big 30 Third Team All Star
• District 9 Second Team All Star
• District 9 Second Leading Scorer
• Christmas All-Tournament Team
• West Branch All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player
• 1,000 Point Club

As a teenager, Rayna developed an interest in law and wanted to become a lawyer. She was advised to pursue a degree in political science as a path to law school.  Rayna chose to obtain her degree at the University of North Carolina because they have a reputation for having one of the best political science programs in the country and also an excellent basketball program.

However, after taking a few classes and the environment created by the 2008 Presidential election, she fell in love with politics, stating "I knew Capitol Hill was the place for me, not a law firm".

Rayna attained a degree in both Political Science and Communications with a concentration in rhetorical studies.

Rayna is employed as a Communications Assistant by Business Roundtable (BRT).  BRT is an association of the CEOs of leading U.S. companies working to promote sound public policy and a thriving U.S. economy.  In her role, she works on digital outreach, media relations, advertising and member communications for the association.

Established in 1972, Business Roundtable applies the expertise and experience of it's CEO members to the major issues facing the nation.  Through research and advocacy, Business Roundtable promotes policies to improve U.S. competitiveness, strengthen the economy and spur job creation.

The Business Roundtable's CEO members lead U.S. companies with $7.4 trillion in annual revenues and employ more than 16 million employees.  BRT member companies comprise more than a third of the total value of the U.S. stock market and invest $158 billion annually in research and development - equal to 62 percent of U.S. private R&D spending.  Their companies pay more than $200 billion in dividends to shareholders and generate more than $540 billion in sales for small and medium-sized businesses annually. BRT companies give more than $9 billion a year in combined charitable contributions.

This past December, President Obama was a speaker at the CEO Quarterly Meeting.

Rayna on the left - President Obama on the right

When asked what her current goal(s) were, she replied: "Work in the White House for Hillary Clinton".  Ironically, Mrs. Clinton is scheduled to announce her intentions on seeking the Presidency this Sunday, April 12, 2015. If she decides to run, there is no doubt in my mind that both Hillary and Rayna will achieve their goal.
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October 2018: Rayna has advanced to the position of Senior Director of Communications for the Business Roundtable, Washington, D.C.