Big Jump

When David Jolly graduated college, he knew he wanted to be involved in politics. So he moved just outside of Washington, D.C., and started interning for U.S. Rep. Dan Miller from Sarasota. At night, he'd clip newspapers in the basement of the Republican National Committee for extra cash. To park in the cheapest lot, Jolly would wake up early to secure a $3 spot two miles from the capital, and nap in a phone booth until work started.

That first internship led him to a career in government consulting and lobbying, but becoming a politician wasn't part of the plan. That was, until October 2013, when U.S. Rep. Bill Young, his former boss, died. That's when Jolly felt “the hand of providence” led him to run and win the congressman's office, covering Pinellas County, the 13th district of Florida, in March.

Jolly came to office with more than 20 years' experience as a successful lobbyist and government contract consultant. In 2009, when he was 37 years old and vice president of Van Scoyoc Associates, Jolly was named to the Business Observer's 40 under 40.