Ben Pontz

Assistant Marching Band Director at Lampeter-Strasburg Senior High School
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency
  • German Limited working proficiency

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5.0

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Adria Zimmerman

Ben served as a Finnegan Intern at the PA Department of Revenue the summer of 2017. From the start, Ben found ways to add value. Initially, it was his past experience in managing social media. Our agency was just venturing into the realm of social media at the time, so his experience was exactly what we needed. He continued to be a strong contributor as we worked through business process mapping for our internal controls implementation. Ben could easily pull from a conversation the steps in a business process and clearly document that in Visio. Most importantly, beyond his business skill sets, Ben is personable, hardworking, and has a fun, positive attitude. He is everything you want in an employee!

Ray D'Agostino

Ben is a highly motivated, intelligent and diligent young man. I had the pleasure and benefit of working with him this past summer as he served at LHOP as a Policy Intern. Ben fit in like one of the team. He provided valuable research on several topics which informed some key decision making at the organization. A polite and professional person, he was able to interact well with people such as the Mayor of the City of Lancaster, City and County department heads, and non-profit leaders and staff. Ben’s writing skills are advanced will serve any organization well. His aptitude for policy and thinking through tough issues is already excellent and will advance as he continues to grow in education and gain experience. Finally, Ben’s attitude was always positive, a person that you want to be around. I would highly recommend Ben to be a part of anyone’s team.

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Credentials

  • Heartsaver First Aid & CPR
    American Heart Association
    Aug, 2020
    - Oct, 2024

Experience

    • United States
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Assistant Marching Band Director
      • Jun 2017 - Present

      I manage the band's administrative and logistical operations, coordinate the development and instruction of the field show with a focus on teaching drill, and oversee the selection, training, and evaluation of student leaders. I manage the band's administrative and logistical operations, coordinate the development and instruction of the field show with a focus on teaching drill, and oversee the selection, training, and evaluation of student leaders.

    • United States
    • Law Practice
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Summer Legal Intern
      • Jun 2022 - Jul 2022

      Rotating through the Criminal and Civil divisions, I worked alongside AUSAs to research and draft materials on various evidentiary issues, rules of civil procedure, and approaches to prosecution with a particular emphasis on both civil and criminal fraud. In addition, I worked in the appellate division on resentencing memos in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Taylor (No. 20-1459) (2022). Rotating through the Criminal and Civil divisions, I worked alongside AUSAs to research and draft materials on various evidentiary issues, rules of civil procedure, and approaches to prosecution with a particular emphasis on both civil and criminal fraud. In addition, I worked in the appellate division on resentencing memos in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Taylor (No. 20-1459) (2022).

    • United Kingdom
    • Higher Education
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar
      • Sep 2020 - Aug 2021

      I completed an MA in Political Science - Governance & Public Policy while researching devolution, subsidiarity, and institutional legitimacy at the University of Manchester, graduating with the highest grade average in my degree program.My dissertation—titled "A Political Devolution: Institutional Legitimacy and the Case of Greater Manchester"—examined the relationship between devolving power to the local level and the legitimacy of the state and won the inaugural Billy Nuttall Prize for Social Justice.

    • Australia
    • Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
    • Alistair Cooke Fellow
      • Jun 2021 - Jun 2021

      Intensive short-term placement in BBC's Radio Current Affairs department, working with a senior producer to take a radio documentary from concept to completion in two weeks, including research, booking guests, developing script, cutting and mixing audio, and fact checking Intensive short-term placement in BBC's Radio Current Affairs department, working with a senior producer to take a radio documentary from concept to completion in two weeks, including research, booking guests, developing script, cutting and mixing audio, and fact checking

    • State & Local Government Reporter
      • Jan 2020 - Aug 2020

      I covered state and local government issues for PA Post, a statewide politics and policy news publication run out of the WITF newsroom in Harrisburg. I wrote hard news stories on legislation coming out of the capital, explainers on issues up for debate, and analysis of the interplay between politics and the law with a particular focus on state constitutional issues. Some highlights included a story being read on the floor of a contentious, late-night House floor debate, writing the all-time most-read story for PA Post, and exploring novel legal issues in the midst of a tense political climate.

    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Teaching Assistant
      • Jul 2019 - May 2020

      FYS 107: The Bush Administration's Approach to Terror & Torture (Dr. Shirley Anne Warshaw - Fall 2019)POL 215: Political Science Research Methods (Dr. Douglas Page - Fall 2019, Spring 2020)

    • Peer Research Mentor, Musselman Library
      • Aug 2017 - Mar 2020

      I staffed the research help desk in the library, which entails fielding questions from students, faculty, and community patrons on a variety of research-related topics including searching for sources, locating data, and producing citations.

    • Political Science Research Assistant
      • Aug 2017 - Jan 2020

      I assisted with source curation, information gathering, and manuscript development for the research program of Dr. Shirley Anne Warshaw, Professor of Political Science. In addition, I occasionally handled administrative tasks and staffed the office as needed.

    • United States
    • Public Policy Offices
    • Fellow
      • May 2019 - May 2020

      The nine Fielding Fellows collaborated on a research grant from the U.S. Department of State, intensively studied presidential leadership, and planned and hosted panels, symposia, and other educational programs to inform the campus community and the general public about the presidency. The nine Fielding Fellows collaborated on a research grant from the U.S. Department of State, intensively studied presidential leadership, and planned and hosted panels, symposia, and other educational programs to inform the campus community and the general public about the presidency.

    • United States
    • Newspaper Publishing
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Editor-in-Chief
      • May 2018 - May 2020

      I served as editor-in-chief of The Gettysburgian my junior and senior years at Gettysburg, supervising a staff of 50, and as news editor my freshman and sophomore years, leading a team of 10. During my tenure, I led teams that won first place in the Keystone Press Awards for ongoing news coverage twice as well as teams that produced prize-winning editorials twice. I spearheaded the creation of a magazine, and, during my tenure, the size of both our staff and our readership more than doubled. In four years, I wrote more than 230 articles on topics ranging from faculty meetings to football (not all that different), hosted a weekly news podcast in conjunction with WZBT campus radio, and moderated student government candidate forums.

    • United States
    • Media Production
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Reporter and Columnist
      • Jun 2013 - Jan 2020

      I wrote feature articles, columns, and sidebars in LNP's "Freestyle" section and subsequently "Generation Next" section on issues pertaining to young people in the Lancaster County area. In addition, my work has been featured on the main LNP editorial page more than a dozen times. One piece -- expressing disappointment in President Trump's address to the Boy Scouts at the National Jamboree -- was read more than a million times (the most-read piece ever on Lancaster Online), was quoted in The Atlantic and the Memphis Daily News, and was syndicated in local newspapers throughout the country. I also was interviewed on CNN's "New Day" to discuss it. On occasion, I continue to write op-eds for the main editorial page.

    • United States
    • Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Smart Talk Intern
      • May 2019 - Jul 2019

      I spent the summer as an associate producer on Smart Talk, a daily public affairs radio program producing shows on a range of policy topics including escalating tensions in Iran, cyber-charter school funding, challenges facing rural Pennsylvanians, and a round-up of the 2018-19 docket of the U.S. Supreme Court. I booked guests from presidential candidates to interest groups and local officials, wrote promos and web articles, and developed memos and briefing materials for the host. I spent the summer as an associate producer on Smart Talk, a daily public affairs radio program producing shows on a range of policy topics including escalating tensions in Iran, cyber-charter school funding, challenges facing rural Pennsylvanians, and a round-up of the 2018-19 docket of the U.S. Supreme Court. I booked guests from presidential candidates to interest groups and local officials, wrote promos and web articles, and developed memos and briefing materials for the host.

    • United States
    • Nonprofit Organization Management
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Policy Intern
      • Jun 2018 - Jan 2019

      I conducted research on behalf of the CEO to ensure compliance with state regulations, to determine best practices for a new home ownership program, and to develop strategies for increasing investment in affordable housing throughout Central Pennsylvania. I also worked with the COO to build a marketing strategy centered on a new website and social media presence, leveraging my past experience in web development to help guide the interview process with marketing firms to do the project.Finally, I attended dozens of meetings both with internal LHOP staff and community leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to gain a feel for policy development at the local level.

    • United States
    • Government Administration
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Finnegan Foundation Intern
      • May 2017 - Jul 2017

      I completed a summer internship in Strategic Planning and Performance Division of the Bureau of Process Reinvention, Innovation, and Strategic Management (PRISM). I helped implement the department's strategic plan, specifically focusing on creating and developing a digital media presence. I designed a content calendar approach to streamline the planning process, provided input on topics and messaging strategies, and drafted an internal handbook governing social media use. I also attended meetings on implementing internal controls in key department processes and drafted more than 50 process maps to that end. Through the Finnegan Foundation, I attended weekly lunches with members of Governor Wolf's cabinet to discuss state government issues.

Education

  • Harvard Law School
    Doctor of Law - JD
    2021 - 2024
  • The University of Manchester
    Master of Arts - MA, Political Science - Governance & Public Policy
    2020 - 2021
  • Gettysburg College
    Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science & Public Policy
    2016 - 2020
  • Hertog Foundation
    Summer Fellowship, Political Studies Program
    2018 - 2019
  • American Enterprise Institute
    Summer Honors Program, The Constitution: Original Meanings, Modern Times
    2018 - 2018
  • Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College
    Inside the Middle East
    2017 - 2018

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