Justin Coussoule
(pronounced kuh-soo-lee)
• West Point Graduate and former Army Captain
• Attorney
• Small business owner
• Corporate purchasing manager at Procter & Gamble
• Husband and father of two
Justin brings a wealth of experience and a passion for public service to his
fight to take Ohio’s 8th Congressional District back from the grip of
Washington’s ultimate insider and champion of corporate special interests,
John Boehner, and return forward progress to the district.
Working-Class Roots
Justin was born and raised in Adams, a small town of fewer than 9,000, named
for patriot Samuel Adams and the birthplace of suffragette Susan B. Anthony.
An all-American community ringed by pastoral dairy farms and the picturesque
wooded hills of the Berkshires, Adams is home to working-class families that
have experienced the decline of a once thriving manufacturing base and know
well the struggle to create new economic opportunities. From a family whose
heritage is Greek, Irish, Italian and French, Justin's roots represent the promise
of American opportunity.
Justin knew the dignity of public service from an early age through the example
of his grandfathers, one a 30-year police officer and the other a career
firefighter. Justin also learned the meaning and value of hard work from his
family. His paternal grandmother labored in a textile mill as a young woman.
Justin’s maternal grandmother raised eight children and owned her own
business, running a boarding house. His mother also owned and operated a
small business, and eventually retired from a career as a commercial food
worker. His father was a self-employed roofer and painter, and Justin spent
many hours working alongside him. Justin’s small-town roots and working-class
family upbringing formed the values and work ethic that have guided him
throughout his life, and which continue to define him to this day.
Military Service
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Justin had the
privilege and honor to serve as a commissioned Army officer for over five
and a half years with the men and women of our Armed Forces. Justin’s
years as a West Point cadet and Army officer reinforced the core principle
he first learned from his family and hometown: always put the welfare of
those you serve first.
Public Service
Following his military service, Justin earned a law degree at the University
of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore. While a law student, he worked in city,
state and federal government. With the City of Baltimore, Justin worked on the
mayor’s initiative to eliminate blighted property in urban neighborhoods by
returning 5,000 neglected properties to productive use. With the Office of the
Attorney General of Maryland, Justin worked to enforce regulations against
tobacco companies and testified before the state legislature in support of bills
designed to reduce the sale and use of tobacco. Justin also served within the
Federal Government, where he interned for Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D
NY) in his Capitol Hill office assisting with legal and legislative affairs. Each of
these experiences confirmed Justin’s firm conviction that public servants have
an obligation to work to serve the people - to help improve their lives.
Legal Experience
After graduating from law school, Justin was admitted to the Massachusetts
Bar and was hired as an associate attorney at a regional law firm. Assigned
to the firm’s litigation department, Justin practiced primarily in the state
Worker’s Compensation system, advocating on behalf of injured workers and
fighting to secure payment of their compensation and benefits for
work-related injuries. Here, Justin saw first hand the struggles of the working
middle class, and the urgent need to stand up to insurance companies and
big business to fight for what was right and fair for working families.
Business Experience
While working as an attorney, Justin also established a small business, serving
as both general manager and construction laborer. For two years, Justin
managed the rehabilitation of aging properties for new residential and commercial
uses. The main street commercial property now houses three small businesses:
a candy shop, a clothing retailer and an antique furniture shop. The other
property consists of four affordable housing units.
After relocating for his wife’s career, Justin accepted a position as a corporate
purchasing manager at Procter & Gamble, a global consumer products company
headquartered in Cincinnati. Justin’s day-to-day responsibilities at P&G include:
stewardship of company assets; saving company money; and building
collaborative business partnerships to achieve common objectives.
Justin’s experiences as both a small business owner and corporate
employee have provided him with first-hand insight into the challenges
that confront businesses large and small. Justin’s experiences in the
business community solidified his belief that government can play a vital
role in fostering a vibrant and responsible private sector.
Family Values
Justin, 35, and his wife Amanda have been married
for nearly ten years. Amanda, also a West Point
graduate and former Army officer, works full-time in
corporate sales in the consumer products industry.
Justin and Amanda are blessed with two children,
Caroline (4) and John (3), and live in Liberty
Township, Ohio, where they are proud to call the
8th District and southwest Ohio their home.
http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/index.php?page=display&id=1
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