Sept. 15, 2008
The Lafayette Experience extends beyond graduation and continues to impact alumni in a variety of careers around the world, including those who remain in the neighborhood. Phil Noto '72 played four years as a Leopard on the gridiron and now spends his time lobbying in Pennsylvania. Noto has over 30 years experience in government and started his own firm three and a half years ago.
He chose to base his lobbying firm, Noto & Associates, in his hometown of Easton, and for the first time last spring he opened his office to a Lafayette senior and member of the Leopard football team, Luke Schade.
The connections made while a student at Lafayette continue years after diplomas are received or whistles are hung up. John Leone, current Lafayette Sport Network color analyst and the College's Associate Director for Major Gifts, put Schade in contact with Noto when he learned that the Jersey City, N.J. native was in search of an internship.
Noto accepted Schade as part of his office and brought him along to closed doors meetings and to the Pennsylvania capital. Schade spent two to three days a week with Noto, traveling around the state and experiencing the life of a lobbyist.
He capitalized on the opportunity to assist Noto's clients with their ideas and was responsible for researching elements of potential bills. One of the clients that Schade was able to work with was an area farmer who was unable to grow soybeans because the state planted trees near his property, denying his crops necessary sunlight. The client approached Noto's firm in hopes of having the office lobby for legislation that would eliminate taxes for farmers on unprofitable land.
"There was some legislation in California that was similar to this situation and I looked it up in hopes of helping this guy as well as other farmers in the state who were suffering," Schade said. "He didn't feel that he should pay taxes on land that was useless because of the trees the state had planted."
Schade also assisted another client with his medical-based idea for state legislation. The client was interested in creating a mass database of information for patients so that medical insurance would be streamlined. In order to be successful and for the program to reach its potential, those with the idea approached Noto in hopes of getting the attention of state legislators in Harrisburg.
"This idea was at the very beginning of the process and the guys behind it needed the support of the state government in order to have insurance companies listen to them," Schade said. "Their program would create an e-ticket of sorts for medical insurance information."
Schade's research on both bills was put to good use, and the farming bill is currently in the agricultural committee. Should it become a law, the bill will permit farmers who are unable to grow produce due to state induced situations to stop paying taxes on the land.
"Luke got to see a piece of legislation start from nothing to get where it is -- how it went from an idea to how it works in reality," Noto said. "He really got a good taste of local government, what we do in Harrisburg and how we work business to business."
Through his internship experience at Noto & Associates, Schade had several chances to visit Harrisburg and tour the state capitol. He was able to get a guided tour from Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Noll during which she shared a story about the paintings in the capitol building that few other interns learned on their tours.
"The Lieutenant Governor was incredibly nice and while we were walking around the Capitol she told me that the person they had hired to do the paintings was a woman," Schade said. "She was not allowed in the building during the day because it was the rule then, so she was only able to work from night until early morning when she would have to leave before the men reported to work."
Along with history lessons not found in textbooks, Schade sat in on closed door meetings and was able to see rooms in which only members of the state senate are permitted. The amount of history within its walls was not lost on Schade and was especially grateful to have the Lt. Gov. as his tour guide.
Partaking in the state government inspired Schade to enroll in a state government and law class during his final semester at Lafayette, something he admits he would not have done had it not been for the lessons learned and experience of working with Noto last spring.
He believes his experience will continue to pay dividends in the future as he narrows down his post-graduation plans. Still deciding between attending law school and garnering real world experience before hitting the books again, Schade is certain of one thing.
"If I had the opportunity to give a Lafayette student an internship in the future, I would, especially after doing this," he said. "Mr. Noto and I would talk about football and about how Lafayette had changed since he was student. I think we are similar because of our experiences playing here. Our perspectives were different and I think it would be great to see that in the future."
