1. Welcome to the Party

A story.

When Erik Deckers moved to Indianapolis in 2006, he knew one person. When an expected job didn’t quite work out, he searched for another, relying on job boards. He finally found a job at the Indiana State Department of Health.

Erik worked there for nearly 16 months and got to know a number of people in the agency and a few people in other agencies. Rarely, however, did he ever have the opportunity to work with people on the outside. Consorting with the private sector was almost frowned upon, and attending business-related events during work hours was not allowed. Needless to say, Erik’s professional circle was limited to his co-workers and a few journalists around the state.

When Erik left for a private sector ...

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