ICYMI- Kate Upton’s Uncle, Google’s Adam Kovacevich: D.C. Scene

Bloomberg Business Week
Kate Upton’s Uncle, Google’s Adam Kovacevich: D.C. Scene
Posted March 15, 2013 8:48

Congressman Fred Upton, Michigan Republican, Heather Podesta, a self-employed lobbyist, and Michael Beckerman, president and chief executive officer of the Internet Association. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg

“Bring your iPad!” said Republican Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan.

That was his advice to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which he serves as chairman.

At a party hosted by the Internet Association last night, he said that under his direction the committee went “paperless” two weeks ago. He now relies on the Internet more than ever, and he feels “naked” without his BlackBerry.

He’s also known around town for being the uncle of Sports Illustrated cover model Kate Upton.

“She lives right down the street from me in Michigan,” he said. “She’s got great poise.”

He and his fellow committee member George Holding, a North Carolina Republican, came out to Capitale on K Street to celebrate the Internet Association, a trade organization started last September to work for major internet companies such as Facebook and Google.

Google was represented by Adam Kovacevich, head of competition public policy and public affairs, and Pablo Chavez, the company’s director of public policy.

Chavez talked with Matthew Hussey, an associate policy chief in the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology.

Holding said he likes scouring EBay for old books. “I’m a savvy bidder,” he said.

The legislators were joined by Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York.

IPad DJ

DJ Neekola spun tunes wirelessly from her iPad. The cocktail of choice was the “Dial Up,” a kicky take on the Old- Fashioned. California rolls, which someone in the crowd cracked were “Silicon Valley” rolls, were nibbled from a table anchored by pink orchids.

Lobbyist Heather Podesta, sporting pale-blue nail polish, said her favorite site was Pandora: “I’m obsessed.” Verizon’s senior vice president of federal government relations echoed her enthusiasm for the music site, adding that he likes to work out to its tracks.

Cary Sherman, chairman and chief executive of the Recording Industry Association of America, said he was a fan of Spotify.

Other guests included Jean Roehrenbeck, legislative director for Congressman Mike Doyle, the Pennsylvania Democrat, and Neil Fried, senior telecommunications counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)

Muse highlights include Scott Reyburn on art, Greg Evans and Craig Seligman on movies.

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