Darlington Connects - Dave Huguenel ('03)

We're excited to connect with our alumni through our Darlington Connects series. Today, we hear from Dave Huguenel (‘03), managing director of Go Big Media Inc., a political strategic media firm. He has been selected to participate in Leadership Darlington in March. 

“When we looked at all the places we could choose to live, because of our time at Darlington, Rome just felt like home to us," said Dave. He and his wife, Jody (Milford ‘05), moved back to Rome in 2022, bought a home, and are now raising their two young children here.

Dave came to Darlington as a freshman boarding student from Saudi Arabia. His father worked for Exxon Mobil and Dave spent much of his childhood away from their family home in Louisiana in places like Australia and the Middle East. He loved his Darlington experience.

“I had some really fantastic teachers," said Dave. "Mr. Powell recommended some authors to me that really opened my palate to some new genres, and Mr. Hall, we called him 'Meester,' made the classics come alive for me.” 

Dave was a member of the wrestling team in grades 9 and 10, and played trombone in the band all four years. “I wasn’t too good at wrestling, so I bowed out after sophomore year, but I enjoyed music and was a member of the steel drum band with Mr. King," said Dave. "That was a lot of fun.”

When asked about his favorite Darlington memory, he joked, “I’ll get in trouble if I don’t mention the best part of my Darlington experience … meeting my wife Jody! We were both boarding students and started dating 21 years ago. We long-distance dated after I graduated since Jody is a couple of years younger than me. We married in 2010 and are celebrating 13 years of marriage this year.”

After Darlington, Dave spent two years attending Louisiana State University, but in 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit and disrupted life. He took a semester off and went to community college before transferring to University of New Orleans.

“I knew I wanted to work in politics, and I got the opportunity for a fellowship at the prestigious Institute of Politics at Loyola University," he said. "This fast tracked my career in politics.” 

Dave’s first big jobs in politics were working on congressional races in Texas and Louisiana, where he realized production and media is what he really enjoys. That led him to campaigns all over the country, from New Jersey to Oregon. 

He was offered a job with the Trump presidential reelection campaign and moved to Washington, D.C.

“How well prepared I was for life after my boarding school experience, particularly in developing my emotional intelligence, was one of the reasons I was able to be a leader at a young age," he said. "I credit Darlington for that.”

After the election, Dave took a position with a national political strategy media firm out of Washington, D.C., called Go Big Media. This firm gave him the flexibility to work remotely, which is how he and his family were able to come back to Rome.

Dave is excited to participate in Leadership Darlington this March and get involved with Darlington Connects. He’s happy to connect anyone already working in or looking to work in politics.

“Because I am getting to the age where my peers are running for office, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a couple of Darlington buddies and that’s been really special," he said.

Dave would be happy to talk with anyone looking for internships or jobs in the world of politics. “There is a job out there for anyone who wants one in campaigns," he said. "What is the skillset you enjoy using the most, and there is a place for you in politics.”

Are you a member of Darlington Community (or do you know one) with an interesting career or community involvement? We'd love to spotlight you in a future blog! Please email connect@darlingtonschool.org if you are interested in being featured.