Most 18-year-olds don’t know what they want to do with their lives. But that expectation is often there the moment they receive their high school diploma.
Caleb Labbe had an interest in automobiles, so he enrolled in Manchester Community College’s (MCC) Automotive Technology program. Now at 24, he’s the Communications Director for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, working directly for the Speaker of the House. Cars to politics – his journey is as unpredictable as the campaigns he’d one day help run.
Growing up in Brentwood, N.H., Caleb developed his love of cars through Exeter High School’s auto program before enrolling at MCC, a decision that shaped his life in more ways than he expected as his career interests would take a sharp turn.
When he thinks back on MCC, Caleb fondly describes the community: the friendships he still has today, the sense of being “in it together” with his peers and faculty and staff who were genuinely invested in seeing students succeed.
“The school gave you opportunities to succeed. They were very much involved, and they genuinely wanted to see you get there.”
One automotive professor in particular left a lasting mark. Bob Lott challenged students to work through problems themselves rather than providing the answers, an approach Caleb credits with shaping how he thinks on his feet today, a skill that comes in handy when supporting 400 House members plus media.
A growing love of U.S. history sparked an interest in politics and helped him find his path. After earning his associate degree at MCC, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Southern New Hampshire University and is now working toward an MBA with a concentration in Public Administration.
His role at the State House wasn’t a lucky break. Caleb built his way into New Hampshire politics from the ground up, starting with local State House races, then managing congressional races, and building relationships across the state. Those experiences helped shape the foundation for the role he holds today in the Speaker’s Office.
In that role, Caleb manages press events, writes press releases, statements and speeches, and serves as the point of contact for media inquiries on bills and House positions, high-pressure skills he began developing long before he ever set foot in the iconic State House.
“If you’re really unsure about what you want to do, I think choosing community college is the best path, it’s local, it’s cost-effective, and you really figure yourself out in those two years. I would always recommend going to community college first. If it’s something you really want to do, you pursue it more. If it’s something you don’t, you can always pivot, they offer so many different degrees.” He still remembers taking a welding class at 9 PM at MCC, one of the flexible evening options that made the whole journey possible. These days he’s more likely to be prepping remarks for the Speaker than welding an exhaust pipe, but if you needed someone to do both, Caleb’s your guy.
