Discover Calling Through Real-Life Experience

“Don’t use college just to ‘figure things out.” This is Caleb Spencer’s advice to high school and college students. “Pick a degree that leads to a specific industry entry point, and while you’re at it, get out in your local community. Volunteer. Work on campaigns. Those experiences will help you figure out what you’re called to do. Honestly, you’ll learn more about government and politics that way than you ever could from a political science degree alone.” 

This advice isn’t theoretical for Caleb—it’s a path he’s walked. His journey began with a TeenPact State Class, led to nearly seven years in Florida’s state government, and now finds him serving in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Learning the Value of Coalitions Early

“Government is about relationships and building coalitions. You can’t do it alone,” Caleb says. That lesson clicked for him long before his first day in the Florida Capitol. In 2011, he attended his first TeenPact State Class as a homeschooled student in central Florida. 

“I had no plans to get more involved,” he recalls, “but Mr. Bob Chambers, the Class Director, encouraged me to apply for a staffing role. I wasn’t really planning on it, but I said, ‘yes’, and that ‘yes’ changed everything.”

Staffing led to TeenPact’s Staff Training and eventually to national-level experiences. “TeenPact prepared me for a six-year career in state government,” he says. “It taught me public speaking, confidence, and leadership skills.” And one lesson, in particular, stood out: coalitions matter. “I lost a student election even though all the parents supported me. I realized then that being ‘the nice guy’ isn’t enough. You need a team.”

From College Classrooms to Campaign Trails

After high school graduation, Caleb enrolled at the University of Central Florida, majoring in political science and minoring in history. “Looking back, I wish I’d picked something with more hard skills, such as business or engineering,” he admits, “but I made up for it with experience.”

Experience came quickly. Through TeenPact alumna and former Florida State Representative  Jennifer Sullivan Teubl, Caleb became political director for Frank White’s campaign for attorney general. “We lost the race, but I got to be a travel aid. You see everything in that role. You’re in the rooms where decisions happen. It’s one of the best ways to learn.”

Building Influence in Florida’s State Government

After the White campaign, Caleb joined Jimmy Petronis’s run for CFO. “I started as an assistant travel aid, then became External Affairs Director. I managed his statewide re-election campaign and ended up as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Financial Services,” he says. 

“Those years taught me a ton about how state government works and how to manage people and relationships.” Caleb also made a point to give back. “When I was in Tallahassee, I helped TeenPact classes get into the Florida Cabinet Room. I knew how much those opportunities meant to me, and I wanted to pass that on.”

A New Chapter in Washington, D.C.

In 2025, Caleb and his wife moved to Washington, D.C. “She works at the Department of Justice, and I took a position as the sole political staffer in the Bureau of Economic Development at the Department of Commerce,” he shares. “Networking has played a huge role in my career, but so has just saying ‘yes’ to opportunities, even the ones I didn’t see coming.”

Looking Ahead with Purpose

“I plan to stay in D.C. for at least two more years to learn the federal process before going back to Florida,” Caleb says. 

As for running for office, he’s not in a rush. “You have to consider your mission and your life experience before running. People like Chase Brandon and Jennifer Sullivan Teubl ran for the right reasons at the right time—that’s the model. Run only if you have a clear mission and skills you can bring to the table. Otherwise, keep serving and preparing until it’s time.” 

This long-view perspective has guided Caleb from the start, and it’s been strengthened by the people and opportunities God has placed in his path. 

Caleb’s journey also reflects the quiet influence of those who invest in the next generation through TeenPact. Supporters make it possible for young leaders to gain real-world skills, grow in confidence, and form connections that open doors for future service. 

Caleb Spencer’s path is just one example of how your investment in TeenPact echoes for years, reaching from the first TeenPact class all the way to the halls of government.