The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at comingsandgoings@washblade.com. 

Congratulations to James Edward Cerasia, who has started work with the Bediz Group Realtors. He said, “I enjoy real estate because every day is different. I’m always meeting great new people and I never stop learning.”

Previously, Cerasia worked with Keller Williams as a real estate agent. Many in the community know him from his time working for Mayor Bowser as Ward 2 liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. He also worked for the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. 

Welcome to D.C. to Ty Litzelman who is here for the summer. He just landed two jobs as a waiter at both Freddie’s Beach Bar and Federico Ristorante Italiano, both on 23rd Street in Arlington and both owned by the inimitable Freddie Lutz. While he is enjoying his time as a waiter he is still looking for a paid internship in the areas of real estate or finance.  

Litzelman was president of his high school class and captain of both the Cross Country and Track & Field teams as well as activities coordinator of the Spanish Club. He also worked for four years as assistant manager at the Newton, Ill., Aquatics Center. 

He is now a student at Indiana University in Bloomington, and aiming for a bachelor’s degree in business. He is also a member of the United States Army National Guard where he is a Parachute Rigger, Private First Class. 

Congratulations also to Lucas R. Acosta, who is beginning his position with the Human Rights Campaign as National Press Secretary for Campaigns. Acosta said, “I am excited to join the talented HRC team at this critical juncture when 10 million LGBTQ voters are poised to make the critical difference in 2020. Our community has been under constant attack by the Trump-Pence administration, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be on the front lines as we leverage the power of our community to defeat the politics of hate.”

Before joining HRC, Acosta was at the Democratic National Committee where he served as National Broadcast Media Manager & Director of LGBTQ Media. He also worked at Hillary for America as National Radio Broadcast Manager; at Marathon Strategies LLC as Senior Communications Associate; and for New York City Council member Ydanis Rodriguez as Legislative and Communications Director.  

Acosta graduated with a bachelor’s in political science and religious ethics from Middlebury College in Vermont. He was active in the Student Government Association as director of alumni relations and Wonnacott Commons senator.