A LETTER FROM THE CEO
Thoughtfuleffortspropelusforwardandenableustobuildmomentumtogether.
This year, Cornerstone honored nine employee-owners who are marking a decade at our firm, plus three more colleagues who have spent two decades with us. Their impact cannot be measured by a single contribution or initiative, but by thousands ofindividualactionsthathaveshapedwhoweareandhowweserveourclients.
In the coming pages, you’ll see even more examples of how these small actions became tidal waves of change, from legislative victories and media successes to personalmilestones
Together, these accomplishments tell the story of a year defined not just by big wins,butbysteadydedication
As we celebrate 2025 and look towards all that is to come in 2026, I hope these storieswillinspireyoutotakeyourownsmallstepstowardssuccess
Thank you for enabling Cornerstone to be a part of your journey, and making us the bestinthebusiness
Sincerely,
GeoffJ.Gonella ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Clickapagenumberbelowtojumpahead.
OurYearinReview............................................................................................................................Page4
FindsuccessstoriesfromCornerstoneclients
EventsandEngagements............................................................................................................Page6
DiscoverthelatesthighlightsandhappeningsatCornerstone
InthePress..............................................................................................................................................Page7
SeethreeCornerstonemediamentionsyou’llwanttoknow
OntheCalendar..................................................................................................................................Page8
MakenoteofkeydatesforUS CongressandStateLegislativeSessions
CornerstoneAccolades...............................................................................................................Page10
Findthelatestawards,includingcolleagueswhoreceivedpromotions
ColleagueChronicles.....................................................................................................................Page11
Celebrateengagements,newfamilymembersandmilestoneanniversaries
NewTeamMembers......................................................................................................................Page13
Meetournewesthiresacrossnationwideoffices
YEAR IN REVIEW
OurclientAmerica’sVetDogs visitedtheWhiteHousetoraise awarenessfortheirprograms supportingdisabledveterans andthe2027WorkingDog CommemorativeCoininitiative.
WHITE HOUSE VISIT
March2025
OurNevadaclient Entertainment SoftwareAssociation (ESA)defeated proposedprivateright ofactionforcopyright infringementandstops anAIbillimposing sweepingnew restrictionsinthestate
MAJOR TECH & AI POLICY WINS FOR ESA
June2025
May2025
CO-OPS COMBAT HELENE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
OurSouthCarolinaclient ElectricCooperativesof SouthCarolinareceived $11millioninfundingto supportHurricaneHelene recoveryefforts
June2025
JUSTICE FOR YDC VICTIMS RECEIVES RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS
OurNewHampshireclient JusticeforYDCVictims secured$20millioninfirstyearfundingtolaunch statewideinitiative supportingvictimsofthe outhDevelopmentCenter YDC)andupto$80million forthe2ndyearofthe biennium
YEAR IN REVIEW
OurLouisianaclient,Tulane University,securedmillionsinstate fundingtoreopenTulaneCharity Hospital Onceconstructionis complete,thehospitalwillprovide $153millioninannualwagesand support2,460+jobs
TULANE SECURES FUNDING TO REOPEN HOSPITAL
June2025
TheAmericanCritical MineralsAssociation (ACMA)hadasuccessfulyear inCongress TheHousepassed theMiningRegulatoryClarity Act,whiletheHouseand Senateintroducedthe bipartisanSECUREMineralsAct, legislativeprioritiesshaped andsupportedbyACMA
ACMA SUPPORTS CRITICAL LEGISLATION
December2025
October2025
#1 OKTOBERFEST IN AMERICA
OurclientZeecoOktoberfestTulsa becamethefirstback-to-back winnerofUSAToday’sBest OktoberfestinAmericawiththe supportofCornerstonePublicAffairs.
December2025
TheMiracleonIce CongressionalGoldMedalAct wasofficiallysignedintolawto honorthe1980U.S.Olympic Men’sIceHockeyTeam, thankstoourclientthe NationalHockeyLeague. NHL SECURES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
EVENTS & ENGAGEMENTS
CORNERSTONE 2025 OFFSITE
In November, Cornerstone came together for our fall offsite. This event united our 200+ employee-owners for two days of relationship building, learning and celebratingsuccessasoneteam.
On the agenda: a cultural assessment, strategic planning and inspirational words from guest speaker, Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant and nonprofit leader TravisMills.
2026 POLITICAL OUTLOOK
In December, Cornerstone's bipartisan policy experts hosted a 2026 Outlook Virtual Briefing to break down evolving Administration and congressional priorities, including those related to AI, energy, tax and health care Over 200 clients and friends of the firm tuned in to discoverwhat’sonthehorizonforWashington
If you missed this event, you can read the recap onourblogbyclickinghere.
Cornerstone traveled to the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Conference in Biloxi, MS in early December Clients, legislators and friends came together for our annual NBCSL reception to close out the year with a nightofnetworkingandcelebration
A special thank you to all those who joinedus!
WINTER DONATION DRIVE
Cornerstone’s offices in D.C., Kentucky, the Mid-Atlantic region and Mississippi all participated in a Winter Donation Drive. In total, the firm provided dozens of bags of clothing to support the work of six different nonprofits and meet tangible needs in the communitieswhereweliveandwork.
IN THE PRESS
FiveCornerstonePrincipalsNamed 2025TopLobbyistsbyTheHill Congratulationstoourcolleaguesonthiswell-deservedrecognition!
NialPate EconomicGrowth
Cornerstone Principal and Director Nial Patel highlights how The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership is tackling economic, political and workforce challenges to help Louisiana organizations drivegrowthintheregion
Cornerstone Principal and Director Matt Paul spoke with CBS Des Moines (KCCI-TV) to discuss how the 2025 government shutdown may impact next year’s midterm elections in Iowa. Paul explained why kitchentableissueswillcontinuetobeakey priorityforvotersinthenewyear.
CARLOS JACKSON
CHRIS HODGSON
ANTHONY LAZARSKI
SARAH VENUTO
DAVID PLANNING
ON THE CALENDAR
Cornerstonehasofficesin15statesandWashington,D.C. Youcankeepupwithwhenstatesareinsessionin2026byusingthecalendarbelow.
CORNERSTONE ACCOLADES
ManagingPrincipal|Jackson,Mississippi
Congratulations to Camille Scales Young on being recognized by Mississippi State University (MSU) as this year’s MSU Class Ring Tradition Honoree Camille, who earned both her Bachelors and Masters from MSU, was recognized for her distinguished career and dedicationtopublicservice.
VicePresident|Frankfort,Kentucky
Congratulations to Sarah Bowling for being named one of 50 Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government by the Kentucky Gazette Sarah was honored for her “ability to build genuine, lasting relationships across the aisle,” and keeping people atthecenterofherwork Readmorehere.
CELEBRATING PROMOTIONS
Congratulationstoouremployee-ownerscelebratingpromotionsthiswinter! We’regratefulforyourhardworkanddedicationtothesuccessofourclientsandfirm
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
SydneyBlair,SeniorAssociate(DC)
EmilyBroda,AssistantVicePresident(D.C.)
MeredithBrown,SeniorAssociate(DC)
TylerDickerson,SeniorAssociate(D.C.)
ElizabethTeedGriffin,Principal(D.C.)
AmandaKronenberger,SeniorAssociate(DC)
OPERATIONS
DianaBorda,SeniorITManager(DC)
TeresaDiGioia,SeniorMarketingManager(D.C.)
TarekElMehri,ITManager(DC)
MikePadgett,DirectorofIT(D.C.)
MollySmith,DirectorofMarketing(D.C.)
OliviaWelsh,MarketingManager(DC)
TrevorMcGovern,AssistantVicePresident(D.C.)
SarahRosasco,SeniorAssociate(DC)
AndrewSchaeffler,SeniorAssociate(DC)
DannySmith,Principal(D.C.)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AshleyCain,SeniorVicePresident(LA)
YunjeongLee,AssistantVicePresident(D.C.)
KelseySchuster,SeniorAssociate(DC)
MaddyWilliams,ChiefofStaff,State GovernmentRelations(DC)
STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
IsabelBiehl,SeniorAssociate(IA)
LaurenGooding,AssistantVicePresident(IL)
LucyLasseur,Principal(CO)
MeredithMcLaughlin,VicePresident(ME)
COLLEAGUE CHRONICLES
NOVEMBER 14
LaurenMcCayandher fiance,Josh,gotengaged onNovember14 in Washington,D.C. th
DECEMBER
27
DianaBordaandher husband,Yoel,welcomed theirson,ThomasMorles.
JANUARY 7
MaggieO’Boyleandher husband,Tommy, welcomedtheirson,Sean.
JANUARY 21
LaurenTomlinsonandher husband,Brock,welcomed theirdaughter,Blair.
COLLEAGUE CHRONICLES
JohnCrumbliss,JimRichardsandMikeSmitheachcelebrated20yearswith thefirm.
JoeBischoff,JohnBohanan,ElliottFlaggs,MattHinch, MartinHubert,SallyKilpatrick,HeatherMolino,JerryUsry andDeloraSanchezIfekaucheallcelebrated10yearswith thefirm.
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
In2025,Cornerstonewelcomed 43newteammembers,strengtheningourbenchacross ourfederal,stateandpublicaffairspractices Ourgrowingteamreflectsbothwherewe’ve beenandwherewe’reheaded-andwe’reexcitedaboutwhattheircontributionsmeanfor thenewyear Joinusinwelcomingoursevennewestemployee-owners!
MolliCole SeniorAssociate(MD)
PatrickGoldsmith Principal(LA)
MackenzieHansen Associate(D.C.)
JordanHyde Associate(MD)
DanKing Associate(DC)
PaigeLane Associate(DC)
Bill“BP”Pennington Principal(DC)
Cornerstonewelcomedour2026SpringInternClassinearlyJanuary.Thisgroupof23 youngprofessionalsisspendingthesemesterexploringthefieldsofgovernment relations,OpsWatch,appropriations,publicaffairsandoperations. Additionally,wehave10internsjoiningusacrossCornerstone’sstateoffices. Youcangettoknowourinternsbyclickinghere.