20+ years

Jerry Usry joined the firm in 2015, establishing the firm's Atlanta, Georgia office. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Jerry was the principal and founder of a successful, full-service, public affairs consulting firm headquartered in Albany, Georgia

Under retainer with a number of corporate, governmental and association clients, the firm established a strong track record of accomplishments with both the Georgia General Assembly and the U.S. Congress. From securing multi-million dollar appropriations projects, to drafting and implementing complex legislative strategies, Jerry has consistently achieved client goals and enjoys long-term business relationships as a result. He has played a major role in the reform of the Georgia Tax Code, a rewrite of state health and water planning laws, new food safety reporting statutes and the establishment and funding of a variety of university based institutes.

Democrat and Republican governors have appointed him to a variety of government policy posts, including the Georgia Rural Development Council and the ACT-ACF Water Compacts Advisory Committee. Jerry has also been recognized by prestigious organizations for professional accomplishments: Georgia Trend's 40 Under 40, Rising Star in Business and Politics; American Society of Association Executives, National Award for Excellence in Government Relations; James Magazine, Top Ten Independent Lobbyists in Georgia; and Zpolitics, 16 power players under the Gold Dome. Jerry is an original member of Governor Nathan Deal's (R-GA) Finance Committee and was appointed to his Inaugural Executive Committee.

Prior to the establishment of his consulting practice, Jerry was a staff director of a major commodity organization and a regional administrator for a state agency. He is a member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyist Association, Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

A lifelong Georgian and a native of Athens, Jerry has a B.S.A. and a Master's degree in Public Administration.

Jeff Hamling joined Cornerstone in 2017, bringing a wealth of experience and relationships in Atlanta, Georgia. Jeff came to the firm after two years as a lobbyist in Dentons' Atlanta and Washington offices where he represented a number of corporate, governmental, and non-profit clients.

Prior to Dentons, Jeff worked at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce as vice president for state and federal affairs. Jeff joined the Chamber after serving then-Congressman Tom Price for over five years. Starting as a staff assistant, Jeff was quickly promoted to deputy chief of staff, overseeing the Atlanta office and various aspects of the federal legislative staff.

Jeff has also been recognized by prestigious organizations for professional accomplishments: profiled in Capitol Impact Magazine's People on the Move, "Rookie of the Year" award voted on by his peers in the Georgia lobbying community, and James Magazine's Georgia's Political Influencers in Washington, D.C.

20+ years

Logan Gray has a unique background for a lobbyist/governmental consultant. For over 35 years, Logan was employed by SouthTrust Corporation, Alabama's largest bank holding company. During that time, Logan served in various capacities including President/C.E.O. for the Lee County/Macon County market for 13 years and the head of Governmental Affairs from 1990 to 2005. These assignments allowed Logan to fully appreciate what state government can do for and can do to a company.

From 1990 until 2005, Logan also served on the City of Auburn's (City) City Council. In that position, Logan was an effective member of a forward looking team of elected and appointed official who moved the City forward economically, educationally, and financially without losing the City's charm and character.

Logan's first run for office ended in a tie vote. This unusual experience engrained in Logan the importance of each vote during an election.

In 2005, Logan retired from SouthTrust and moved to Montgomery to form Southern Strategy Group's Alabama office. Since that time, the office has successfully served its clients at the legislative, regulatory, and local levels of Alabama government. Legislatively, Logan has passed several bills for clients and has been very instrumental in defeating legislation that would be harmful to them. In the regulatory arena, Logan has successfully represented clients before the Departments of Revenue, Banking, Insurance, Environmental Management, Conservation and Natural Resources, the Governor's Finance Department, and Accountancy. Logan has also opened the doors for clients dealing with various city and county governments, making sure that they were in front of the right person who could make or influence a favorable decision.

DOUGLAS STRUYK joined Carney Appleby P.L.C. as an associate in 2013. Doug is a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, graduating from Saint Albert High School in 1988. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University in 1992. Doug received his Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law in 1996 with Cum Laude honors and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in June of 1996. He is also a past president of the National Association of Bar Executives' Government Relations Section.

After graduating from law school, Doug was Chief of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Agricultural Diversification Bureau. After working at the Department of Agriculture, Doug returned home to manage his family's business, Struyk Turf, Ltd. In 2002, Doug was elected to the Iowa House representing Council Bluffs. During his time in the Iowa House, he was elected Assistant Minority Leader and was the Ranking Member of the House State Government Committee. He also served on the Judiciary, Economic Development, Commerce, and Agriculture Committees. Doug retired from the House 2010. In November of 2010, Doug was named Chief Legal Counsel to the Iowa Secretary of State's office. Doug also served as the office's senior legislative liaison. In May of 2012, he was selected by the Speaker of the House to serve as his Executive Officer, a position Doug held until joining Carney Appleby Law.

Doug has nearly two decades of government relations experience including time as a lawyer, lobbyist, and legislator. He has worked at the highest levels of both the executive and legislative branches of Iowa's government. Doug is well known at the Iowa Capitol as a skilled problem solver with a proven record of working with both parties to resolve controversial issues. He was a respected leader in the Iowa legislative process with a well-developed network and skill set.

Sally Kilpatrick advises a diverse set of clients on state legislative and regulatory issues with a focus on healthcare, energy, education and economic development policy. Sally joined Cornerstone's Atlanta, Georgia office in September 2015 and has more than 10 years of experience providing strategic advice to the private sector.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Sally served as vice president of government affairs at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest business advocacy organization. Through her seven-year tenure at the Chamber, Sally developed an extensive background managing legislative and regulatory issues in the policy areas of water, energy, education, economic development and health care. While at the Chamber, Sally served on the Technology Association of Georgia's Government Affairs Taskforce and the Georgia Water Alliance. She managed the Georgia Chamber's Local Chamber Legislative Ad Hoc Committee and legislative affairs for Chamber's Small Business Advisory Council.

She has established strong, bipartisan working relationships with House and Senate members of the Georgia General Assembly and state agency officials. Her industry specific knowledge and key relationships have been valuable in assisting clients to successfully achieve their legislative and regulatory objectives at the state Capitol.

Sally is a current board member of Atlanta Moms Making A Difference and serves on the executive committee of the Georgia Chamber's Government Affairs Council.

Sally earned her B.S. in Journalism at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She and her husband Trey reside in Atlanta with their daughter, Phen, and son, Clark.

15-20 years

Kelly Davis Cress has spent the past twenty years cultivating relationships with legislative members that make up the backbone of effective advocacy. She began her lobbying career as the Government Relations Coordinator for the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. As a contract lobbyist, she represented a diverse group of nonprofit organizations, private businesses, and trade associations. In 2021, Kelly partnered with JM Hughes Group to form Ten One Strategies.

In addition to her professional work, Kelly was a gubernatorial appointee to the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging, past member of Junior League of Jackson and Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland, Magnolia Luncheon Club, Jackson Ladies Tennis Association, Metro Area Tri Delta Alumnae and Delta State University Alumni Association. Kelly spends most of her free time serving at her children's schools and watching them play sports.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Management from Delta State University and is a graduate of the Mississippi Realtors Institute. Kelly is married to Blake, a Real Estate Broker/Developer and they reside in Ridgeland, MS with their sons, Davis and Cole.

Why Did You Choose Lobbying?
Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, I saw firsthand how policies can affect the quality of life in local communities. I love the diversity of clients we get to work with. No two days are the same.

Practice Areas (Specialties)
Offensive legislation
Defensive legislation
Economic Development
501c3

6-10 years

20+ years

Forty Under 40 (2004) Recognition by statewide newspaper of those under 40 making an impact in NH.

President's Award - NH Dental Society (2011)

Extra Mile Award (2014) NH Manufactured & Modular Housing Association

20+ years

John R. Hammond III is co-chair of Ice Miller's Public Affairs Group. As a veteran of Indiana state government, he has helped shape a wide variety of public policy, from tax policy to environmental management, education to tort reform, transportation to insurance and economic development.

John served as a key aide to former Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr during his time as lieutenant governor, as well as serving as a deputy campaign manager for Orr's gubernatorial run in 1979 and heading up his transition team in 1980. He was senior executive assistant for Legislative Affairs and Education Policy in the Orr administration, serving as chief legislative liaison for six general sessions and three special sessions of the Indiana Legislature during the 1980s. Since leaving state government in 1988, he has led the governmental and public affairs programs for several major Indiana firms.

He is a frequent public affairs panelist and lecturer, and is the co-author of the article "Campaigns and Candidates: Lawyers and Their Obligations," prepared for the Legislative Services Agency for Continuing Legal Education's seminar titled, "The Lawyer-Lobbyist." He also serves as a Republican commentator and analyst on Indiana Week in Review, a state wide public affairs news program of WFYI focusing on Indiana government and politics. He has served as an advisor to several statewide campaigns.

John was awarded his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1976, and a juris doctor from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana.

John joined Ice Miller in February 2001.

20+ years

John has drafted, amended and secured passage of more than 100 Pennsylvania laws in areas as diverse as liquor law, dairy products, chemicals, manufacturing, workplace safety, renewable energy and health care/health insurance. He has led coalitions of as many as 350 disparate organizations, and in just one instance, those efforts yielded more than $3.5 billion in funding for conservation, environment, preservation, libraries and zoos.

He served as a spokesman for the Commonwealth during the Three Mile Island nuclear accident and has coordinated national and international news media pools for major events.

With more than 40 years of experience inside and outside state government, John has developed thousands of professional relationships that can be brought to bear for clients. His professional experiences include private and public sectors, businesses and associations, C-level positions and client consulting. Those experiences and relationships cover issues from policy and program development to association management, and from key legislation to state agency regulations.

John Nikoloff has been providing advice, support, and hands on services in public affairs, public relations, politics and government relations since 1972. He is cofounder and President ERG Partners and Pennsylvania Energy Resources Group, serving companies on the East Coast and Washington, DC.

Since 2007, the ERG companies have assisted in development of energy and expansion projects and business development for 32 Pennsylvania companies. In the last five years, ERG secured more than $150 million in government grants, loans and contracts for energy and transportation clients. ERG is focused on providing services, strategic consulting, government relations and project support to firms involved in energy and alternative energy, transportation and manufacturing.

Nikoloff has more than 35 years of experience in energy, environment, economic development, agribusiness, health care public policy and business issues. He served from 2004-2006 as executive vice president and COO of a research and development firm, after 17 years as President and CEO of two Harrisburg-based public affairs and government relations firms. Nikoloff is widely recognized for his experience and unequaled legislative, regulatory, policy and funding successes for agriculture, environmental, energy and business clients.

He has represented more than 50 corporations, including Fortune 100 companies like Kodak, Procter & Gamble, Syngenta, Motorola, UPS and Novartis, as well as state and national business, trade and professional associations. John has also served as executive director of five trade and professional associations and chaired several statewide coalitions on issues.

Before he began strategic and public affairs consulting, Nikoloff served as chief of staff for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. From 1971-1987, John served on communications and legislative staff in the Pennsylvania State House, the State Senate, and in executive positions under three Governors. He served in state agencies as press secretary and director of communications, director of legislative relations, director of policy and planning, director of marketing and chief of economic development.

He serves on the Board of the Penn State Ag Council and recently left the board of the SMC Small Business Council after 12 years. He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations, and the Pennsylvania chapter of 25 x 25. John is active in the American Council on Renewable Energy, the National Small Business Association, and a member of the American Lobbying Association and the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society.

Throughout his career, John has remained actively involved in politics, managing local and state political and referendum campaigns, and on staff for national campaigns.

He received his B.A. degree in political science from Lebanon Valley College.

20+ years

A founding partner of our Alabama office, Carol Brown has spent more than 25 years lobbying and working within her home state's ever-changing business and health care arenas. Before joining The Southern Group, Carol served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Manager of Federal Affairs for the Business Council of Alabama, the state's largest and most diverse business trade organization.Carol has worked on both sides of the political aisle, assisting Republican and Democratic candidates with their re-election bids and developing key relationships throughout the halls of government. A 1985 Auburn University graduate, Carol began her career in journalism covering politics and health care issues for the state's capital city newspaper, The Montgomery Advertiser.Since joining Southern Strategy Group, Carol continues representing clients throughout the business spectrum, including the energy, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as health care providers, telecommunications, and disaster recovery arenas. Carol has excellent working relationships with both the legislative and executive branches of government as well as strong relationships throughout Alabama's business and trade association communities. Carol's contacts include many of Alabama's regulatory agencies, such as the Insurance Department, Public Health, Medicaid, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Industrial Relations, Homeland Security, and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

She has most recently played a key role in working toward broadband accessibility for all Alabamians, a policy initiative that helped garner $100 million in CARES Act Funding for low-income students.

0-5 years