Daniel Ritter is a partner in the Public Policy and Law practice group. Mr. Ritter spearheads the public policy innovation and sustainability, and the philanthropic sub-practice groups.

Mr. Ritter's clients include the major Washington, D.C. trade associations for nanotechnology, clean technology and renewable energy, neurotechnology, the U.S. commercial space industry, and clean water and sanitation technologies, in addition to a wide variety of U.S. and international companies in these fields. His philanthropic/nonprofit clients include a variety of non-governmental organizations focused on sustainable development in the developing world and in the United States.

Mr. Ritter works to improve public policy decision-making by bringing to bear the innovation and entrepreneurial expertise of the emerging technology sector and the experience of the philanthropic community in addressing fundamental social needs in sustainable development

He coordinates policy advocacy campaigns, advocates policy positions with federal legislators and administrative agencies, prepares legal and strategic policy analysis, and develops legislation and testimony for Congressional hearings. Mr. Ritter also has experience with the tax rules governing policy activities by the non-profit sector.

Ms. Purpuro is a government affairs advisor in the firm's public policy and law group. She focuses on energy, sustainability, and agriculture innovation policy.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Purpuro served as senior policy advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). She has more than 10 years of experience on Capitol Hill working for Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI) as Deputy Chief of Staff, and for Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI) as Legislative Director. Ms. Purpuro has advised Members of Congress on issues including the environment, energy, tax, interior, agriculture, and appropriations.

Ms. Purpuro has experience with energy efficiency programs including the Energy Star program where she assists clients in developing comments and engaging Members of Congress on Energy Star issues. Ms. Purpuro also works on emissions reduction policy including advocating on behalf of clients for policy to support carbon utilization. Her work on behalf of agriculture clients includes supporting establishment of an Office of Urban Agriculture as well as the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARA) at USDA. In addition to her Capitol Hill experience, Ms. Purpuro served as Director of Government Relations for the American Forest and Paper Association, where she lobbied Congress on environmental and transportation issues.

15-20 years

11-15 years

Jim Monahan has a strong and established public affairs practice that focuses on representing businesses, trade associations and non-profit organizations before state and national governmental agencies. This work includes an emphasis on policy development, legislative advocacy and effective communications.

Jim's professional focus includes energy, transportation and environmental issues. He does work in the healthcare field, with an emphasis on Medicaid policy. In addition, Jim oversees the Dupont Group public relations division White Birch Communications Group.

Jim was elected as Merrimack County Treasurer in the Fall of 2008 and served one term. Currently, he serves on the Concord Zoning Board of Adjustment. Jim is well known for providing news media analysis on topics of politics and public policy. Formerly, Jim was a member of the Independent System Operator (ISO) New England Board Advisory Committee, and a contributing editor to the political website Primary Diner.

6-10 years

Kelly Wright joined the Cornerstone Mississippi team as a vice president in December 2023.

Kelly brings over a decade of experience in government relations, showcasing a diverse skillset and proven ability to navigate the intricacies of both state and federal legislative landscapes. In her most recent role as the director of government affairs at the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA), she actively engaged with state legislators to advocate for key issues relevant to the MMA. Kelly's responsibilities included monitoring committee meetings and floor actions, preparing detailed position papers on legislation and establishing crucial relationships.

Additionally, Kelly maintained membership activities at MMA, where she oversaw the policy and government affairs committees. She served as a liaison between member companies and various state agencies, ensuring open lines of communication and facilitating collaboration. Notably, Kelly demonstrated her leadership abilities by managing the MMA PAC. She identified candidates aligned with MMA's mission and made recommendations to the MMA PAC Board.

Kelly holds a bachelor's degree in history and psychology from the University of Mississippi.

20+ years

Recipient of the Phoenix Business Journal's Forty-Under-40 Award (Class of 2006)

Goodman previously served on the Arizona Constable Ethics, Standards and Training Board, appointed by Governor Jan Brewer. He is a past chairman of the Arizona Board of Athletic Trainers, serving two terms.

For over a quarter of a century, Stuart Goodman has been serving public and private sector clients at the State Capitol and local governments throughout Arizona.Having prior service in state and local government, Goodman possesses significant experience in the practices of Arizona government with a wide-ranging focus on state agencies, regulatory boards and gubernatorial and legislative process and operations.

Prior to establishing the firm in July 2000, Goodman served as a senior policy advisor to former Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull. During his tenure in the Hull Administration, he provided policy and management advice for 47 cabinet level and regulatory agencies within state government.

Before joining the Hull Administration, Goodman directed the City of Glendale's Intergovernmental Relations program. He also served as the principal policy advisor to Mayor Elaine Scruggs and the City Manager for state and regional issues. In addition to serving the interests of elected officials, Goodman has also directed the legislative and media programs for the Arizona Department of Administration and was the associate director of government affairs for the Arizona Multihousing Association.

Goodman has contributed his talents to a number of civic causes and is a past president of Public Affairs Professionals of Arizona. He is a recipient of the Phoenix Business Journal's Forty-Under-40 Award (Class of 2006). Continuing his commitment to public service, Goodman received his commission in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1999 and served honorably through 2009. In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lieutenant Goodman served as a Division Officer in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean aboard the aircraft carrier USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64).

Goodman holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master of Public Administration, both from Arizona State University. He also completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.As a Phoenix native, Goodman survives the Arizona sun by playing ice hockey in two local leagues.

Goodman and his wife, Liz, live in Central Phoenix and have four children along with an Italian Greyhound.

Elliott Flaggs joined Cornerstone's Jackson office in October 2015. He most recently served as a special assistant attorney general with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office in the capacity of legislative liaison for Attorney General Jim Hood and director of the Child Desertion Unit. His responsibilities included analyzing and advocating legislation impacting state citizens and the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, advising the executive staff on legislative strategies, and making recommendations regarding legislative proposals. He also prosecuted parents for child neglect and abandonment in the Public Integrity Division.

Prior to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, Elliott attended Mississippi State University where he received a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering (B.A., 2007). After graduation, he was accepted into the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation - Walmart Emerging Leaders Program where he worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for Congressman G.K. Butterfield (North Carolina - District 1). Subsequently, he attended The University of Mississippi School of Law and graduated cum laude (J.D., 2012). During law school, he was a member of the Mississippi Law Journal and Dean's Leadership Council while also serving as a Law School Student Body Senator.

Furthermore, Elliott is an active member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Jackson Young Lawyers, Magnolia Bar Association, the Charles Clark Inn of Court and Jackson Professional Group. He is an incorporator and board member of The First Tee of Central Mississippi in Jackson, MS. He is also a 2015-16 graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson and now serves on their board of directors. In addition, Elliott has been recognized as an American Cancer Society - Best Dressed Jackson honoree as a result of his community service efforts and by the Clarion Ledger as a Top Politician and Politico Under 35 in Mississippi.

Elliott and his wife, Brittany, reside in Madison, MS with their daughter, Lianne.

0-5 years

Brendan began working at The Dupont Group in 2022 and has been working in New Hampshire politics for several years. He has a wide range of experiences on two Congressional Campaigns, including Steve Negron's 2018 run as a field staffer, and George Hansel's 2022 run as a deputy campaign manager. In the 2020-2021 academic year, he served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Federation of College Republicans, leading the organization's first digital campaign for down-ballot races.

In addition to his work here in the Granite State, Brendan has experience with advocacy at the national level. In 2021, he was an intern for the American Conservation Coalition, where he made contributions to The Natural Solutions Report, and assisted in the development of several courses in ACC's Market Environmentalism Academy.

Brendan earned his BA in Politics from Saint Anselm College in May 2021, and in May 2025, earned his Masters' in Public Administration from the UNH Carsey School of Public Polic

RYAN KILPATRICK is a founding partner at AI. Prior to helping launch AI, Ryan was a partner at FKG Consulting. In his role at AI, Ryan Kilpatrick develops and implements public affairs strategies for clients at the state and municipal levels. Past projects include helping to pass a statewide cigarette tax increase, working to facilitate agreement between auto insurers and transportation network companies in Oklahoma, and efforts to modernize Oklahoma's alcohol laws. He also co-chairs the policy committee for the Oklahoma Turning Point Council, a group that seeks to improve health outcomes through community partnerships.

Ryan previously worked on legislative and statewide campaigns and worked in Washington, DC for Congressman Tom Cole. Ryan graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio. His community involvement includes Leadership Oklahoma City's LOYAL Class X, the Downtown Club of OKC, Big Brothers Big Sisters and coaching volleyball for the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League. Ryan is a sports fanatic; you can catch him and his wife Mary Ellen at an OKC Thunder or Energy FC game.

He is nationally ranked for government relations by Chambers USA (2015-2019)

Mr. Crowley represents financial services providers, institutional investors and trade associations on a broad range of policy issues including accounting & financial reporting, broker-dealer & securities trading, commodities & futures, consumer finance & mortgage banking, corporate governance, cyber security, data privacy, debt collection, depository institutions, derivatives & securitization, financial technology, hedge funds, insurance, international trade, investment management, and retirement security & pensions. He leads the firm's global financial services policy practice and facilitates coordination among these practice areas on behalf of the firm's policy clients in Brussels, London, Washington, DC, and other financial policy centers. He also advise clients on campaign finance, government ethics and congressional investigations

Prior to joining K&L Gates as partner in September 2008, for five years Mr. Crowley was chief government affairs officer at the Investment Company Institute, the national association of the mutual fund industry. Previously, Mr. Crowley was vice president and managing director, Office of Government Relations, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ). He joined NASDAQ after managing government relations during the spin-off of NASDAQ from its former parent, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD, n/k/a FINRA). Before joining NASD as vice president, Governmental Affairs, Mr. Crowley served as general counsel, Office of Speaker Newt Gingrich; general counsel, Committee on House Oversight (Bill Thomas, Chairman); and minority counsel, Committee on House Administration (Bill Thomas, Ranking Member). From 1995 to 2001, he also was general counsel to the Young Republican National Federation, Inc. Following the historic 1994 election, he served as counsel to the House Republican Transition Team for personnel and restructuring issues. Crowley began his career as counsel to the Montgomery County delegation to the Maryland State Senate.

11-15 years

Cliff Rothenstein has more than 30 years of congressional and federal executive experience. Prior to joining K&L Gates, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In this capacity, Mr. Rothenstein worked on a daily basis with the FHWA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). During Mr. Rothenstein's tenure at FHWA, he led the development and advocacy efforts on legislation to reauthorize the nation's surface transportation law where he played a significant role in developing and recommending to the FHWA Administrator and to other DOT executives proposed changes to the law to streamline project delivery and expand investments in highways, bridges, and multimodal transportation projects. Mr. Rothenstein also coordinated FHWA's discretionary grant programs that fund highway and bridge improvement projects and managed FHWA's relationships with Congress on highway-specific projects and issues. In addition to his tenure at FHWA, Mr. Rothenstein served as a senior advisor on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee which has jurisdiction over environment and surface transportation issues. He led the Committees efforts on the reauthorization of Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Mr. Rothenstein also served for 20 years at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including as the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Director of the Office of Underground Storage Tanks. He has represented clients at the intersection of environmental, energy, transportation, and infrastructure policy and regulation, including advising clients on Superfund, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Acts, the Water Resources Development Act, and the Clean Air and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts; National Environmental Policy Act strategies for major transportation and energy infrastructure projects; funding opportunities including TIGER grant funding; and issues related to tolling of interstates.

Manning joined Cornerstone in May of 2023 following his time at Watkins & Eager PLLC, where he served as a Government Affairs Advisor. Based in Jackson, Manning supports clients at the state and federal level, specifically with infrastructure, community development, public safety, workforce development, Corps of Engineers and other issues areas.

In his previous role, he helped secure state appropriations for projects and pursued federal earmark requests, successfully advocating for tens of millions of dollars for clients. Additionally, he worked on a variety of issues including tax policy, business regulations, and federal and state regulatory approval for complex, large scale projects.

Prior to this, Manning held different roles with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), his last one being the Chief of Federal Affairs and Strategic Priorities, where he worked directly with the governor and his staff to support economic development. Manning was a member of the executive committee of the state's lead economic and community development agency advancing the state's priorities on a variety of federal issues including aerospace, military spending and base/mission realignment, infrastructure and defense sector recruitment.

While at the MDA he also directed the activities of six division directors with a wide variety of responsibilities from strategic policy development, community development and federal regulatory compliance, in addition to coordinating the inter-governmental affairs of the agency, including working closely with the Office of the Governor, statewide elected officials, other state executive agencies, the state legislature and the federal Congressional delegation.

Manning holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi.

15-20 years

Drew Maddox joined the Cornerstone Mississippi team in February 2020 as a vice president with more than 10 years of experience in finance and education policy. Previously, Drew served as the chief financial officer of the Mississippi Department of Revenue, where he oversaw all administrative divisions of the department, including accounting, communications, processing, information technologies and logistics. As CFO, Drew also worked closely with state legislators and statewide elected officials to guide tax policy decisions, liquor laws, and revenue-generating activities.

Prior to his time at the Department of Revenue, Drew also worked as director of state engagement at EdBuild, where he used his knowledge of political and governmental structures to strategically place educational reform proposals in the best positions for success in state legislatures across the country. Drew has also worked at the Mississippi Legislative Budget Office as the Senate budget officer, where he worked closely with leadership to craft and pass balanced budgets.

Drew received his Bachelor of Arts in English literature and his Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Drew enjoys spending time with his wife and two children (Sam and Bee), baseball, and gardening.