6-10 years

Brian serves as a senior vice president for McGuireWoods Consulting's state government affairs group in Columbia, South Carolina. Brian represents clients before the state legislature, local governments and executive branch agencies.

Representing a diverse group of clients on a range of issues including energy, transportation, education, alcohol, retail and non-profit advocacy, Brian has helped pass legislation related to emerging transportation, alcoholic beverage control laws and the energy industry. He has extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive government, grassroots and public affairs strategies for his clients.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Brian worked on a number of political and grassroots campaigns, and worked for Congressman Joe Wilson in his district office. Upon graduation from The Citadel, Brian took a commission in the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion and served as the unit's Tactical Intelligence Officer. He is currently a Captain in the South Carolina Army National Guard and serves as the legislative liaison.

Brian lives in Columbia with his wife, where they are raising their two daughters.

Patrick Love joined Cornerstone in January 2025 after serving as an Attorney Analyst for the Georgia Senate Office of Policy and Legislative Analysis, where he supported standing committees by reviewing all assigned legislation, advising chairs on parliamentary procedures and conducting requested research for senators, leadership and staff.

Prior to that, Patrick served as a Budget and Policy Analyst for the Georgia House Budget and Research Office where he staffed the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee which oversees the state's universities, colleges and scholarship programs. In that role, he also staffed the House standing committees on Defense and Veteran Affairs and Science and Technology. Patrick's experiences also include serving as a Legal Services Worker for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Legal Extern for the Georgia Department of Law and Legal Extern for Georgia Senate Office of the Democratic Leader.

He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from University of Texas at Dallas.

15-20 years

Charlene Puchalla serves as an Assistant Vice President in Cornerstone's Atlanta, GA office, assisting the firm's government relations team with client service activities including conducting research and providing updates on state legislative matters and diverse regulatory issues.

Charlene joins Cornerstone following her time at Wellstar Health System, where she held multiple positions, most recently serving as a Government Relations Specialist. In this role, she developed and managed relationships with elected officials and key staff in Georgia at the local, state and federal levels, while assisting in developing and recommending legislative priorities and goals. Charlene gained invaluable experience summarizing and interpreting the impact of legislation and preparing legislative summaries, regular communications and presentations. She also served as a Legal Assistant of Government Relations at Wellstar.

Prior to Wellstar, Charlene served as a scheduler and field representative for Representative Tom Price (R-GA) for more than seven years. She began her career as a legislative and research aid in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Charlene earned her bachelor's with a concentration in public administration from Shippensburg University.

0-5 years

Sara joined McGuireWoods Consulting after six years with the SC Association of REALTORS as their director of political affairs. In that capacity, she managed the SC REALTORS Political Action Committee Board of Trustees, fundraising, finances, disbursements, ethics reporting, independent expenditure campaigns, and public policy campaigns.

Prior to that she served as executive assistant/scheduler to U.S. Congressman Tom Rice in Washington, DC. Her previous experience also includes campaign fundraising for multiple members of the South Carolina General Assembly and members of Congress.

Sara has a public relations degree from the University of South Carolina and is currently pursuing her Master's in business administration at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

Lawrence Bell joined Cornerstone in February 2023 from Sen. Warnock's (D-GA) office where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. Lawrence joined the Senator's office after serving as an Advisor and Chief of Staff for the Warnock for Georgia Senatorial campaign in the 2020 special election. His leadership role on that campaign led to a historic victory electing the state's first Black United States senator.

Prior to joining the Warnock campaign, Lawrence worked in the Atlanta office of a large law and lobbying firm. There, he represented some of the country's largest corporations, working with state and local elected officials to help shape public policy and regulations across a variety of industries. His role at the firm also included community engagement, helping the organization develop and implement its philanthropic strategy to maximize the firm's impact in the community.

Lawrence has volunteered with numerous organizations including Big Brother Big Sister, Yes Atlanta and Urban League of Greater Atlanta-Young Professionals, among others. He has served on the advisory board for the Young Adult Guidance Center, and the Atlanta Chapter of National Black MBA. He also served on the board for Groundwork Atlanta, a non-profit focused on environmental sustainability and was a Trustee at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he is still a member. Lawrence was recognized in Southern Journal Magazine as one of their 14 under 40. He received his master's from Georgia State University and his bachelor's from Clark Atlanta University.

0-5 years

Before joining the GSL team, Elizabeth worked as a registered lobbyist in Harrisburg. She assists the GSL team in communications and public affairs strategy, design and delivery.

Elizabeth attended Penn State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. Elizabeth was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.

Elizabeth is an avid golfer and volunteers with LPGA*Girls Golf USA in the Central Pennsylvania area. She is also a member of the Harrisburg Young Professionals.

11-15 years

0-5 years

John brings 24 years of strategic experience in shaping legislative, budgetary, and regulatory policy in the Commonwealth. He most recently served three terms as Pennsylvania State Senator for Senate District 14 in Carbon and Luzerne Counties, where he earned a reputation as a consensus-builder and accomplished notable community and economic development objectives. John was Chairman of the Senate Community and Economic Development Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Aging and Youth Committee and minority Chairman of the Senate Environmental and Energy Resource Committee, a role he held for nearly a decade. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served the 119th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 12 years.

Across his senatorial tenure, John managed multiple community and economic development projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania that transformed the region into one of the leading economic development areas in the country. He forged coalitions with labor groups, such as the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, and business groups, including the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, to advance the Local Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit, the Pennsylvania EDGE Tax Credit and the Sales and Use Tax Exemption for computer data center development.

John also worked with the Earth Conservancy to reclaim thousands of acres of mine-scarred lands and set the stage for national developers, like NorthPoint Development, who have invested $1 billion to create 8,000 new jobs in the South Valley of Luzerne County.

Throughout his career, he worked with Republicans and Democrats to author laws to support veterans (Sgt. Sherwood Baker Act), protect seniors (Senior Citizens Full Benefits Act), support law enforcement (Officer John Wilding Law), improve our environment (Coal Refuse Energy and Reclamation Tax Credit) and expand educational opportunities (SHINE Afterschool Program).

Affiliations
• The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, Member, 2011-2019
• The Luzerne Foundation, Executive Board Member, 2001-2017
• The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Executive Board Member, 2011-2015
• The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Executive Board Member, 2009-2010
• Osterhout Free Library, Director of Development, 1995-1998
• The Earth Conservancy, Board of Directors, 2022-Present
• The Pennsylvania Tuition Account Advisory Board, 2022-Present

Recognition
• Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries Elected State Official of the Year
• Children's Service Center Commitment to Children Award
• North Branch Land Trust Community Stewardship Award
• Pennsylvania Health Care Association Legislative Champion
John is the founder of the Yudichak Family Lighthouse Fund of the Luzerne Foundation, a charity that has donated over $250,000 to public libraries, college scholarships, and youth programs.

Credentials
Education
• The Pennsylvania State University, M.A.
• The Pennsylvania State University, B.A.

6-10 years

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.

11-15 years

Shalamar Parham joined Cornerstone in January 2025 after serving as a Senior Policy Analyst with GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group, where she lobbied and advocated on client issues and analyzed legislation to support client needs.

Prior to that, Shalamar served as Policy Manager/Legal Counsel for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus, where she provided policy advice, drafted legislation, and led a team of nine in summarizing over 1,000 bills. Her experience also includes serving as Chief of Staff for former Georgia State Representative Erick Allen (D-GA), overseeing legislative strategies, managing staff, and coordinating with leadership.

In addition to her public policy expertise, Shalamar has an extensive legal background. She worked as the Managing Attorney at her own firm - Parham Law Firm, LLC, where she managed active cases, recruited and developed legal teams, and handled firm operations for more than a decade.

She holds a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Valdosta State University.

Launched Cornerstone's 13th state office in South Carolina

Former Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel for the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee

15-20 years

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.