0-5 years

Prior work at the State of Indiana and City of Indianapolis

For nearly 20 years, Kate has worked in government affairs in roles with government agencies, professional organizations and non-profits. While in these roles, she has developed strong relationships with both elected officials and industry stakeholders by thinking strategically about the policies, issues and operations that are most likely to deliver successful outcomes. Kate's communications background assists her in ensuring that issues are effectively communicated when advocating on behalf of her clients.

Kate most recently served as Legislative Director for the Indiana Department of Child Services, where she developed the agency's legislative strategy and engaged with legislators throughout the year to pursue policy initiatives. Kate also spent eight years at the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis as Director of Government Affairs, advocating to elected and appointed officials regarding key issues on behalf of the members of the organization. Additionally, Kate previously served as Government Affairs Director for an education non-profit that focused on legislative matters at the Indiana statehouse and as the legislative liaison and communications officer for a department of the City of Indianapolis.

20+ years

Susan S. Gaston, Founder and President of the Gaston Group, is a government relations and public affairs consultant. Susan has been involved in the political and legislative fields for most of her life, having watched her father lobby for the oil and gas industries at the state and federal levels. With over 20 years of governmental affairs and lobbying experience in the United States Congress, the General Assembly of Virginia, federal and state regulatory agencies, and local government bodies, she has created strong relationships and contacts with elected and appointed officials on both sides of the political aisle.

Susan works with her clients to develop successful legislative strategies that include direct lobbying, public policy advocacy and message development, public testimony, media relations and coalition building. She is experienced in running effective, successful grassroots and grasstops campaigns that focus on community influence and earned media. Her clients include multiple professional trade associations, Fortune 200 and 500 companies, and other business interests that span the fields of housing, real estate and development, land use and zoning, commercial fishing and seafood production, thoroughbred racing, technology, telecommunications, electrical generation, financial investments, transportation infrastructure, ports operations and renewable energy.

Susan is an honors graduate of the College of William and Mary with a degree in American Government and English. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Development from The George Washington University. A former intern in the Washington, D. C. office of United States Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Susan is an avid runner, a yoga enthusiast and an accomplished and dedicated equestrienne.

Recently, she was appointed to the Board of Advisors for the Sorensen Institute for Public Policy at the University of Virginia, a high honor for a government relations professional in the Commonwealth. As a member of the President's Advisory Cabinet at The College of William and Mary, Susan works with other government relations alumnae as they guide the College to increased influence in Virginia politics.

An active member of her community, Susan is on the Regional Board of Directors for Village Bank, serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance, and is on the Board of Directors for Agriculture in the Classroom. A lifelong Episcopalian, Susan is a member of Bruton Parish Episcopal Church where her activity focuses on the altar and floral guild. Her previous community activities include serving as President of the Junior League of Hampton Roads, President of the St. Andrew's Episcopal School Parents' Council and a member of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Symphony, as well as numerous volunteer activities at the Virginia Living Museum and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, among others.

Susan is married to Dr. David W. Gaston, Superintendent of Schools for Charles City County and a tenured adjunct professor in the Darden School of Education at Old Dominion University. They have two sons, John, a Naval ROTC Marine Midshipman 1st Class and EMT/Paramedic candidate attending Old Dominion University, and Henry, a 3rd Class Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute. The Gaston's reside in Williamsburg with their Labrador Retriever, Anne Morgan, and their Thoroughbred, Coletrane.

6-10 years

Joshua Borill, the founder of State Capitol Solutions, LLC (DBA "State GR") started working in the Louisiana Legislature in 2004. As a senate staffer for former State Senator Mike Michot, he gained the understanding of the legislative process and built strong relationships with legislative staff, current and former legislators as well as executive state department staffers. Josh served as director of state affairs for six years at a Louisiana government affairs firm. He has over 18 years of government and political experience and possesses extensive knowledge in the hallways of the State Capitol. Some of Josh's clients include Chevron, Port Fourchon, Acadian Ambulance, CAJUNDOME, LA1 Coalition and Lafayette Consolidated Government. Josh serves on several boards for various community non-profits, including LSUE Foundation Board and the Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Josh is a graduate of the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce Leadership Excel and was honored as one of Acadiana's "Top 20 Under 40" in 2013. In 2009, Josh was a candidate for Man of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Lafayette Parish. Josh is an avid golfer and a member of the Lafayette Area Football Officials Association (LAFOA) and the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) as a football official. A native of Crowley, Louisiana, and graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Josh currently resides in Broussard with his wife Tonya Peterson Borill and their three children Reese, Rhyan and Hayes.

6-10 years

A native of Michigan's rugged, beautiful Upper Peninsula, Matt joined Karoub Associates in 2011 after serving eight years on legislative staff for a former State Senator and Senate Minority Leader. He holds degrees from Western Michigan University, Gogebic Community College, and is a 2005 Fellow of the Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) at Michigan State University.

An avid golfer, musician, and NASCAR enthusiast, Matt and his wife Rebecca reside with their son in Okemos.

15-20 years

Brooke Burtnett is the Senior Director of Public Policy at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum.

Brooke has more than 20 years of legislative experience, representing clients on a wide range of issues, including energy, alcohol, gaming, utility and education. Her experience includes roles within state government, the private sector, and owner of lobbying agency Burtnett Solutions.

Brooke began her career at the Indiana House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant. She then moved to the private sector, working for the Indiana Builders Association and later the Indiana Statewide Association of RECs. She then established Burtnett Solutions to lobby on behalf of clients across a variety of industries.

In 2011, she joined Monarch Beverage Company, Indiana's largest beer distributor, as their first Director of Government Affairs. There, she focused on a variety of issues including alcohol, tax, logistics and health care policy. After leaving Monarch Beverage, she relaunched Burtnett Solutions in 2020. Brooke joined Dentons in 2023.

Communication is key in achieving success for her clients. Brooke keeps in regular contact with legislators and decisions makers, striving to educate them on her clients' issues. Brooke has developed solid relationships with policy makers and has a strong reputation of working effectively with all sides in the legislative and executive branches of government.