0-5 years

James Magazine Rising Star 2015, 2016, 2017

Stuart Wilkinson is a vice president with McGuireWoods Consulting in Atlanta. Over the past decade, he has earned extensive experience working with both the Executive and Legislative branches in Georgia.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Stuart served as a top advisor to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, most recently as his Deputy Director of External Affairs. In this role, Stuart helped craft and advance the Governor's legislative agenda. Additionally, he has held a number of other key positions with Governor Kemp including Deputy Director of the Gubernatorial transition team, as well as managing then Secretary of State Brian Kemp's legislative and external affairs team.

Stuart began his career in Governor Nathan Deal's administration for six years where he managed the Governor's local government relations program before joining the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities government relations team.

Stuart has been recognized as a Rising Star lobbyist in James magazine. An avid runner, Stuart currently serves as a Board Member of the Atlanta Track Club. Previously, he was appointed to the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism by Governor Deal. He is a native of Sandy Springs, Georgia and a graduate of Georgia College. Stuart currently lives in Atlanta with his wife Kathleen.

Tony Essalih joined Cornerstone in 2011 as a co-lead of the firm's flagship Texas office in Houston. He spent 12 years on Capitol Hill and came to Cornerstone from the office of Congressman John Culberson (R-Houston). Tony worked for Congressman Culberson for 10 years, the last five as his chief of staff. Prior to becoming chief of staff, Tony served in a variety of capacities including legislative assistant, legislative director, communications director, and deputy chief of staff. He spent eight years in Washington, D.C. before relocating to Houston in 2007.

As chief of staff, Tony was responsible for guiding the day-to-day operations of the Congressman's Washington and Houston offices, and oversaw a 15-member staff under a fixed budget. Outside of the office, he served as the principal liaison to the Congressman's campaign committee and provided strategic counsel and advice related to his re-election efforts. Tony's areas of policy expertise include transportation, energy, budget and appropriations. Tony also led outreach efforts and served as an emissary on behalf of the Congressman with state lawmakers in Austin and local elected officials in Houston.

Prior to Culberson's election in 2001, Tony worked as a legislative assistant for Congressman Culberson's predecessor, former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer. Tony's began his tenure on Capitol Hill with former House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings.

Tony has advised and assisted numerous local, state, and federal campaigns. He serves on the board of the National InterFaith Foundation, the Advisory Board for the Houston Technology Center, spent two years on the Board of the Spring Branch Medical Center and was a member of Houston Mayor Annise Parker's transition team in 2010.

Tony was born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA and received his B.A. in Political Science from Mary Washington College. He was a member of Mary Washington's NCAA semifinalist men's soccer team. He lives in Houston and has two angelic daughters, Grace and Libby.

0-5 years

U.S. Senate; U.S. House of Representatives; Illinois Department of Transportation

Before joining the firm, Greg Bales worked for U.S. Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin for more than a decade, serving as senior advisor in the Senator's government office as well as his campaign manager for his 2020 reelection. During his time with the Senator, he oversaw special projects throughout Illinois, and worked as a liaison to elected officials, businesses, community organizations, and other constituencies across the state.

Prior to joining Senator Durbin's staff, Greg worked as a policy advisor for the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was a staffer for former Illinois Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, and he has worked on numerous political campaigns in California, Illinois, and Indiana. Before managing Senator Durbin's recent reelection, Greg took leave to elect Illinois Congressman Sean Casten to his first term in 2018, and served as Illinois state director for Secretary Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential campaign.

Greg's relationships span across the state, including the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Illinois General Assembly, City of Chicago, Cook County government, and in numerous municipalities and local units of government. Greg has concentrated on infrastructure funding, economic development, and earmarks. He has worked with Illinois General Assembly leadership on legislative language to ensure millions of dollars in federal funding for election security were allocated to cybersecurity; managed multi-million-dollar campaign budgets; pitched stories and gone on the record with the media; and lobbied for state funding for public transit.

Craig Holzheauser brings to Cornerstone years of involvement in Texas state and local politics. The son of a state representative, Craig went to work in the private sector after college before beginning a political career at the state capitol in 2012.

Working as a legislative consultant, managing the campaigns of House and Senate members, and serving as legislative director and then committee director of the House Committee on Public Health in his first year of employment, Craig is goal oriented and proven himself to be a quick study. Craig has a keen political intuition and a knack for developing the type of relationships that matter in campaigns, service of an elected official, or success for his clients.

A native of Victoria, Texas, Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science from Texas A&M University.

20+ years

Co-Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission
Serves on Executive Committee of Georgia Chamber
Transition Co-Chair for Governor Brian Kemp in 2018

Mark Middleton, a 1991 Graduate of the University of Georgia's School of Law, has focused his practice on governmental relations, agency procurement, legislative drafting, and regulatory law. He is a partner with Middleton Public Affairs, LLC ("MPA"), and the respected statewide law firm of Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, LLC.

As a former Hearing Officer at the Georgia Public Service Commission, and as the Georgia Department of Education Chief of Staff, Mark brings a broad range of experiences for the benefit of his clients.

Mark has also been politically active, primarily providing legal advice and policy direction to various campaigns and initiatives, including the successful campaign that created the City of Peachtree Corners. In the 2018 election cycle, Mark served as the Senior Policy Advisor and Transition Co-Chair to Republican Governor Brian P. Kemp.

He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

15-20 years

Top Group of Lobbyists and Rising Star in James Magazine

One of four original BR Professionals to support Gov Brian Kemp, strong ties to House/Senate Appropriations, Healthcare and Leadership, Great Relationships with executive agencies and constitutional offices

With decades of political experience working in the State of Georgia and Washington, D.C., Jason Broce owns and leads Terminus South, a government affairs firm representing clients in the construction, education, entertainment and film, healthcare, information technology, tax, telecommunications, and retail industries. Broce has developed strong relationships with local government officials, legislators at the state and federal levels, statewide elected officers, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, for whom he served as a campaign policy advisor and a member of the Inaugural Executive Committee. Broce has extensive expertise analyzing policy, drafting legislation, navigating budget development and procurement, and working with regulatory entities on behalf of his clients.

Jason has held two previous positions in government affairs working in-house for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Georgia Health Care Association. Some of his most proud accomplishments are creating an Assisted Living licensure category to allow for elderly Georgians to age in place and funding increase for kids with disabilities to stay at home in a comfortable environment and avoid costly hospital stays.

Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Jason and his wife, Candice, live in Cherokee County with their sons, Beau and Jack, and three rescue dogs. He graduated with honors from Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia. The Broce family also runs a cattle farm and event venue in Bartow County.

Justin R. Jordan is an award-winning political advisor and a vice president at Cornerstone Government Affairs. Justin specializes in federal and state government relations, and communications.

For more than 14 years, Justin has been involved in guiding congressional, state legislature, judicial, mayoral, city council, county executive and school board campaigns and advising clients and elected officials. His unique background offers his clients an integrated approach to solutions that help them navigate the political arena. In addition to his work with a range of Cornerstone clients in the state of Texas, he also has experience working on behalf of foreign governments.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Justin founded Patriot Group Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, marketing and fundraising. Over the years, he developed a niche of reaching constituency's through the use of unconventional and innovative communication strategies. His entrepreneurial know-how positions him as a national leader in providing strategic advice in an array of political issues including, but not limited to diplomatic relations, pensions, and cyber security.

He has served as a deputy field coordinator for the National Republican Congressional Committee, chairman of the Texas Federation of College Republicans and Executive Director for the watchdog organization, Texans for Ethics and Accountability.

Justin is a member of the Houston Airport System Development Corporation.

20+ years

Kyle G. Michel is a Columbia, SC lawyer-lobbyist specializing in government policy and related law. His background is primarily in lobbying and providing guidance to clients interacting with state and federal government, which he has done since 1994. Mr. Michel also represents clients before local government bodies in South Carolina. He has considerable experience in budget, energy, economic development, and education issues, but also works in other issue areas including criminal justice, healthcare, environment, and transportation. In addition to policy advocacy, he represents clients seeking government contracts for goods and services.Mr. Michel is retained to execute advocacy projects on behalf of clients. This work involves developing policy strategies, direct advocacy with government officials, drafting policy documents, and legislative drafting. Mr. Michel is also retained to provide counsel on policy and political forecasting. This work involves monitoring policy and political developments and advising clients on likely outcomes that affect their interests. Prior to forming Kyle Michel Law Firm in South Carolina in 2003, Mr. Michel was Vice President and General Counsel of Morgan Meguire, LLC, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC. He founded the firm with a partner in 1998 and expanded it to a twelve-person practice before relocating to South Carolina. At Morgan Meguire, he lobbied on behalf of clients before Congress, the White House, and executive branch departments and agencies. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Michel practiced at the firm today known as Dentons in Washington, DC, specializing in federal government affairs. He represented Fortune 100 companies on policy matters in Congress and at the White House.Prior to practicing law, Mr. Michel worked as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate and in the White House as an advisor on personnel matters. Mr. Michel is a member of the South Carolina and Washington, DC, Bars. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University. He graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee School of Law. He and his wife Melanie have four children and live in Columbia.