Stephen is a Government Relations Specialist at K. Callahan & Associates, where he supports the firm's lobbying and advocacy efforts through legislative tracking, policy research, and stakeholder engagement. With a strong background in political campaigns and government affairs, Stephen brings valuable experience in strategy, communications, and legislative analysis.

Before joining K. Callahan & Associates, Stephen worked in several positions at a government and public affairs firm. He has worked in various roles, focusing on campaign strategy and support, research and analytic support, and political communications. He assisted firm partners and senior consultants with developing and executing political campaigns at the state level in Virginia and Pennsylvania, helping candidates and initiatives maximize their outreach and impact. He also served as the firm's head photographer and production assistant, producing television commercials for notable campaigns, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Farry.

With a diverse background spanning campaign strategy, public policy, and strategic communications, Stephen is committed to helping clients navigate the legislative landscape and achieve their advocacy goals.

0-5 years

Will Cousineau joined Cornerstone's Springfield, Illinois office in June 2017. Will comes to the firm after nearly 18 years working for Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, including eight years as political director for the Speaker and the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Will was the longest serving political director for Speaker Madigan and most recently served as senior advisor to the Speaker. Over the past 10 years, Will worked directly with Speaker Madigan to shape, develop and implement the strategy and messaging for the Speaker's legislative and political agenda and the agendas of every member of the House Democratic Caucus. He also developed the implementation of political, legislative and outreach strategies for House Democratic Caucus members and all aspects of the Illinois House's political operation.

During his time with the Speaker's office, Will was involved in the major initiatives that moved through the Legislature over the past ten years, including such legislation concerning utilities, conceal and carry, financial institutions, and civil laws. Additionally, Will was intimately involved in the 2010 drawing of legislative districts, including new districts in the suburban region that have helped House Democrats expand and maintain their majority. While many democratic legislative caucuses across the country lost record numbers of seats during his tenure and every legislative chamber in the Midwest outside Illinois became Republican controlled, Will guided the Illinois House caucus and the Democratic Party of Illinois through a period of expansion and maintained a healthy majority for Illinois House Democrats.

Will's long tenure with the House, experience with message development, crisis management, grassroots organizing and input on political campaigns for offices throughout the state, gives Will an ability to understand complex legislative and political problems, easily digest those issues for members and clients and put together a collaborative and detailed action plan for moving forward.

In 2014, Will and his wife, Macy, adopted three sisters from Latvia. This experience has shaped their family, has given them the opportunity to speak with others about adoption and has encouraged their family to assist others who are adopting children both internationally and domestically. In 2016, Will and Macy's family grew with the arrival of their son.

In his spare time, Will is active in his church and serves on the Board of Elders. Will currently resides in Chatham, IL with his wife and four children.

11-15 years

In addition to the items mentioned in the bio, the years spent in the Kansas Legislature formed friendships and professional relationships with legislators of both parties, their leaders, Governors of both parties, and our Congressional delegation. Those relationships continue. In addition, the years spent at the Kansas Chamber formed lasting relationships with the legislators endorsed and supported as pro-business advocates. Being a past Speaker of the House has benefited me with developing relationships with newly elected legislators I didn't serve with. The heads of several of our state agencies and departments are former legislative colleagues of mine and friends.

Legal Background
*JD, University of Kansas School of Law - 1976
*2-Yr. internship with the Office of Legislative Counsel
*Partner, Reynolds, Peirce, Forker, Suter & O'Neal, Hutchinson, KS - 1979-1984
*Hutchinson Community College Instructor - 1976-1984
*Shareholder, Gilliland & Hayes, P.A., Hutchinson, KS - 1984-2012
*Of Counsel, Gilliland & Hayes, LLC - 2012-2016
*Extensive trial experience in areas of insurance defense and professional liability; handled 100's of workers compensation cases for employers
*Recently completed successful settlement against the State which restored over $3M in fees swept from fee funds by the Legislature and Adminstration
*Currently provide legal services to clients with issues before the Legislature, licensing agencies, regulatory agencies and Boards
*40 Hours of certified mediation training
*Served on the Board of Governors of the KU Law Society
*As attorney/legislator, appeared in Fed. Court both in 2002 and 2012 to defend legislative redistricting maps


Legislative Background
*Elected to Kansas House of Representatives - 1984 - Hutchinson/Reno County
*Served in Kansas House of Representatives - 1985 - 2012
*Served 2 years as V.C. of House Judiciary Committee
*Served 2 years as Ranking Republican of House Judiciary Committee
*Served 16 years as Chairman of the House of Judiciary Committee
*Served 2 years as Chairman of the House Education Committee
*Served as V.C. of the Select Committee on School Finance
*Served 2 years each as Chairman of the House Redistricting Committee during the 2002 and 2012 Legislative and Congressional redistricting
*Served twice as Chairman of House Committee on Contested Elections
*Served twice as Chairman of House Select Investigative Committee
*Other committee assignments included Public Heath, Commerce & Industry, Education Budget and Legislative Budget
*Elected as Minority Whip when Republicans were in the minority and the Majority Whip
*Elected as Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives - 2009-2012
*Served in alternating years with the Senate President as Chairman of the Legislative Coordinating Council and was a member of the State Finance Council
*Executive Committee member, National Speakers' Conference
*Executive Committee member, Council of State Governments
*Kansas Judicial Council member for 16 years
*Commissioner, Uniform Law Commission for 16 years
*Past Member, Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance
*Past Member, Kansas Sentencing Commission
*Past Board member, KTEC
*Past Member Commission on School Efficiency
*Past member Kansas Travel & Tourism Commission


Governmental Relations and Association Management Background
*Hired as President & CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 2012-2016
*Development and execution of annual Kansas Chamber Legislative Agenda
*Extensive lobbying of Legislative members and Administration
*Legal, legislative, and political analysis, member engagement research, public appearances and media interviews
*Upon retirement from the Kansas Chamber, formed O'Neal Consulting LLC in Dec. 2016 to represent individual clients with legislative and legal issues related to the Legislature and State government

Julia Larkin joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in February 2020 with more than 12 years of legislative experience in the state of Illinois. In her role as vice president, Julia uses her skills to help clients in Illinois advance their advocacy goals. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Julia served as the director of advocacy and government relations at AMITA Health, one of the largest health systems in Illinois. During her time in this role, Julia represented the organization's mission with state and local officials and executive agency staff, while also creating and executing strategies to ensure specific policy goals were met.

Previously, Julia served as legislative coordinator to Speaker of the Illinois House Michael J. Madigan for 10 years, where she assisted in the development of a wide array of policy positions and legislative initiatives. Julia has also supported the Democratic Party of Illinois, where she led state representative campaigns, managed opposition research and oversaw state representative candidate recruitment efforts.

Julia received her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science and international studies from Loyola University in Chicago.

Charles Satish Smith brings with him over 20 years of experience in Economic Development, Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resource development and conservation. Leading projects across the globe, including Western Europe, the Middle East and West Africa. Smith's ability to communicate and effectively educate policymakers has been key to his success. Smith has successfully leveraged financing and gained approval for some the most innovative and revolutionary agricultural and economic development projects in the Western Hemisphere.

Over his many years of public service, Krystjan has worked with both leaders in state government and private business to successfully negotiate over $100 billion in bi-partisan state budgets, deliver once-in-a-lifetime changes to Pennsylvania's tax code, significantly enhance funding and educational opportunities for children, expand healthcare access and coverage for all Pennsylvanians and help foster some of the largest economic investments in the history of the Commonwealth.

Callahan was previously a partner at a Harrisburg based government affairs firm. At the beginning of his career he served as the Executive Director to the House Republican Whip and as the Executive Director of the House Republican Policy Committee. Callahan has also worked on the Commerce Committee in the House Republican Research Department and staffed several caucus task forces.

Callahan currently serves on various boards including serving on the Counsel of Trustees at his alma mater Lock Haven University, now Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

A native of Wellsboro, Callahan and his family currently reside in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Erin Loundenslager Kanter has over twenty years of experience lobbying for business and education issues in the Commonwealth. Kanter knowledge of the Capitol and legislative and advocacy strategies are invaluable tools for her clients. Kanter builds relationships based on trust which has been instrumental to her success.

Kanter was included on City & State's 2023 Pennsylvania Government Relations Power 100 and was a recipient of the Central Penn Business Journal's Forty Under 40.

Kanter is a past president of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society and a member of Women in Government Relations and Pennsylvania Association of Government Relations.

Kanter graduated from the University of Delaware and resides with her family in Mechanicsburg.

20+ years

DAVID A. SMITH is a partner in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a ""Pollie Award"" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States ""Public Affairs Team of the Year." Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing. Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (nominated by the Governor for two separate four year terms and confirmed by the NJ Senate) and currently serves as an Officer on the Commission (Secretary). Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush. Mr. Smith also serves as an Officer (1st Vice President) of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and also serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary) of The Advocacy Group (TAG). Finally, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors as an officer (Treasurer) of the State Capitol Insurance Company RRG, the first professional liability company for lobbyists headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College.

Hannah is a seasoned government relations professional with over 15 years of experience in state government, public policy, and health care advocacy. She joined K. Callahan & Associates in 2025 after serving as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), where she led the Department's Legislative Affairs Office and directed legislative strategy and advocacy for programs serving millions of Pennsylvanians.

Before her tenure at DHS, Hannah established herself as a trusted government relations consultant, advising health care and human services clients on legislative strategy, regulatory matters, and advocacy initiatives. Over the past decade, she has worked on nearly every major health policy initiative considered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Hannah began her career in the Pennsylvania Senate, where she gained firsthand experience in legislative operations and the inner workings of state government.

Throughout her career, Hannah has developed expertise in legislative strategy and policy analysis while cultivating strong bipartisan relationships. Her ability to bridge public and private sector interests, coupled with her attention to detail and strategic mindset, has consistently advanced the priorities of her clients and the citizens she has served.