20+ years

Recently helped a client make a change in state law that cleared up a logistic regulatory burden that will bring back more than $500,000 to the State of Indiana.

19th Star State Solutions is also affiliated with Dentons Law Firm and a proud member of Dentons 50. As part of the Dentons 50 team. Dentons 50 is a full-service, 50-state public policy and advocacy network with unrivaled reach and depth in state capitols across the nation for clients in all industry sectors. Dentons 50 is a comprehensive, centralized resource for groups and businesses with complex, multistate policy matters.

John Willey is principal of 19th Star State Solutions, LLC, a full-service governmental affairs firm. John assists clients in their legislative, regulatory and executive branch lobbying needs. Mr. Willey has over 25 years' experience in lobbying, state and federal relations, crisis management, grassroots advocacy, campaign/political strategy and development of political action committees.
Prior to forming 19th Star State Solutions, he worked for Anthem, Inc. for over 18 years, managing public affairs for the State of Indiana as well as interests at the local, federal and regulatory level. In addition to his work on the lobbying side, he was also tasked with designing and implementing simultaneous PAC and Grassroots programs for associates in all Anthem states (which, at that time, included Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Colorado, and Nevada). Under his leadership, Grassroots Membership rose from just fewer than 300 to nearly 1,400, and Anthem's Political Action Committee tripled its PAC receipts as well as its membership to over 700 participants.
Before joining Anthem, John spent over two years as Executive Director of the Indiana Republican Party, running the day to day operations of a 10-person state party staff and managing the political budget for the 1996 elections.
Prior to his work at the state party, he spent over two years at the Indiana House of Representatives' Republican Caucus, serving as a Legislative Assistant and managing the caseloads of 5 State Representatives.
John has consulted on numerous state and federal political campaigns over the years and served as the Hancock County Republican Party Chairman for eight years. In the summer of 2002, John worked for Conservative David Willetts, MP (Member of Parliament) in the British House of Commons, assisting with the day to day duties of his office.
John has served on the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council in Washington D.C., the Indiana Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Lung Association. John a past Chairman of the Board of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP), and
John also serves on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's Health Care Subcommittee and is a former member of its Indiana Business for Responsive Government Committee. He is a member of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce's Political Action Committee, and a past Legislative Chair and former Vice President of the Indiana Association of Health Plans and is a member of the Government Affairs Society of Indiana.
John is a graduate of the 33rd class of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, and is also a graduate of the Public Affairs Council's 3 year Public Affairs Institute program.

20+ years

John R. Hammond III is co-chair of Ice Miller's Public Affairs Group. As a veteran of Indiana state government, he has helped shape a wide variety of public policy, from tax policy to environmental management, education to tort reform, transportation to insurance and economic development.

John served as a key aide to former Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr during his time as lieutenant governor, as well as serving as a deputy campaign manager for Orr's gubernatorial run in 1979 and heading up his transition team in 1980. He was senior executive assistant for Legislative Affairs and Education Policy in the Orr administration, serving as chief legislative liaison for six general sessions and three special sessions of the Indiana Legislature during the 1980s. Since leaving state government in 1988, he has led the governmental and public affairs programs for several major Indiana firms.

He is a frequent public affairs panelist and lecturer, and is the co-author of the article "Campaigns and Candidates: Lawyers and Their Obligations," prepared for the Legislative Services Agency for Continuing Legal Education's seminar titled, "The Lawyer-Lobbyist." He also serves as a Republican commentator and analyst on Indiana Week in Review, a state wide public affairs news program of WFYI focusing on Indiana government and politics. He has served as an advisor to several statewide campaigns.

John was awarded his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1976, and a juris doctor from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana.

John joined Ice Miller in February 2001.

15-20 years

Recently helped a client get a tax cut, in a non-budget year, one year after the higher tax had passed.

Brooke Burtnett began her career in government and politics as an intern at Indiana State Republican Headquarters, after which she served as a Legislative Assistant to the House Republican Caucus for two legislative sessions. While there, she gained an insider's knowledge of the legislative process and developed strong relationships with House members.

Brooke then took her legislative experience to the private sector, serving as Governmental Affairs Coordinator for the Indiana Builders Association and later as the Manager of State Relations for the Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. for four years. In 2011, Burtnett formed Burtnett Solutions, where she represented clients on a wide range of issues, including energy, alcohol, gaming and education. Brooke then became the first in-house lobbyist for the state's largest beer distributor, Monarch Beverage Company.

As the Government Relations Director for Monarch Beverage Company, Brooke worked on a variety of issues, including alcohol, tax, logistics, and healthcare policy. In 2020, Brooke reinstated Burtnett Solutions.

A vital aspect to effective government affairs representation is building and maintaining solid relationships with policy makers. Burtnett has had a strong reputation of working effectively with both sides of the aisle in the executive and legislative branches of government for over fifteen years. She is in regular contact with legislators and decision makers, constantly striving to educate them about her clients' issues.

Burtnett is a highly motivated, honest individual who works hard for her clients and strives for success.

The TAG network consists of the top lobbying firms across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries and specialty services.

US Members:
50-States
DC Council
US Congress

International:
Profile Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd (Australia)
Tactix (Canada)
Monarch Global Strategies (Mexico, Central & South America)
Kesarev (Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey & Israel)
Instinctif Partners (United Kingdom & the European Union)

Specialty members:
Five Corners Strategies (Grassroots Advocacy & Public Affairs)
FOCUS, a Leonine Business (50-State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking & Analysis)
Select Litigation (Jury Selection)
Bullpen, LLC (Market Entry Strategy)
The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (Social Enterprise Business Development)
Law Offices of Mitchell D. Gravo, Inc. (Specialty Member)

Michael Solari is the President and an Equity Partner of Short Strategy Group, Inc. His expertise in legislative lobbying and advocacy at the state level has earned him a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in the Indiana Statehouse. He advocates on behalf of clients in industries that include tourism, gaming, alcohol, insurance, public safety, financial institutions and automotive services. He also consults with clients who want to do business with the State of Indiana and local governments around the state.

Michael is very active in local and state politics. He is a member of the Marion County Capital Club, and is an appointed Precinct Committeemen in downtown Center Township. Michael was appointed by the City-County Council of Indianapolis to the Indianapolis City Market Corporation Board of Directors. He is currently in his third term and serves as the Board President.

Michael serves on the Board of Governors for the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana. He is a member of the National Association of State Lobbyists and the Indy Chamber.

20+ years

Indiana State Bar Association, Legislative Committee - Past Chair
Indiana Society of Association Executives, Governmental Affairs Committee - Co Chair
CKC Member - Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis
Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana - Board of Directors
Columbia Club

Continual presence before House and Senate Environmental Affairs Committees. Several years of experience with Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

For more than twenty years, Mr. Bennett has represented business interests as a lobbyist before state government. In both the legislative and regulatory arenas, he has become a trusted source of information and a tireless advocate. For the last several years, environmental and energy issues have been his primary focus.
Mr. Bennett holds a bachelor of science from Ball State University and a Juris Doctorate from IU Law School -- Indianapolis.

Early in the spring of 2010 Bennett established a consulting company; PKB Consulting, LLC. Lobbying clients include the National Waste & Recycling Association - Indiana chapter and the Indiana Cast Metals Association. In recent years, Mr. Bennett represented trade associations for manufacturing and home building.

A native Hoosier, raised in Crawfordsville, Bennett resides with his family in Noblesville.