Meet The Team
Our woman-owned firm is composed of professionals who have intimate knowledge and backgrounds in representing our clients, from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. As TPA’s Managing Principal, Caryl Auslander brings over two decades of experience working in and around the Statehouse on several high-profile issues. The addition of Holli Sullivan as Vice President adds a wealth of public and private-sector experience – from her years as a State Legislator, former Indiana Secretary of State, and engineer for businesses like Toyota and General Motors. Jordan Rose, as Director of Operations, ensures that clients always have an organized and direct line of communication to our team 24/7. Madison West is the newest member of our team as Director of Government Affairs and brings nearly a decade of experience in campaigns, association lobbying, association management, and strategic planning. Associate David Berman brings over 50 years of experience in healthcare and insurance policy.
FOUNDER & MANAGING PRINCIPAL
Caryl Auslander
Caryl Auslander’s tenacity and involvement have allowed her to draw on decades of experience at the local, state, and federal levels for a variety of clients. Her first-in, last-out approach means that the Indiana Chamber will never be the last to know. Caryl is sought after for her even-handed, no-nonsense approach that puts relationships in motion to benefit client outcomes.
Caryl specializes in large-scale, high-profile coalition work on behalf of her clients’ priorities from bias crimes to antisemitism, to pre-K pilot and expansion, and an age increase to purchase cigarettes. From small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies, her clients are always at the forefront of each legislative session’s top policy issues. She has successfully lobbied for hundreds of millions of dollars in the Indiana state budget, giving her clients and employers huge wins, year after year.
VICE PRESIDENT
Holli Sullivan
Holli has held both executive and legislative branch leadership positions, including serving as Secretary of State, Indiana’s chief election officer, which brought her to all 92 Indiana Counties. Her roles in the House Ways and Means Committee included terms as the Chairwoman of the Higher Education Subcommittee (2015 and 2017 budget years) and as the Budget Subcommittee Chairwoman (2019 and 2021 budget years), positioning her as an authority on Indiana’s State Budget development process. Additional roles as the Chair of the House Roads and Transportation Committee and in management for international manufacturers have given her unmatched experience in both the public and private sectors. Holli’s experience lends Torchbearer Public Affairs’ clients a unique window into state affairs, especially given her background in business and government. Originally trained as an engineer, she approaches her work with a problem-solving mindset. Holli’s successes include crafting balanced state budgets and shepherding multiple legislative priorities that continue to guide Hoosiers in Indiana statute.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Jordan Rose
Jordan brings over 10 years of experience as a state employee, including over eight years with the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus, into her role as TPA’s Director of Operations. As the Majority Caucus Assistant, she staffed daily meetings of the entire Senate Republican delegation during session. She oversaw the conference committee scheduling process, giving her unique insight into policy-making. She also managed the back-of-house effort of coordinating more than 30 authored bills per session from start to finish. Since leaving the Senate in 2020, Jordan has held several project management roles that required integrating detail-oriented approaches into large-scale, dynamic plans while managing diverse stakeholder groups. Most recently, her work at the state’s Management Performance Hub (MPH) allowed her to work side-by-side with executive branch agencies as they made the technical improvements necessary to support data-driven policy-making at the Statehouse.
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Madison West
Madison West is a seasoned advocate with a proven track record in lobbying, grassroots mobilization, and policy development. She has successfully influenced local and state government policies, driving impactful legislative changes that align with organizational goals. Madison has led advocacy campaigns, managed Political Action Committee (PAC) resources, and cultivated bipartisan relationships to support key legislative initiatives. Her roles have included directing legislative and engagement strategies for the Indiana Credit Union League and local government lobbying and campaign initiatives at the Indiana Association of REALTORS®. With a deep understanding of the legislative process, Madison excels in program development, campaign strategy, and coalition building, making her a trusted voice in political advocacy and policy-making circles. She is passionate about making things happen in advocacy and policy. With years of hands-on experience, she’s worked on everything from crafting lobbying strategies to running impactful grassroots campaigns. She’s helped organizations like the Indiana Credit Union League and the Indiana Association of REALTORS® build strong connections with legislators, navigate complex policies, and make fundamental changes that matter.
ASSOCIATE
David Berman
David Berman, CLU began his career at the Guardian Life Indianapolis Agency and has spent the past 54 years in the life insurance and employee benefits business. David has been active in the National Association of Health Underwriters; has served as past president of the Indianapolis NAFIA Chapter; has served on the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Association of Health Underwriters; has served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana State Association of Health Underwriters; currently serves on the NAHU's Legislative Council; is currently the chairman of the Employer Based Working Group. David's expertise in healthcare reform has led to his appearances on television and radio and speaking engagements for insurance groups. He worked to create healthcare policy while on Gov. Mike Pence's insurance advisory committee. He has served on the Indiana Department of Insurance’s State Insurance Exchange Committee for three years. He’s been recognized with many service and lifetime achievement awards for his impressive career.