IHCA CEO + Senior Executive Leaders Conference

David Adelman
Managing Principal and Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs

David Adelman joined Cornerstone’s Des Moines office at its founding in 2010, bringing over 10 years of experience in grassroots advocacy, developing and implementing strategic legislative campaigns, drafting and analyzing legislative language and reports and establishing, administering and advising political action committees. Adelman provides state government relations and business consulting services to a broad and diverse set of clients. Before joining Cornerstone, he worked for a law firm in West Des Moines where his practice focused on government relations, legislative law, PAC compliance and strategic advising, and election law. David continues to secure millions of dollars for clients through appropriations language, enabling clients to secure major policy changes and helping defeat language that would be detrimental to clients’ interests. Raised in Des Moines, David earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University and received his law degree with a Legislative Practice Certificate from Drake University Law School.

Merea Bentrott
Chief Operating Officer, Iowa Health Care Association

Merea Bentrott is the chief operating officer for the Iowa Health Care Association, overseeing the association’s legislative, executive branch, grassroots operations, growth, planning and strategic objectives. Previously, she served as policy advisor and legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Human Services and worked at the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Bentrott holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Gerontology from Iowa State University and has extensively published and presented on long-term services and supports.

Katie Cownie
Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

Katie Cownie is a partner at Dorsey + Whitney LLP, specializing in health care transactions and regulations. She advises nursing facilities, hospitals, home health agencies and other providers on matters involving state licensing, Medicare and Medicaid contracting, regulatory compliance and transactional matters such as mergers and acquisitions. Cownie frequently speaks at industry conferences, addressing critical issues affecting nursing facilities and assisted living programs, such as recent enforcement actions related to nonpayment of nursing facility quality assurance assessment fees, newly enacted CMS transparency rules regarding ownership and control disclosures, the classification of multi-level care facilities as continuing care retirement communities, strategies for managing residents without a payor source, and the development of effective compliance programs. View complete bio here.

Vince Crisler
Chief Information Security Officer, Celerium

Vince Crisler is chief information security officer for Celerium, bringing more than 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity leadership across the Department of Defense, federal civilian government and private sector. He previously founded and led Dark Cubed, a cybersecurity company acquired by Celerium in 2022, and has supported national cybersecurity initiatives with the Department of Homeland Security and Sandia National Laboratories.

Crisler also served as chief information security officer for the Executive Office of the President and in the U.S. Air Force, including roles with the White House Communications Agency and National Military Command Center. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science from The Ohio State University and a Master of Science in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Adam Freed
Partner, Dorsey + Whitney LLP

Adam Freed is a partner at Dorsey + Whitney LLP, advising health care providers on regulatory and transactional matters. He represents physicians, hospitals, nursing facilities and health care trade associations, specializing in licensing, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, credentialing and Certificate of Need compliance. Freed also counsels clients on HIPAA compliance and has represented providers before the Iowa State Health Facilities Council. He is recognized for delivering strategic advice to help clients navigate complex federal and state health care regulations. View complete bio here.

Jay Gormley
Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Advisory, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group

Jay Gormley is chief investment officer and chief operating officer, advisory, at Zimmet Healthcare Services Group, where he leads the firm’s transaction advisory practice. He advises skilled nursing and post-acute providers, lenders, investors and associations on reimbursement, managed care, rate-setting and policy risk.

Prior to joining Zimmet, Gormley spent 15 years leading strategy and planning for MJHS, a large nonprofit integrated health system spanning health plans and post-acute services. He has overseen more than $1 billion in health care transactions, construction projects and financings, and secured more than $100 million in government grant funding. A frequent national speaker, he is known for translating complex reimbursement and policy issues into practical insights for providers and policymakers.

Gormley holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Hamilton College and a master’s in health services administration from the Sage Colleges.

Matt Hinch
Principal and Director, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Matt Hinch is a well-respected campaign and political strategist with over a decade of experience in state and federal government. Before joining Cornerstone, Hinch served as chief of staff to Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. Prior to his role in the Governor’s Office, Matt served as the senior vice president of government relations and public policy for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. While at the Partnership, Hinch developed the concept and spearheaded the successful passage of the Iowa Reinvestment Act, a creative funding strategy bringing resources into entertainment districts throughout the state. He was instrumental in building support for the governor’s property tax reduction and education reform initiative. Previously, Hinch served as chief of staff to Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, as well as legislative director and campaign manager for Congressman Tom Latham.

Larry Johnson Jr.
Director, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Larry Johnson Jr. was appointed director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in October 2025 by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Prior to his appointment as DHHS Director, Johnson served as the director of Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, Iowa’s state public defender and legal counsel to former Gov. Terry Branstad. Before state government, he practiced administrative law in private practice. He earned his law degree from Creighton University and a bachelor’s degree in management from Purdue University.

Jordan Montgomery
Author, Speaker and Performance Coach

Jordan Montgomery is a USA Today bestselling author, performance coach and keynote speaker who works with business leaders, sales teams, coaches and professional athletes to drive peak performance. He is co-founder of Montgomery Companies and is known for helping leaders and teams translate encouragement into measurable results.

His clients include Fortune 500 organizations such as John Deere, Northwestern Mutual and Principal Financial, as well as elite athletes and championship teams. Montgomery is the author of The Art of Encouragement and host of the Growth Over Goals podcast, and resides in Iowa with his family.

Brian Perry
Vice President of Government Affairs, Direct Supply

Brian Perry is vice president of government affairs for Direct Supply, representing senior care and senior living providers nationwide through advocacy in Washington, D.C., and state capitals. He brings more than 20 years of experience in health care policy and advocacy.

Prior to joining Direct Supply, Perry served as chief government relations officer at ProMedica/HCR ManorCare and held advocacy roles with Golden Living and the Indiana Health Care Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

Paige Thorson
General Counsel, Iowa Health Care Association
Principal and Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Paige Thorson is general counsel for the Iowa Health Care Association and principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, bringing nearly a decade of experience in policy and government relations. Thorson joined Cornerstone’s Iowa office after two years in private practice in a Des Moines based law firm. Prior to private practice, she served as the deputy chief of staff for Gov. Kim Reynolds. In that role, she oversaw the development of the governor’s policy agenda and successfully led efforts to enact the governor’s proposals to expand and fund mental health services, build broadband infrastructure, remove workforce barriers and expand educational opportunities. She also advised the governor on the development of the state’s general fund budget and provided counsel on some of Iowa’s most significant challenges, including the pandemic, civil unrest and devastating weather events. Before her time as deputy chief of staff, Thorson advised Gov. Reynolds on issues pertaining to health care, population health and a broad range of insurance-related policies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Iowa State University and her Juris Doctorate degree and Health Law Certificate from Drake University Law School. She was admitted to the Iowa Bar in April 2011.