About Us
Brandon Phelps began his career in government working in the office of the Illinois State Treasurer. Brandon’s passion for public service offered him the opportunity to run for the State Legislature.
He served for eight terms representing the good people of Southern Illinois in the 118th State House District. During his legislative career, Brandon served as Chairperson of House Committees on Agriculture and Conservation, Financial Institutions, and most recently as Chairperson of the Public Utilities and Vice- Chairperson of the Energy Committee. Additionally, he served as a ranking member on numerous other committees including Environment, Health Care Licenses, and Higher Education Appropriations. He also served as the 15th Congressional District State Central Committeeman.
Brandon acted as the Chief House Sponsor of the “Safe Roads Amendment” which was a constitutional amendment that ‘lock-boxed” our state’s transportation infrastructure dollars and guaranteed funding for roads, bridges, and public transportation projects all across Illinois.
Throughout his career, Brandon worked tirelessly to successfully save Illinois’ “Emergency 911 Communication System” and was the sponsor of the state’s telecommunications rewrite that modernized our systems and provided residents and businesses with the latest in telecommunications technology. In addition to his vast responsibilities in the Public Utility sector, Brandon was instrumental in the negotiations that improved our state’s electric and gas infrastructure by making capital investments to modernize systems and protect consumers.
Brandon was also the Co-Chairman of the Sportsman’s Caucus Foundation, which is the largest bipartisan caucus of legislators in Illinois. His work also brought national recognition when he served as an Executive Council Member and was a Past President of the National Assembly of Sportsman’s Caucuses (NASC). During his tenure at the national level, he advocated for the education and advancement of policies for sportsmen nationwide.
Brandon prides himself on his ability to work in a bipartisan fashion, and believes that good public policy comes from being a good listener and skilled negotiator. His understanding of the state’s political dynamics and tenure in the Illinois General Assembly bring a unique skill set that no other firm can match.
Born and raised in Eldorado, Illinois, Brandon received an Associate’s Degree from Southeastern Illinois College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Eastern Illinois University. He is licensed in all lines of insurance in Illinois and multiple states. He lives in Harrisburg, Illinois with his daughter, Hunter.
Patrick Barry co-founded Phelps Barry & Associates, LLC after over 20 years of extensive professional experience in Illinois’ public policy and political realms.
Patrick began his career as a staffer of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus in 1998. During that time, he advised the caucus on an array of political and policy issues. Most recently, Patrick served as Senate Republican Floor Director, where he managed daily business for the caucus, supervised staff, and acted as a senior policy advisor for Senate Republican lawmakers.
Prior to his Director position, Patrick worked as the Deputy Director over committee staff. In addition to management duties, Patrick analyzed and negotiated on behalf of the Caucus on a range of issues and legislation. He worked directly in facilitating professional licensure and regulation matters, state government and transportation legislation, and was the lead Senate Republican staffer on procurement reform negotiations, which led to several omnibus rewrites of the code.
In addition to his extensive experience with substantive issues, Patrick has vast budgetary knowledge having worked on Senate staff as an appropriations analyst, with particular fiscal focus on higher education institutions and related agencies, the Department of Central Management Services (CMS), the State Group Insurance Program, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Department of Insurance.
For the past six years, Patrick held a lead role on the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, monitoring and managing Republican State Senate campaigns, tapped for the role as Deputy Director. In concert with the Director, Patrick drafted and monitored polling and paid media. Previously, he acted as Political Director/Downstate Field Director for the “Dillard for Governor 2014” campaign, where he managed the organization’s field staff for 97 counties in Illinois and various management roles in Senate Republican races since 1998.
Patrick firmly believes in developing an in-depth understanding of each client’s needs to develop and execute a custom strategy. He takes pride in the firm’s bipartisan relationships and trust within both sides of the aisle as these components lend to a unique and talented government relations team.
Patrick is a graduate of the University of Illinois Springfield and Edgar Fellow. He currently resides in Springfield, Illinois with his wife (Amy) daughter (Amelia), and son (Beau).
Jessica Nardulli is an accomplished expert in government relations and public policy, with a proven track record of guiding clients through the increasingly complex legislative landscape. As an attorney, Partner at Fulcrum Government Strategies, and Owner of Jessica A. Nardulli Consulting LLC, she excels at navigating the intricacies of lawmaking while ensuring her clients’ priorities are protected and advanced. Jessica has a unique ability to work effectively across the aisle, building relationships and securing results with members of the Illinois General Assembly and the Executive Branch.
Jessica’s career began in private practice, most of which was spent as an associate attorney with Brown Hay and Stephens, LLP, one of Illinois’ most respected law firms, where she represented clients in areas of general practice, family law, and juvenile law. Jessica has worked in all three branches of government, including staffing roles in both the Illinois House and Senate, and serving as a clerk for Appellate Justice Carole Pope and the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Her legal expertise, combined with her comprehensive government experience, gives her a unique perspective in advocating for her clients and comprehensive understanding of policy development and regulatory compliance.
Jessica’s journey into the lobbying field began alongside former State Representative W. Thomas Ryder, where she quickly honed her skills as a lobbyist and discovered her passion for shaping policy. Jessica’s lobbying portfolio spans a diverse range of issues, including healthcare, transportation, economic development, consumer protection, employee and retiree benefits, environmental policy, elections, insurance, higher education, and more. She monitors legislative and regulatory proposals, analyzes their impact on her clients, and develops tailored offensive and defensive strategies to address challenges and seize opportunities. Her skills in negotiation and legislative drafting have helped her clients achieve meaningful outcomes in a rapidly evolving political environment. Jessica ensures her clients remain informed with weekly reports on key legislative developments. She supports client engagement by connecting decision-makers with stakeholders both in Springfield and on-site with clients.
Jessica is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and Southern Illinois University School of Law, where she contributed to The Journal of Legal Medicine. In 2023, she was named a Springfield Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree, recognizing her professional excellence and community involvement. She is an active board member of The Parent Place, where she contributes to strengthening families in Sangamon County, and the Sangamon County Bar Association, supporting the legal community in her region. Based in Springfield, Jessica balances her dynamic career with her vibrant family life alongside her husband and their three sons.