Brownstein Adds Impactful Trio to Growing State Government Relations Team

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce the addition of Steven Palmer, Chanell Autrey and Chris Castilian to the firm’s bipartisan State Government Relations Group. Palmer joins as a principal, public policy in the Denver office, Autrey as a shareholder in Washington, D.C., and Castilian as a policy director in Denver.

“As businesses face an increasingly complex policy environment across state capitols, demand for sophisticated, multistate advocacy has never been greater,” said Melissa Kuipers Blake, co-chair of Brownstein’s State Government Relations Group. “Steven, Chanell and Chris have the experience, leadership and trusted relationships that strengthen our position as the premier state government relations platform, helping our clients navigate challenges and seize opportunities across the country.”

Doug Friednash, who co-chairs the State Government Relations Group with Kuipers Blake, added, “Steven is a well-respected and trusted advocate with strong relationships in statehouses from coast to coast and across all 50 states, Chanell adds depth in the mid-Atlantic region for our multistate approach and Chris will lead the firm’s efforts around outdoor recreation, which Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade identified as one of its main focuses in its 2025 State of Colorado Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Their addition to our team brings not only decades of experience but also expands our ability to help clients navigate their most pressing issues nationwide.”

Steven Palmer is a nationally recognized state government affairs strategist who combines more than two decades of multistate and federal government relations experience with a strong record of business development and client growth. Palmer’s impactful career has been defined by building bridges between industry, innovation and public policy. He represents organizations ranging from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies across healthcare, energy, technology, transportation, disaster recovery and government services. Drawing on more than two decades of multistate and federal government relations experience, Palmer develops and executes advocacy strategies that align legislative, regulatory and executive branch engagement to deliver measurable results. He also brings more than 15 years of service on the Republican Governors Association (RGA) Finance Committee, reflecting a longstanding commitment to state-level leadership and public policy. Palmer is known for developing and executing high-stakes multistate advocacy strategies that align legislative, regulatory and executive branch engagement, leveraging strong relationships with governors, attorneys general, legislative leaders and other key policymakers across the country.

Chanell Autrey has over 10 years of experience in government relations, public policy and legislative strategy in both the public and private sectors. She advises companies on navigating state and local legislative and regulatory environments that impact their operations. Previously, Autrey served as Target’s director of government affairs for the Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes region, where she developed and executed comprehensive lobbying strategies across multiple states, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio. In this role, she advised on a broad range of policy issues and represented the company before legislative bodies, trade associations and key stakeholder groups. She also led engagement with the Congressional Black Caucus and the African American Mayors Association. Autrey also held senior roles at Starbucks and Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

Chris Castilian brings more than 25 years of experience in public policy and government relations, with a distinctive focus at the intersection of state government relations and the private sector, including the outdoor recreation and energy industries, and draws on his broad experience to serve client needs through the firm. Castilian has held senior leadership roles across government, the private sector, higher education and nonprofit organizations, building a reputation as a trusted advisor to governors, legislators, C-suite executives and boards. His experience includes serving as executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado, building an academic program at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business focused on the business of the outdoor recreation industry, directing external affairs and government relations strategies for a Fortune 200 energy company, leading policy development and legislative strategy as deputy chief of staff to former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, as well as serving on multiple statewide boards and commissions, including the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and the advisory council to the Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation since its inception.