Campaign Team

CAMPAIGN TEAM

Meet the people behind the campaign.

Devon's campaign brings together experience in campaigns, public policy, business leadership, strategic planning, finance, and organizational management.

CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Jessica Griffith Cortwright

Jessica Griffith Cortwright brings extensive experience in campaign strategy, field organizing, voter outreach, and coalition building.

Jessica began her political career working in the U.S. Senate for Joe Donnelly before joining the 2018 coordinated campaign as a Field Organizer, leading targeted voter outreach and field programs across Carmel and Westfield.

In 2020, she served as Campaign Manager for Fady Qaddoura's successful campaign for Indiana State Senate District 30. In 2023, she managed two Carmel City Council campaigns, including a campaign built from the ground up in a district where a Democrat had not previously appeared on the ballot.

Jessica has also led and advised school board campaigns across Marion County, with an emphasis on message development, voter targeting, field strategy, and coalition building. Her campaign experience dates back to John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

POLITICAL CONSULTANT

Jeffrey Thinnes

Jeffrey Thinnes brings a career spanning public policy, law, international affairs, and strategic business advisory work.

Jeff first became involved in public policy while studying at the University of Notre Dame, including work for Indiana Senator Birch Bayh. He later earned his law degree from Indiana University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

He went on to serve with The Aspen Institute in Berlin, Germany and Aspen, Colorado, where his work included designing and moderating multidisciplinary conferences focused on international strategic and public-policy issues.

After additional international corporate work, Jeff founded JTI, Inc. in 1999. The strategic advisory firm has worked with U.S. and international companies on global business strategy, ethics and compliance, restructuring, and public-policy matters.

SENIOR ADVISOR

Brian Thinnes

Brian Thinnes brings more than four decades of executive leadership, organizational management, and strategic planning experience.

An Indianapolis native and graduate of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, Brian spent the final 24 years of his career with Roche Diagnostics.

During his time at Roche, he held senior leadership roles overseeing national teams, major business operations, and annual budgets exceeding $250 million.

His professional experience includes leading large organizations, managing complex operations, mentoring teams, and developing long-term strategy. He serves the campaign as a senior advisor on organizational planning and strategy.

SENIOR ADVISOR

Bonnie Bielec

Bonnie Bielec brings more than two decades of experience in higher-education administration, finance, and strategic operations.

As Assistant Dean for Operations & Finance and Chief Business Officer at Vanderbilt Law School, Bonnie works in financial planning, operational management, and institutional strategy.

Before joining the Law School's leadership team, Bonnie spent ten years in Vanderbilt University's Office of the Provost, where her responsibilities included financial and administrative operations involving multiple graduate and professional schools.

With advanced degrees from Vanderbilt University, Bonnie brings experience in fiscal management, organizational planning, institutional operations, and collaborative leadership to her role as a senior campaign advisor.

Meet Devon Watkins

Jessica Griffith Cortwright

Jeffrey Thinnes

Brian Thinnes

Bonnie Bielec