Governors

Katie justak
​President

Katie Justak has spent more than two decades at the intersection of strategic communications and political leadership. As the current President of The Lincoln Series, she heads Illinois' premier organization for mentoring and training Republican women to run for office. Since joining the board in 2018, Katie has been instrumental in modernizing the organization's digital presence and expanding its educational programming, drawing on her own experience as a 2009 Fellow of the leadership program.

Katie's political acumen is backed by a professional background in public relations. She began her career at global firms Edelman and GolinHarris, where she managed complex media campaigns for healthcare and consumer companies, including Roche Diagnostics and Pharmacia. This expertise in messaging proved vital during the 2022 election cycle for Illinois Republican candidates on federal, state and local levels.

Katie was elected as an Alternate Delegate for Marco Rubio in 2016—earning the highest vote count of any candidate in her district—and later served as the Lyons Township Republican Committeeperson. In 2024 she was elected as a Delegate for Nikki Haley and represented her campaign at an Iowa Caucus.  Her ability to bridge the gap between national strategy and grassroots organizing is further evidenced by her work as a General Consultant for Victory Media Group, where she coordinated scheduling and logistics for high-profile guests on the Jenny Beth podcast, hosted by Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots and named one of Time Magazine's Most Influential Leaders in 2010.

Closer to home, Katie is a dedicated advocate for La Grange. She balanced family life with civic roles, having served as chair of the Citizens' Council of La Grange and vice chair of the Village's 2020 Advisory Panel. Whether serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop or overseeing initiatives and committees, Katie's work is defined by a commitment to service and the empowerment of the next generation of leaders.
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For Katie, public service is a lifelong calling that began at age seven, walking precincts in New Lenox (Will County) alongside her father, and remains committed to building a stronger Illinois for her children. Katie holds a B.A. in Speech Communications from Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN) and is earning her master in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame. She resides in La Grange (Cook County) with her husband, Mel, and their four children.

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​JO CAULKINS​
​1ST VICE PRESIDENT

As a member of The Lincoln Series Board of Governors, Jo Caulkins welcomes the opportunity to share her enthusiasm and passion for politics with the future leaders of Illinois. She became active in politics while attending Eastern Illinois University, where she earned a bachelor’s of science in Early Childhood Education. Later, she also earned a certification in Community Arts Management from Sangamon State University.

Overtime Jo has worked on national, state and local campaigns, but it’s her passion for her community that helped her develop an extensive network due to her involvement in local causes and organizations. She was active as a Rotarian, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, and Limitless Ambassador. She has served as a board member of the following organizations: Macon County Republican Women, Decatur Area Arts Council, Gallery 510, Obesity Prevention Coalition, Keep Macon County Beautiful, Keep IL Beautiful, Beautify Decatur Coalition, The Garden Club of Decatur, and the American Association of University Women. She continues her involvement by volunteering at the Salvation Army, Macon County Animal Shelter and Decatur Day Care Center.

She received the following honors for her dedication to her community: YWCA Woman of Excellence Community & Social Service Award, Outstanding Neighborhood Achievement from the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations, Herald & Review Newspaper “40 over 40” Award, and the Illinois PTA Golden Apple Award.

​Jo enjoyed a 20-year career in education, spanning pre-k through college. Simultaneously, she established and managed three highly successful retail stores. Upon retirement from retail, Jo worked part-time for the next 10 years in diverse and rewarding fields as the Decatur Area Arts Council Special Projects Coordinator, an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at Millikin University, University of Illinois Extension in Economic Development, and executive director of the Macon County Health Foundation.

She resides in Decatur with her husband of 49 years, Illinois State Representative Dan Caulkins and their cats, Puss’n Boots.

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​​JILLIAN BERNAS
SECRETARY

Jillian Bernas is an elected official and active in local government in her hometown. She is a former educator who earned her BA in Spanish and Secondary Education from Saint Mary’s College and her MEd from the University of Notre Dame and learned the best way to learn something is to do it. She hopes to share with other women the lessons she learned working on various campaigns and as a candidate herself.
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As a teacher, Jillian taught both middle school Spanish and English in the United States and abroad. Interested in transitioning her career to policy work, she returned to graduate school for an AM/MPP from the University of Chicago/University of Chile and had been working in international relations until accepting a job closer to home with the recent arrival of her daughter. She currently drives the external affairs strategy for a local company.  
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Jillian serves her community as a Trustee on the Schaumburg Township District Library Board, Chair of the Township of Schaumburg Mental Health Committee, a volunteer ESL teacher at her church in Schaumburg and as a member of her local Rotary Club. She lives in Schaumburg with her husband, Angel, and children,  Patricia and Angelito.

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LAURA KOTELMAN
​TREASURER

ABBY MCCARTHY
GOVERNOR

​Abby McCarthy (Alumna '22) is a Michigan native, with a passion for local politics. Before joining the Illinois Senate Republicans as a Member Engagement Coordinator, she worked a variety of campaigns throughout Illinois and Michigan. 

When she moved to Illinois, the Lincoln Series was instrumental in giving her the confidence and resources to become a fierce advocate for conservative voices in Illinois. She looks forward to passing that same experience on to future Lincoln Series classes. 

In addition to her service on the Lincoln Series Board she is also active in her community through her membership in her local Lions Club, serving on the Milton Township Community Mental Health Board, as well as her local Young Republican chapter. 

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TRACY BOST
​GOVERNOR

Mrs. Tracy Bost is married to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost. Rep. Bost was first elected to Congress from Southern Illinois’ 12th District in 2014.

Mrs. Bost is involved in many civic, religious, and charitable endeavors in the Murphysboro community, including sponsoring students from abroad in their home.

In Washington, D.C., Tracy is a member of the Congressional Club, International Club Number One, Republican Women’s Club, Republican Women’s Federation Forum, and Republican Congressional Wives Speakers and serves on the advisory board for the International Leaders Summit. She is also the founder of the Encourage Prayer Movement, collecting prayer cards and words of inspiration for the President and the administration.

​In 1980, Tracy and Mike married following his completion of Marine Corps boot camp. They have three grown children – Steven, Kasey, and Kaitlyn – and eleven grandchildren.

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​PAT BONK
GOVERNOR

STephanie Holderfield
​Governor

Patricia "Pat" Bonk, a 2022 alumna of The Lincoln Series, grew up in Lemont, Illinois, the second of four children, with a community mindset her parents instilled in her from a young age. Her father, a firefighter, and her mother, who became a nurse later in life, were her two role models and laid the foundation for a career built around service.

Pat's path began in 1978, when she became one of only two female volunteer firefighters for the Lemont Fire Department. A natural multi-tasker, she worked as a firefighter and EMT, attended nursing school, and raised a growing family all at once. She later earned a bachelor's degree in Health Arts from St. Francis University, followed by a bachelor's degree in Nursing from Purdue University Northwest — making the Dean's List while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

A "pay-it-forward" philosophy has guided Pat ever since. She spent several years as a Girl Scout troop leader for her daughter, and she volunteers for Big Bike Big Hearts, a running event benefiting people with developmental disabilities, as well as the South Suburban Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

True to her belief in paying it forward, Pat took her advocacy a step further by running for Illinois State Representative twice, hoping to serve her community in an even greater capacity. She currently serves as a Midlothian Library Board Trustee and is a member of the Midlothian Policing and Safety Committee. Additionally, Pat recently was elected as Bremen Township Republican Committeeperson and chairs the Bremen Township Republican Organization.

Pat is retired from nursing after 43 years. She lives in Midlothian with her husband, and together they have three adult children and one grandchild.

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Stephanie Holderfield, a 2009 alumna of The Lincoln Series, owns 316 Strategies, a business and political consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning, operations, public affairs, and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.

She previously served as Harris County (Texas) Citizens Defending Freedom (HC CDF) as County Executive Director, a citizen-led, nonpartisan grassroots organization focused on promoting public engagement on issues affecting faith, education, elections, and personal liberty.

Stephanie managed Dr. Dana Myers' campaign for Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Texas and Dr. Jon Spiers' campaign for Texas General Land Office. She also held a Presidential Political Appointment during the Trump Administration, occupying several senior leadership roles, including Acting Chief of Staff for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Department of Homeland Security, Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There, she co-led the EnVision Center Initiative, a nationwide effort to strengthen communities by investing in people and expanding opportunity, with policy work that also emphasized Native American programs and initiatives.

Before her time in Washington, D.C., Stephanie owned 413 Consulting Group in Mahomet, Illinois, providing strategic consulting across the political, nonprofit, and private sectors. She was Illinois State Director for both Dr. Ben Carson's and Donald J. Trump's presidential campaigns during the 2015–2016 election cycle.
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Stephanie has a longstanding record of public service in her local community as well: she was an elected member of the Champaign County Board, contributed to the Champaign County Farm Bureau Legislative Committee, and held board positions with Family Services of Champaign County and the Champaign County Association of Realtors.

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Chelsie Leffelman
​Governor

Chelsie Leffelman, a 2023 alumna of The Lincoln Series,  is a conservative strategist, campaign operative, and transformative organizational leader dedicated to advancing educational freedom, civic leadership, and the renewal of American self-government. She currently serves as Executive Director of the American Stewardship Initiative (since June 2026) and sits on the boards of The Lincoln Series and Illinois Right to Life.

In 2024, Chelsie joined The Citizen Farmers as Illinois Membership Director. Demonstrating exceptional leadership and results, she was promoted to Executive Director in 2025. In that role she significantly expanded membership statewide and advanced the organization’s mission of rebuilding conservative grassroots infrastructure and cultivating a new generation of citizen leaders committed to active stewardship of their communities and the republic.

As a political operative, Chelsie has delivered high-stakes victories in some of Illinois’ most competitive legislative districts. She managed State Representative Regan Deering’s primary campaign, overcoming severe name-recognition deficits in the district’s largest population center to secure a decisive, hard-fought victory. She later managed State Representative Brandun Schweizer’s general election campaign, building a complete, disciplined grassroots operation from the ground up in just six months—despite the opposition having an eight-month head start. Outspent three-to-one and designated a top target by House Democrats and Planned Parenthood, Chelsie’s team produced strong results through strategic discipline, relentless coalition-building, and effective leadership under extreme pressure. These campaigns established her reputation as a skilled operative capable of winning against significant structural disadvantages.

From 2022 onward, Chelsie served as Regional Manager and later Senior Regional Manager at Empower Illinois, where she became one of the state’s most effective champions of school choice. She directly confronted the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Education Association, and the Chicago Teachers Union in the fight to preserve tax credit scholarships and expand educational opportunity for Illinois families. Through sophisticated relationship-building with business leaders, philanthropists, and private schools, she raised more than one million dollars for the program in her first year alone—an unprecedented achievement in a region characterized by a relatively small and geographically dispersed donor base. After her promotion, she assumed statewide fundraising and advocacy responsibility for every private school in Illinois outside the Chicago metropolitan area.
Chelsie’s commitment to education and local leadership began earlier in her career.

​After graduating summa cum laude from Illinois State University’s Honors Program with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 2013, she taught special education for four and a half years while coaching multiple sports. She later chose to homeschool her four children and was elected to her local school board, where she served from 2019 to 2025, bringing the perspective of both an educator and a parent committed to academic excellence and accountability for all children, not just her own.
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In addition to her professional and board leadership, Chelsie has been an active member and secretary of her local Lions Club since 2022. Chelsie and her husband Garrett, a full-time soldier, have been married since 2012 and reside in Central Illinois with their four children. They belong to Our Lady of the Prairie Parish. As a family they train in jiu-jitsu together and are pursuing a shared goal of visiting as many national parks and Major League Baseball stadiums as possible.

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Beth Findley Smith
Governor

Beth Findley Smith, 2025 alumna of The Lincoln Series,  is a lifelong conservative activist, elected official, engineer, and grassroots Republican leader from Ottawa, Illinois. In 2026, she was elected as the 14th Congressional District State Central Committeeperson for the Illinois Republican Party, representing Republicans across northern Illinois and serving as a voice for grassroots conservatives within the state party structure.

Beth served as a member of the La Salle County Board, first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. She also previously served as South Ottawa Township Supervisor and Township Trustee. A longtime Republican precinct committeeperson since 2008, Beth has dedicated nearly two decades to voter outreach, election integrity, candidate recruitment, and conservative activism.

Professionally, Beth works as a Civil Engineer Highway Plan Designer. Earlier in her career, she worked in the commercial nuclear energy industry as a Reactor Engineer, Fuel Handling Supervisor, and Operations Corrective Action Program Coordinator. She also completed a Health Physics internship with the United States Department of Energy.

Beth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and Mathematics from Missouri University of Science and Technology and later completed a Master of Science degree in Political Science from Liberty University.

Within Republican politics, Beth has held numerous leadership roles in the La Salle County Republican Party, including Treasurer, Secretary, 2nd Vice-Chair, Election Integrity Chair, Candidate Support Chair, and Pro-Life Chair. She is also the founder and chair of YANA (“You Are Not Alone”) PAC, a grassroots organization established in 2021 to connect, educate, and empower conservative activists throughout Illinois.

Beth was selected as an At-Large Delegate for President Donald J. Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and is a 2025 graduate of the Lincoln Series leadership program. She has also worked on numerous Republican campaigns and grassroots efforts across Illinois, including serving as Field Operations Director for Liz Bishop’s State Representative campaign and as La Salle County Coordinator for Darren Bailey for Governor.

A strong advocate for constitutional rights, election integrity, pro-life causes, and grassroots engagement, Beth is committed to strengthening the Republican Party by improving communication between leadership and local activists, recruiting strong candidates, and building lasting conservative infrastructure throughout Illinois.

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