Julie Denton, Managing Partner
Julie is a government relations strategist with over 20 years of experience. As Founder and Managing Partner of The Denton Group, she leads a consulting and lobbying firm that offers strategic advocacy for clients ranging from national corporations to grassroots organizations. Julie founded The Denton Group after serving as a Republican State Senator in Kentucky for 20 years and as a Louisville Metro Councilwoman.
Recognized as a leader in healthcare policy, Julie chaired the Senate Health and Welfare Committee for 16 years, working to improve healthcare access, affordability, and policies for providers and Medicaid beneficiaries. Her deep understanding of pharmacy operations, drug procurement, and insurance structures further fueled her advocacy.
Julie’s background as a former dental hygienist and her experience on the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave her unique insights into provider challenges and insurance issues. She holds a B.S. from the University of Louisville and a Master’s in Political Science from American University.
Abbie Gilbert, Partner
Abbie brings over a decade of executive experience from Humana Inc., where she specialized in Medicaid strategy, public-private partnerships, government relations, and population health. She led a multi-state partnership strategy to improve health outcomes, particularly addressing substance use disorder, while collaborating with leadership on policy solutions that promoted health and business growth. Abbie also served as a subject matter expert on health equity and social determinants of health, driving Medicaid business development and community relations.
She spearheaded Humana’s external communications strategy, positioning the company as a thought leader in health equity and government business. Abbie has a background in public relations at UofL College of Business and Northwestern Mutual. She holds a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Louisville and a Graduate Certificate from Harvard Extension School. Abbie is a former president of the Young Professionals Association of Louisville, a Leadership Kentucky graduate, and currently serves on the board of Volunteers of America Mid-States and TARC. She was named to Louisville Business First’s 40 under 40 in 2012.