Pence names Keefer as legislative director, Taylor to Lottery, Vance Continues to Head Energy Office

Saturday, September 07, 2013 9:25 AM

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mike Pence named Sean Keefer as his Legislative Director, Sarah Taylor as the Executive Director of Hoosier Lottery, and Tristan Vance as Director of the Office of Energy Development on Friday.Keefer will join the Governor’s legislative team that includes former State Representative Jeff Espich, who serves as Senior Legislative Advisor. Keefer replaces Heather Neal, who resigned last month. With extensive public service experience, Keefer currently serves as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor. Under the Daniels administration, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Labor, as well as Legislative Director and Public Information Officer. Previously,  Keefer served as Chief of Staff in the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff in the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. Prior to joining state government, Keefer worked as the Director of Global Health & Science Policy for the American College of Sports Medicine and in the public affairs division of Bose Public Affairs. Keefer, of Fishers, earned his undergraduate degree from Hillsdale College and his graduate degree from Indiana University. He will begin his new role on September 18, 2013.Sarah Taylor will serve as Executive Director of the Hoosier Lottery beginning October 1, 2013. Taylor is the current Director of Constituent Services for the 48th Mayor of Indianapolis, Gregory A. Ballard. Twice elected as the Marion County Clerk, where she served for eight years, she acted as the chief financial officer for court receipts including child support monies and as chief election official for Indianapolis/Marion County.  An Indiana native, Taylor, of Indianapolis, earned her undergraduate degree from Indiana University.

Tristan Vance will continue to lead the state’s energy efforts as Director of the Office of Energy Development (OED). Vance was first appointed to lead OED in February of 2012.  He previously worked as special assistant to Lt. Governor Skillman starting in 2005 and later joined the Government Efficiency and Financial Planning group in the Office of Management and Budget in 2007. There, he monitored efficiency at several state agencies, including OED. Vance is from Paoli and is a graduate of Hanover College.