Executive Staff

Assistant Secretary of State Lindsay Hughes Thurston is the office’s chief operating officer. She will represent the Secretary in all official capacities and act on Secretary Grimes’ behalf at her direction or in her absence. Thurston also will manage the office and provide policy analysis for the Secretary.

Previously, Thurston served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky, where she prosecuted, among other things, child exploitation offenses under the United States Department of Justice’s initiative Project Safe Childhood. Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s office, Thurston was an Assistant Fayette County Attorney. Thurston obtained her Bachelor of Arts in political science, graduating cum laude, from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Lynn Sowards Zellen, the Secretary’s Director of Communications, coordinates all internal and external communications, responds to media inquiries, and serves as a spokesperson and media contact for the Secretary. Zellen also devotes attention to legislative initiatives related to the Secretary of State’s office.

Prior to joining Secretary Grimes’ administration, Zellen worked as a business litigation attorney, advocating for clients before courts across the Commonwealth, including the Kentucky Supreme Court. Zellen also has served as a law clerk for two federal judges in Kentucky. Zellen obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English, graduating cum laude, from Centre College in Danville. She earned her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was selected to the Order of the Coif. Zellen is a native of and currently lives in Lexington.

Mary Sue Helm is the Secretary of State’s Director of Administration and Elections. In her capacity as Director, Helm will manage fiscal and personnel matters, public documents, legal affairs, and special projects and commissions. She will also oversee the divisions responsible for attesting and keeping a register of the official acts of the Governor as well as all candidate filings and certification of the names of candidates to be printed on ballots.

Helm is a 25-year veteran of State government, and she has spent 23 of those years in the Secretary of State’s office. Helm’s history in the Secretary’s office includes serving as the Director of Administration under Secretary Bremer Ehrler and both the Director of Administration and Director of Corporations during Secretary Bob Babbage’s administration. Helm began her tenure as Director of Elections under Secretary Babbage when the position was created in the mid-1990s, and she continued in that capacity under Secretaries John Y. Brown, III, and Trey Grayson. Helm also previously spent four-and-one-half years as the acting Director of the State Board of Elections. Most recently, Helm served as a Special Elections Assistant to the Secretary of State. Originally from Marion County, Helm resides in Lawrenceburg.

Noel Caldwell, the Secretary of State’s Director of Business Filings, oversees the business filings division of the office. He is responsible for managing the office’s online business services, issuing and authenticating business records, and maintaining UCC finance statements.  Caldwell also devotes attention to legislative initiatives related to business entities. 

Prior to joining Secretary Grimes’ administration, Caldwell was an Assistant Fayette County Attorney and, most recently, a partner in a law firm, where he focused on defending government entities in civil lawsuits and criminal defense. Caldwell earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Georgetown College, where he was a member of the 2000 and 2001 National Champion football teams, and his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Caldwell, a Frankfort native currently living in Lexington, is also an active member of the Markey Cancer Center’s Patient Advisory Group. 

Matt Daley, born in Southeast Kentucky, has lived and worked in Lexington for the past ten years. Daley has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He is also a trained dyslexia and learning disability instructor and supervisor. Daley previously spent two years as a legislative aide with the Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus, where he focused on policy and constituent services. As a graduate research assistant with Eastern Kentucky University Department of Government, he focused on instructing students, conducting research, and helping to publish findings. Secretary Grimes appointed Daley to serve as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State, with the specific purpose of developing and implementing civics education initiatives.

Terrell E. Renfro is the Secretary's Legislative Liaison and Special Assistant to the Director of Communications. In his capacity as Legislative Liaison, Renfro will develop and maintain relationships with members of the General Assembly and County Clerks to facilitate and monitor measures related to the Secretary's office. In addition, Renfro will provide field and office support to the Director of Communications.

Previously, Renfro served as Chief Assistant to former Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo; he was also an Executive Assistant to the candidates during the Beshear-Mongiardo gubernatorial campaign. Renfro has a Bachelor of Arts in homeland security corporate management and assessment from Midway College in Kentucky. He lives in Frankfort.