Sand Strategies is led by a team with direct experience inside government — the Indiana Statehouse, county government, political campaigns, and the private sector. That range of experience, across both sides of the aisle, is what our clients rely on.
With experience spanning the Indiana State Senate, county government, and campaigns, Zack brings a firsthand understanding of how government works to clients ranging from local startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Steve Beebe brings more than four decades of Indiana government relations experience to Sand Strategies, where he joined as Partner in 2025 after merging his firm, The Lobby Firm, into the practice. Over his career, he has led the passage of major legislation spanning healthcare, tax policy, and pension reform, earning recognition as a Distinguished Hoosier in 2004.
Archit Malik brings firsthand experience inside the Indiana State Senate to his work at Sand Strategies.
Taylor Whitacre brings an HR background and a people-first approach to Sand Strategies’ day-to-day operations.
Zack Sand has served the needs of organizations ranging from small, locally owned businesses and startups to Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries.
Zack has held numerous governmental roles at the local, state, and federal levels, with his longest tenure at the Indiana State Senate Majority. He began his career as an intern with Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District and the Indiana Senate Majority, then served as Field Director with the Indiana Senate Majority Campaign Committee, managing campaigns that sharpened his skills in strategy, fundraising, and grassroots advocacy. He later returned to the official side as Legislative Assistant to State Senator Andy Zay and former State Senator Victoria Spartz, gaining direct experience with the legislative process across budget appropriations, education, environmental policy, finance, and healthcare. In 2020, he served as Field Director for a 15-candidate primary race for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, helping secure the nomination.
Zack went on to serve as Government Affairs Director for Allen County, Indiana, where he helped secure millions of dollars in state funding for economic development projects in Allen County and Fort Wayne. He also served as a Senior Associate at Gubera Public Affairs, a multi-client government affairs firm.
Zack serves on the board of Purdue Fort Wayne’s Community Engagement Board and the Indiana Leadership Forum. He is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 2025, Steve Beebe merged The Lobby Firm with Sand Strategies, where he now serves as Partner, bringing a proven track record of legislative achievements and government relations expertise to the firm.
Steve began his career in 1979 as a caucus assistant for the Indiana Senate Democrats, reporting to then-minority leader Frank O’Bannon. After five years, he moved to the private sector, working as a contract lobbyist for multiple clients and as an association and corporate lobbyist. He also directed a three-year effort for the Indiana Commission on State Health Policy.
Over his career, Steve has led the passage of provider tax legislation for the long-term care industry, tax parity legislation for vending and micro markets, direct access legislation for physical therapists in Indiana, and pension enhancements for retired teachers. In 2004, he was named a “Distinguished Hoosier” by Governor Joe Kernan.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Indiana State University.
Archit Malik is a Central Indiana native who grew up in Greenwood, in Johnson County, and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in quantitative economics from Purdue University Indianapolis.
Archit began his career in government affairs as a legislative intern for the Indiana State Senate, working under State Senator Liz Brown and State Senator Gary Byrne. He went on to serve as a legislative assistant for State Senator Brian Buchanan and State Senator Andy Zay during the 2025 legislative session, and continued in 2026 as legislative assistant to Senator Buchanan and Senator Nick McKinley, while also serving as Principal Reading Clerk of the Indiana Senate.
Archit brings both analytical thinking and institutional knowledge of the legislative process to his work at Sand Strategies.
Taylor Whitacre brings a strong foundation in human resources and a people-first approach to Sand Strategies’ day-to-day operations. Her experience spans talent acquisition, program coordination, and strategic communications, with particular expertise in employee relations, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Tech and holds a SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.