Kristen Fanarakis leads the small business, entrepreneurship, and economic growth initiative within the Milken Institute’s Finance pillar. She focuses on macroeconomic and systemic trends affecting American small businesses and startups, and their implications for the economy and innovation.

Michelle Stevenson is an accomplished global marketing leader, bringing more than 25 years of experience to her role as executive director, marketing and communications at the Milken Institute, where she oversees earned media, social media, the website, brand and design, publishing, thought leadership, and all marketing efforts.

Maxwell DeGregorio is an associate director at MI Finance at the Milken Institute. DeGregorio works on the Institute’s FinTech Program, which focuses on access to capital, financial inclusion, compliance, and transparency. He writes the “FinTech in Focus” newsletter and co-programs the Institute’s FinTech content.

Ishita Das, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, where she leads cross-disciplinary projects. Her expertise lies in biomedical research, science policy, stakeholder engagement, workforce diversity, strategic planning, and project management.

Erika Stratmann is the director of communications for Health at the Milken Institute. She is a mission-driven communications and content development leader with a proven record of managing effective teams that deliver measurable results to amplify thought leadership, engage communities, advance consumer education, and impact advocacy campaigns.

Chelsea Wendel is an associate director at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her work is primarily focused on managing the logistics, details and travel coordination across the pillar's broad portfolio of events.

John Schellhase is a director of Strategic Philanthropy at the Milken Institute. He contributes to and manages projects related to strengthening corporate philanthropy, including overseeing the Institute’s Corporate Philanthropy Leadership Collective.

Caitlyn Barrett, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her scientific expertise in cancer biology and neurodegeneration in addition to her experience in grant and program management, stakeholder engagement, and program analysis are brought to bear as she partners with philanthropists to maximize their impact on the biomedical ecosystem.

Dan Carol is a managing director on the Milken Institute Finance team. He leads Institute programming to accelerate effective deployment and financing of community-scale and climate resilient infrastructure, scale up regional innovation, and scale-up public-private partnerships.

Heather Haines is senior director of convening and engagement with Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. She joined the Institute from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, where she oversaw global events.