Leadership
HPA’s Leadership Team institutes and executes the strategies and policies that drive investments, membership, partnerships, and community outreach.
Management Team
Pete Wilkins
Managing Director
Purpose-driven leader, investor, and entrepreneur. Leads the most active early-stage venture group in the Midwest.
Michael Sachaj
Senior Principal
Manages and oversees deal activity, from sourcing and due diligence to new and follow-on investments.
Stephen Ross
Principal
Supports portfolio companies, provides analytical insights into investment performance, and analyzes venture capital trends.
Bess Goodfellow
Principal
Manages and oversees HPA's sourcing activity, analyzes market data and trends, and captures investment performance.
Cate LeSourd
Marketing & Community Manager
Oversees brand communications and strategy and manages membership, partnerships and community engagement.
Board Members
Amanda Lannert
Chief Executive Officer of Jellyvision, which has become one of Chicago’s fastest growing tech companies.
Bob Giammanco
Founded and operates an industrial supplies company with almost 50% market share in its vertical.
Chris Jensen
Telecom expert managing investments in wireless spectrum and telecom infrastructure.
Chris McGowan
25 years of venture capital and private equity investing; Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Private Equity at Booth School of Business
Corey Ferengul
Serial adtech executive who successfully exited two companies, one which he took public and another which he sold.
Craig Vodnik
Co-founded a global ecommerce platform with a variety of clients around the world and leads its operations.
Joe LaManna
Seasoned executive at one of world’s largest global investment banks and wealth advisory firms and active board member of multiple companies.
Sapan Shah MD, JD
Background includes a range of experience in entrepreneurship, medicine, law, insurance, angel investing and politics.
Susan Whiting
Seasoned executive who led Nielsen and now serves as an active board member of over a dozen companies.
Membership Chairs
Ann Deters
Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Vantage Technology; started several healthcare ventures.
Kenny Tsai
Chief Operating Officer at Chowbus; one of the first 50 employees at Uber and former COO of JUMP Bikes.
Portfolio Advisory Chair
Corey Ferengul
Serial adtech executive who successfully exited two companies, one which he took public and another which he sold.
