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, portfolio company support, and community engagement.

Board Members

Bob Giammanco

Founded and operates an industrial supplies company with almost 50% market share in its vertical.

Corey Ferengul

Serial adtech executive who successfully exited two companies, one which he took public and another which he sold.

Chris Jensen

Telecom expert managing investments in wireless spectrum and telecom infrastructure.

Joe LaManna

Seasoned executive at one of world’s largest global investment banks and wealth advisory firms and active board member of multiple companies.

Chris McGowan

25 years of venture capital and private equity investing; Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Private Equity at Booth School of Business

Craig Vodnik

Co-founded a global ecommerce platform with a variety of clients around the world and leads its operations.

Susan Whiting

Seasoned executive who led Nielsen and now serves as an active board member of over a dozen companies.

Membership Committee Chair

Amanda Lannert is CEO of Jellyvision and has been a key figure in driving the company since its founding in 2001. Her focus at Jellyvision is on the company’s strategy, improving processes to better scale operations, partnership development, and customer acquisition to continue fueling the company’s growth.

Portfolio Advisory Chair