Builders Movement Partners

Jonathan Coon is an entrepreneur and the founder of 1-800 Contacts, which he launched from his college dorm room with $50 and grew into a leading direct-to-consumer contact lens company. As CEO, he helped champion the federal Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, expanding Americans’ rights to their contact lens prescriptions, and led the company through major legal, technological, and business challenges before its sale in 2012 for $900 million.

Beyond 1-800 Contacts, Jonathan has pursued ventures across technology and entertainment, including funding Napoleon Dynamite with his brother and developing innovative technology for Glasses.com. His career reflects a focus on solving difficult problems, building strong teams, challenging conventional thinking, and creating experiences that customers love.

Sanda Balaban is passionate about helping young people understand their individual and collective power, at and beyond the ballot box. In response to the complex times we’re living in, the vulnerability of democracy being demonstrated, and the desire to support young people in being informed, engaged participants on the front lines of change, in 2017, she co-founded and directed cross-partisan youth civic engagement nonprofit YVote/ Next Generation Politics, aiming to equip leaders of tomorrow for their roles and responsibilities as citizens shaping a more just world and in July 2024, she became Executive Director of Project Pericles, a higher education non-profit committed to fostering the next generation of civic leaders through innovative curricula and faculty leadership that empowers students with skills to address society’s grand challenges. 

Sanda has held leadership roles in education and youth development for over 25 years, in the public sector at the New York City Department of Education, in education philanthropy at the Ford Foundation and the Goldman Sachs Foundation, and in nonprofits including Facing History and Ourselves, the Boston Private Industry Council, and The Teachers Network.

Sanda is proud to serve on the founding Board of Directors of Generation Vote, The Hope Reichbach Memorial Fund, and the Human Schools Project, as well as on the National Reader Advisory Board for Chalkbeat. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Chris Anokute is an experienced music executive and artist development specialist with over 18 years under his belt in signing and developing talent. Chris has held Senior executive A&R positions at major record labels including Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, and Epic Records over the span of his career.  Chris has signed and/or developed 4 artists from the start of their careers that have went on to be nominated for the highly coveted, ‘Best New Artist’ award at the Grammys. Those artists include: Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea, Bebe Rexha, and Muni Long. 

Arthur Brooks is a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, where he teaches leadership and happiness. He is a bestselling author, CBS News contributor, and host of Office Hours with Arthur Brooks, known globally for his work on the science of human happiness and helping people build more meaningful lives.

Luke Steele is an 8X award winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and creative visionary from Perth, Australia. Steele has sold out the Hollywood Bowl, packed the Sahara Tent at Coachella and was recently honored with his own exhibit at the Western Australia Museum. He is well known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and one of the producers of the award-winning electro-pop duo, Empire Of The Sun, the act behind the multi-platinum single, “Walking On A Dream.” #WalkingOnADream has hit nearly 3 Billion views on TikTok thanks to a viral challenge inspired by the song. Steele is considered an Australian musical heavyweight having spent more than 20 years in the industry, starting his career with his band The Sleepy Jackson which received international acclaim for its debut record Lovers.

Steele has collaborated with many of music’s biggest hitmakers and artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Lindsay Buckingham, Grandmaster Flash, Usher, M-Phazes and Steve Aoki. He also partnered with fellow Aussie musician, Daniel Johns, to form DREAMS, whose debut album is titled No One Defeats Us. His music has been featured in a variety of motion pictures and marketing campaigns, along with video games including the FIFA and Grand Theft Auto franchises. In an age of rapid music consumption, Steele continues to produce genre-bending music, pushing the boundaries of sound innovation to new heights.

AJ Weidhaas is a partner in and former Co-Chair of Goodwin’s Private Equity group, and previously served as chair of the firm’s Santa Monica office, on the firm’s Allocations Committee and Executive Committee and as chair of the New York Business Law department. He specializes in private equity and M&A transactions, including growth equity investments, leveraged buyouts and leveraged recapitalizations. AJ’s experience ranges from the representation of growth companies in financings and buyouts through later stage growth equity investments and LBOs and the representation of strategics in private and public M&A. His industry expertise includes technology, healthcare, consumer products, defense, real estate and financial services.

AJ’s clients include private equity sponsors Behrman Capital, Bregal Sagemount, Great Hill Partners, company clients KIND Snacks, Hyperice, Kendra Scott and MiraDx, and a number of Fortune 50 financial institutions.

I am an accomplished C-level executive and private/public investor who in a lighting strike moment in May, 2020 decided to dedicate my most valuable resource – my time – to launching a not-for-profit movement to build Unity in America. US United is giving Americans the tools we all need to reunite our country and to confront the divisive political and media driven culture challenging our futures.

I have always been focused and relentless in pursuit of my goals – from Princeton University to Private Equity at Morgan Stanley to co-founding successful multi-billion dollar investment firms to operating both public and private companies. Now, the team at US United is committed to bringing that same energy and entrepreneurial drive to building a national movement for unity.

Peter Seligmann is the CEO of Nia Tero, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the rights, livelihoods, and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples to lead the protection and management of critical ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem goods and services. Peter has been an influential leader in conservation for nearly 40 years, partnering with communities, governments, and businesses to implement solutions that ensure the sustainability of the planet’s cultural and natural resources. He is the Chairman of the Board, the co-founder, and the former CEO of Conservation International, a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard the critical benefits that nature provides the global community. Previously, Peter worked with The Nature Conservancy as a land steward for the western region and as the Director of the California Nature Conservancy. Holding degrees from Yale University, Rutgers University, and Michigan State University, Peter is an ardent advocate for listening and learning from the wisdom and ways of Indigenous peoples who protect nearly 80% of the world’s last intact ecosystems.

Chris Marvin is the principal for Marvin Strategies, a strategic communications firm specializing veteran-driven advocacy through socially minded narrative building. Chris brings veteran voices to important issues like gun violence prevention, public lands advocacy, civic engagement, and impact film production. Previously, Chris founded the Got Your 6 campaign to advocate for accurate portrayals of military veterans in film and television. He served for seven years as a U.S. Army officer and Black Hawk helicopter pilot and is a combat-wounded veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Honolulu.

Dan Schnur is a political reform leader, educator, and former chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, where he advanced major campaign finance transparency efforts. A longtime advocate for nonpartisan governance, he also helped lay the groundwork for California’s redistricting reform and ran for Secretary of State as an independent candidate.

He is an adjunct professor at USC, UC Berkeley, and Pepperdine, teaching politics, communications, and leadership, and has advised major foundations on public policy and education reform. Earlier in his career, he was a senior strategist on multiple presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, bringing decades of experience across politics, policy, and civic engagement.

Brooke Baldwin is a TV host, award-winning journalist and bestselling author. Brooke most recently gave her first TEDx Talk, “From Breaking News to Breaking Free: a CNN Anchor’s Journey Beyond the Chrysalis.” Brooke’s speech was inspired, in part, by her bombshell first person essay which she published in Vanity Fair entitled “Leaving CNN Was How I Found My Voice.” She’s currently the author of a weekly Substack called “Unraveling, with Brooke Baldwin.

For more than a decade, Brooke anchored her own live daily news show on CNN and was renowned for her versatility, authenticity, and humanity at the news desk. After CNN, Brooke hosted a popular social experiment show on Netflix called The Trust.

Brooke is the author of the bestselling book Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power, redefining the word ‘huddle’ to explore how women lean on one another to provide support, empowerment, inspiration, and the strength to enact meaningful change.

Brooke lives in Los Angeles after a ten year run in New York City. She is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Feroz Khan is a New York City educator, content creator, and founder of “What Do You Do for a Living?”—a street interview series sharing the stories behind the people we pass every day. With more than 4.1 billion views across his content, Feroz brings together voices from all walks of life, from neighborhood business owners and artists to entrepreneurs and everyday New Yorkers. His conversations explore careers, personal journeys, and lessons learned, with a mission to spread positivity and kindness. As a pre-K teacher and storyteller, he brings curiosity and compassion to his work, encouraging people to look beyond first impressions, find common ground, and recognize the value in every person’s story.

Laura Ellsworth is Jones Day’s first Head of Global Community Service Initiatives, leading the firm’s rule of law efforts worldwide. An accomplished attorney and civic leader, she has held leadership roles across business, education, workforce development, and community organizations and has participated in Lawyers Without Borders programs in Kenya.

Laura is also the founder of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, which brings together leaders and experts to develop solutions to combat hate and extremism. Her civic contributions have earned numerous honors, including the ATHENA Award, the Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition for her work promoting peace and addressing hate.

Nicole Fonarow and Jolene Conway are best friends of nearly 40 years and co-hosts of the We’ve Got to Talk podcast, where they model thoughtful conversations across political differences. They met as freshmen at the University of Iowa and have built a lasting friendship grounded in curiosity, respect, and a willingness to engage across perspectives.

Nicole is a New York City–based actor and voiceover artist who brings deep empathy and a lifelong curiosity about people to her work. A liberal Democrat, she was driven to create space for more human, constructive dialogue in response to growing division.

Jolene is a conservative Christian, entrepreneur, and founder of Dible Dough, a better-for-you cookie dough brand she launched in 2017. A mother of three and wife of a college football coach, she is passionate about leading with conviction while creating space for meaningful conversation.

Together, they launched We’ve Got to Talk after the 2024 election to challenge assumptions, encourage curiosity, and show that disagreement does not have to mean disconnection. Through honest, respectful dialogue, they invite others to listen, learn, and find common ground.

Dr. Aaron Pomerantz is Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation at Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders. His research examines how culture and ideology shape what people recognize as good leadership, including why people sometimes support leaders, beliefs, and behaviors that cause harm or deepen division. He also studies how leadership and personal development can be built in concrete, measurable ways, helping organizations move beyond intuition toward evidence-based practice.

AY Young is an independent pop artist, songwriter, and performer from Kansas City, building toward arena stages with music made to move people. A United Nations Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, he has performed more than 1,200 live shows and founded Battery Tour, through which 963 concerts have been powered by clean energy. AY built his own stage when there wasn’t one waiting for him, turning years of independent work into a movement powered by music, persistence, and people. As a Builders Movement partner, he brings the energy of live performance to the work of building common ground and stronger connections across communities.

Irene is a cultural entrepreneur, engineer, and storyteller. She is the founder of Irene’s Entropy®, a multimedia platform designed to help people navigate life transitions with clarity and courage. Her work blends original music, symbolic storytelling, and live events that support individual and cultural transformation.

With a background in mechanical engineering, aerospace, and piloting, Irene brings a rare combination of technical curiosity and artistic depth to her work. Her platform currently reaches between 5-20 million viewers each month through content and live performances. Irene calls her community Door Walkers™—those willing to step through thresholds of change to pursue a better version of themselves. This comes from a recurring theme in her music videos where a red door transports Irene to different realms as she navigates her mental landscape. Outside of the Irene’s Entropy universe, she also hosts a YouTube series called Golf with Irene, interviewing guests while playing golf, using the sport as a vehicle for storytelling and connection.

Irene’s Entropy is quickly becoming a voice for connection in an age of fragmentation. In a world of entropic chaos, she harnesses the power of storytelling, music, and conversation to reduce polarization and foster emotional intelligence.

Justin is co-founder and executive director of Talk A Mile, a program that builds connection, agency and purpose through 1:1 conversations. Participants walk, talk, listen and learn together over the course of a mile. Before focusing full-time on Talk A Mile, Justin led the marketing and production teams in nonprofit, start-up and tech organizations. The common thread in all of Justin’s roles is his curiosity and desire to understand what makes people tick. Justin earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s from the University College London. Justin has run at least 1 mile per day since January 1, 2011. He lives in Portland, OR with his wife, son and dog.

Jared is a professional basketball player and social entrepreneur dedicated to using sport as a bridge for connection, education, and empowerment. Through his initiatives, Jared harnesses the universal language of basketball to teach life skills, promote understanding, and drive social change across communities.

He is the founder of JAB Camp, a youth sports organization based in both Philadelphia and the Middle East, which empowers young athletes through training, mentorship, and cross-cultural exchange. Building on this mission, Jared launched JAB Courts, an initiative focused on renovating and revitalizing community basketball courts to provide safe, inspiring spaces for youth development. Expanding his impact into sports entertainment, Jared created the JAB Classic, a signature event that unites athletes and fans to combat hate and celebrate humanity through the power of sport.

Jared’s journey reflects his belief that basketball is more than a game—it’s a platform for transformation, dialogue, and hope for the next generation.

In his role as Artistic Director and President of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Tom Oppenheim created a number of programs with a focus on public access to world-class culture. The centerpiece of his vision is the Stella Adler Arts Justice Division, founded in 2004, which has since provided free theater training to over 15,000 severely underserved New Yorkers. Participating artists in a free, public art series he created have included Julianne Moore, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cornel West, Donna Murphy, John McWhorter, Joanna Gleason, Ron Carter, Harold Bloom, John Ashbery, Harold Mabern and many more. Tom co-edited The Muses Go To School (New Press 2012) and his writing is featured in Arthur Bartow’s Training of the American Actor (TCG, 2006) and The Technique of Acting by Stella Adler (Echo Point, 2024). He has acted at Theater for a New Audience, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Provincetown Playhouse among others. Directing credits include all of Chekhov’s plays for the Harold Clurman Lab Theater, Mercy Killers by Michael Milligan which received the Edinburgh Fringe Fest award and many more. Tom studied acting at the National Shakespeare Conservatory and with his grandmother, Stella Adler.

JJ Ramberg is the COO of Clustera, an agentic memory and orchestration platform for enterprises, and a serial entrepreneur, author, and former longtime host of MSNBC’s Your Business. She co-founded GoodSearch, which generated more than $14 million for nonprofits, and later founded podcast discovery platform Goodpods.

Named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100, JJ is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and business and the author of It’s Your Business and The Startup Club. She is also a founding LP of The Operator Collective and serves on the board of World Connect. JJ earned her BA from Duke University and MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Christian Halstead built Both Sides News to 400K followers, helping people quickly grasp both sides of today’s biggest issues.

Timothy Gaspar is the CEO and principal of Gaspar Insurance Services. A lifelong entrepreneur, Tim started his first business in high school and ran a number of businesses while attending California State University, Northridge. While attending CSUN Timothy began building an insurance practice within a small agency in Encino, CA.

In February 2008, Tim purchased his book of clients from the Encino agency and founded Gaspar Insurance Services, Inc. As of 2022 Gaspar Insurance Services has over 60 team members and is one of the largest independent insurance firms in both Los Angeles City and the San Fernando Valley (as ranked by the LA and SFV business journals). Additionally, in 2020 Gaspar Insurance was ranked by Inc. magazine as of the fastest growing companies in America. Committed to his community, Tim supports a number of non-profit organizations focused on youth and public safety and serves on a number of boards including the Discovery Cube Los Angeles, The West Valley YMCA, The YMCA board for Metro Los Angeles and the California State University Northridge Advisory Board.

Katie Mehnert is the founder and CEO of The Bee Suite, formerly ALLY Energy, and founder of Houston Energy & Climate Week. A recognized leader at the intersection of energy, climate, workforce development, AI, and innovation, she focuses on building the modern energy workforce and creating practical pathways for people and organizations to participate in a changing energy economy.

Previously a global leader at BP and Shell, Katie has served as an Ambassador to the U.S. Department of Energy across multiple administrations and is a member of the National Petroleum Council. She is also an author, speaker, startup advisor and investor whose work has been featured by NASDAQ, CNN, FOX, and Newsweek.

Hanae Baruchel leads Ashoka’s Tech for Humanity initiative – whose mission is build a world where technology drives human agency and democratic integrity, rather than extractive growth and power. She first joined Ashoka in 2008, and has worn many hats over the years, including heading up the selection and support of social entrepreneurs in the U.S. from 2011 to 2013. Hanae returned to Ashoka in 2019 – after a brief hiatus working at Engineers Without Borders Canada – to help shape the then nascent Next Now initiative, an innovation engine that weaves Ashoka’s networks of entrepreneurs around globally urgent purposes.  She has a background in Peace and Conflict Studies and is the founder of a boutique furniture and lighting design company. Hanae is based in Amsterdam.

Aaron Dorfman is Founder and Executive Director of A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy, an effort to mobilize the American Jewish community to protect and strengthen American democracy. A More Perfect Union powers a collective-impact network working to expand opportunities for civic learning; promote ideological pluralism; and ensure free, fair, safe and accessible elections. Previously, Aaron served as President of Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, Vice President for Programs of American Jewish World Service, and Director of Informal Education at Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County. He holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Aaron and his wife Talia live in Brooklyn, New York, where they’re raising three fierce feminist daughters and one bearded dragon.

Marti is the Founder and CEO of International Connector, a global consultancy focused on future-of-work research, workforce development, and next-generation insights. For more than 20 years, she has worked with corporations and governments—including Microsoft, IBM, Google, Virgin, and the Canadian Government—to better understand and engage younger generations across 190 countries.

A social entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and futurist designer, Marti has also launched social impact initiatives including Your Big Year®, Innovative Resilience, and Future of Women in Tech. She holds an MA and BFA from New York University.

Sports have always been a central part of Adam DeVon Miller’s life. Whether it was basketball, football, baseball, or a track baton, Adam grew up experiencing life through the lens of sport. While playing college football, Adam began to recognize the impact of sports beyond the scoreboard, and the power it possesses to do good in the world. After completing his mission-driven bike ride across the United States of America, Adam served in several philanthropic roles leading to the development of Good Game. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with family and friends and occasionally playing a round of bad golf. Adam is a proud Girl Dad x2.

Dan is driven by a passion for solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges through innovative, cross-sector approaches. Over the past five years at the XPRIZE Foundation, he led the design of the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition and helped build a new impact measurement and partnership strategy to scale global solutions.

Now focused on political innovation with the Leadership Now Project, Dan is exploring new ways to strengthen democracy in the United States. With a wide range of experiences spanning creative, educational, and unconventional roles—from writing a Bollywood film to teaching in Greece and even performing professionally in New York—he brings curiosity, creativity, and a fresh perspective to complex problem-solving.

Libby Prosch is the co-founder and the progressive content editor at Sandbox. She studied Philosophy, Spanish, and Political Science at Loyola University Chicago. Libby has helped with local political campaigns and reproductive justice initiatives in her community. When she isn’t working, she’s playing guitar, making jewelry, or swimming in Lake Michigan.

Eddie founded Pixiu Investments in 2009. He is an active investor in Austin real estate, oil & gas and growth companies. He is the lead local investor in Austin F.C. and serves as the club’s Alternate Governor on the MLS Board of Governors.

Kristin Brey is a Wisconsin-based radio host, columnist, public speaker, and content creator known for making complicated topics approachable, engaging, and often funny. She began As Goes Wisconsin in 2020, using humor and accessible commentary to engage audiences around Wisconsin politics and public issues.

Today, Kristin co-hosts Point Taken on 620 WTMJ and writes a weekly column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Across radio, print, and social media, she brings curiosity, humor, and a distinctly human perspective to conversations about politics, culture, and community.

Brian Weiner is the founder of The Illusion Factory, where he has spent more than four decades redefining how stories are told and experiences are built across film, live, digital, and interactive media. Under his leadership, the company has supported over $7 billion in entertainment properties, earned more than 265 awards, and helped drive over $100 billion in global revenue. His work is grounded in the belief that modern storytelling must integrate intelligence and interactivity at its core.

That vision led to the creation of Sizzle, an Edge AI–powered platform designed to transform how audiences engage with brands and environments in real time. Through innovations like AI-driven “Synth Humans” and immersive, responsive systems, Brian is helping shape a new model of consumer engagement that blends storytelling, technology, and participation into seamless, interactive experiences.

Sports have always been a central part of Adam DeVon Miller’s life. Whether it was basketball, football, baseball, or a track baton, Adam grew up experiencing life through the lens of sport. While playing college football, Adam began to recognize the impact of sports beyond the scoreboard, and the power it possesses to do good in the world. After completing his mission-driven bike ride across the United States of America, Adam served in several philanthropic roles leading to the development of Good Game. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with family and friends and occasionally playing a round of bad golf. Adam is a proud Girl Dad x2.

Van Jones is a media personality, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur focused on expanding opportunity and reforming the criminal justice system. He hosts multiple CNN programs and has created widely recognized media projects that explore solutions to some of the country’s most pressing challenges.

Over more than two decades, he has co-founded and led several national initiatives, including Dream Corps and REFORM Alliance, and played a key role in passing the bipartisan FIRST STEP Act. His work brings together leaders across sectors to drive meaningful policy change and build more inclusive systems.

In 2012, Cynthia was named President & CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center, a leading social impact organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip leaders to BE BETTER and DO BETTER. Cynthia is particularly proud that the work the Center has done to foster inclusivity was recognized with the 2016 Champion of Diversity Award from the Urban League. Under her leadership the Center has grown beyond the boundaries of Louisville. In 2022 the Center launched LeadingBetter™ as a new partner brand. This new brand is bringing leadership skill development to more than 500 client companies with participants in 30 states.

Cynthia has held several national leadership roles including having previously served as the national Chair of the Board for the Association of Leadership Programs and is the current President of the National Community Leadership Collaborative. In 2020, Cynthia was named one of the Most Admired CEO’s by Business First. In 2023 she was named Bluegrass Public Relations Society’s Communicator of the Year. She is an active community leader and serves on numerous community boards including the Downtown Development Corporation and co-chairs the Greater Louisville Inc. (Chamber of Commerce) Business Council to End Racism.

Cynthia has a Master’s degree from the University of Louisville and holds several leadership certifications from Harvard, Aspen Institute and others.

Musician, actor, author, and lecturer Dr. Daryl Davis is often called The Rock’n’Roll Race
Reconciliator. He’s not white. He’s not even light skinned. Make no mistake about it,
he’s black. As a Black man he has come in closer contact with more members of the Ku
Klux Klan than most White people and certainly most Blacks, short of being on the wrong
side of a rope.

He is the first Black author to write book on the KKK by conducting in-person face-to-face interviews. As a result of the way he conversed with White supremacists and other racists, Dr. Davis eventually became the recipient of numerous robes and hoods given to him by KKK members who rescinded their beliefs after coming to know him. He had inadvertently stumbled upon a successful method of forming friendships between sworn enemies. His methods have made him the center of controversy in some circles where he is considered “politically incorrect,” but after proving his methods work, he has made supporters out of some of his detractors.

As an award-winning musician Davis has worked with Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley’s
Jordanaires, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Legendary Blues Band and many others. He is also an
actor who starred in the award-winning documentary Accidental Courtesy detailing his
real life encounters with KKK and neo-Nazi members and as an actor he has appeared in
HBO’s award-winning series The Wire.

His first book Klan-Destine Relationships was critically acclaimed and his second book The Klan Whisperer is due out soon. Dr. Davis has received numerous awards for his work in race relations and is often sought out by CNN, C-SPAN, The Washington Post, New York Times, Time Magazine and other media outlets as a consultant for his views.

Jake graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at Stanford, he founded Nuru International to eradicate extreme poverty in the world’s most unstable, vulnerable regions to help end violent extremism. Jake played a vital role in drafting, introducing, and passing groundbreaking new legislation called the Global Fragility Act of 2019 that equips America with new authorities and resources to prevent conflict and stabilize some of the most fragile regions of the world.

Jake is the Founder and President of The Brickyard, a nonprofit civic organization that aims to unite the country and strengthen our communities through social connection, service, and civic engagement.

Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, author, and founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, where she works to strengthen curiosity and understanding across differences. Her bestselling book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, has been featured in The New York Times, The Glenn Beck Podcast, and Reader’s Digest.

Mónica is an advisor for Braver Angels, serves on the Board of Directors of the Viewpoints Project, and hosts A Braver Way, a podcast focused on helping people navigate political differences in their everyday lives. Her work and research have explored journalism, political division, and techniques for building understanding across differences, including fellowships at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and the University of Florida.

A Mexican immigrant and dual U.S./Mexico citizen, Mónica lives in Seattle with her husband and two children and proudly describes herself as the liberal daughter of conservative parents.

Dr. Mukesh Prasad is a physician, investor, and advisor working across healthcare, energy, sustainability, and public service. He is Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Innova Capital Partners, where he helps identify and grow companies across alternative energy, healthcare, telecommunications, energy efficiency, and other sectors. He also serves on the advisory board of Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability and practices at Weill Cornell Medical College.

A graduate of Harvard College and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Prasad has held leadership and advisory roles with Harvard University, New York City, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Tech Hubs program. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been recognized for more than two decades of service to New York City and its first responder community.

In Memoriam
Abraham “Abe” Foxman
May 1, 1940 – May 10, 2026
National Director Emeritus, Anti-Defamation League

A Holocaust survivor who led ADL for nearly three decades, Abe devoted his life to fighting hatred and defending human dignity. We are grateful for his partnership with Builders and honored to carry that work forward. May his memory be a blessing.

Cortney Woodruff is the American tech investor, entrepreneur, and founder, CEO of Trainersvault as well as the Co-founder & CEO of the online education platform, Assemble. The international businessman and former Division 1 athlete integrates fitness, finance, tech, and entertainment to empower Black and brown youth through instruction. Woodruff’s mission merges worlds and creates opportunity by connecting Black thought leaders across industries to a broad learning community. The Jackson, Mississippi native has lived in over 10 cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia throughout a self-started career raising seed capital. Dedicated to normalizing success in the Black community, his work combines an expansive worldview with a thriving professional network. Woodruff lives in Los Angeles, California.

Charles Blain is a Houston-based writer, public policy entrepreneur, and commentator whose work on local government reform and accountability in Texas’s major cities, with particular focus on community, institutions, and social trust spans more than a decade. His forthcoming book The Brotherhood Effect will be published in 2026 by Johns Hopkins University Press, the nation’s oldest continuously operating university press. Blain is a regular contributor to City Journal on Texas policy issues and to the Houston Chronicle, where he writes about ethics and accountability, local government, institutions and public trust, and community. He serves on the Governing Board of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and on the Texas Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Executive Director of the NYC Urban Corps, in the Mayors Office of NYC, Founder and Executive Director of Interface and the Educational Priorities Panel, Deputy Chancellor of Schools in NYC, President of the IBM Foundation and IBM VP for Corporate Affairs and CSR, Professor and Innovator in Residence at Duke U, and Professor at Columbia, and Trustee of SUNY and Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. author of 2 books and service on 2 Presidential Commissions

Will Hurd has spent the past 20 years on the front lines of the most pressing fights facing our nation, in the Middle East, Congress, and the highest levels of business and tech.

Will has spent his life fighting for our country, and he will take those decades of experience with him as he fights for all us.

Brian Rudolph is the co-founder & CEO of Banza. Banza makes delicious comfort foods, such as pasta, pizza and waffles, out of chickpeas. The company has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions, Adweek’s Best Food Brand, and Nielsen’s Top Breakthrough Innovations. Today, Banza’s products are available in over 25,000 stores. Brian received his BBA from Emory University and is an alumnus of the Venture for America fellowship.

Valerie Weiss is an award-winning filmmaker and director known for exploring complex human relationships through compelling, feel-good storytelling. She has directed across film and television, with credits spanning major series including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Outer Banks, Ginny & Georgia, and Echoes, working with leading studios and creators across genres.

Originally trained as a biophysicist with a Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School, Valerie transitioned to filmmaking to explore the human side of storytelling. She continues to develop feature and television projects while serving in leadership roles within the Directors Guild of America, helping shape the future of the industry.

Through venture capital firm Crystal Venture Partners (www.crystalventurepartners.com), Jonathan Crystal invests in and advises technology companies accelerating the future of the insurance industry, applying more than 20 years of operational and industry domain experience.

In 2018, he combined his family’s insurance brokerage firm, Crystal & Company, with Alliant
Insurance Services, the nation’s leading specialty insurance brokerage firm, bringing together
two great companies and successfully capitalizing on the strengths of each firm. Jonathan began his professional career as a management consultant and project manager with Oliver Wyman, where he focused on risk management and strategy work with financial institutions in Europe and North America.

Jonathan graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Public & International Affairs and a certificate in Latin American Studies

Based in New York City, Jonathan is active in his community. He currently serves as a board member of Central Synagogue, The Jewish Museum, and 21/64.

Bion Bartning is an entrepreneur and investor, and co-founder and Board President of the Prohuman Foundation.

Previously, Bion founded FAIR, the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, and co-founded and led the launch of eos Products, a personal care brand best known today for its iconic egg-shaped lip balm, while serving as an equity partner and Chief Operating Officer of The Kind Group, a privately held company dedicated to the development and expansion of brands.

Bion was also part of American Express’ Strategic Planning Group, where he conceived of and patented a new multi-channel system for booking travel and led the launch of a new consumer online travel business as Director, New Product Development, partnering with a major online travel agency.

Bion earned his MBA from Columbia Business School, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in economics and environmental studies from Occidental College. He lives in Miami with his wife, two children, and their family dog Charlie Brown.

Evan Smith is Managing Director of Events at The Atlantic, where he leads and expands the publication’s influential live journalism and events portfolio. He previously co-founded The Texas Tribune and its renowned Texas Tribune Festival, helping pioneer new approaches to nonprofit journalism and civic engagement.

Throughout his career, Evan has advised news organizations on building impactful live journalism programs that bring audiences, leaders, and ideas together around important public issues.

Joshua P. Darr is an associate professor at the Newhouse School of Public Communications and a Senior Researcher in the Institute for Democracy, Journalism & Citizenship at Syracuse University, teaching classes in political communication. His research focuses on local news, partisan polarization, and campaign strategy. Darr has co-authored two books: Home Style Opinion: How Local Newspapers Can Slow Polarization (2021) and Storefront Campaigning (2024). He received an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2022 for his project investigating how newspapers can earn trust and reduce polarization. Darr earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Hey, I’m Liz Lanza, a San Francisco born entrepreneur, founder of BeeKindBrand, and the force behind Her Society SF, a growing Bay Area network that equips the next generation of female founders with capital ready skills and a community that actually shows up for one another.

From spontaneous acts of kindness with BeeKind, to panel driven brunches where first-time entrepreneurs swap playbooks with seasoned investors, my mission is to replace the us vs them mentality with “we’ve got this together.”

I joined Builders because my peers are hungry for voices that trade outrage for problem solving. I’m committed to helping young female, like minded Builders with the tools and courage to defy the divide and co-create a kinder, more collaborative tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Liz Lanza

John Wordin has spent more than 20 years developing innovative approaches to mental, physical, and emotional wellness, with a focus on supporting veterans and first responders. A former professional cyclist and founder of the Mercury Cycling Professional Team, he later turned his attention to wellness initiatives after his racing career.

John has helped lead several pioneering programs in adaptive cycling and suicide prevention, including Ride 2 Recovery, Project Hero, and the No Vet Alone initiative. He is the founder of LifeAid Research Institute and the creator of LifeScore, a platform designed to help people track and improve their overall wellbeing while expanding access to support for those who need it most.

Amy Banner Updegrove is a native Texan who has lived and worked in New York and Los Angeles. After studying art, design and advertising she worked in media and fashion as the retail marketing director for Polo Ralph Lauren, the president of Los Angeles Magazine and the publisher of Texas Monthly.

Informed by the visual elements used to communicate a mood, story, season or location, Amy creates mixed material, three-dimensional builds with grounding shapes, natural textures and resonate colors. The resulting patterns reflect our surroundings, both natural and man-made. Combinations of paper, fabric, metal, acrylic and leather highlight perceived differences based on light and viewpoint.

Brad Porteus is the founder of Bridge Grades, a data-driven “Rotten Tomatoes” for Congress that uses public data to measure how collaboratively or divisively each member of Congress governs. After 14 years abroad, Porteus returned to the U.S. to find an ineffective Legislative Branch paralyzed by performative partisanship. Alarmed by the gridlock, he launched Bridge Grades by leveraging emerging data technologies for the public good.

The Bridge Grades platform uses objective, non-partisan data to score members of the House and Senate on their ability to govern collaboratively. Porteus’s vision is to establish Bridge Grades as a transparent, open-source public utility that shifts the incentives on Capitol Hill—identifying and rewarding lawmakers who prioritize country over party.

Based in Emerald Hills, California, Porteus enjoys timelapse photography, and trail running in his spare time. He is the author of Roll With It—a memoir set in the early 1990s that doubles as a love letter to GenX and nostalgia for a time that preceded the technological wave that took over everything.

Bruce Zimmerman is a Strategic Advisor to Saluda Grade. He works with executive leadership to strengthen the firm’s institutional positioning, expand relationships, support governance, and enhance overall platform growth. Most recently, he advised Tresalia, a prominent high-net-worth family office. Previously, he served as the first CIO for Ray Dalio’s family office. Prior to that, he was CEO and CIO of the University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), where he oversaw the growth of assets from $20 billion to $40 billion and led a team that generated $4.5 billion in value add.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Zimmerman served as CIO of Citigroup’s $13 billion pension plan, CFO of Citigroup Alternative Investments, and held leadership roles at Bain & Company and JPMorgan Chase. He has served on the boards of Vistra Energy, the Duke University Investment Management Committee (DUMAC), and as Vice Chair of CommonFund. Mr. Zimmerman graduated magna cum laude from Duke University and earned First- and Second-Year Honors at Harvard Business School.

Ian Sandler is a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Insight Partners, where he oversees Legal, Finance, Compliance, Investor Relations, IT, HR, and Onsite operations, and helps lead the firm’s Public Equities business. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Global Equities at Citadel, was a Partner at The Carlyle Group, and held senior roles at Morgan Stanley.

Ian is the co-founder of Riley’s Way Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers young leaders to create positive change through kindness and empathy. He serves on the Boards of Trustees for The Browning School and The Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City.

Ian holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ahmad Nassar has built his career advocating for athletes and helping them maximize the value of their professional careers. He currently serves as CEO of Winners Alliance, following leadership roles across some of the most influential organizations in professional sports.

In 2022, Ahmad was named Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), where he led the organization’s advocacy efforts and the development of player services and programs. Previously, he spent three years as Founding CEO of OneTeam Partners, a group licensing, marketing, and media company representing the commercial interests of athletes across multiple sports.

Earlier in his career, Ahmad served as President of NFL Players Inc., where he helped grow the NFL Players Association’s marketing and licensing business into one of the largest for-profit licensors in sports, doubling annual revenue and player payouts during his tenure.

Ahmad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago Law School.

For more than 25 years, I have been a leader in the healthcare industry. Having held senior leadership positions with health plans, PBM’s, and healthcare IT companies, I am a proven executive who has delivered results. My leadership has helped to build some of the largest and most successful companies in the industry, including Medco, Surescripts, Oxford Health Plans, and CareCentrix.

Jason Y. Lee is the Founder and CEO of Jubilee Media, a digital media company with a mission to provoke real human conversation. Under his leadership, Jubilee has grown into one of the most recognizable digital-first media brands for Gen Z, reaching more than 380 million monthly views across platforms through flagship series including Middle Ground, Surrounded, Odd One Out, and Versus 1. Jubilee’s format-driven content brings people with differing perspectives into direct dialogue on the issues shaping culture today. Jason also launched Nectar, Jubilee’s sister channel and mobile app focused on love and dating, and executive produced the documentary Accepted, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Award in 2023. Prior to founding Jubilee, Jason was a consultant at Bain & Company and graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Matt Abrams is an investor, advisor, founder, and board member with more than 30 years of experience in the technology sector. He is a co-founder of $1B for Trust, an organization focused on investing in solutions that strengthen trust in information, institutions, and one another. Matt has also helped advance the Citizens’ Assembly movement in the United States and serves on the board of DemocracyNext.

Earlier in his career, Matt worked across venture capital, startups, and major technology companies, co-founding businesses and leading product and engineering teams in organizations ranging from early-stage startups to global enterprises. He lives in Oregon, where he enjoys backcountry adventures and spending time with his family.

Lori Palatnik is the Founding Director of Momentum (formerly JWRP). She is a world-renowned Jewish educator, speaker, writer, and media personality who has lectured all over the world. Lori has authored four books: Friday Night and Beyond, Gossip, Remember My Soul, and Turn Your Husband Into Your Soulmate.

She has been named one of 10 “Women to Watch” by Jewish Women International, one of the “Most Outstanding Jewish American Women of Our Time” by Hadassah, and one of Izzy’s 2020 “Global Jewish 100”. Most recently, she was named one of Masa’s 2022 “Inspiring 12” in honor of her contribution to a brighter Jewish future. In 2020, Lori was selected to light the Diaspora torch at the national ceremony for Israel’s 72th Independence Day. In June 2023, Lori accepted the Jerusalem Unity Prize on behalf of Momentum at the President’s House. In 2025 she received the Global Peace Prize from Nestpoint at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Lori lives with her husband in Jerusalem.

Andrew Bagley is President of Boncom, a purpose-driven agency that helps organizations advance causes that strengthen people and communities. He leads work at the intersection of strategy, behavior change, and culture, focused on building trust, inspiring action, and bringing people together.

He is also the creator of The Visible Hand, a platform exploring how behavioral science and ethical persuasion can address real-world challenges. Through his leadership, Boncom has supported initiatives like Special Olympics, #DisagreeBetter, and Unite, developing campaigns that reduce division and encourage empathy and constructive dialogue.

Larry Rosen is the creator and host of The Enemies Project docuseries, which brings together “enemies” for day-long conversations, offering transformation in a divided world. As the founder of the mediation law practice Through Understanding, he has helped thousands craft enduring solutions to crippling conflicts. Millions have watched his popular TEDx, The Secret to Understanding Humans.  Larry is a top-ten graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where he served as Editor of the Law Review.  His many projects share a common purpose: feeling inside our enemies so that both sides win the war. 

Jared Ian Goldman is an award-winning film and television producer and principal of Mighty Engine, an independent production company focused on bold, character-driven storytelling. Known for championing original voices across prestige drama, comedy, and genre, his work consistently supports visionary filmmakers and culturally resonant stories. His latest project, In the Blink of an Eye, directed by two-time Oscar winner Andrew Stanton and starring Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, and Daveed Diggs, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, marking his seventh film to screen there.

Goldman’s recent work includes the Peacock series Ponies, the horror-comedy The Parenting, and the Emmy-nominated documentary Nothing Lasts Forever. His broader credits include Russian Doll, Loving, Ingrid Goes West, The Devil All the Time, and Palmer. He began his career at Miramax and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, among other industry organizations. In addition to producing, he speaks to corporations and foundations about storytelling, leadership, and the role of culture in driving empathy and change.

Erick is Co-President of Shareability, a social content studio and brand consultancy helping companies like YouTube, Google, and Adobe connect with audiences through culturally resonant storytelling. He also co-founded Down Home with Tim McGraw and Skydance, a media company focused on the rise of Country Culture and building modern platforms rooted in community and identity.

With a career spanning nonprofit work, global campaigns, and entertainment, his path reflects a deep understanding of what moves people. From early experiences in international service to launching creative ventures and community initiatives, he brings a unique perspective on storytelling, culture, and connection.