Meet the VentureWell staff— a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
growth strategy & development
Department
Meet the VentureWell staff— a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Department
Dani Cattan
Development Officer
Dani manages the development team’s data systems and provides support for a wide breadth of grant proposals, concept notes, and funder reports. Prior to VentureWell, Dani worked in the arts nonprofit sector, where she developed, coordinated, and managed a portfolio of programs and funding opportunities centered in social justice and accessibility. Dani received a B.A. in Latinx Studies, Art Activism, and Photography from Hampshire College, and an M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management and Social Welfare Policies from the City University of New York – Baruch College.
Martín Miguel Fernández
Senior Development Officer
Martín develops and facilitates relationships with federal agencies to strengthen VentureWell’s mission and vision. Prior to joining VentureWell, Martín served in science and technology program management roles at the National Science Foundation, AAAS, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, engaging with an array of different topics and stakeholders domestically and internationally. Martín holds an M.S. in Biomedical Anthropology from Binghamton University (SUNY) and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University.
Kristen Golden
Senior Development Officer
Hannah Henza
Development Officer
Hannah works with colleagues across the organization to tell the story of Venturewell programs while stewarding donor relationships and grants in support of our development goals. Hannah has extensive experience as a nonprofit program director and philanthropic fundraiser for regional, national, and international organizations with much of her work focused on the science of the environment and climate change. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Religious Studies from NC State University, and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Jewish Studies from Gratz College.
Elisa Mai
Director, Development
Mark Marino
Vice President, Growth Strategy and Development
Mark leads the implementation of Venturewell’s growth strategy, including new business cultivation and portfolio expansion of individual, foundation, corporate, and government revenue. He also serves as Principal Investigator and Project Director for a number of VentureWell initiatives. Mark has over 18 years’ experience in US and global health organizations leading operations, business development, board governance, program development, and administration. He has a background in molecular biology and infectious disease diagnostics and received a B.A. in Zoology and Neuroscience from Miami University (OH) and an M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Brandi Orbin
Senior Development Officer
Brandi secures funding for new and existing programs at VentureWell by collaborating with leadership, program staff, funding partners, and external experts in addition to colleagues on the development team to cultivate funder relationships and solicit mission-aligned gifts and grants. Brandi has spent more than 25 years working in the higher education and non-profit sectors, having served in multiple fundraising, marketing communication and advancement roles over that time for institutions such as Georgia Tech, NC State, Meredith College, Catawba College, and Barton College. She holds a B.A. from NC State University.
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