Core members

John Cha
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Eric Benisek
Co-Founder& Managing Partner
Lauren Banegas
Senior Operations Manager
Dee Sannazzaro Gray
Business Operations Manager
Kayla Kim
Operations Associate

Private Investment Advisors

Klesis Advisors collaborates with a select group of experienced private investment professionals who provide perspective, diligence, and access across venture capital, private equity, and emerging technology sectors.

These advisors bring decades of experience sourcing, evaluating, and supporting private investments across global markets. While they are not the sole source of opportunities considered by Klesis, they serve as valued thought partners in our investment process—providing insight, independent perspective, and due diligence as we evaluate private market investments for our clients.
Albert Chiang

Albert Chiang has more than two decades of experience in private capital investing. He has originated and led direct investments across early-stage, growth, and buyout opportunities. He has also allocated to the asset class, leading fund manager selection and portfolio construction on behalf of institutional and high net worth pools of capital.

He currently serves as Managing Director at Hatcheri Capital where he focuses on investing and scaling high potential emerging food brands. Albert is also a Venture Partner at Aestus Capital, a fund-of-funds focused on North American venture capital and private equity opportunities and also serves on the Investment Committee of the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, a non-profit focused on supporting at-risk youth in the Bay Area. Albert advises several high net worth families across private capital investments.

Previously, Albert was Managing Director of Private Equity at Sobrato Capital, a $1B+single-family office, and a Partner at Bay Hills Capital, a specialist fund-of-funds focused on North American small-cap buyout managers. He led direct investments at FTV Capital and Catterton Partners and started his career in investment banking at Montgomery Securities in San Francisco.

Albert holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Rabia Iqbal

Rabia Iqbal is Managing Partner at Nural Capital, a digital asset investment platform operating across New York and Puerto Rico. Her work focuses on identifying emerging opportunities within the global digital asset ecosystem.

Prior to founding Nural Capital, Rabia held investment and strategic roles at Mubadala Capital, Coatue Management, and Morgan Stanley, where she worked across investment research, business development, and operations. During that time, she partnered with institutional investors including pensions, endowments, foundations, and global wealth management platforms.

Rabia holds a B.S. from Cornell University and is a member of the Milken Institute YoungLeaders Circle.

Brian Koo

Brian Koo is the Founding Partner of Fir Hills, a Palo Alto–based investment firm focused on private equity, corporate transformation, and infrastructure investments supporting next-generation technology platforms.
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A member of the founding family of LG Group, Brian has long played a role in connecting Silicon Valley innovation with the Korean industrial ecosystem. He previously founded Formation 8 Partners and established InnovationHub for LS Group, where he led investments and partnerships in clean energy and emerging technologies.
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Brian’s work focuses on scaling cross-border technology ventures and developing infrastructure supporting the growth of artificial intelligence and data center platforms in Asia. He holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Kamal Ravikant

Kamal Ravikant is a Silicon Valley–based investor, entrepreneur, and author who has been building and backing technology companies for more than two decades.
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He manages the Evolve VC Rolling Fund, where he focuses on early-stage investments at the seed and pre-seed levels, supporting founders across software, digital platforms, and emerging technologies. Kamal is widely known for his founder-focused approach and his ability to help entrepreneurs navigate the earliest stages of building and scaling a company.
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In addition to his investing work, Kamal is the bestselling author of Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It. Earlier in his career, he served as a U.S. Army infantryman, an experience that continues to shape his perspective on leadership and resilience.

Paul Wigdor

Paul Wigdor is a financial services executive and investor whose career spans more than three decades across fintech, venture capital, and institutional financial markets.
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He currently serves as Managing Partner at Scott Peak Capital, an affiliate of Butler Capital, a capital placement and advisory firm with roots dating back to 2001. Paul is also a Partner at Tribeca Early Stage Partners, an investment platform focused on financial technology and enterprise innovation. In addition, he serves as a Board Trustee for U.S. Capital Funds.
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Earlier in his career, Paul served as Managing Partner of Ascendant Advisors, where he led strategy and operations across multiple investment platforms, and as President of Superfund USA. He also spent nearly a decade at BNY Mellon’s Pershing division, where he rose to Managing Director and Head of Equity Trading.
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Paul holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Preferred Partners

At Klesis Advisors, we recognize that exceptional wealth management extends well beyond investment strategy. Over the years, we have built relationships with independent professionals — each an expert in their field — whose work naturally intersects with the financial decisions our clients face. We refer to these professionals as our Preferred Partners.

These partners bring decades of specialized experience across tax, legal, fiduciary, insurance, philanthropic, and compensation disciplines. While they operate independently and are not exclusive to Klesis, they serve as trusted resources we turn to when our clients need guidance beyond investment management — professionals we know, respect, and are confident referring by name.
Victoria Sandovsky | Tax & Accounting

Victoria Sandovsky is a Certified Public Accountant and Partner at Armanino, one of the nation's leading accounting and consulting firms, where she specializes in tax, accounting, and business consulting services for privately held businesses and high net worth individuals across a wide range of industries.
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With nearly two decades of experience in public accounting, Victoria brings deep expertise in tax planning and compliance for corporations, LLCs, partnerships, trusts, estates, and individuals — including complex multi-state and international tax matters. She is known for her proactive approach to tax strategy, consistently helping clients minimize their tax exposure, maintain full compliance, and navigate audits and disputes with federal, state, and local authorities including the IRS, FTB, and SBOE.
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Victoria's industry experience spans real estate, medical and legal practices, technology, restaurants, manufacturing, and more. Prior to joining Armanino, she served as a Partner at Sallmann, Yang & Alameda, and held Tax Manager roles at Bickford Accountancy Corporation and PMC Consultants to Health Professionals, where she built a reputation for handling her firms' most complex client situations and leading high-performing tax teams.Victoria earned dual Bachelor's degrees in Corporate Finance and Financial Services, with a minor in Economics, from San Francisco State University's Lam Family College of Business — completing the program in just three years. She is licensed by the California Board of Accountancy.

Richard Gordon | Tax & Accounting

Richard Gordon is a Certified Public Accountant and Partner at Sallmann, Yang & Alameda, where he provides forensic accounting, business valuation, litigation support, accounting, and tax advisory services to attorneys, business owners, families, and institutions navigating complex financial matters. With more than three decades of experience, Richard is known for his ability to bring clarity, objectivity, and steady judgment to situations that often carry significant financial and emotional implications.
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Richard’s practice focuses on forensic investigations, fraud examinations, business valuation, financial disputes, and litigation support. He works closely with attorneys, financial institutions, law enforcement professionals, and clients in matters requiring detailed financial analysis, expert insight, and discretion. His collaborative approach and deep technical expertise have made him a trusted resource in high stakes engagements where thoughtful analysis and credibility are critical.
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Before rejoining Sallmann, Yang & Alameda as a Partner in 2022, Richard served as a Principal in the Forensic & Valuation Services practice at Withum, one of the nation’s leading advisory and accounting firms. Earlier in his career, he founded Gordon Forensics & Accounting and spent more than two decades as a Partner at Topel Forman in Chicago, where he built extensive experience advising clients across a broad range of forensic, valuation, and accounting matters.
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Richard holds the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation from the AICPA, is Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University.
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Richard is recognized for his commitment to integrity, objectivity, and personal engagement with the clients and professionals he serves, bringing both technical depth and practical perspective to complex financial situations.

Julie Hardisty | Estate Planning

Julie Hardisty is an estate planning attorney whose practice centers on the work that matters most to families: protecting what they have built and ensuring it passes to the people they love. She specializes in estate planning, trust administration, and probate, and is known for the personal attention and steady guidance she brings to clients navigating some of life's most significant legal and financial decisions.
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Julie earned her law degree from John F. Kennedy Law School and began her legal career in 1998, joining the practice of George D. Hardisty — a foundation that instilled in her a deeply client-centered approach she carries to this day. For clients who come to her after a loss, without a plan in place, she walks alongside families through the probate process with patience and care.
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She holds a bachelor’s degree from Biola University and has spent her career building a practice grounded in trust, accessibility, and genuine relationships with the clients she serves.

Esther Kim | Estate Planning

Esther Kim is an estate planning attorney whose practice focuses on helping individuals and families navigate the legal and practical complexities of preserving and transferring wealth. She brings more than two decades of experience across estate planning, trust administration, probate, litigation, and mediation.
Since joining THA&F in 2016, Esther has played a key role in expanding the firm’s estate planning and trust administration practice, and became a Partner in 2020. Her background as both a sole practitioner and an associate at several firms gives her a well-rounded perspective, allowing her to guide clients through both proactive planning and the challenges that arise when plans are not in place.
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In addition to her client work, Esther is deeply committed to education. She serves as an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, where she co-teaches Negotiations, and regularly teaches estate planning courses through Martinez Adult Education. She is also actively involved in the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation Planned Giving Committee, reflecting her commitment to helping individuals connect their planning with broader impact.
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Esther is an active member of the estate planning community. She serves on the Board of the Estate Planning & Probate Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Diablo Valley. She is also a member of the Trusts & Estates Section of the California State Bar.
She earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and holds an advanced degree in taxation from Golden Gate University School of Law.Esther and her husband have lived in the Bay Area for more than 30 years and raised their family in Walnut Creek. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time at the Martinez Farmers’ Market.

Kevin Holt | Estate Planning & Trust Administration

Kevin Holt is an estate planning attorney at Brothers Smith LLP, where his practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, estate and gift taxation, and property tax matters. He advises individuals and families on structuring and preserving wealth in a manner that supports long term family, financial, and legacy objectives.
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Kevin brings a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach to his work, helping clients navigate both proactive planning and the administrative complexities that can arise during periods of transition. His experience spans trust administration, probate related matters, estate and gift tax analysis, and the preparation of sophisticated estate planning strategies designed to address evolving family and financial circumstances.
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Before joining Brothers Smith LLP in 2024, Kevin spent nearly a decade with Bohne Law Group, where he advanced from law clerk to Associate Attorney. During that time, he developed extensive experience working closely with families on estate planning and trust administration matters throughout the Bay Area. Earlier in his career, Kevin also gained experience in corporate tax at The Walt Disney Company and worked on legal and intellectual property matters for emerging businesses.
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Kevin earned his education from Brigham Young University, where he also served as a student instructor in the university’s French program. He is recognized for his steady guidance, technical knowledge, and commitment to helping clients navigate important legal and financial decisions with clarity and care.

Kevin Mein | Legal Fiduciary Services

Kevin Mein is a licensed Professional Fiduciary and founder of Lion Pride Fiduciary, where he provides private fiduciary services — including trust and estate administration, probate, and guardianship — for individuals and families who require discretion, decisiveness, and seasoned judgment.
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What distinguishes Kevin is the exceptional breadth of experience he brings to the fiduciary role. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, he has served as an attorney, a commercial real estate executive, a senior officer at the University of California, a behavioral assessment specialist, and a capital markets professional. This cross-disciplinary background allows him to navigate the legal, financial, operational, and interpersonal dimensions of complex fiduciary matters with a fluency few practitioners can match.
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Kevin serves clients in a range of capacities — as Trustee, Successor Trustee, Special Administrator, and Guardian of the Estate — and is particularly skilled at guiding families through conflict and high-stakes decisions where an objective, authoritative third party is essential. He is also a licensed Real Estate Broker, enabling him to assist clients in the liquidation and acquisition of assets when required.
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Kevin earned his J.D. cum laude from Notre Dame Law School and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from UC Berkeley, where he was a member of the Honor Students Society and a varsity rugby player on a national championship team.

Rebecca Chung | Executive Compensation

Rebecca Chung is the founder of Kairos HR, a people advisory firm focused on helping organizations navigate the future of work — including compensation strategy, organizational design, leadership development, and AI-enabled workforce planning. She brings more than 20 years of experience partnering with founders, executives, and leadership teams across startups, healthcare, life sciences, and technology companies.
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Rebecca's career spans the full spectrum of people strategy, from building HR foundations at early-stage companies to leading enterprise-level people functions at large institutions. She served as Vice President of Human Resources at Providence Medical Technology, a privately held medical device company, and as Senior People Leader at OneDigital, where she advised mid-sized companies in the life sciences and high technology sectors on HR strategy and organizational design. Earlier in her career she held HR leadership roles at Stanford Health Care's University HealthCare Alliance and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
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Her expertise encompasses executive and employee compensation frameworks, incentive plan design, leadership development, and the organizational decisions that accompany periods of rapid growth or change — with a growing focus on how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how companies structure and support their workforces.
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Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications from San Jose State University.

Glenn Boisbrun | Intellectual Property

Glenn Boisbrun is an intellectual property attorney at Vasquez, Benisek & Lindgren, where he advises individuals, entrepreneurs, and technology companies on the full spectrum of IP matters — from patent and trademark preparation and prosecution to licensing, litigation, and portfolio strategy.
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Glenn brings particular depth to clients navigating the intersection of innovation and business. His experience developing and evaluating IP portfolios — including serving as an advisor and board member to several technology companies — gives him a practical, commercially grounded perspective on how intellectual property functions as a driver of enterprise value. His ability to connect IP strategy to long-term business outcomes makes him a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and business owners at every stage of growth.
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Glenn earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, his J.D. from Louisiana State University, and his MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Elijah Yu | Insurance & Risk Management

Elijah Yu is a licensed insurance professional and the head of the personal lines division at Calendar Robinson Co Inc, where he and his team advise individuals, families, and businesses across personal and commercial lines of coverage. His agency is licensed in nearly all 50 states.
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Elijah built his insurance practice from the ground up, spending nearly two decades growing an independent agency before bringing that experience and client base to Calendar Robinson. That entrepreneurial background informs how he works — with the attentiveness of someone who has always understood that his clients' trust is the foundation of everything.
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His practice spans the full range of personal and commercial insurance needs, from homes, automobiles, and umbrella policies to multi-unit residential and commercial complexes. Elijah is known for taking the time to understand each client's full picture before offering solutions, and for his ability to navigate complex coverage challenges with clarity and care.
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Elijah earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Jaimi Cortes | Philanthropic Planning

Jaimi Cortes is the founder of COR Philanthropic Strategies, a philanthropic advisory practice focused on helping individuals, families, and foundations align their wealth with their values through thoughtful, high-impact giving. She brings more than 25 years of experience across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, with deep expertise in charitable strategy, grantmaking, donor engagement, and foundation governance.
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Over the course of her career, Jaimi has facilitated the distribution of more than $200 million in charitable gifts through donor-advised funds and foundations. As a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Marin Community Foundation, she partnered with donors to direct more than $20 million annually toward strategic, high-impact grantmaking. Earlier in her career, she consulted for a $130 million startup foundation and served as a senior program manager at the Women’s Foundation of California.
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Jaimi is recognized for her portfolio-based approach to philanthropy, helping clients think about giving with the same level of clarity, structure, and intentionality they apply to their investments. Her work is grounded in a commitment to measurable impact, strong community relationships, and the ability to build trust across donors, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. She is particularly skilled at helping clients move from charitable intent to structured, purposeful giving that integrates seamlessly with broader financial and legacy planning.
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In addition to her advisory work, Jaimi contributes to the broader philanthropic community through education and leadership. She developed curriculum for Daylight Advisors and serves as faculty, supporting advisors in building philanthropic expertise within their practices. She has also served on nonprofit boards and remains actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, including participation in the Latino Community Foundation, 100Marin, and the UCLA Alumni Scholarship Committee.
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Jaimi earned her B.A. in Women’s Studies and Political Science from UCLA and her MBA from Pepperdine University.

Vivian Mendoza | Senior Care & Family Support

Vivian Mendoza is the Chief Executive Officer of SYNERGY HomeCare, where she helps individuals and families navigate the evolving care and support needs that often accompany aging, health challenges, and major life transitions. Her work centers on improving quality of life through compassionate care coordination, personalized support, and trusted guidance for families seeking in home care solutions.
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Vivian approaches senior care with a highly relational and service-oriented mindset, often acting as a personal concierge for families as they navigate complex and emotionally significant decisions. She works closely with clients to connect them with appropriate care resources, support systems, and community services tailored to their specific circumstances and long-term needs. Her focus is not only on care itself, but on helping families preserve dignity, independence, stability, and peace of mind throughout the process.
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Before joining SYNERGY HomeCare, Vivian built an extensive career spanning leadership, operations, project management, security, and crisis response across both public and private organizations. Her background includes leadership roles with Johnson Controls, Bristol Myers Squibb, Meta, The Home Depot, and the City of Tracy, where she served as a Crime Prevention Specialist for more than eight years. This broad operational experience gives her a unique ability to navigate sensitive situations with calm leadership, organization, and practical problem solving.
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Vivian earned her bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on Oral Communication from the University of Phoenix and also holds a certificate in Human Resources Management. She is recognized for her ability to build trust quickly, communicate with empathy, and help families feel supported during periods of uncertainty and transition.

Spencer Lee | Regulatory Compliance & Examinations

Spencer Lee serves as Director of Audits and Regulatory Examinations at Polaris Compliance, bringing over 25 years of experience in financial regulation, compliance, and oversight.
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Prior to joining Polaris in 2021, Spencer spent nearly two decades with the Alabama Securities Commission, where he led or participated in close to 500 audits of investment advisers, broker-dealers, money service businesses, and unregistered entities. His work included collaboration with the SEC, FINRA, and state regulators across the country on both regional and nationwide examination initiatives. Earlier in his career, Spencer also served with the Alabama Insurance Department, further broadening his regulatory expertise.
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Today, Spencer leverages this deep experience to help firms navigate complex regulatory environments with clarity, discipline, and integrity—ultimately strengthening the foundation on which they serve their clients.
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Spencer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Huntingdon College and an MBA from Auburn University.

Summer Fellows

Summer 2026

Each summer, Klesis Advisors welcomes a cohort of exceptional college students as SummerFellows. The program provides hands on exposure to the wealth management industry while giving fellows the opportunity to contribute meaningful work to the firm.
Sydney Lim

Sydney Lim is an incoming junior at Santa Clara University, where she majors in Psychology and minors in Retail Studies. She is also a member of the Division I NCAA Cross Country and Track team — a commitment that shapes how she approaches everything she does, from the discipline she brings to her work to the high standards she sets for herself.
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Sydney grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. As part of the Klesis Summer Fellows program, she is leading an individual project focused on identifying opportunities to integrate artificial intelligence into firm operations and client service processes.

Jalen Moon

Jalen Moon is an incoming sophomore at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, where he is pursuing his studies in business with a focus on entrepreneurship and leadership.
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Jalen grew up in Danville, California, where he was a competitive basketball player — competing at the varsity level as well as in AAU and other organized leagues. That background in team sports carries into how he works: with discipline, a competitive drive, and a genuine investment in the people around him. As part of the Klesis Summer Fellows program, he is leading an individual project focused on identifying opportunities to integrate artificial intelligence into firm operations and client service processes.

Madeline Pak

Madeline Pak is an incoming junior at the University of Washington, where she studies Journalism and Public Interest with a minor in Business. Her academic focus reflects a genuine curiosity about how information shapes decisions and how communication can drive meaningful outcomes.
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Madeline has already put that curiosity to work most recently as a Marketing and Public Relations Intern at The Borgen Project, where she conducted policy research, engaged in political advocacy, and created content to raise awareness around global poverty and international development. On campus, she serves as Design Chair for Gamma Phi Beta, managing creative materials and working directly with vendors to bring projects from concept to completion.
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Madeline grew up in Alamo, California, where she was an active competitive dancer. As part of the Klesis Summer Fellows program, she is leading an individual project focused on identifying opportunities to integrate artificial intelligence into firm operations and client service processes.