Founder & CEO
Michelle is a mother of four (soon to be five), a longtime peer-to-peer milk donor, and the
founder of The Human Milky Way. After donating over 40,000 ounces of human milk and
spending nearly a decade supporting families in her community, she began creating a platform to
address the systemic barriers that prevent equitable access to human milk. Michelle leads
strategy, product design, and mission alignment—drawing from personal experience, policy
awareness, and an unwavering belief in the power of human milk to save lives and transform
communities.

Chief Financial Officer
Frank is a seasoned finance and audit professional with 14 years of experience in risk management, strategic planning, and operational excellence. He is also Michelle’s very supportive husband and a passionate advocate for creating a more equitable future for families. Frank oversees all financial operations, investor relations, and compliance for The Human Milky Way, helping build a sustainable foundation for impact and scale.

Fractional Chief Technology Officer
Mardo brings over 25 years of expertise in SaaS development and engineering leadership.
With a passion for mission-driven technology, he oversees the platform’s architecture and development roadmap, ensuring the software is scalable, secure, and deeply user-centered. Mardo’s commitment to building tech that empowers families is vital to bringing The Human Milky Way to life.

Perinatal Research Advisor
Emily is a perinatal psychologist, researcher, and the founder of Nurturely, a nonprofit advancing perinatal equity through science and community engagement. Her work explores how structural and cultural systems impact early health outcomes, particularly in marginalized populations. At The Human Milky Way, Emily guides our evidence-based framework and helps ensure our platform supports both individual behavior change and broader systemic reform. Her expertise helps bridge the gap between research and real-world solutions for families.

Clinical Strategy Advisor
Paula is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with decades of experience in maternal-child health, milk banking, and community education. Her work has spanned bedside lactation care, donor milk access, and policy advocacy. Paula supports The Human Milky Way with insight into clinical best practices, ethical frameworks, and real-world implementation strategies—helping us ensure our tools are both family-centered and clinically sound.