Our Team
Jay Hein
Managing Director
Jay directs Commonwealth as part of his role as president of Sagamore Institute. Commonwealth is an impact investing platform that accelerates market-based solutions to some of society’s biggest problems. Sagamore is a think tank that supplies research and consulting services to Commonwealth’s investors and portfolio companies. Jay is also co-chairman of the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute and a senior fellow at the Baylor University’s Institute for the Studies of Religion. Previously, he directed numerous public-private social enterprises as a senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2006-08 and he chronicled the White House compassion agenda in his book, The Quiet Revolution.
Cliff Benson
Board Member
Cliff is managing partner of American Homesmith and he works in asset management. He is also president of the Palin Foundation, chair of the National Christian Foundation-Carolinas, and chair of Mission Triangle. He and his father tell their philanthropy story in the book, The Generosity Bet. Cliff played competitive golf throughout his career and he has provided faith-infused mentoring through groups such as Telemachus.
Winston Justice
Board Member
Winston Justice is an advisor at Bernstein Private Wealth Management. After spending 9 years in the NFL, Justice went back to school and graduated from George Washington University with an MBA and also earned a Certified Investment Management Analyst designation from The Yale School of Management. Prior to joining Bernstein in 2019, he was a portfolio manager for PIA’s Alternative Investments Group. Earlier, he co-founded MJC Capital, an early stage investment vehicle, and also served as a portfolio manager for Wells Fargo Securities.
Rich Westlake
Chief Financial Officer
Rich Westlake joined Commonwealth as Chief Financial Officer in 2020 upon the retirement of his longtime friend and business associate, C.E. Crouse. Rich received his degree from Greenville College and earned his CPA Certificate while employed with Capin & Crouse, a local CPA firm. Most recently, Rich served as CFO at Shepherd Community Center, a well-known Indianapolis non-profit ministry and partner of Commonwealth, making a positive impact on social issues with the community.
Rob Panos
Chief of Staff
Rob Panos serves as Director of Strategic Operations and Chief of Staff at Sagamore Institute. Prior to joining Sagamore, he helped individuals and companies make meaningful charitable investments at the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado in Fort Collins. He has worked in numerous capacities in the nonprofit sector and brings a passion for service and community engagement. Rob received his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Master of Public Policy degrees from the University of Virginia.
Dan and Marsha Coats
Co-Founders
Dan and Marsha Coats established the Foundation for American Renewal in 1999 to increase the understanding and practice of effective compassion in America. Since then, Dan has served as US Ambassador to Germany, as United States Senator from Indiana, and as Director of National Intelligence. Dan and Marsha met at Wheaton College and remain very committed to growing and improving faith-based giving and serving.