Ashton J. Hayward III serves as President of Andrews Research & Education Foundation. A Pensacola native and Florida State University graduate, he brings extensive experience in business, economic development, public service, and organizational leadership. Before joining AREF, Hayward served as Mayor of Pensacola and holds executive experience with AT&T and the Financial Times, as well as leadership experience in real estate development.
Ellie Hartsfield serves as Finance Director at AREF, where she oversees financial operations, state grant funding, and the systems that support AREF’s research and education programs. She began her career at KPMG and spent 13 years in public accounting before transitioning to consulting for federal agencies. Ellie holds a B.S.B.A. in Professional Accountancy from the University of West Florida. She also serves on Pensacola’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Board and its Finance Committee.
With over five years of experience in nonprofit finance, Nathan serves as Accounting Manager at AREF, where he supports the organization’s financial operations and the people behind them. His work extends beyond accounting, including oversight of grant and state funding, budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, forecasting, and audit preparation.
Vanessa Ruark is the Graduate Medical Education and Education Program Manager at AREF. She oversees operational logistics, accreditation compliance, and curriculum execution across AREF’s clinical and academic initiatives. Her background spans healthcare operations, higher education administration, and organizational training, with a focus on developing efficient workflows and coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
Mangesh Kulkarni, MBBS, MTech, PhD, is Associate Director of Regenerative Medicine at AREF and a courtesy Associate Professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine. Trained in both medicine and translational science, he works across AREF's regenerative medicine research, spanning cell therapy, biologic scaffolds, orthobiologics, and predictive biomarker modeling, and helps coordinate industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated studies from protocol through publication.
Jordan Jud is the Eagle Fund Manager at AREF, where she works with military Special Operators through rehabilitation and performance programs. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University. Before joining AREF, Jordan worked as an athletic trainer with high school, collegiate, and professional sports programs.
Rachel Lackaye is the Regenerative Medicine Center Manager & Technician II at Andrews Research and Education Foundation. She leads laboratory operations and supports regenerative medicine research, with expertise in human stem cell culture, flow cytometry, microscopy, and laboratory quality systems.
Brian Setser serves as an Accounting Specialist at AREF, where he supports day-to-day accounting operations. Prior to joining AREF, Brian gained experience supporting government contracting initiatives for the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University.
Olga Gurkovskaya, Ph.D., is a graduate of LSU Health Sciences Center with a background in pharmacology and neuroscience. Her research expertise includes the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol and substance use, with several peer-reviewed publications from preclinical research.
Aysha Wright serves as the IRB Coordinator at AREF, bringing more than five years of experience in clinical research and a strong background in research operations, regulatory compliance, and clinical trial coordination.
Morgan Pfleger is the Lab Manager of AREF’s Surgical Skills Lab, where she oversees operational systems, including standard operating procedures and specimen management, that support orthopedic surgical training for residents, fellows, and visiting surgeons. She earned a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Mississippi.
Steven Voiner is a biomedical engineer and lab leader at AREF, where he uses advanced technologies, including the KUKA robot and Instron test machine, to conduct in vitro biomechanical studies. He earned a B.S.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering from The College of New Jersey in 2012, followed by an M.S.M.E. from Virginia Tech in 2014 and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2023.
Paige Smith is a biomedical engineering graduate with highest honors from Georgia Tech and experience in clinical research, medical device development, and hands-on prototyping. Her research experience includes wound care, biomechanics, microfluidic systems, and closed-loop medical devices. She has experience coordinating clinical studies, preparing research documentation, conducting literature reviews, and designing and testing prototypes.
Andrew Koenig is a Research Fellow at AREF, where he primarily works in the Surgical Skills Lab, assisting with in vitro biomechanical studies evaluating novel surgical techniques and constructs. He earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology from Cedarville University and previously worked as a medical scribe at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital before earning his medical degree from LMU-DCOM.
Merina Nicholas is a Quality Representative at AREF with experience in quality systems, regulatory compliance, and document management within cell therapy and research environments. She is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving quality documentation, processes, and training programs to support regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Emily Litrakis is a Research Report Specialist at AREF with experience supporting research projects, grant reporting, compliance, and stakeholder communication. In her role, she helps manage AREF’s research portfolio, collects and reports project data to grant partners, supports research planning, and translates complex findings into meaningful insights and educational resources for communities.
Peter Russo is a Clinical Research Coordinator at AREF, where he supports and leads clinical research in orthopedic sports medicine, biomechanics, and regenerative medicine. With a background in Biology and Pre-Medical studies from the University of Alabama, Peter has experience coordinating clinical trials from study startup through closeout, working closely with physicians and research teams, and supporting patient recruitment, regulatory operations, data management, and laboratory research.
Gabe Colbrunn is an engineer at AREF, where he supports in vitro orthopedic biomechanical research and advances the capabilities of the Surgical Skills Lab. He began at AREF as an Engineering Intern in 2024 and played a key role in expanding the lab’s biomechanical capabilities through the use of the simVITRO 6-DOF robotic testing system.
Benny Segovia Ruiz, M.S., ACSM-EP, is an Exercise Physiologist and clinical research professional specializing in exercise science, human performance, and biomedical research. He holds an M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of West Florida and has experience in clinical research, laboratory science, exercise testing, and research protocol development.
Sarah Mann is a Clinical Research Coordinator at AREF with 3+ years of experience in clinical study initiation, compliance, and management. Her studies highlight upper and lower extremity physiology and post-operative care. Sarah currently holds a master's degree in Clinical and Translation Research.
Sara Beth Bryan is a Clinical Research Coordinator at AREF with experience supporting research focused on sports, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return to activity. She performs post-operative functional evaluations, assists with research protocol development, and contributes to manuscript preparation and publication.
Riley Hunt is a Clinical Research Assistant at AREF, supporting human trials and research studies focused on athletic performance, sports injuries, and recovery. Riley is currently an undergraduate student at the University of West Florida and is gaining hands-on experience in clinical research and sports medicine.
