Hayley Johnston has been immersed in the St. Louis Innovation Ecosystem since 2017, working for several Entrepreneur Support Organizations, Corporations, and Universities. Currently, she is the Program Manager at the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis University. She serves as a volunteer in the entrepreneurship community by serving on the St. Louis Startup Week Committee, as a 1 Million Cups Organizer, and as a mentor. Having the experience of starting several businesses herself and growing up with entrepreneurial parents, she understands first-hand what is needed to grow and succeed when launching a new venture. Additionally, she helped establish a nonprofit dog park in her neighborhood and now serves on their board. She holds a Master of Social Work in Social and Economic Development and Policy from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Social Work and Minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has a passion for growing the St. Louis Economy by supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners.