Michael Guarasci

Michael Guarasci is the Chief Operating Officer at Polen Capital. Prior to joining Polen Capital, they served as the Chief Financial Officer at ICMA-RC from September 2015 to March 2020, where they were responsible for financial operations and corporate strategy. Their current strategy has resulted in pipeline opportunities increasing 500% and the advisory program increasing new asset flows 300%. Michael has also enhanced client retention by investing in the company's technology platform, adding client-facing tools, adding a new CRM platform, and funding new technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), biometric security features, mobile applications and voice recognition.

Previously, Guarasci was the Chief Financial Officer at InfraReDx from December 2012 to August 2015. Michael joined the company to monetize the business and raised $75MM in equity and debt financing. Michael filed submission of the company's S-1 filing in December 2014 and conducted a dual IPO road show/company sale in January 2015. Michael achieved a higher valuation by selling to a Japanese investor in 2015.

Before joining InfraReDx, Guarasci served as Senior Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Indus Capital Partners from October 2007 to December 2012. Prior to that, they were Head of Institutional Asset Management Business at Bear Stearns & Co. from January 2000 to December 2007.

Michael Guarasci received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Michael then went on to earn a Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from the University at Buffalo. Finally, they received certification from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy as a Certified Public Accountant and also from FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) as a General Securities Principal Series 24 and General Securities Representative Series 7.

They are on a team with Jay Russell Iv - Head of Finance, Credit, Josh McCarthy - General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Credit, and Kevin Dolsen - Head, Distribution. Some direct reports include Anthony Castro - Senior Investment Operations Associate, Menachem Goldstein - Senior Investment Operations Associate, and Bradley Mahes - Senior Investment Operations Associate. Michael Guarasci reports to Stan C. Moss, CEO.