HPS Announces New Director Michael Michaud And Promotions For Stratton Kirton, Stephanie Walstrom, And Julie Sarne
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hamilton Place Strategies (HPS) announced today that Michael Michaud has joined the firm as Director. The team also promoted current employees Stratton Kirton, Stephanie Walstrom, and Julie Sarne to Managing Director, Senior Director, and Director, respectively.
“I’m excited to welcome Michael to the HPS team,” said Tony Fratto, HPS founding partner. “Michael brings with him an incredibly deep knowledge of the financial services sector. I’m looking forward to seeing him translate his expertise to help our clients navigate the complex challenges they face.”
Michaud joins HPS from the boutique investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, where he served as Assistant Vice President. This role placed him at the intersection of policy and financial services sectors, requiring him to closely analyze the effects of past and proposed regulation and legal settlements on the financial services industry. Previously, Michaud worked at MLB Productions, where he used custom software to catalogue events at MLB games in real time for use in MLB broadcasts.
HPS is also excited to announce the promotions of Stratton Kirton to Managing Director, Stephanie Walstrom to Senior Director, and Julie Sarne to Director.
“Stratton, Stephanie, and Julie have been such important contributions to our success,” said Tony Fratto. “Our clients have benefited so much from their knowledge, their persistence, their attention to detail, and their creativity. And they are all amazing people who are internal leaders at HPS, strengthening our culture every day. I’m very happy for each of them as they grow professionally here — and I’m thrilled that I get to keep working with them!”
For the past four years at HPS, Kirton has worked with clients on issues including early childhood education, energy, environment, technology, and trade. He brings over ten years of experience working in public policy, both domestically and internationally. Prior to HPS, Kirton served on the public affairs and energy practices at H+K Strategies in Washington, and on trade and technology issues at PBN Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Moscow, Russia.
Walstrom advises clients on strategic communications, digital strategy, and public policy across a range of issues. She has extensive experience producing media events and communications campaigns, both from her time at HPS and in her previous role at the ONE Campaign. At ONE, Stephanie delivered successful integrated campaigns on international development issues including HIV/AIDS, education, financial inclusion, and gender equality.
Since joining HPS in 2016, Sarne has supported a variety of clients with strategic communications and policy objectives related to finance, technology, and economic innovation. Prior to HPS, she served as a research assistant at the University of Chicago’s Medical Center, where she contributed to several projects designed to evaluate and reduce racial and ethnic healthcare disparities. Julie also worked on President Obama’s reelection campaign, where she managed volunteer operations in Chicago’s 43rd Ward, led canvassing trips to Iowa, and analyzed voter and volunteer data.