Michael L. Sorth, is serving as the HESTL Interim Executive Director and is also the Vice President of Business Capacity Services, has worked to strengthen business and community through the growth and development of transformational organizations. Mike has worked in government, financial services, and the nonprofit sector. The common thread through his career has been a commitment to sound financial management, strong teams, and effective business operating systems.

Mike’s relationship-driven, results-based approach was developed as an investment banker and nonprofit leader. He has secured nearly $1,000,000,000 in funding for community assets and social impact projects and led the reorganization of operations for three large community organizations. Mike brings this management and operations experience to each client he serves.

Mike is a St. Louis Business Journal 40 under 40 recipient, alumni of the Focus St. Louis 2015 class of Leadership St. Louis, and has held multiple securities licenses. In his spare time Mike is an avid motorcyclist, paddle boarder, and patron of St. Louis arts organizations. Mike and his wife, Kristen, live in South St. Louis with their three Standard Poodles where they enjoy all the perks of empty nesting.

Eli Horner – Senior Program Manager

Eli Horner brings a background in community mental health, having experience in both outreach and crisis response.

More recently, Eli has worked on managing funded programs through a mental health board, focusing on mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services.

His deep background in community-focused work will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and expand HESTL’s impact across the region.