Michael Bernarding

Senior Manager, Tech Entrepreneurship

Michael Bernarding is the Justice Innovation Senior Manager at Dream.Org JUSTICE. He is responsible for the design, planning, and execution of all initiatives focused on utilizing technology to disrupt the prison industry and growing the justice tech ecosystem. As a justice-impacted person who has held senior management positions in technology, nonprofit, and consulting organizations, he brings both his lived and professional experience to this role. Previously, Michael served on the executive team of Civic Champs, a social impact tech startup, and was responsible for customer success, business development and strategic partnerships. While there, the team participated in Techstars, MassChallenge, UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, and OneValley Startup Challenge, among others. Additionally, he led pilot projects with large national nonprofits, and local governments to co-design and deploy new tech solutions. Advocacy and civic engagement has been a significant part of his professional and volunteer work, successfully leading campaigns to advance policies and securing funding at both the federal and state levels. Michael served on the boards of the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, the Dignity & Respect Campaign, and the Women & Girls Foundation, as one of the first males invited to join the board. He also served as executive chairman of Power of 32, one of the largest regional visioning projects in the country, spanning four states and thirty-two counties.