Gonzalo Schwarz
President and CEO, Archbridge Institute
Mr. Schwarz was until recently the director of Strategic Initiatives at Atlas Network. During his six years at Atlas he managed key projects including the Leveraging Indices for Free Enterprise Reform program, the prestigious Templeton Freedom Award, the Latin American program, and the Sound Money Project. He has an extensive network of collaborators which include public policy institutions, academics, and current and former policymakers all around the world. He has also participated as an instructor in various Atlas Network training programs such as the Think Tank MBA and the Think Tank Leadership Training. His focus was on outcome measurement and think-tank best practices.
His research interests are economic mobility, economic development and monetary policy. He holds an MA in economics from George Mason University and a BA in economics from the Catholic University of Bolivia. He has lived in five countries throughout his life including Uruguay, Israel, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the United States.
Ben Wilterdink
Director of Programs
Before joining the Archbridge Institute, Ben was the Director of the Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council, the nation’s largest non-partisan voluntary membership association of state lawmakers. In that role, Ben worked with state lawmakers from all over the country to reform occupational licensing laws, reduce overly burdensome regulation, and streamline government services. Prior to directing the task force, Ben worked as the Research Manager for the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform. Working on tax policy, state budgets, and public pensions, Ben authored or managed numerous research projects including the Tax Cut Roundup and Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Ben received his B.S. in Government from Liberty University before moving to DC. While working with policymakers at all levels of government, Ben saw firsthand how well-intentioned policies often end up becoming barriers to earned success. It became clear that lifting these barriers was essential to preserving the American Dream that has lifted countless lives.