Founder & President of the Board

Colin Blandford is the founder of the Heartstrong Foundation and a 21-year-old First Class student at the Virginia Military Institute, where he studies English and Business with concentrations in Literary Studies and Writing and Rhetoric. A Dean’s List student and active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Colin is known for pairing academic excellence with disciplined leadership and service-driven purpose.

Colin is a three-year captain of the NCAA Division I VMI Men’s Soccer Team and ranks in the top ten all-time in program minutes played. He is widely recognized as a transformational leader at the helm of a historic culture and success restoration within the VMI men’s soccer program, earning respect for his consistency, resilience, and ability to lead under pressure.

Colin has been admitted to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, for his graduate studies, where he intends to further his knowledge in finance and management while exploring opportunities in private equity.

He continues to pursue excellence across academics, athletics, and service, using his story as a platform to lead, inspire, and create meaningful change.

Secretary of the Board

Nick Regan is a dynamic leader with a unique background that bridges high-tech innovation and elite sports coaching. Before his coaching career took off, Regan established himself as a tech executive, notably serving as one of the first employees at PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station), where he played a pivotal role in building the company during his seven-year tenure in the Middle East.

He continues to make waves in the digital sports space as the Founder and CEO of Find Your Club, a platform that is making big strides in connecting players with clubs, and recently announced major strategic partnerships with both nationally and internationally recognized organizations.

In the athletic arena, Regan has achieved unprecedented success as the Head Men's Soccer Coach of NCAA DI program, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and on the international stage, Regan reached a pinnacle in 2023, coaching Team USA to a gold medal in futsal at the Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, cementing his reputation as a transformative coach capable of leading teams to historic victories.

Treasurer of the Board

Nick Dovgaluk is an economics and business student at the Virginia Military Institute, where he served as a Co-Captain of the VMI Men’s Soccer team during his senior year, working closely with Colin to build a culture of accountability, leadership, and high performance. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Cadet Investment Group and has experience working with nonprofits and consulting firms to help small businesses build the financial systems they need to operate and grow.

Nick previously worked as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis, gaining exposure to financial analysis and transaction support. He is also a co-founder of Ciclo, a startup focused on reactivating dormant customers for small businesses.

After graduation, Nick plans to pursue opportunities in private equity while continuing to build Ciclo. In his free time, he enjoys training for marathons and reading biographies.

Executive Advisor

Jay Blandford brings a start-up work ethic and a deep belief in service to everything he does. Over a 30+ year career, he has built and scaled organizations by pairing disciplined execution with mission-driven leadership.

Jay is the CEO of Abrigo, a leading fintech provider and portfolio company of Accel-KKR and The Carlyle Group, serving more than 40% of U.S. banks and credit unions. His work focuses on helping financial institutions responsibly drive growth while managing risk and strengthening the communities they serve.

Beyond his professional role, Jay is deeply committed to causes that protect people and places. He and his wife, Julie, are avid supporters of Historic Preservation of North Carolina, reflecting their shared belief in honoring history and safeguarding community identity. Jay has also spoken nationally on the importance of CPR and AED awareness, helping inspire hundreds to adopt life-saving training programs that have the power to change outcomes in critical moments.

Executive Legal Advisor

Michael Rogers is the Chief Compliance Officer at Flexa Inc., a cryptocurrency payment provider. He has extensive compliance and legal experience in both Fintech/Crypto and TradFi, having held senior crypto roles at Coinbase, BNY Mellon, and CEX.io, and senior TradFi roles at JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, BNP Paribas, and Bank of America.

Michael has been on the board of the nonprofit Phoenix House since 2019. Michael has a law degree from Cornell University and a BA from Columbia University. He has extensive law firm experience, and his last law firm experience was at Debevoise & Plimpton.