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Cherise Beard serves as the Contracts and Grants Manager at Freedom Photonics, LLC, a Luminar Company, since January 2021, overseeing $70 million in government contracts from proposal to closeout while ensuring compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations. Previously, Cherise held the position of Business Operations Manager at Serimmune Inc. from January 2017 to January 2020, where responsibilities included managing SBIR contracts, preparing financial statements, and coordinating public relations efforts. Earlier experience includes roles as a Compliance Associate at STW Fixed Income Management, where Cherise managed regulatory compliance for over $13 billion in assets, along with positions as a Legal Assistant in various law firms, focusing on corporate documents and mergers. Cherise earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California, Berkeley.