Our Mission
As Earth’s human population continues to grow, we face ever growing challenges to feed, clothe, and shelter billions more people. But that is only half of the challenge. We need to do this while conserving natural spaces, wildlife habitat, water, air, and soil. These challenges demand robust science and technology, along with better strategy, communication, and collaboration.
To that end, Risora helps our clients achieve big things by helping them think more clearly, better communicate their ideas, and put the partners and money together to make them happen. With Risora’s help, clients achieve their dreams faster and with more clarity. Ultimately, we thrive on partnering with our clients to craft a more sustainable, resilient, and livable world.
Ben C. West, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO
I grew up in Hustburg, Tennessee, a tiny community beside the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. I spent countless hours exploring its woods and waters and became curious about how—and why—places like it were protected and managed. I saw that conservation did not happen in isolation. It existed alongside agriculture, local communities, outdoor recreation, and economic realities. That experience inspired me to build a career helping people work together to conserve the lands, waters, and wildlife that matter to them.
Over the past 30 years, I have worked across higher education, government, industry, and the nonprofit sector to develop partnerships and lead ambitious conservation initiatives. That experience has taught me that conservation challenges are rarely limited by science or good ideas. Success depends on people—their ability to think strategically, build trust, manage conflict, communicate clearly, secure resources, and turn shared goals into coordinated action.
I founded Risora to help conservation organizations, agencies, businesses, and communities do exactly that. We bring together the expertise and partnerships needed to develop sound strategies, engage stakeholders, secure funding, and move complex conservation initiatives from promising ideas to measurable results.
I hold degrees in natural resources from the University of Tennessee at Martin, Virginia Tech, and Utah State University, where I earned my Ph.D. I have also completed advanced training in facilitation, negotiation, conflict management, communication, program management, and strategic planning.
“Ben’s workshop, Presentation Matters, transformed how our team approaches science communication and, especially, presentations. We have incorporated the lessons we learned in the workshop throughout our organization, and it has remarkably improved the quality of our communications.”
Dirk Krouskop
President and CEO of the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement