Founder and CEO

I grew up in Hustburg, Tennessee, a tiny community right next to the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. It was a special place, and I spent countless hours there during my youth exploring its woods and waters. As I got older, I became interested in how the place was managed, and why. I noticed that agriculture and conservation existed there side-by-side, and people came from all over to enjoy the beauty of it all. It inspired me to pursue a career in conservation and agriculture, and I’ve been lucky during my 30-year career to work on lots of initiatives that have made a big difference in the world. During my career, which has spanned higher education, industry, and nonprofits, I’ve learned one clear lesson: our greatest opportunity and challenge in advancing conservation and agriculture lies in people. The ability to think strategically, develop partnerships, manage conflict, work in teams, and communicate clearly usually make the difference between success and failure. I founded Risora to help our clients do just that. 

I have degrees in natural resources from the University of Tennessee-Martin (BS), Virginia Tech (MS), and Utah State University (Ph.D.). Further, I have additional training in facilitation, conflict management, communication, program management, and strategic planning. I have leveraged these skills in my career to help universities, nonprofits, corporations, and government agencies launch big initiatives and make them successful.

Hailing from rural West Tennessee, Michele's upbringing nurtured an affinity for agriculture and nature.  Armed with B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Tennessee, she embarked on a dynamic journey spanning education, entrepreneurship, and relationship-building. Now, she is a seasoned development professional with the ability to develop the strategies, creating the pitches, and building the relationships needed to fuel fundraising success. With a strong background in conservation and agriculture fundraising, Michele helps clients generate more money to drive their missions.

With degrees in accounting and a client-focused approach to everything she does, Kim runs the back office of Risora and serves as our business manager. Whether it is contracting, billing, invoicing, or recordkeeping, Kim makes it easy for our clients to work with us. 

Working with a variety of agricultural organizations, B3 is a boutique firm that offers tailored, creative marcom solutions. B3 leads communications for Farmers for Soil Health, TN Soybean, and works closely with other organizations that are leading the way in agriculture.

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