Biography
Michelle leads Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Finance Initiative. Based in San Francisco, she is responsible for evaluating the financing needs, capacities and solutions for enterprises in RA’s agriculture program area. Michelle also manages the SFI’s global strategy, partnership development, fundraising and program management. Previously Michelle worked with TechnoServe as the in East Africa Regional Credit Manager for the Coffee Initiative. Based in Rwanda and Ethiopia, Michelle arranged $18 million in investment and working capital financing for coffee cooperatives in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Before her transition to impact investing, Michelle worked in the US alternative investment industry in various senior institutional marketing roles. Michelle holds a BS in Finance from Indiana University, Bloomington and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.