Michael co-founded Foodshed Capital in 2018 and currently oversees the day-to-day operations as Executive Director. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from a local Slow Money program with a few hundred dollars in donations to a multi-state nonprofit with more than $8 million in capital raised through the first five years. Michael also led Foodshed Capital toward certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2020; Foodshed Capital remains one of a few CDFIs around the country solely devoted to the needs of farmers and food entrepreneurs. Michael’s desire to pursue radical ideas has established Foodshed Capital as a leader in innovative financing models, serving hundreds of farmers around the county with low-and-no-cost loans and free business support services. Michael’s most enduring passion is forging strong partnerships with mission-aligned organizations in the US, working together to build a more equitable and regenerative food system.

Michael began his career in banking and later honed his financial skills as a 15-year executive in the broadcast television business. He founded an initiative called Foodwaze, a program to help consumers identify the best sources of sustainable/regenerative food at restaurants, markets, and farms. He has served on the board of several food and agriculture organizations, including the Virginia Farmers Market Association, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, and the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience & Access Coalition (MAFRAC).

Michael earned an undergraduate degree at Yale University and a graduate degree at Columbia University. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife and has four young-adult children.