Michele Payn-Knoper

Michele Payn is known as one of North America's leading experts in connecting farm and food, and she serves as a resource for people around the plate. Payn encourages all of her clients and audiences to find people's hot buttons and speak their language - whether it's growing the conversation between farm gate and food plate, developing strategy, or building an advocacy plan.

Utilizing her diverse professional experience in the agricultural, sales and not-for-profit sectors, Payn founded Cause Matters Corp., a company designed to build connections around the food plate, in 2001. Cause Matters Corp. focuses on addressing food myths, developing science communication, and connecting farm to food. In each of these core areas, she helps organizations clearly identify issues, understand their audience and grow solutions. Payn's goal is to help you communicate "why your cause matters" - whether you're a scientist, dietitian or in agribusiness.

Payn holds degrees in Agricultural Communications and Animal Science from Michigan State University, where she saw science come to life firsthand as a student worker in the animal reproductive physiology laboratory. Career highlights include a Regional Directorship for the National FFA Foundation, where she sold over $5 million in corporate sponsorships and led campaigns to develop community support for various Foundation expansions. Payn has also marketed and sold dairy genetics to more than 25 countries, managed e-business accounts and presented training programs in developing countries.