Mary Ackley

- Founded Washington, D.C.'s original and largest urban farm producing specialty salad greens, microgreens, herbs, and edible flowers, achieving lifetime revenue of over $2 million. - Led business operations including strategic planning, corporate social responsibility, marketing, financial management, sustainability strategy, and regulatory compliance; directs technical operations including design of hydroponic and soil-based vertical grow systems, data analysis, climate control systems, integrated pest management, and agricultural certifications. - Active member of D.C.’s Food Policy Council and Urban Agriculture Working Group, regularly advising and collaborating with D.C.’s Office of Urban Agriculture and policy-makers on issues such as tax incentives, food safety, sustainability, production technologies, and business licensure. - Designed and implemented a corporate sustainability strategy and supporting policies including to reduce food waste by matching production with demand through subscription ordering and donations in exchange for land-use; to reduce water and energy use through automatic irrigation, condensate re-capture, and lighting and HVAC upgrades; and to reduce single-use plastic through a reusable container program and compostable alternatives for subscription customers. - Selected for a visit by President Joseph R. Biden in March, 2021. Conversed with President Biden about successful business strategies for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, urban farming technologies and trends, and business logistics. Visit covered by CNN international and major U.S. news networks. - 2020 Global Good Fund Fellow, including a $10,000 Leadership Development Scholarship - Successfully sold majority interest in the company to private equity investors in December, 2021.