Founder & President
Allan Savory
Allan Savory, born in Zimbabwe and educated in South Africa (University of Natal, BS in Zoology and Botany) pursued an early career as a research biologist and game ranger in the British Colonial Service of what was then Northern Rhodesia (today Zambia) and later as a farmer and game rancher in Zimbabwe.
Co-Founder & Chief Curator
Jody Butterfield
Jody has worked over the last 30 years to communicate the story of Holistic Management, initially as a free-lance writer and then as a collaborator with husband Allan Savory on books, articles and papers, including the basic text still in use today-Holistic Management: A Commonsense Revolution to Restore our Environment (Third Edition, 2017). As Chief Curator she ensures that the content of Savory publications and curriculum stays true to Holistic Management principles, even as it expands to incorporate new countries, cultures, and contexts.
CEO & Co-Founder
Daniela Ibarra-Howell
A native Argentinean, born and raised in Buenos Aires, Daniela is an agronomist by profession and holds a MS in Natural Resource Management and Economics. With over 25 years of international experience in ranching, Holistic Management, and collaborative ecosystem restoration programs, Daniela co founded with Allan Savory and other colleagues the Savory Institute in 2009, and became its CEO in 2011. Since then she has led her team in the design and implementation of a revolutionary entrepreneurial, self-sustaining global impact strategy for large-scale restoration of grasslands through Holistic Management to tackle global food and water security, and climate change issues.
Director of Development & Communications
Bobby Gill
As Director of Development and Communications for the Savory Institute, Bobby works to create holistic solutions that accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture amongst land managers, business, and consumers. A Biological Resources Engineer by training and community builder through experience, Bobby manages grant-writing, online giving strategy, donor relationships, and overall communications that support Savory Institute’s global efforts to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management.
Chief Commercial Officer of Land to Market
Chris Kerston
Chris Kerston ranched full time for nearly 15 yrs before joining the Savory Institute. With a longstanding passion for regenerative agricultural and better food distribution systems, Chris has dedicated his life to helping connect ranchers with consumers in ways that create synergistic value for both sides. With formal training and instinctive talent, Chris utilizes media in concert with traditional marketing techniques to help ranchers share their stories and build long lasting relationships with partners based upon common goals.
Chief Operating Officer of Land to Market
David Rizzo
David Rizzo’s career has evolved from its genesis in IT consulting and small business development to include operations, brand-building, and transformative leadership for internationally-recognized organizations with sustainable, earth-conscious values. Throughout his career in business and technology, one thing has remained at the core of his endeavors – a passion for respecting and protecting the great outdoors. That commitment forms the foundation for his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Savory Institute’s Land to Market Program.
Senior Program Director
Byron Shelton
Byron is the Senior Program Director for the Savory Institute. His role involves providing training in Holistic Management for the worldwide network of Savory Institute Hubs and Accredited Professionals. He also provides farm and ranch management consulting for Savory Institute. Byron is a Savory Institute Master Field Professional.
Byron is the founder and managing member of a private consulting firm providing facilitation and training in whole farm planning using Holistic Management™ decision-making, financial planning, ecosystem processes management, planned grazing, ecological monitoring, land planning, policy analysis and development processes, and low stress animal handling in agricultural, natural resource, business, family, and community settings.
Network Coordinator
Abbey Smith
Abbey serves as the Savory Global Network Coordinator. She is also the director of the Jefferson Center for Holistic Management. The Jefferson Center is the Savory Network Hub serving Northern California and Nevada as well as farmers and ranchers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
She spent time in South Africa living with families on holistically managed cattle farms after graduating magna cum laude from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in animal science and a focus in communications and ethnic studies. She attended graduate school at the University of Nevada, Reno where she received a master’s degree in interactive journalism.
Chief Finance Officer
Jim Snyder
Jim is an entrepreneur and finance professional whose career has included senior management positions within start-ups, spin-offs and the national governing body for the fastest growing team sport in America. Consistent creativity and problem solving has allowed Jim to be a major contributor to the rapid growth of each of his prior organizations. Before joining Savory, Jim was CFO and Interim CEO of USA Rugby. During his time at USA Rugby, Jim directed all finance and accounting aspects of the organization during a period of record growth. Prior to USA Rugby, Jim was Founder and President of a company working with commercial fleets to help them reduce their overall emissions impact by finding creative ways to switch their on-highway and off-highway vehicles to alternative fuels.
Virtual Producer & Executive Assistant
Paige Yungstrom
A Boulder native, Paige brings more than 25 years in virtual production, events management, executive administration, sustainability leadership, sales & marketing, and human resources. A passionate professional and “Jill of all trades,” she’s garnered awards for her dedication and experience. Previously, Paige worked in corporate finance, where she founded and managed an award-winning team for sustainability, wellness and philanthropic efforts. Her team helped encourage sustainable practices at work and at home, promoting healthy activity through good eating and exercise and provided philanthropic opportunities.
Regional Representative - South America
Felipe Urioste
Felipe Urioste serves as the Regional representative for the global network of the Savory Institute for Latin America. He is also the funder and one of the directors of Pampa Oriental, the Uruguayan Hub for the Savory Network. Felipe, born in Montevideo, Uruguay, obtained his degree as an Agronomist at Fagro, Universidad de la Republica. As Regional Representative in Latin America for the global network, Felipe assesses needs and opportunities for the Hubs in the region and those they serve, as well as business development of the regional Savory Global Network, EOV and Land to Market
