“When the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) first contemplated a big push to improve presentation skills of our up-and-coming leaders, we compared a variety of course offerings.  We brought Ben in to teach Presentation Matters and…WOW!  It’s not uncommon that course participants stop me in the hallway – years later – to tell me how successful their presentations have become and how they can no longer look at a text-heavy powerpoint without considering how much more effective the speaker could have been with some better techniques. Given that a mark of a true leader is the ability to inspire followers, and a key way to do that is through communication, his training makes people better leaders.

On a personal level, Presentation Matters has been transformative. Not only have I changed the way I present, but the course changed the entire way I approach presenting – thinking about my theme/message and the best way to communicate it; how to grab people by the heart as well as appealing to their intellect; and how to not be boring.  The course made me a better presenter and a better teacher.”

“I have known Ben for many years - we met as he was developing strategy and support for Lone Oaks Farm, an intriguing venture representing a $100m+ project at the University of Tennessee. I was immediately impressed with Ben’s ability to develop a bold foundational vision for Lone Oaks, coupled with a detailed strategy for its execution, and then quickly engaged a number of high-profile leaders in agriculture to further refine and ultimately gain support for that plan. 

Ben is a strong strategic thinker with detailed planning and execution skills. He has excellent communications and relationship building skills that comes across in an authentic and transparent way. Our work together at Lone Oaks  has grown into a lifelong friendship forged in the enthusiasm for the important work that we were doing - and that’s a hallmark of others who have worked with Ben as well. His enthusiasm to work on projects that deliver great value to society is infectious and creates follower-ship in others.  I’m lucky to have had the privilege to work with him.”

“Dr. Ben West has been a valued friend and a partner in a number of ventures during the past ten years. Ben has been instrumental in assisting me and organizations in which I’m involved realize tens of millions of dollars of value creation that would never have materialized without his involvement.  Ben has that unique ability to analyze potential opportunities, focus on those that have serious merit, and avoid wasting time on those that do not.  

Ben creates partnerships with support groups that result in positive action, better than anyone I know.  He zeros in on precisely the activities that will produce the desired results.  He does this not only as a terrific “people person” but also with strong financial acumen.  Then he markets the product in a way that yields amazing results. I cannot think of anyone I’ve met in my 60-year business career who I would rather have as a partner to make something happen.”

“Risora Consulting's expertise and dedication were invaluable during Together We Grow's strategic planning process. Over the 7-month collaboration, their custom approach, coupled with meticulous data collection and analysis, resulted in a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan. The firm's professionalism and clear presentations to our board of directors ensured alignment and buy-in. Moreover, their proactive discussions on implementation initiatives demonstrated their commitment to our organization's mission of cultivating diversity, inclusivity, and skill development in the agriculture and food sector. We highly recommend Risora Consulting for their exceptional performance and commitment to advancing agriculture and conservation.”

“Ben West has been the American Fisheries Society’s go-to facilitator for several key workshops where we needed to address sticky challenges with all resulting in great success and new insight.  Facilitator, though, is an inadequate characterization.  He guided us, supported our team, provided space for creativity, and was flexible when discussions moved in unplanned directions. The results have always been better than what we had anticipated and have led to fundamentally new approaches and improvements to our programs.  Ben has been absolutely fantastic in helping us to better understand the issues that we are addressing and to work with us to find solutions that have been integral to our continued success.”

“Communication about controversial topics is critical to our agency.  Presentation Matters gave us the essential skills needed to cover our topics in a controversial setting. Course instructors presented the information in a manner that allowed our employees to gain confidence in their presentation ability, regardless of skill level.  We gained the knowledge necessary to present key information and grab the audience's attention.  I highly recommend it for all agencies, all levels, and adaptable to the level of participant expertise.”

“Ben’s workshop, Presentation Matters, transformed how our team approaches science communication and, especially, presentations.  We have incorporated the lessons we learned in the workshop throughout our organization, and it has remarkably improved the quality of our communications.”