Longtime MANRRS chief operating officer Ebony Webber has been promoted to the newly created role of chief executive officer, with the goal of helping to further nurture diverse talent in agriculture and similar fields.
“Becoming the CEO for MANRRS is a dream come true,” Webber said in a news release. “Since I first began working for MANRRS 21 years ago, I wake up passionate and excited about the work I get to do every day and the lives I get to impact through my work. MANRRS changed my life when they took a chance on me as a green college student and has assisted in my development and growth to CEO. I want to help develop future generations of CEOs and high-performing leaders in the food, agriculture, and natural resources industries.”
Webber, a native of Moorhead, Mississippi, has been pivotal in many steps that MANRRS has taken. She helped to relocate the national office from Memphis, Tennessee, to Atlanta, marking a strategic move for the organization. Under her leadership, MANRRS has achieved remarkable milestones, including a tenfold increase in revenue over 20 years and a staggering 700 percent growth in staff to support the scale and quality of services that MANRRS offers.
Webber’s impact on MANRRS is evident in the organization’s growth — active membership has soared by 300 percent, while the number of national partners has tripled. She oversaw the establishment of more than 105 MANRRS and Junior MANRRS chapters across 40 states, U.S. Territories, and Ghana. Additionally, Webber has expanded the portfolio of signature events and programs, leading to a doubling in attendance at the national conference over the last three years.
Webber was first introduced to the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences while as a sophomore in college. Drawing on her background in computer science and mathematics, Webber graduated at the top of her department at Stillman College. She went on to earn a master’s in business administration and certification in technology management from the University of Phoenix.
“Having worked with her for the last several years, and most recently serving alongside her as the MANRRS National President, I am confident in Ebony’s ability to lead MANRRS, helping to forge and execute the strategic vision of the organization as dictated by the needs and inputs from the membership,” says MANRRS President Dr. Derris Burnett. “Ebony has demonstrated the ability to effectively represent on behalf of the MANRRS organization as a passionate advocate for our mission and our membership. She has helped improve the MANRRS member experience and extended our pipeline to be impactful in the pre-collegiate, collegiate, and professional space. Her leadership has elevated MANRRS to become the premier organization for recruitment, cultivation, and development of diverse talent in the food, agriculture, and natural resources sector.”
Beyond her academic achievements, Webber is a distinguished alumna of the National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program, United Way of Greater Atlanta Volunteer Involvement Program, and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits High Potential Diverse Leaders Cohort. She is a member of the National Black MBA Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She currently serves on the Women in Food and Agriculture Advisory Board and Chair for the 1890 Center of Excellence to Motivate and Educate for Achievement (MEA). Providing unconditional support and love, Webber’s family, including her husband, Kendrick, and their three children: Kennedi, Kobe, and Keithen, stand behind her as she embarks on this new journey.
In her role as CEO, Webber will continue driving innovation and growth at MANRRS, fostering strategic partnerships, and nurturing the NOW generation of leaders in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.