I am an award-winning business strategist, author, international speaker, philanthropist, childcare and parenting expert, executive coach, community leader, and founder of Loving Arms Enterprises, the largest African American woman-owned business in Junction City, Kansas. I excel at guiding women to take their entrepreneurial dreams from concept to reality by using my personal and professional expertise. 

I am a domestic abuse overcomer who established Loving Arms Childcare and Preschool after leaving my abusive first husband. I moved to Kansas with nothing more than $50 in my pocket and a need to provide my two small children with a safe, loving, and stable environment. In addition to Loving Arms Childcare and Preschool, I started three additional entities, including Loving Arms University, an online educational platform with resources and tools for educators and parents, MGB, a real estate company that will provide housing for domestic abuse survivors, and my personal brand, LaFarris Risby, which serves as a training and intellectual development company.

I am also the author of "Dare to Dream," and being recognized as a sought-after keynote speaker, have presented at several conferences and seminars, including Coca-Cola's Global Supplier Diversity Curriculum, Dare 2 Dream, Kansas Association for the Education of Young Children

In 2018, I was the first in my region to graduate from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, a prestigious and exclusive small business development program offered to select business owners globally. In 2021 LaFarris I from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

I have been recognized for leadership and my commitment to serving others, including Enterprising Women Magazine 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year; Remarkable Women of Kansas (nomination); Today's Purpose Woman Magazine March/April 2020 Issue; IAOTP Top Business Strategist of the Year for 2021; and I currently serve as the Captain of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices representing Kansas. In 2022, I received The Shine Award and The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and became a part of the BOW Collective as a Sister Business Owner

You can visit www.lafarris.com to learn more about me.