About Chonex

Founded by CEO Michael Lynch, CHONEX started by upcycling poultry manure into protein with the goal of using it as livestock feed. The company’s name is an acronym stemming from the four components of protein – Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen, as well as “ex” for extraction.

While achievable, this wasn’t scalable. By working with farmers and conducting significant R&D, however, CHONEX found that a bio-fertilizer would be much more impactful. Over the course of several years, Chonex developed a proprietary, patented process to produce a lightweight, dry bio-fertilizer we call StrongSoil®. When combined with water, StrongSoil® releases dormant microbes that rapidly multiply to improve agricultural soil while also adding Calcium and Chitin to soils.

Meet our team

Michael Lynch, CoFounder of Chonex

  • •20+ Years in rural Start-up operations and scaling

    •Led a statewide effort to bring Teach For America to Alabama, led Project Horseshoe Farm, and developed a remote tutoring program with Auburn University.

    •Strong track record of developing innovative solutions for rural communities, focusing on supporting at-risk populations

Will Wright, COO of Chonex

  • •20+ Years in Biotech & Start-up operations and scaling

    •Former Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Co. (NY Office). Led key healthcare strategy.

    •Founder & CEO, PackHealth (acquired by Quest Diagnostics).

    •Head of Innovation, Protective Life

    •Harvard Board of Advisors

Andrew Lewis Chonex

  • •10 years in agriculture

    •Established as a leader in sales with Monsanto, Southern Ag Services, MagrowTec and Certus Ag Group.

    •Masters in Agribusiness, Mississippi State University

Aaron Goy, GRO and Marketing of Chonex

  • •45+ years of agriculture experience

    •Led product & brand management, market development, sales management, and distribution & logistics

    •Worked at Farmland Industries, CIBA-Geigy-Syngenta, Regal Chemicals, ProGro Solutions, and founded two manufacturing and distribution companies

Butch Burkett, Operations/Quality of Chonex

  • •30+ years in industrial plant design, engineering, and production management 

    •President, Talon Aerospace

    •VP Operations Jemison Demsey Metals, Steel Processing Facility

    •President US Clay, Sodium Bentonite mining

Erin Williams, CFO of Chonex

  • •CFO of Omega Realty Group and CS Equities from 2016 - 2023

    •Assisted Omega Realty Group in expanding their portfolio from ~150 to ~1750 properties

    •Previously worked directly with the CFO of Revere Control Systems on all matters related to purchasing & inventory, financial reporting, and budgeting

    •CPA, CMA

Lori Moshman, Entomologist of Chonex

  • Lori studied entomology at Cornell University and completed a Master's in Entomology at LSU. She has worked on several projects involving black soldier fly larvae and insect mass-rearing.

Dr. Charles Snipes, Director of R&D of Chonex

  • •Ph.D. Agronomist with 45 Years of Product Testing & Development

    •Extensive experience in agricultural research and development.

    •Founder of successful contract research business and directed 150+ annual crop trials across cotton, corn, soybeans, etc. while serving as CFO

    •6th generation farmer with deep agricultural roots

Bill Marion Microbiologist at Chonex

  • Bill studied Biochemistry at Florida State University and structural virology at University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has strong interests in regenerative agriculture and soil microbiology.

ADVISORS

 

  • Allen is a sixth-generation farmer, expert and leader in the regenerative agriculture movement. He is a founding partner of Grass Fed Insights, LLC, Soil Health Academy, and Understanding Ag. He and his partners consult with more than 5,000 farmers and ranchers worldwide. His client portfolio includes nearly 32 million acres in the U.S. and 200 million acres worldwide transitioning to regenerative ag.

  • Pam Marrone is a successful bio-ag entrepreneur and advisor to bio-ag startups. She is the founder and former CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations (NASDQ MBII) as well as founder and former CEO of AgraQuest. She holds more than 400 patents and is the world’s most prolific developer of biopesticides.

  • Former Chair and President of The Mouat Company, Inc., a design-build industrial facility engineering firm. Brad has 50+ years of experience designing and constructing metal casting and mineral processing systems plants for some of the largest companies in the US.

  • Jim has served as a consultant to the Office of the President of the United States of America and a strategic advisor to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, as well as Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T, HP, IBM and Siemens. He is the founder of SIBF and MELA and consults on leadership and strategy.

  • Sherman leads the world’s largest egg producer and partners with CHONEX to ensure its supply of layer chicken manure.

  • Ecovery is a non-ferrous scrap metal recycling company. In addition, Kevin has extensive experience in manufacturing and process development, having designed and built Procell Decking Systems LLC, which was sold to CPG International. He and his family own the second largest John Deere distributor in the United States.