Cathleen Richardson Joins Agtech Company Ponix as President and Executive Director of Upcoming Nonprofit Arm

Former Apple Exec and Leader in Advancing Racial, Equity and Justice Education Initiatives Will Expand Partnerships with Historically Black Colleges & Universities to Empower Urban and Rural Communiti
Cathleen Richardson. Ponix, Inc.
Cathleen Richardson. Ponix, Inc.

Cathleen Richardson Joins Agtech Company Ponix as President and Executive Director of Upcoming Nonprofit Arm

Former Apple Exec and Leader in Advancing Racial, Equity and Justice Education Initiatives Will Expand Partnerships with Historically Black Colleges & Universities to Empower Urban and Rural Communities

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -- Ponix, a minority-owned agtech company, today announced the appointment of Cathleen Richardson as president and executive director of its nonprofit arm, launching later this year. Ponix drives sustainable urban agriculture and community empowerment with its modular climate-smart indoor farming solutions and through the Coalition for Food Security, an initiative in partnership with 24 minority farmers backed by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Richardson will help launch the nonprofit and oversee its business operations, fundraising and strategic growth for farmer and education programs, fostering partnerships with Ponix to strengthen local food production and economic resilience for urban and rural communities.

Richardson has nearly 30 years of experience in educational technology, transitioning from teaching to working on major initiatives like Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative and the ConnectED Initiative, each backed with $100 million to enhance educational access through technology. At Apple, Richardson forged key partnerships across K-12 and higher education to promote inclusive, technology-enhanced learning for underserved communities. A renowned speaker, she has advocated for transformative educational practices at over 1,000 conferences, focusing on personalizing and democratizing learning.

"Cathleen Richardson's experience in developing tech-driven educational programs for innovative companies like Apple showcases her unique ability to merge technology with social advocacy—a perfect fit for Ponix's mission," said Michael Choi, CEO of Ponix. "Her expertise in cultivating strategic partnerships and championing equitable solutions will propel our initiatives forward, helping us transform sustainable urban agriculture and strengthen communities."

Through a $25 million contribution from Apple, Richardson helped launch and lead the PROPEL Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation hub dedicated to advancing Black talent within the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) ecosystem through transformative programs and workforce development.

As part of this initiative, Delaware State University (DESU) and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) each received a $300,000 grant to expand agtech education. Richardson partnered with Ponix and DESU to establish a 40-foot hydroponic container farm—an indoor, soil-free system designed to grow fresh produce and address systemic food access barriers. In collaboration with Ponix and UDC, she played a key role in facilitating the development of a scalable agtech curriculum for middle and high school students, helping to equip the next generation with hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

"I am extremely excited to join Ponix to build stronger, more resilient communities while advancing the organization's vision of inclusive, sustainable agriculture," said Cathleen Richardson, president and executive director of Ponix's upcoming nonprofit arm. "My approach will focus on leveraging the power of innovation, collaboration, and education to empower individuals and communities to grow fresh, sustainable food and drive long-term impact."

Richardson received a Bachelor of Arts in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University and a Master of Arts in instructional technology from Troy State University. She is an active member and dedicated fundraiser for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and is a member of the Nu Lambda Omega chapter. Richardson has been recognized as a national honoree for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of America and also serves on the board of the Women of Color Education Collaborative and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

Ponix, a pioneering, minority-owned, agtech company, is revolutionizing the way we grow food through its proprietary technology and turnkey, modular, smart indoor farming solutions. Ponix indoor farms cultivate fresh crops year-round with zero pesticides and require 90% less land and water than conventional methods, directly addressing public health concerns, nutritional deficiencies, food insecurities and breathing new life into both urban and rural communities. Discover more at www.ponixfarms.com.

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