About Us
Finding Inspiration at Every Turn
There is a service gap within the economic development landscape such that Neurodiverse Young Adults (NYA) – our Team Members are rarely afforded professionally credible and socially acknowledged opportunities to participate in their own personal growth and the advancement of their communities.
Addressing this disparity requires that we must go beyond just understanding and appreciating the capabilities of NYA. We must appropriately and effectively provide opportunities for them to contribute in meaningful, tangible, and measurable ways.
So Good Farms is providing opportunities for NYA, their parents, the public, the workforce, and the state of Alabama.
The So Good Farms Property and Locations
So Good Farms comprises 950 acres. The property is a mix of steep woodland slopes, flat arable parcels, and lush riparian corridors.
Our Vision
To expand the quality of life for Neurodiverse Young Adults (NYA) on the autism spectrum and those with Down Syndrome in a manner that forever transforms the way that they and their community perceives the value and range of their contributions.
Our Mission
Create a culturally vibrant, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable organic agri-based community that facilitates the personal growth, professional development, and acknowledged contributions of Neurodiverse Young Adults.
Our Values
We Nurture. We help Neurodiverse Young Adults (NYA) grow, develop, and reach their full potential in life and by doing so, we recognize the value of every individual and treat each person with dignity and respect.
We Are A Community. We foster fellowship and acceptance of our Team Members who often share common experiences and hopes for the future, creating a sense of belonging and community larger than their immediate family.
We Have An Entrepreneurial Spirit. We encourage a founder’s mindset among our stakeholders and staff; endeavoring to consistently improve and innovate with an eye toward growth, development, and visionary leadership.
We Are Good Stewards. We are model caretakers of our people, families, communities, lands, animals, and financial resources; utilizing best practices to ensure sustainability in each service, support, and production decision.
Those questions first trouble and then challenge Bruce, so he continues to advocate for Neurodiverse Young Adults by creating the concept of So Good Farms.
Today, the founders' team is a group of like-minded and talented business people who all support his vision and are expanding it. The team realizes the tremendous value of neurodiverse population and that current societal assumptions do a disservice to that population.
It takes a whole Agrivillage – a community – to create the environment for all Neurodiverse Young Adults to THRIVE.
Our Business Model
Our practical, working model uncovers and celebrates the untapped capabilities of our remarkable future Team Members.
This means we are not just a directory of services but a combination of current, innovative research programs, and experts who consider the individual – the physical, spiritual, and mental health – of each of our Team Members.
This is how our Team Members will reach their full potential as adults living fulfilling and productive lives.
This is how they will contribute to the labor force, influence the innovations of tomorrow, and creatively participate in both social and economic impact opportunities within their communities.
This is how they will THRIVE!
Meet the Team
DeVon M. Hankins – C.E.O
DeVon comes from a long line of entrepreneurs, which includes her family's farm – a Certified Angus Beef breeding and production operation.
She has a B.S. in Agriculture; Minor in Agronomy; and a M.S. in Agriculture Economics with an emphasis on Agri-business, Marketing, and Finance. She has 25 years of experience in leading and providing oversight for the planning and monitoring of social programs, enterprise systems, regulatory practices, and legislative agendas.
DeVon has held leadership roles in Kentucky’s Department of Agriculture; and the Governor’s Office of Ag Policy and Legislative Research Commission – Committee on Ag & Natural Resources. She currently sits on the board of trustees for the Kentucky College of Art + Design and is the CEO of Ascension Strategies.
DeVon is also a veteran officer of the U.S. Army National Guard.
Devon Hankins
C.E.O.
Logan Nicely - COO
Logan brings a background of successful produce procurement, production, and distribution across the United States for more than 10 years. His experience establishing partnerships with government entities, growers, shippers, foodservice distributors, national franchises and school systems shows his ability to connect farmers to families and create a strong network within the agriculture industry.
In addition to his experience managing multimillion dollar accounts and contract negotiations with the USDA, Logan also brings years of experience working with neurodiverse children and assisting with the Special Olympics.
Logan Nicely
C.O.O.
Bruce Nicely
Founder
Bruce has more than 25 years of experience in real estate development including land development, residential, and commercial construction in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. His projects include a 800 acre master planned community, multiple free standing single tenant ground up construction projects, and numerous large tract land purchases.
Bruce is managing partner of Roysson Global Capital and Roysson Development. Prior to his development career, Bruce founded and led a successful restaurant chain with locations in multiple states which had over 570 employees and generated sales in excess of $90 million .
Bruce has also served in numerous philanthropic positions including being a founding member of Ye Ole Farms Therapeutic Riding Academy, past co-chair of the Tulsa Special Olympics, past president of the Tulsa 4H Foundation, and assistant coach of the Woodland Warriors Special Needs Flag Football team.
Bruce Nicely
Founder
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Meagan Gordon
Chief of Team Member Support
Meagan has 17 years experience as a speech-language pathologist in school, clinic, rehabilitation, and hospital settings. She has an extensive background with evaluation and treatment of Neurodiverse children as well as children with speech, language, pragmatic language, and reading disabilities. Meagan is a Clinic Director.
The clinic serves clients with speech-language, occupational therapy, academic remediation, and audiological needs. In addition, she serves as a liaison with community partners and local colleges. Meagan has served on the Board of Directors as a staff representative and was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Meagan Gordon
Chief of Team Member Support
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W. Maurice Brown – Chief of Human Resources
William is a passionate, values-driven professional with more than 20 years of experience in organizational people strategy. He is an expert in aligning individual capabilities with strategic priorities, while ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations.
William has held numerous HR leadership roles in the public sector for state and local government, including both the executive and judiciary branches. He has had administrative oversight for business segments such as alcoholic beverage licensing, agriculture and parks and recreation.
William is currently serving as the VP of Chapter Administration for the Louisville Society for Human Resources Management (LSHRM). He has also served as past President of the Southern Region of the International Public Management Association for HR, leading 13 southern state organizations.
W. Maurice Brown
Chief of Human Resources
STRATEGIC ADVISORS
Eric Jorgensen
Eric Jorgensen is the Founder of True North Disability Planning and host of the "ABCs of Disability Planning" podcast, the go-to resources for families who have children with intellectual/developmental disabilities and the professionals who serve them, introducing its audience to organizations and resources they may have never heard of or weren't sure how to use. He is also the author of Waypoints - a monthly newsletter that takes a deeper dive into disability planning topics.
Jerry Recht
Jerry Recht has been part of the management and consultant teams of high-profile companies such as Oracle and IBM. He is an active investor in organizations such as Atlanta Technology Angels, Keiretsu Forum, and Angel Capital Association (ACA). Mr. Recht supports start-ups and accelerators including Comcast’s, “The Farm” and the collaborative program between Georgia Tech and Emory Law, “TI:GER.”
Daron Joffe
Daron ‘Farmer D’ Joffee is a nationally recognized biodynamic farmer, educator, and speaker. Mr. Joffee is the author of the recently acclaimed book, Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities and Give Back to the Earth. He is the founder of Farmer D Consulting which, with his more than 20 years’ experience, helps customers design and build community farms and gardens all over the country.