LaFarris Risby is a Business Strategist, Executive Coach, Speaker, Author and Community Leader who excels at guiding both men and women on how to take their entrepreneurial dreams from being possibilities to successful reality, by leveraging her own personal and professional expertise. LaFarris is the founder of the largest African American childcare center in Junction City, KS. With more than 20 years’ experience in Early Childhood Education and Family Support, she is a woman with renowned credentials and a tangible success story. A Certified Family Life Educator, who founded the Loving Arms Childcare and Pre-School over 20 years ago, LaFarris was recently recognized at the 35thAnnual Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon by the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Minority and Women Business Development. Her childcare firm was awarded the Minority-Owned Business Service Industry Firm of the year.
In addition, in 2013 LaFarris was awarded Business Advocate of the Year by the same organization. A domestic abuse survivor, LaFarris established her childcare company over 20 years ago after leaving her abusive first husband and moving to Kansas with nothing more than $50 in her pocket. Out of necessity to care for herself and her two young children, LaFarris established a childcare business from her home and proceeded to take the steps necessary to turn it into the successful business it is today. She is a strong believer in sharing with others how to develop faith within themselves, have hope for the future and build legacies for generations to come. As a result, LaFarris is adamant about making sure she does the same and has turned over the reins of her successful childcare business to her children to continue the work she began.
She has two philosophies that guide her life, “Don’t miss your mark while making your mark,” and “The decision you make today, will affect your tomorrow.” An alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, a prestigious and exclusive small business development program offered to select business owners globally, LaFarris has been a featured host of its affiliated Small Business Friday’s Podcast and recently established LaFarris, Inc., a publishing, training and intellectual development company. It is through this business and access to her success network that LaFarris leverages to help coach a growing number of clients on overcoming their challenges in finding direction, purpose and success in life and business, from a realistic, practical and results-oriented standpoint. She holds degrees from Central Texas College and Upper Iowa University, in addition to numerous certifications in business and related family education programs. Married to Kevin Risby for 22 years, LaFarris is a proud mother to a daughter and son, Tyronica Burks- Watkins and Tyrone Burks, Jr. and proud grandmother of three, Tavon, 14, Alani, 10, and Isaiah, 2.
