Farm Finance Specialist
Anna Thomas is an entrepreneur and finance professional with deep experience in building and scaling food businesses. Her work focuses on helping farm and food entrepreneurs strengthen financial management, access capital, and develop the systems needed for sustainable growth.
Anna founded and operated Landmark Creamery for more than a decade, gaining firsthand experience in launching and growing a value-added food business. During that time, she managed all aspects of the company, including business planning, pricing, financial management, distribution, and brand development. She also secured bank financing, grant awards, and worked with equity investors, building practical expertise in capital strategy and business operations within the dairy and specialty food sectors.
Earlier in her career, Anna worked as a project manager for financial institutions and healthcare organizations, overseeing complex projects involving budgets, timelines, and cross-functional coordination. She also served as a Financial Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, supporting projects that redeveloped contaminated land for commercial use.
In addition to her operational and financial work, Anna has contributed to food and agriculture journalism, including a decade writing a weekly column and feature stories for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, covering farmers, food businesses, and regional food systems.
At the Food Finance Institute, Anna works with entrepreneurs to strengthen financial systems, evaluate funding strategies, and build businesses that are both profitable and resilient.
Outside of her professional work, Anna enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and visiting farmers markets. She lives in Verona, Wisconsin, with her family.
- Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies and Urban Studies – Brown University
