Who We Are

Rob Cato (he/him)
Founder & Principal Consultant

Rob is a nonprofit executive leader and finance professional with a passion for food justice and equity-centered systems. He brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit financial management, fundraising, and board governance. His career began in corporate finance through Johnson & Johnson’s Financial Leadership Development Program, where he managed complex budgets and presented financial analyses to senior management. He later served as Executive Director of Zenger Farm, a nationally recognized urban farm and food justice nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, where he led financial strategy and fundraising.

Rob founded Black Cato Consulting to help organizations strengthen their financial foundations, align resources with mission, and create sustainable structures that support staff and community. He specializes in fractional CFO services for nonprofits, grant compliance and operations, and people-focused HR systems.

Outside of consulting, Rob has served in executive committee roles on the boards of Social Justice Fund Northwest and Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, deepening his experience in nonprofit governance and advocacy. He is based in Portland, Oregon, and is committed to building thriving, inclusive organizations from the inside out.

Michael Black (he/him)
Founder & Principal Consultant

Michael is a financial and operational leader with a background in public accounting, entrepreneurship, and growth-stage business operations. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Florida’s Fisher School of Accounting, graduating with high honors. He began his career as an auditor at Grant Thornton, where he developed expertise in financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance.

Michael went on to serve in executive and partner roles across multiple businesses, including acting as CFO for a food delivery company through a successful acquisition. He later led growth and managed large operating budgets for a venture-backed company that was ultimately acquired by a publicly traded firm. Across these roles, he built deep experience in budgeting, cash flow forecasting, performance reporting, and cross-functional leadership.

As Co-Founder of Black Cato Consulting, Michael focuses on financial systems design, multi-year forecasting, reporting infrastructure, and leadership decision support. He brings a practical, operator-informed perspective to capacity building, helping organizations translate financial data into clear, actionable insights. Michael is based in Portland, Oregon, and is committed to building resilient organizations with strong financial foundations and sustainable growth strategies.