The Etiquette Factory with Ms. Jenn

Michelle Highberg was raised in Larchmont, New York, by a teacher and a social worker—an upbringing that naturally wove service and community into her life. Her mother introduced her to charitable work early, volunteering together in thrift shops from the age of three, while her father taught her the art of creating a successful gala by age seven. In college, Michelle continued this path by fundraising for the Alumni Foundation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After graduation, Michelle began her professional career in fashion as an assistant buyer in New York City. Within three months, a dream opportunity brought her to Laguna Beach. As a project manager and account executive, she spent nearly 30% of her first decade in the workforce working throughout Asia. She later served as Vice President of Business Development, where she designed, marketed, and sold outerwear to international accounts across the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Throughout her fashion career, Michelle remained deeply engaged in community service, volunteering for the City of Laguna Beach and partnering with the Laguna Beach M.T.V. Show to raise funds for residents who lost their homes in the Bluebird Slide. In 2015, after more than a decade of volunteer fundraising, Michelle transitioned into the nonprofit sector, joining Working Wardrobes as Fearless Fundraiser and Special Event Planner. Driven by a commitment to best practices and ethical leadership, she earned her CFRE in 2017 and went on to serve as Director of Development for the Discovery Science Foundation. In 2020, Michelle partnered with Evelina Pentcheva to lead Lido Paddle Project, a holistic wellness nonprofit serving first responders and veterans. Two years later, they co-founded Just Gather, a digital-detox mental wellness nonprofit focused on community-inspired well-being. Just Gather addresses the academic and socio-emotional challenges facing today’s students by fostering intergenerational mentorship, purpose, and connection. The organization views the arts, nature, and gratitude as powerful bridges to inner peace. Inspired by the transformation seen through Just Gather’s gratitude curriculum, the team launched The School of Gratitude, Orange County as the nonprofit’s social enterprise—offering accessible mental wellness solutions in partnership with local businesses. As a founder, fundraiser, teacher, author, mother, and budding artist, Michelle strives to live with gratitude, transparency, emotional intelligence, and clarity. A natural storyteller, she deeply values the power of words. As a CFRE, she is well-versed in all fundraising modalities, with strengths in strategic management, marketing, major gifts, corporate partnerships, capital campaigns and donor affinity groups. A lifelong learner, Michelle is currently studying neuroscience and believes emotional mastery lies at the core of well-being. She is married to Erin Highberg, a music teacher, composer, and entertainer, and is the proud mother of three young adult children. Michelle loves to hike, swim, beach walk, run, dance, ski, cook, play Uno and Scrabble, dream, mentor, and teach etiquette and gratitude. She continues to volunteer and consult for organizations aligned with her philanthropic values—championing education, the arts, health, the environment, and the thriving of all generations.

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