Michelle Opela joins BioWorks as biological solutions adviser for Southeast

Michelle Opela

BioWorks, a New York-based provider of biological crop protection and plant health products, has hired Michelle Opela as biological solutions adviser for the Southeast region.

In this role, Opela will support growers and distributors by aligning biological solutions with production needs of growers and delivering technical expertise to advance integrated pest management strategies.

Opela has more than a decade of experience in horticulture and IPM program development across large-scale, multi-site operations. Most recently, she served as senior IPM manager at Costa Farms, where she led pest and disease management strategies across more than 250 acres of production.

She also developed and implemented comprehensive IPM programs that significantly reduced input costs and crop losses, including a program at one facility that reduced costs by 65%. Additionally, she spearheaded sustainability initiatives, improving site performance ratings and advancing certification efforts.

Throughout her career, Opela has been committed to integrating biological control, applied research and grower education. She has overseen R&D trials, supported sales teams with technical training and collaborated with industry partners to evaluate product efficacy under real-world conditions.

In addition to her operational leadership, she is an active industry contributor, serving as a speaker, workshop instructor and co-host of the PlantRx Podcast, where she helps translate technical insights into practical solutions for growers.

“Michelle’s hands-on experience with biological control and her passion for grower education make her a tremendous asset to our team,” said Jason Miller, director of sales and distributor relations. “Her ability to connect science with real-world application will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence and support growers across the Southeast.”

Michelle can be contacted at michelle.opela@bioworksinc.com or by phone at 585-731-2475.