Abby & Michelle founded The Nesting Collective after witnessing something again and again:
families weren’t struggling because they lacked effort—they lacked support. Life transitions, growing households, and full schedules were overwhelming even the most capable people.
The Nesting Collective was created to step in with calm, structure, and hands-on help—so homes feel supportive, not stressful, and people can focus on what truly matters.
What was missing wasn’t effort; it was support.
Our Collective
-
Abby Michenfelder
Co-Founder
-
Michelle Rhino-Anderson
Co-Founder
-
Jennifer Zehr-Christian
Home Management Specialist
-
Kristen Johnson
Home Management Specialist
-
Brad Johnson
Handyman
-
Grace Garrett
Marketing & Social Media
Abby Michenfelder, Co-Founder
Abby Michenfelder is the co-founder and visionary behind The Nesting Collective, known for her ability to walk into a space, quickly sense what’s needed, and thoughtfully guide it towards clarity and calm. With a background in labor and delivery nursing and years of experience in custom home building, Abby brings a rare blend of intuition, structure, and care to every home she supports.
“I’ve always been drawn to creating spaces that feel lighter, simpler, and more beautiful.”
Abby’s work is rooted in a deep understanding of the mental and emotional load families carry. Her time spent supporting people through major life moments- as a nurse, mother, and trusted problem-solver-shaped her belief that homes should function as places of relief, not as another source of stress. She approaches each project through the lens of home management: assessing what’s working, identifying what feels heavy or overwhelming, then creating a clear, realistic path forward.
Known for her warmth, humor, and steady confidence, Abby has a natural ability to make even the most overwhelming situations feel manageable. She develops the vision, creates the plan, and works closely with clients and the team to ensure each detail is handled thoughtfully and with care.
When she’s not working with clients, Abby can be found at home with her family, tending to her garden, caring for a small collection of farm animals, or sharing a laugh with close friends. She believes deeply in connection- within families, within communities, and within the spaces we call home- and in the idea that life feels better when we don’t try to carry everything alone.
Michelle Rhino Anderson, Co-Founder
Michelle Rhino Anderson is the co-founder and steady force behind the structure and systems that allow The Nesting Collective to run seamlessly. Known for her ability to bring clarity and follow-through to complex situations, Michelle has a natural talent for seeing how all the pieces fit together—then creating thoughtful systems that keep everything moving smoothly.
With more than 15 years of experience leading operations and managing multifaceted initiatives, Michelle co-founded The Nesting Collective alongside Abby after realizing that running a home is often much like running a business. As a homeowner, career woman, and new mother at the time, she recognized how easily daily life can become overwhelming without clear systems in place. This insight allowed Michelle to bring her practical, business-minded approach to both the company itself and the homes of its clients.
“I love building systems that make everyday life feel easier — and actually stick.”
Michelle excels at translating big-picture ideas into clear, workable plans, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Her work is rooted in consistency, efficiency, and care, with a deep understanding that a steady home functions best when supported by reliable systems designed for real life.
She works closely with clients to ensure they have a clear, executable plan for their home, while also providing ongoing household support. Her steady presence, solutions-driven mindset, and dry, knowing humor help even the most overwhelming situations feel manageable and well-supported. Whether working behind the scenes or hands-on in a home, Michelle brings transparency, efficiency, and unwavering support to every project.
Outside of work, Michelle lives in Durham with her husband, two children, and two French Bulldogs. She is actively involved in her children’s schools and local nonprofit organizations and values community just as deeply as a well-run home. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and making meaningful memories with her family.
Jennifer Zehr-Christian, Home Management Specialist
Jennifer is one of our Home Management Specialists with a passion for organizational maintenance and thoughtful home décor. She truly understands what it takes to make a home function beautifully—because she lives it every day.
Raised in a military family, Jennifer developed an early appreciation for structure, efficiency, adaptability, and hard work! A former college basketball player with a background in business management, she spent many years in leadership roles, gaining hands-on experience in high-performing operations and strategic organization. These experiences shaped her practical, solutions-focused approach—but her greatest inspiration comes from home.
As a proud mother of six, Jennifer expertly balances the demands of a meaningful career with the energy and joy of an extremely busy household. She brings this real-life experience into every project, helping families create systems that support both daily routines and long-term peace of mind. Jennifer is deeply passionate about using her life’s work to help others grow, thrive, and succeed together.
With a special talent for blending beauty and function, Jennifer finds creative solutions for every space. From designing a custom Christmas tree to rearranging a living room for better flow—or folding socks with near-origami precision—she approaches each detail with care, creativity, and efficiency. Jennifer’s has a thoughtful, personalized way of bringing her five star creative energy into your home’s unique needs.
Kristen Johnson, Home Management Specialist
Kristen works with the Nesting Collective as a Home Management Specialists and is our go-to closet connoisseur. Her love of fashion and design began at a young age and was later refined through a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and interior design from Meredith College. She further honed her craft through wardrobe consultation internships with industry leaders Isaac Mizrahi and Liz Claiborne, bringing both creativity and professional insight to every space she touches.
With a natural eye for style and an appreciation for thoughtful details, Kristen is energized by creating systems that are as beautiful as they are functional. She excels at curating customized closet spaces, where her ability to see the big picture-while never missing the small details-truly shines. Known for her steady, calm, and disciplined approach, Kristen has a unique talent for bringing order and ease to even the most chaotic spaces.
At home, Kristen brings that same warmth and balance to life as a mother of two high-energy young boys and the wife of an equally energetic husband. When Kristen enters a space, her calm presence follows—creating a sense of ease and intention. But don’t be fooled by her gentle nature; she is quick and confident when it comes to restoring order, both in homes and in the lively world she manages every day.
Brad Johnson, Handyman
Brad serves as The Nesting Collective’s trusted Handyman, bringing skill, reliability, and a calm confidence to every home he supports. With extensive experience in woodworking, construction, painting, and general home maintenance, Brad is the person who ensures that no detail is overlooked, and no project is left unfinished.
A background in the military shaped Brad’s strong work ethic, adaptability, and sharp problem-solving skills. He has a natural ability to assess a challenge, think creatively, and execute solutions with efficiency and care. Known for his positive attitude and steady presence, Brad approaches even the most complex tasks with ease—often declaring them “too easy,” much to the delight of clients and the team alike.
At his core, Brad is a family man. When he’s not working on client projects, he can be found on his own homestead, building, fixing, and creating alongside his wife Kristen and their two boys. Together, they work hard to create a home that reflects the same care, functionality, and pride Brad brings to every space he touches.
Grace Garrett, Marketing & Social Media Manager
Grace works with The Nesting Collective as our Marketing & Social Media Manager, bringing the brand to life through thoughtful storytelling, visual strategy, and an intuitive eye for design. With a deep love for photography, content creation, and social media, Grace is passionate about capturing the meaningful, often quiet moments that reflect the heart of what our we do, and the impact we have on our clients.
She is energized by translating real-life moments into compelling visuals and messaging, ensuring that each story feels both authentic and beautifully curated. Whether behind the camera or shaping the narrative, Grace has a natural ability to highlight the intention, care, and creativity that define The Nesting Collective’s work.
Outside of her work with The Nesting Collective, Grace balances her creative passion with a full-time role in creative operations within a large media organization, where she continues to refine her skills in strategy, storytelling, and execution. Her professional experience, combined with her artistic perspective, allows her to approach every project with both vision and precision.
When Grace is behind the lens or crafting content, her goal is always the same: to honor the people, spaces, and moments that deserve to be seen—and to tell their stories with warmth, clarity, and purpose.