Alex Escher
Hemp Hollow Processing
Alex Escher
Hemp Hollow ProcessingFounder of Hemp Hollow Processing, LLC Alex is a board member of the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA), a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International and Director of Hemp Fiber Applications at Escher Design Inc. An entrepreneur with a keen eye for disruptive industries, he was intrigued with the far-reaching possibilities of hemp fiber composites in the building sector. To that end, he joined the Vermont based architecture firm, Escher Design, to develop cost effective applications using hemp bio-composites. After the firm was awarded the first permitted hempcrete structure designation in 2017 from Denver, Colorado, Alex crafted a mobile bucking and trimming company to service the nascent CBD and cannabis markets in the North East. With Hemp Hollow Processing, ASTM and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) he is developing standards to keep employees safe from inhalation exposure to toxic levels of cannabis dust, throughout the post harvest process and beyond. In addition to his numerous roles, Alex speaks nationally to educate and share his expertise at conferences and universities including Rutgers University, the University of Vermont Extension and Yestermorrow Design /Build School.
Alexandru Teodorescu
Cretes NV
Alexandru Teodorescu
Cretes NV
With 15+ years in machine construction, I’ve built my career on sustainability and advanced technology. In 2022, I joined Cretes as a sales representative, diving into the world of natural fibers. Working with hemp ignited my passion for innovation and environmental progress. Now leading sales for natural fiber processing, I focus on showcasing our cutting-edge technology while delivering reliable tailored solutions. At Cretes, we are dedicated to driving sustainability — one hemp fiber at a time.
Adolfo Mandato
Founder of AM&MOI Sustainable Textile
Alicia Fall
Her Many Voices Foundation
Alicia Fall
Her Many Voices Foundation
Alicia Fall, Founder and Visionholder of Her Many Voices, has been a lifelong doer and creator. Fall is a TEDx Talk presenter, a board member of Green Revolution, the Coalition Against Global Genocide, and Tiyospaye Winyan Maka, all as a representative for Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Fall has been on the International Hemp Speaking circuit, speaking on Hemp and Humanity. Presentations include the 2025 Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Conference (Washington, DC); University of Cambridge (England); the ASACON Hemp Conference (Asahikawa, Japan); the Euro Hemp Tour (Milan, Italy; and Naklo, Poland); at the Posner Center for International Development and The Asian Hemp Summit (Kathmandu, Nepal). In 2025 Ms. Fall was honored with the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association’s Advocate of the Year Award and Bishop Iggy’s Project Hope Mother Teresa’s Humanitarian Award. Other awards include NOCO Hemp Expo’s Das Award of Excellence in 2024 and the New York State Assembly Citation Award. Fall is also delighted to have been nominated for the Mother Earth Award by the NOCO Hemp Expo team in 2022
Amna Shamim
Consultant
Amna Shamim
ConsultantAmna Shamim is a seasoned digital marketing and communications expert. Her career has focused on marketing, operational efficiency, brand building, and targeted communications. As a dynamic and engaging speaker, she specializes in community building that grows brands and businesses using the latest in technology to supplement human skill. A talented tactician, she helps make digital marketing feel personal while navigating complex industries and regulations. Amna has been instrumental in building some of North America’s largest and most engaged consumer communities and has developed interstate and international market expansion strategies for multiple cannabis and hemp brands. She is CEO of her own consulting company and viewed as an AI integration expert. Amna serves clients across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, bringing a global perspective to her roster of clients. Known as a marketing badass and savvy strategist, Amna inspires audiences with actionable strategies for effective communication.
Andrew Bish
Bish Enterprises / Hemp Feed Coalition
Andrew Bish
Bish Enterprises / Hemp Feed Coalition
Andrew Bish is the COO of Bish Enterprises and the founder of Hemp Harvest Works. Since 2015, he has been focusing on identifying and resolving the many issues currently facing hemp harvesting and processing. His goal is to provide equipment that helps standardize hemp farming practices while allowing growers to increase their scale of operation and decrease costs, while advocating for the rights of farmers to diversify their crop portfolio by allowing for hemp to be an option just as soybeans or corn are today.
Andrew Livingston
Vicente LLP
Andrew Livingston
Vicente LLP
Andrew Livingston is the Director of Economics and Market Analysis at Vicente LLP, where he serves a unique role as an economist, business analyst, and general cannabis policy work. Mr. Livingston assists clients with developing and expanding their enterprises across cannabis markets nationally and internationally. A wide variety of marijuana and hemp businesses look to him for help navigating the regulatory intricacies that influence market dynamics, as well as to create sophisticated revenue models and pro forma for investors and to guide strategic decision-making.
Anndrea Hermann
HPS Food & Ingredients
Anndrea Hermann
HPS Food & Ingredients
Anndrea Hermann is recognised and revered as a dedicated hemp ambassador of the highest calibre, with over 23 years of experience advising the global hemp industry. She earned her Bachelor’s in Hemp Ecolonomics (2002) and her Master’s in Plant Science, specialising in Hemp Fibre Agronomy (2008). Anndrea is President Emeritus and the longest-standing board member of the Hemp Industries Association, and Vice President Emeritus of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. In 2021, she co-founded the rural non-profit Gerhard E. Dekker Regenerative Education Center, focused on nature-based education, and she also serves as a Scouts Canada leader. Her many accolades include the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance Business Builders Award (2009), induction into the Hemp History Hall of Fame (2017), the HIA Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), and the WAFBA Lady of Agriculture Award (2023). Anndrea is also the author of Everybody Loves Trallala, a children’s book about a little hempseeds journey. She continues to support the hemp sector while helping facilitate knowledge in the next generation.
Art Massalo
Big Hug Strategies
Art Massalo
Big Hug Strategies
Art is a highly accomplished Senior Executive, C-Suite Officer, Entrepreneur, Consultant, and Board Member with 30+ years of success in cannabis, wine, craft beer, spirits, food & beverage, CPG, FMCG, recruitment, sustainability, retail, health and wellness. Leveraging extensive experience in international business, sales, and marketing, he is a valuable asset for startup, midcap, large scale similar-sector companies looking for expertise and leadership in global business development, product sourcing, maneuvering through cultures, product design and launch, operations, distribution, and sales growth. Big Hug partners with cannabis and beverage companies through focused advisory engagements. Our goal is simple: to help your team refine strategy, build stronger partnerships, and make confident, informed decisions.
Beau Whitney
Whitney Economics
Beau Whitney
Whitney Economics
Beau Whitney is the founder and Chief Economist at Whitney Economics, a global leader in cannabis and hemp data, business consulting and economic research. Serving an international clientele, Beau is considered one of the leading cannabis economists in the U.S. and globally. His applications of economic principles to create actionable operational and policy recommendations have been recognized by governments, and throughout the economic, investment, business communities. Beau has provided policy recommendations at the state, national and international levels and is considered an authority on cannabis economics and the supply chain.
Bob Hoban
Greenbridge Proven Strategies
Bob Hoban
Greenbridge Proven Strategies
Bob Hoban is the President and Founder of Hoban Law Group. HLG is the first U.S. based law firm to expand its cannabis industry services across the globe with attorneys in the European Union, Latin America, and beyond. With these resources, HLG builds out client portfolios within the global cannabis economy. Mr. Hoban is known as a cannabis industry dealmaker. He is largely responsible for the creation and growth of the CBD industry due to the legal strategies, litigation matters, and policy efforts that he has developed for HLG clients. Mr. Hoban has worked as a professor at the University of Denver, Colorado where he taught cannabis policy courses. He now travels the globe educating and advising government leaders on cannabis regulation, policy and laws.
Brian Swensen
Political Strategist
Brian Swensen
Political StrategistExperienced political strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the public relations, government relations, and communications industry. Strong professional skilled in Grassroots Organizing, Crisis Communications, Coalitions, International Relations, and Management.
Brian Vicente
Vicente LLP
Brian Vicente
Vicente LLP
Vicente LLP Founding Partner Brian Vicente has been helping marijuana businesses obtain state and local licenses since the inception of the regulated cannabis industry — an industry he has played a significant role in shaping. He has also advised national, state, and local government officials in the development of regulated cannabis markets across the country and around the world, including in Uruguay, the first country in the world to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. In late 2018, newly elected Colorado Gov. Jared Polis selected Brian to serve as a member of his gubernatorial transition team, where he sat on the Economic Development and Labor Committee.
Chadwick White
Nepra Foods Ltd.
Chadwick White
Nepra Foods Ltd.
Chadwick White is the Chief Visionary Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and Co-Founder of Nepra Foods, a leader in allergen-free and plant-based food and ingredient solutions. With over 37 years of experience in the food industry, he holds a Master Baker Certification and has pioneered innovations in gluten-free and hemp-based formulations. Chadwick co-founded Udi’s Gluten-Free Foods, growing it to over $125 million in revenue before its acquisition by Boulder Brands. In 2015, he launched Gluten Free Baking Solutions, which evolved into Nepra Foods, a public company transforming the food industry with proprietary ingredients, CPG products, and solving manufacturing challenges. Globally recognized for his expertise, Chadwick is dedicated to improving gluten-free offerings and promoting hemp as a functional, sustainable resource.
Charles Warner
Cannabis & Tech Today
Charles Warner
Cannabis & Tech Today
US Army Vet turned Editor-in-Chief of several tech magazines including the award-winning Cannabis & Tech Today. Huge fan of sustainable technology and of course the miracle plant, hemp!
Chris Boucher
Juicetiva
Chris Boucher
Juicetiva
Chris Boucher is the co-founder of Juicetiva hemp juice superfood powder, a hemp industry game changer.
Chris Day
Global Cannabis Network Collective
Chris Day
Global Cannabis Network CollectiveA people-driven leader, Chris Day is the Co-Founder of the elite multi-national cannabis industry network for C-Suite executives, the Global Cannabis Network Collective. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on global collaboration, trend identification, and business development through partnership for emerging markets in the cannabis industry.
Chris Fontes
High Spirit Beverages
Chris Fontes
High Spirit Beverages
With over 15 years of experience as a founder and CEO of multiple successful businesses, I am a passionate and visionary leader in the hemp and cannabis industry. I have a certified interpener credential from the Trichome Institute, which demonstrates my expertise in the science, quality, and effects of cannabis products. Currently, I am the founder and CEO of High Spirits Beverages, a company that creates and distributes innovative hemp-infused beverages that offer health and wellness benefits. I am also the founder of Trojan Horse Cannabis, the very first hemp-derived D9 brand in the country. Additionally, I serve as a policy committee co-chair and member for several national and state-level hemp associations, where I advocate for the interests and growth of the hemp industry. My mission is to create and promote hemp products that are safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for consumers.
Corby Miteff
KonopiUS
Corby Miteff
KonopiUS
Corbett Miteff has worked in the hemp industry since 2016. He is a cofounder of KonopiUS, an American seed company that specializes in industrial hemp genetics for textiles, automotive parts, construction materials, and food & feed products. One of Corbett’s roles is to help build consistent supply chains that start with reliable and consistent seed supplies.
Danielle Berstein
The Alchemy Collective
Danielle Berstein
The Alchemy Collective
As President and Co-Owner of LaurelCrest, I lead the charge in transforming the hemp and natural wellness industry through cutting-edge innovation and a commitment to transparency and sustainability. Our cGMP-certified facility in McMinnville, Oregon, specializes in the production of high-quality hemp-derived cannabinoids, including distillates, isolates, and innovative alternatives, serving a global network of partners.
Danny Desjarlais
Lower Sioux Indian Community
Danny Desjarlais
Lower Sioux Indian Community
Danny Desjarlais is the Industrial Hemp Construction Project Manager at the Lower Sioux Indian Community, a small reservation near Morton, Minnesota. As an enrolled member of the tribe, Danny has dedicated his efforts to rebuilding his community with healthier alternative building materials that will benefit future generations. He has successfully promoted the recent expansion of hemp building activities at the Lower Sioux Indian Community reservation and is recognised across the United States as a leading advocate for the use of hemp building materials and social housing.
Darwin Millard
Cannabis Safety & Quality - CSQ
Darwin Millard
Cannabis Safety & Quality - CSQ
Darwin Millard is a 17-year cannabis/hemp industry veteran, cannabinoid extraction specialist, policy change-maker, and one of Marijuana Venture’s ‘40 Under 40’ Executives to Watch in Cannabis. Colloquially known as “The Spock of Cannabis,” Millard has focused on the extraction and manufacturing of nutraceutical products containing cannabinoids for nearly two decades, helping companies “live long and process” by implementing cost-effective, purpose-driven phytocannabinoid processing and herbal product manufacturing solutions. Millard specializes in mechanical and solvent based extraction methods for isolating highly volatile terpenophenolic secondary metabolites from botanicals, and his expertise has progressed the cannabinoid product industry forward. In 2012, Millard took part in developing the first legally sold CBD dietary supplement and he’s since worked in some capacity with every major publicly traded cannabis operator at some point in their business lifecycle.
David DiGiacomo
Michael Best and Friedrich, LLP
David DiGiacomo
Michael Best and Friedrich, LLP
Dave is a skilled and entrepreneurial-minded attorney who focuses on helping start-up and early growth companies with all of their business needs. He helps clients navigate entity formation, corporate finance, contract negotiations, compliance, investment and capital, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and other transactional matters. Dave concentrates on counseling, strategy, and practical solutions for early stage and growth businesses in the agribusiness, health, and technology sectors. He has particular expertise in the areas of natural foods, craft brewing, and cannabis. Dave frequently works with investors and fund formation, including venture capital funds, angel funds, and accelerators. Earlier in his career, Dave helped launch the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of Colorado to support Colorado’s late-stage, high-growth companies. In his fellowship role as director of company relations, Dave worked with the dean of the University of Colorado School of Law to launch this unique program, funded by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. Dave frequently speaks for local bar associations as well as at start-up growth business and community events.
David Sergi
THCA - The Hemp and Cannabis Attorneys
David Sergi
THCA - The Hemp and Cannabis Attorneys
David is one of the leading hemp litigators in Texas. He has been at the forefront of cannabinoid litigation in Texas, successfully litigating on behalf of Sky Marketing to keep Delta 8 legal in Texas. David has been successful in getting the Tarrant County Grand Jury to "No Bill" several felony cases related to arrests of vape shop owners and operators who were selling legal cannabinoid products. He also represents a wide variety of manufacturers, producers, distributors, and retail outlets that responsibly sell legal cannabinoid products.
David Traylor
Golden Eagle Partners
David Traylor
Golden Eagle Partners
David Traylor is Senior Managing Director at Golden Eagle Partners, a firm he founded in 2012 to advise life science companies. After advising on various transactions in the life science sector, he took an interest in the cannabis sector and started advising cannabis companies in 2013. In 2014, he joined Surna, Inc. (OTC:SRNA) as Chief Business Officer. After close to a year stint at Surna, Mr. Traylor re-founded Golden Eagle Partners to provide his knowledge to companies across the cannabis sector. Before Golden Eagle Partners, Mr. Traylor served at leading investment banking firms including Pacific Growth Equities (which later became Wedbush), Caris & Company and Headwaters MB (which became Capstone Headwaters). During his banking tenures he has advised private and public biotechnology and medical device companies in various transactions including IPOs, public offerings, private offerings, mergers and acquisitions totaling over $500 million in value.
Derek Wolf
Hemp and Block
Derek Wolf
Hemp and Block
As Founder and CEO of Hemp and Block, Derek Wolf oversees the day-to-day operations and management of America’s first hempcrete block company. Derek brings a unique combination of experience in manufacturing, business management, construction, and the industrial hemp industry. With over 20 years’ experience in these key fields, Derek Wolf leads Hemp and Block as a trusted American manufacturer of natural building materials that are sustainable, energyefficient, and climate-resilient.
Dionne Holmquist
Makoce Agriculture Development
Dionne Holmquist
Makoce Agriculture DevelopmentDionne has transferred her passion for people + processes to the hemp and cannabis THC space. Dionne’s Indigenous ancestry and inclusion in the LGBTQ+ community also play a substantial role in her work, materialized via her radical efforts to empower reservations and farmers across the country with the knowledge + access to capital needed to revitalize these previously excluded communities through plant medicine and economic stimulation.
Doug Fine
American Hemp Farmer / Author
Doug Fine
American Hemp Farmer / Author
Doug Fine is a comedic investigative journalist, bestselling author and solar-powered goat herder/hemp polyculture farmer. His latest book, American Hemp Farmer, was nominated as the Santa Fe Reporter’s 2021 Book of the Year and helped shepherd the regenerative farming renaissance. His focus for 15 years has been sustainable living for regular folks, including his Boston Globe bestseller Farewell, My Subaru. Doug has cultivated hemp food for farm-to-table products & seed-building in six U.S. states and his own hemp seeds have been used to clean soil in a New Mexico university study. His other books include Too High to Fail and Hemp Bound. Willie Nelson calls Doug’s work “a blueprint for the America of the future.” He's appeared on Conan, reported from five continents for NPR and testified before the UN about freedom to farm. In addition to his own crops, he advises clients worldwide on regenerative hemp and polyculture.
Dylan Begard
FRD-CODEM
Dylan Begard
FRD-CODEM
I am a research project manager at FRD-CODEM, a technology resource center specializing in eco-materials and biomaterials. As part of my duties, I conduct market and strategic studies, support the structuring of the sustainable materials sector, and participate in training activities, with a particular focus on industrial hemp. My expertise lies mainly in the quality of fibers and shives, because we know that quality is the key to accessing markets: each industrial application has its own requirements. I also conduct technical feasibility studies and support innovation and technology transfer projects aimed at developing high-performance, competitive bio-based solutions. My motivation is clear: to support the transition to a more sustainable industry by developing innovative and responsible material solutions, with hemp as a strategic lever to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Eben Sumner
Casco Bay Hemp
Eben Sumner
Casco Bay Hemp
Eben Sumner is the Founder and CEO of Casco Bay Hemp, a leading manufacturer and exporter of hemp-based wellness and medicinal products. He is also Co-Founder of TerraGenix, an environmental company focused on scaled soil remediation through the use of Industrial Hemp. With a background in International Political Economy (MA, King’s College London) and Organizational Communications (BA, St. Edward’s University), Eben combines strategic expertise with hands-on experience in international trade and compliance, medicinal and therapeutics manufacturing, policy development, and sustainable business practices. His policy experience includes navigating complex regulatory landscapes within the cannabis and hemp industries. His work emphasizes integrity, innovation, and measurable impact across business, policy, the environment, and sustainability initiatives.
Ed Lehrburger
Purehemp Technology
Ed Lehrburger
Purehemp Technology
Founded in 2014, PureHemp Technology has been advancing new technologies to utilize the whole hemp plant. After significant advances making hemp pulp and paper, PureHemp Pulp & Paper is a newly-formed spin-off company. At the Southern Hemp Expo, Ed will be discussing how a new line of hemp-based pulp and paper products are entering national and international markets. In addition to hemp pulp and paper products, PureHemp has begun to produce lactic acid from 100% hemp stalks on a laboratory scale. With proper funding, the new spin-off company, Pure BioPlastics, Inc. will scale up its patent pending and economically viable hemp-to-PLA (poly lactic acid) technology.
Eric Hurlock
Lancaster Farming
Eric Hurlock
Lancaster Farming
Eric Hurlock is digital editor at Lancaster Farming and host of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast.
Eric Milburn
Healthy Hemp Homes
Eric Milburn
Healthy Hemp Homes
While working as a carpenter for two different Denver contractors, he noticed how wasteful the industry is and thought there has to be a better way to build homes that isn't so bad for the environment or for one's health. Enter: hempcrete. He was first introduced to hempcrete by his grandmother who returned from a trip in southeast Asia where they had been building with hempcrete for generations. Taking her advice, he stepped into the space first by attending a workshop in Fort Collins and further educated himself by joining hempcrete builds in Colorado and Idaho. His ambitions of hempcrete now intertwined with his career in construction. In 2023, he started working as a project manager for an electrification company installing heat pumps working to make homes cleaner and more efficient. In this role, he learned the skills needed to manage the construction of a home. Over the years, he kept his hempcrete dreams alive by building a website and marketing his skills until one day, a client was interested in building their dream home in Littleton, CO. Eric connected him with his Dad, a career-long architect, to design the house and two years later, a contract was signed and construction began. Eric is excited to devote the rest of his career to building healthier, stronger, and natural hempcrete homes across the US.
Eric Singular
INCCert / Responsible Hemp Standard
Eric Singular
INCCert / Responsible Hemp Standard
Eric is a passionate business leader driving market growth and adoption of natural fibers and specialty oilseeds. His work in agricultural diversification and sustainable alternatives began in 2018. Eric strives to scale sustainable agricultural supply chains to align with rising consumer demand for responsible products.
Greg Wilson
HempWood
Greg Wilson
HempWood
Greg is a serial Entrepreneur always looking for a new challenge with a positive aspect and environmental impact. He has started 8 companies over the years, mainly in the building materials industry, but 3 did not make it to maturity. He loves the outdoors and spends what little time he has with his wife fishing or camping.
Hunter Buffington
Agriculture Policy Solutions
Hunter Buffington
Agriculture Policy Solutions
Hunter Buffington is an Industrial hemp policy and supply chain expert who initiated her career in sustainable development before focusing on the emerging hemp industry in 2013. Her experience in the application of open systems to create sustainable development and climate action plans in Fort Collins and Colorado gives her a unique understanding of food systems, agriculture and emerging industries. Hunter utilizes her experience working with regulators, policy makers, businesses, farmers and agriculture producers to implement strategies to develop the hemp industry both domestically and globally creating partnerships with agriculture and industry to drive profit through stewardship and innovation. Hunter is also well known for her leadership on hemp as animal feed; guiding the Hemp Feed Coalition.
James Johnson
JJGRO Enterprises
James Johnson
JJGRO Enterprises
Master Sergeant James W. Johnson Jr.(JJ) retired from the Air Force as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Upon retirement, he founded JJGRO Enterprises LLC where he devoted countless hours learning about Industrial Hemp and assisting farmers across 25 different states do the same, while simultaneously reaching out to fellow Veterans and helping them understand the Veteran Associations(VA’s) system and helping them optimize their benefits. This led to several amazing opportunities including co-ownership of Active Duty RX and pivotal efforts within the Battle On The Homefront community where his role in helping veterans has been expanded and continues to grow. Most recently, he along with key business partners opened Veterans Scientific Laboratories where they will provide analytical services to cannabis growers to ensure consistency of testing as this growing industry emerges.
Jason Adelstone
Harris Sliwoski
Jason Adelstone
Harris Sliwoski
Jason Adelstone is a seasoned business lawyer, international policy advisor, and problem solver. Based in Denver, Colorado, he provides domestic and international legal counsel to a diverse clientele, including entrepreneurs, corporations, religious organizations, and federal and international cannabis operators. His practice spans corporate law, international policy, and cannabis regulatory compliance, helping clients navigate the complexities of the global cannabis industry and beyond.
Jason Finnis
Material ReDesign
Jason Finnis
Material ReDesign
Executive leader with over 30 years of experience pioneering innovation in natural fibres, sustainable materials, and circular manufacturing. Proven track record in scaling fibre technologies from concept to global commercialization, building ingredient brands, securing capital, and leading international teams. Deep expertise in regenerative agriculture, waste stream valorization, and the deployment of novel biobased products into high-impact sectors including nonwovens, apparel, and consumer goods.
Jean Lotus
HempBuild Magazine
Jean Lotus
HempBuild Magazine
Jean Lotus is publisher of www.hempbuildmag.com and the Hemp Building Directory 2025. She is executive director of the Boulder-based Natural Building Alliance. She also co-founded Texas-based Hemp Build School delivering online and IRL workforce development technical training for building with hemp.
Jeffrey Steiner
Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center
Jeffrey Steiner
Oregon State University Global Hemp Innovation Center
Jeffrey Steiner is the director of Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center. The center is home to leading experts in hemp research, extension, and education and is the most comprehensive of its kind in the nation hosting more than 75 affiliated faculty from eight OSU colleges along with partnering universities and federal laboratories to help solve challenges to meeting the growing demand for food, fiber, chemicals, and other products made from hemp. As director, he strategically recruits multi-institutional-interdisciplinary teams and enhances their efforts through extensive networks of private, public, tribal, and international partners. Jeff has broad leadership experience in academic and government settings where he has learned to conduct, lead, and resource systems research efforts in food and agriculture, natural resources, bioenergy, and now hemp.
John Harloe
Global Cannabis
John Harloe
Global Cannabis
Dr. Harloe's experience in cannabis began in 2003 at VCU Medical Center's department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, where his research focused on the pharmacological effects of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids, particularly in the field of learning and memory. After graduating with his Ph.D. in 2008, Dr. Harloe received his J.D. in 2011 from SMU law school in Dallas, TX. After practicing drug and device litigation for 8 years, in 2019 John moved to Denver to take a job as General Counsel at Balanced Health Botanicals (“BHB”). In 2021, BHB was acquired by Village Farms (NASDAQ: VFF), and in 2024, he was promoted to Village Farms executive team as General Counsel for Global Cannabis Businesses.
John Lupien
BDSI Hemp
John Lupien
BDSI Hemp
John Lupien possesses over 30 years of experience in hemp related research, businesses, and technology development. He drives innovation at Hemp Ventures with an unparalleled knowledge pertaining to supply chains, processing technologies, material properties, and product development. His achievements include several patents; the production of the first ever US grown and processed hemp-cotton blend yarn at commercial scale; and a novel clean production platform to convert hemp hurd into plastics, fibers, and nanomaterials.
Jonathan Miller
US Hemp Roundtable
Jonathan Miller
US Hemp Roundtable
There are few individuals who have been more influential in the development of the U.S. hemp industry than the U.S. Hemp Roundtable’s General Counsel, Jonathan Miller. Upon helping found the Roundtable (and its sister organization, the U.S. Hemp Authority), Jonathan has served as the industry’s leading advocate for Hemp and CBD legislation on the ground in Congress and in dozens of state legislatures.
Joseph Carringer
Commonwealth Denim/Canna Markets Group
Joseph Carringer
Commonwealth Denim/Canna Markets Group
Joseph B. Carringer began pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors in apparel in the early 1990s. His background in men’s and women’s fashion translated to working opportunities with multiple startup hemp-based apparel companies beginning in 1997. In particular, two corporate projects focused on the design and merchandising of men’s and women’s hemp-based apparel lines targeted for large-scale US-based mall chain distribution (Pacific Sunwear and Hot Topic). Offshore project production locations included Eastern Europe (Romania and Hungary) and Northern China. Other hemp apparel consulting projects allowed him to work hands-on in the Garment District of New York, NY, with vertically integrated jobbers for brands such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, Jones of New York, etc. Joseph has a deep understanding of the nuances in establishing a vertically integrated industrial hemp infrastructure for product production (fiber, hurd, and oil).
Joseph Hickey Sr.
Kentucky Hemp Growers Co-op Association
Joseph Hickey Sr.
Kentucky Hemp Growers Co-op Association
Joe Hickey’s 30 year history in the hemp industry started in 1992 as the founder and Executive Director of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative. Joe and Woody Harrelson established Tierra Madre, LLC in 1994 to focus on identifying and funding innovative technologies supporting environmental sustainability. In 2019, after more than 27 years of lobbying and research efforts, Joe Hickey became a founding member of Halcyon Technology Holdings, Inc. Hickey is on the boards of the Kentucky Hemp Association, Friends Of Hemp, Global Hemp Association, Standing Committee of Hemp Organizations, Federation of International Hemp Organizations and continues to help move the hemp industry forward with a revered passion.
Julie Gonzales
Colorado Senate District 34
Julie Gonzales
Colorado Senate District 34
Senadora Julie Gonzales is a progressive Democrat serving north, west, and downtown Denver as the state Senator for Senate District 34. Senator Gonzales serves as a member of the Appropriations and Finance Committees. She serves as the Co-Chair of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, and the Parliamentarian of the Board of Latino Legislative Leaders.
Kelly Burke
Kifcure
Kelly Burke
Kifcure
Kelly Burke is an innovative entrepreneur whose journey defies conventional paths. As the founder of Kifcure, a leading hemp solutions provider in Maple Park, IL, and Razbit, a marketing and established software development agency. Inspired by her husband Jarett, Kifcure's CEO, Kelly's strategic vision and governance have propelled the company primarily in areas such as business development, finance, and operations. Her unique blend of healthcare and business expertise—stemming from a background as an RN and business major—equips her with unique management, critical thinking, and operational efficiency skills. Kelly's experience with organizations like Disney, Hilton, and Grand Strand Hospital enriches Kifcure with best practices and innovation. Driven by sustainability and professional growth, she is passionate about optimization in all aspects of business.
Ken Meyer
Complete Hemp Processing
Ken Meyer
Complete Hemp Processing
Ken Meyer is a fourth generation beekeeper in a South Dakota family business that started participating in the hemp industry right after passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Once growing hemp was legal in South Dakota, Ken's family business processed hemp flowers for CBD and CBG oil. The decision was made to forego processing hemp for cannabinoids and to pivot to contracting with farmers to grow hemp stalks for the business's new hemp decortication facility. Ken is responsible for working with contracted hemp farmers and for selling hemp hurd, hemp bast fiber, and hemp fines for the new hemp company, Complete Hemp Processing, founded by Ken, his brother JB Meyer, and his sister Melissa Shipley. In addition to his duties in the family honey bee and industrial hemp businesses, Ken serves as president of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association which has an advocacy membership in the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. Ken is an active member of the U.S. Hemp Building Association and Complete Hemp Processing is a member of the National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC).
Kim Anzarut
Allay Consulting
Kim Anzarut
Allay Consulting
Kim Anzarut was the first Marijuana/Hemp specialist for a public health authority in the nation in Denver CO. She has a bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition/Biochem, is a Certified Professional in Food Safety (CP-FS), a Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), and is a leading expert in Cannabis food safety. Kim is the Founder of Allay Consulting LLC, a consulting firm that helps the Industrial Hemp/CBD industry overcome compliance pitfalls in FDA Compliance, cGMP certification, ISO certification, OSHA, and Fire code.
Lawrence Serbin
Hemp Traders
Lawrence Serbin
Hemp Traders
Lawrence Serbin has been in the hemp industry for 29 years since 1990. He is currently the owner and president of Hemp Traders and CannaGrove. He is the current chair of the California Industrial Hemp Advisory Board, founder of the California Hemp Industries Association and former president of the National Hemp Industries Association.
Luca Querci
Cormatex srl
Luca Querci
Cormatex srl
Luca joined Cormatex in 2006, a textile machinery manufacturer founded by his grandfather in 1938 and led by his father as company president, where Luca with great passion and energy is leading the research & development department, as well as sales and marketing activities. In 2007 he was responsible for the Cormatex team of engineers who designed an innovative Waste Recycling technology that is driving Cormatex business to a consistent growth during last years. His passion for mechanics and innovation pushed Cormatex to build its own Research Center in 2008 where innovative solutions for waste recycling are continuously developed to fulfill customer needs from all over the world. From 2008 he is also part of the “Young Entrepreneurs Group” within the Industrial Association of Prato and from 2014 a member of PRATOINVEST Board of Directors (a Consortium of companies investing in innovative projects and start-ups in Prato area).
Marcus Grignon
Hempstead Project Heart
Marcus Grignon
Hempstead Project Heart
Hempstead Project Heart builds awareness on the benefits of growing hemp for people and the planet through redeveloping thriving hemp economies in tribal, urban, and rural communities.
Maximiliano Baranoff
IHS Grupo
Maximiliano Baranoff
IHS Grupo
Maximiliano Baranoff has a degree in International Relations, has a Master’s degree in Innovation and Economic Development at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and is co-founder of IHS Grupo. He has been working for 10 years within the ecosystem of sustainable production processes; he specializes in creating solutions that decarbonize supply chains, developing new markets and circular products. Since 2021, together with IHS Grupo, he has developed the industrial hemp value chain in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay due to its competitive advantages. In each country, strong public-private articulation work has been done in order to develop each link in the hemp supply chain, from the origination of raw materials from the field, through technical validations with industries that seek to decarbonize their value chains, to obtaining public funds and mobilization of private capital for the primary transformation infrastructure of the hemp crop.
Micaela Machado
Old Pueblo Hemp
Micaela Machado
Old Pueblo Hemp
While earning her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, Micaela developed a passion for preserving and honoring the culture and landscape in the Desert. As a designer, it became important to find solutions that can connect people to nature and have positive impacts on our well-being and on the environment. She is the owner of Old Pueblo Hemp Co, in Tucson, AZ which specializes in Hemp Block Construction. Old Pueblo Hemp Co has developed their own Hemp block press and have recently completed a 16,300 block order for The Cooper Center for Environmental Learning in Tucson, AZ. These blocks will insulate existing sleeping cabins from the exterior and give the kids a Non-Toxic, Comfortable, Beautiful Healing space all while learning about the Sonoran Desert and the Power of Hemp.
Michael ‘Coach’ Harris
Georgia Hemp Association
Michael ‘Coach’ Harris
Georgia Hemp Association
Michael “Coach” Harris, a US Navy Veteran, brings several years’ experience in leadership, legislative advocacy, and industrial hemp education. As a former lobbyist, he was instrumental in enacting legislation in Georgia in the passing of the HB213 – “Georgia Hemp Farming Act” and medical cannabis 324 – “Georgia’s Hope Act.” Coach is very passionate and excited about the hemp industry’s potential economic impact on the State of Georgia’ economy. Therefore, he is committed to educating growers, patients, physicians, and industry enthusiasts on the 50,000+ uses of hemp for medical and industrial use. He is an influencer in the hemp market with deep ties to the hemp industry from California, Colorado, and Oregon to North Carolina.
Michelle Bodian
Hemp Beverage Attorney
Michelle Bodian
Hemp Beverage AttorneyMichelle advises cannabis and hemp clients on environmental, health and safety federal and state laws through identification, prevention, mitigation, and resolution of relevant issues. She advises hemp and CBD clients on how to navigate through the complex and interconnected federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks. In addition, she counsels tri-state (Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) clients on all aspects of cannabis licensing and regulatory matters. Her clients include existing medical operators throughout the tri-state, as well as businesses and individuals seeking new adult-use, medical, and cannabinoid hemp licenses.
Morris Beegle
Bio-Smart Group
Morris Beegle
Bio-Smart Group
Morris is a leading international hemp advocate, founder of WAFBA, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, and publisher of RootSource Media. He has been instrumental in building global networks and expanding markets for hemp-based products, media and events.
Nick Palumbo
Kiefel
Nick Palumbo
Kiefel
As the North American Technical Sales Manager for the Fiber Division at Brueckner Group USA, I leverage my experience and expertise in recycled paperboard production, molded fiber, data analysis, and capitalized project implementation to deliver value-added solutions to our customers and partners.
Patrick Atagi
National Industrial Hemp Council
Patrick Atagi
National Industrial Hemp Council
As President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), Atagi provides high-quality networking and resources for NIHC staff and its members, from the farm to consumer. Atagi leads an organization composed of leading international, federal, state, private industry, and government professionals throughout the United States and international hemp industry. Under Atagi’s leadership, NIHC’s goals are to further market development, assist members in entering the industry, and educate the consumer on industrial hemp and its applications. Educating consumers is of paramount importance for NIHC.
Paul Benhaim
The Hemp Plastic Company
Paul Benhaim
The Hemp Plastic Company
Paul Benhaim has been pioneering hemp since the 90s! He founded the UK hemp industry with the first commercial hemp food products, has written 15 books on hemp, Chairman and founder of The Hemp Plastic Company, Hemp Foods Australia, Elixinol and Elixinol Wellness (ASX:EXL). Paul now brings us the use of cannabis as a Psychedelic! Paul; passion is ensuring hemp gets to the masses. Through his strong connection to the plant he must be seen in person!
Phelan Dalton
Hemp Building Company
Phelan Dalton
Hemp Building Company
Phelan Dalton is CEO of Colorado-based The Hemp Building Company in charge of project management, material distribution and client consultations.
Philip Snow
Hemp Legislative Affairs
Philip Snow
Hemp Legislative AffairsPhilip has been been involved in the cannabis industry since 2011. He began his career in cannabis as an attorney for Vicente Sederberg, LLC, the nation's first cannabis only law firm. During his time at Vicente Sederbeg, Philip also assisted in the application and licensing process for numerous entities across the country. He was part of Colorado's historic Amendment 64 Campaign, which worked with the Marijuana Policy Project to allow the use and possession of cannabis for adults over the age of 21. His time in the cannabis industry has exposed him to constantly evolving regulations which seek to balance public safety concerns with the ability for patients to gain access to medicine to treat their debilitating conditions. As someone who has seen the benefits of medical marijuana on a first hand basis, Philip believes that everyone should have access to what helps them the most. Using his background and skills as an attorney he has been able to assist others as they attempt to navigate regulations in hopes of setting up businesses to provide safe and responsible access for everyone.
Rémy Hilgenga
Hemp-it
Rémy Hilgenga
Hemp-it
Rémy Hilgenga is an agricultural engineer specialized in the development of the industrial hemp and seed production sector (HEMP-it), with international experience including a V.I.E assignment in Colombia. He has conducted market research, agronomic trials, production area assessments, and technical data analysis to support strategic decisions in the hemp seed industry. His goal is to continue developing hemp seed production internationally, particularly in the United States, by combining field experimentation, agronomic expertise, and technical analysis.
Rick Fox
FIHO
Rick Fox
FIHO
Herrick (“Rick”) Fox is the Founder of Meristem Institute, a non-profit that builds capacity for policies and value chains that fulfill hemp's promise as a climate-smart driver of opportunity for all. He is also Co-Founder of Meristem Farms, a Vermont producer of hemp crops and consumer products since 2018. Rick co-chairs the Government Affairs Committee of the National Industrial Hemp Council of America, and the Committee on Policy & Regulations of the Federation of International Hemp Organizations. Prior to Meristem, Rick completed his 15-year USDA career in senior management with the Foreign Agricultural Service, leading a division in agricultural trade capacity-building. Before that he worked in the Forest Service, first in land management on National Forests and later in policy with senior Department officials and the US Senate Committee on Agriculture. In his early career, Rick lived in Siberia and the Russian Far East for 6 years in the 1990’s, working in conservation and forest science.
Robert Lund
Studio TBD
Robert Lund
Studio TBD
Robert Lund is Founder, CEO and Chairman of Studio TBD, a consumer brand company focused on bringing cannabinoid-infused products into the mainstream. Before founding Studio TBD, Robert spent over nearly two decades as a brand creator and creative director at elite creative agencies in Europe and the United States, working with some of the world’s most recognized brands including IKEA, United Nations, Chevrolet, Pepsi, and UNIQLO. At Studio TBD, he is focused on building products that integrate naturally into everyday life — prioritizing taste, design, and consistency, and applying a long-term brand mindset to a new category.
Ryan Zaczynski
1937 International Corp
Ryan Zaczynski
1937 International Corp
Cofounder of 1937 International Corp. Hemp industrialist, design enthusiast, founding partner of a group that's changing the world.
Samantha Marino
Homeland Hempcrete
Samantha Marino
Homeland Hempcrete
Samantha Marino is co-founder and CFO at Homeland Hempcrete, a Structural Hemp-Insulated Panel manufacturing company based in Bismarck, ND. She is an intentional living enthusiast and loves to share her wide array of knowledge to help others live their best lives. She and her husband, Matt(co-founder) along with their two children moved back to their ‘Homeland’ of Bismarck, ND in 2018 to found Homeland Hempcrete, and began the mission of constructing better built homes; Homes that utilize resilient materials, that perform better, last longer, and that provide a healthy indoor environment for its occupants. This mission is becoming a reality. Her focus now is to continue spreading awareness and education on healthy living, from daily consumption habits to the walls and materials that make up our built environment. Homeland Hempcrete is making hempcrete construction more accessible, more scalable, and accelerating the adoption of healthy and resilient building materials.”
Sergiy Kovalenkov
Hempire USA
Sergiy Kovalenkov
Hempire USA
Sergiy has received his Civil Engineering degree in Carleton University, Canada. After university he went on to pursuit his engineering career in the field of construction project management before he came across a hempcrete technology in 2010. Sergiy has worked on numerous hemp insulation projects across the globe for the last eight years in countries like: Ukraine, Switzerland, France, Russia, Australia, USA and Poland. In 2015, he founded "Hempire UA” in Ukraine, which has developed a 100% natural binder, that when mixed with hemp and water would create one of the lightest, carbon negative hempcrete insulation on the planet, called Hempire Mix. In 2018, Sergiy along with his partner Stuart McKenzie has founded Hempire USA in California and has started to take on hemp construction projects. The company focuses on bringing a new hemp processing technology and other natural innovative materials to US market and rest of the world.
Steven Hoffman
Compass Natural Marketing
Steven Hoffman
Compass Natural Marketing
With a deep commitment to natural health and the environment, Steven Hoffman has dedicated his career to natural, organic and eco-friendly products, socially responsible business, and building mission-based brands. Steve serves as Founder and Managing Director of Compass Natural, a full-service public relations, marketing, brand communications, and strategic business development agency specializing in the $300-billion LOHAS“ or Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability – market. He is Co-founder of LOHAS Journal and the LOHAS Forum sustainable business conference, and former Education Director for Natural Products Expo East and West, the world's largest natural and organic products trade expositions. Steve also served as Editorial Director of New Hope Network's highly respected natural products trade publishing division, including the Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine. Hoffman also served as National Marketing Director and Rocky Mountain Regional Sales Manager for Arrowhead Mills, now a leading division of the Hain-Celestial Group. He received a M.S. in Agriculture from Pennsylvania State University. Hoffman is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in agriculture and education in Honduras and Costa Rica in Central America. In addition to English, Hoffman speaks Spanish and French. A singer-songwriter and performing musician, too, Hoffman lives in beautiful Boulder County, CO, where he enjoys access to his beloved adopted Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West!
Winona LaDuke
Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm
Winona LaDuke
Winona’s Hemp & Heritage Farm
Winona LaDuke is a rural development economist working on issues of economic, food, and energy sovereignty. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, and leads several organizations including Honor the Earth, Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute, Akiing, and Winona’s Hemp. These organizations develop and model cultural-based sustainable development strategies utilizing renewable energy and sustainable food systems. She is an international thought leader in the areas of climate justice, renewable energy, and environmental justice. She is also a leader in the work of protecting Indigenous plants and heritage foods from patenting and genetic engineering. She has authored six books including; Recovering the Sacred, All our Relations, Last Standing Woman, and her newest work The Winona LaDuke Chronicles.
Witold Czeszak
Polish Hemp Program of Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants NRI
Witold Czeszak
Polish Hemp Program of Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants NRI
Economist, expert in commercialization of intellectual property at the Institute of the Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, National Research Institute. Specialist in controlling. Co-founder and Head of Polish Hemp Program, the leader of industrial hemp certified sowing seed production in Poland. Co-founder and long-term member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute’s SPV Plantinova. Participant, coordinator of R&D and investment projects, in particular projects aimed at implementing R&D works.
Zach Gill
Prairie Band Ag
Zach Gill
Prairie Band Ag
Zach was born and raised in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, right in the heart of the grass seed capital of the world. Early in his career, he spent most of his industrial work overseeing the pressing facilities and exporting grass seed and straw overseas. During his time in that industry, he worked for three of Oregon’s most predominant straw-exporting companies. That unique work experience led Zach to work as a lead supervisor for the agricultural sector of the largest Shell biogas facility in the United States. Zach now supervises the farming and hemp processing facility for Prairie Band Ag.
Zach Popp
Sativa Building Systems
Zach Popp
Sativa Building Systems
Zach is the Founder and President of Sativa Building Systems Inc., where he leads the development and manufacturing of innovative sustainable building materials. He is the patent holder of the Z Panel, a precast hempcrete block panel designed for wall construction, currently produced at the company’s facility in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. Sativa Building Systems is recognized as the first U.S. company to complete a 50-state code compliance report for a hempcrete product, establishing a key milestone for the industry. The company has also secured over $2 million in research and development funding from the U.S. Army to support the development of hemp-mycelium building materials. Zach holds an MBA and has a professional background spanning construction, health and fitness, and higher education. He founded Sativa Building Systems in 2018 with a focus on delivering safe, high-quality, and environmentally responsible building solutions to the market.
Dr. Zafar Riaz
Katas Heampstead Agro Farms
Dr. Zafar Riaz
Katas Heampstead Agro Farms
Hemp enthusiast and entrepreneur actively engaged in hemp production and commercialisation in Pakistan. Founding member of Industrial and Medicinal Hemp Foundation in Pakistan.