Name: Eric Eisele
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.
Title: Lab Director, Item 9 Labs Corp.
One word to describe your cultivation/extraction style:
Innovative: My team and I always strive to be at the forefront of the cannabis industry–constantly exploring innovative and compliant techniques, systems and processes, and tools to improve our premium, award-winning Item 9 Labs cannabis products.
Collaborative: From our cultivation and lab teams to our dispensary partners and loyal consumers and patients, we consistently collaborate and are transparent with one another. We strongly believe that this contributes to our overall success, giving us the ability to achieve our goals and build strong relationships.
Indoor, outdoor, greenhouse or a combination: Indoor
Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day?
Growing up in Eastern Iowa, I witnessed firsthand the importance of efficiency and proactive production philosophy in large-scale farm operations. When I was younger, I traveled abroad, pursuing a whirlwind career in modeling, music and entertainment while studying the various forms of flower around the world. When I returned [to the U.S.], I decided to enter the cannabis industry to pursue my passion for the plant and the growing industry, following an opportunity to join the Item 9 Labs team. I was drawn to the brand because of the vision behind it and its commitment to quality, consistency and innovation.
As an award-winning cannabis operator and producer in Arizona, Item 9 Labs is known for its in-depth focus on research and development, use of advanced technology and streamlined cultivation and extraction techniques to create products that are safe and of the highest quality. I was excited to join a company with such a well-regarded reputation for excellence and to contribute my skillsets and experience to the brand. Our team’s collective tenacity, coupled with creativity, has landed us numerous awards in some of Arizona’s largest cannabis competitions for multiple products, including the Orion 710 Live Resin Pod and Battery System and our Broad-Spectrum Cartridges, which have been created and developed under my leadership at Item 9 Labs.
As lab director, I lead all facets of the lab operations from extraction to packaging and product development. I also oversee quality control for Item 9 Labs to ensure that only the highest quality cannabis products reach the shelves of dispensaries throughout Arizona for adult-[use] consumers and patients in need. In addition to product innovation, I designed, developed and built my own hydrocarbon extraction machinery. Prior to joining Item 9 Labs in 2018, I was part of large-scale cultivation operations, while holding various roles in the cultivation and extraction departments at other cannabis companies throughout the U.S.
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve and change, it brings many challenges and complexities but also presents immense opportunities for growth. Being recognized for our premium products and building a loyal consumer base are two of the key factors that have helped us reach our achievements and contributed to our ongoing success.
What tool or software in your cultivation/extraction space can you not live without?
Dutchie’s dispensary software …. is a helpful resource in the cultivation/extraction space and beyond. This software aids us in ensuring we keep a pulse on the ever-changing industry regulations and that we always remain compliant in every department across the company. It is also extremely user-friendly and a great tool to help us stay organized through the production and lab testing processes.
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your business in the last six months?
It’s so simple, but a digital scale tops the list of our leading low-cost purchases that have positively impacted our business. We use digital scales frequently to thoroughly check measurements for accuracy when formulating in the lab.
What cultivation/extraction technique are you most interested in right now, and what are you actively studying (the most)?
Live rosin will be the next big development gaining interest and hitting dispensary shelves. Technology in the cannabis industry is developing quickly to streamline the production process, and the market demand for a completely solvent-free concentrate is growing at an exponential rate.
Right now, we are in the most challenging time to date for plant-touching businesses, as price compression, competition from the illicit market, high taxes, and more continue to be a challenge. How can cultivation/extraction teams respond to these retail/wholesale market pressures?
One of the most considerable challenges facing cannabis today is the lack of standardization and regulation throughout the industry. With varying laws and regulations across states in the U.S., it can be quite complex for cannabis companies to navigate the legal landscape in different areas of the business—including cultivation, manufacturing and retail—and ensure that their products are safe and compliant on every level. This contributes [to] and places a pressure on many of the underlying issues, [such as] the illicit market, price compression, [and] others.
Although the demand and acceptance surrounding cannabis is rising, there is still a significant amount of stigma surrounding the industry; this can make it difficult for businesses to operate and directly affect consumers' access to high-quality products in their markets. I believe we need to continue pushing forward with in-depth research and development of new products for various-use cases, increase education on the potential benefits of the plant and test innovative technology that will increase efficiency.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
Failed extractions lead to improved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and an advantageous opportunity to further educate and improve as a professional in the cannabis space. In some cases, you can experience failed extractions due to inaccurate or inconsistent results. I am always looking for ways to streamline consistency and repeatability with an organic raw material that may always be different than the other. While this is a lengthy process, you need to start by identifying the root cause of the issue you may be facing. This will allow you to make the necessary adjustments to your extraction methodology, equipment and materials to reduce the chances of future failures.
Fresh frozen extraction of live resin is a prime example of the journey from failure to breakthrough in cannabis. Early in the industry, many concentrates were made from dry material with a finished consistency of shatter or crumble. Live resin is much different in appearance and can come in various forms–such as badder, sugar, diamonds, or even a sauce consistency. The market had to be educated on live resin for it to take off and gain popularity among consumers.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven grower/extractor about to enter the legal, regulated industry? What advice should they ignore?
Prioritize quality and compliance in all aspects of your work. With a highly regulated industry and a growing demand for safe and effective cannabis products, it is essential to stay informed on all regulations and [the] latest tech[nical] developments to ensure the product is meeting or exceeding the highest standards. Additionally, it is important to always be willing and prepared to adapt and pivot as needed to stay ahead of the curve.
Just as important, you should never cut corners. While it can be tempting to save money, this is a risky move that can potentially lead to grave issues down the line. For example, failing to invest in advanced equipment to ensure safety can result in subpar products that fail to meet regulatory requirements, testing and customer expectations.
How do you deal with burnout?
I balance my work by striving towards a goal outside of it in my personal life, such as planning a vacation. It helps me with my day-to-day responsibilities and gives me something to look forward to. I also always organize my days and have a plan set before it starts. This allows me extra time to take care of anything urgent that may occur and ensure that anything that needs to be tended to, always is. When I work, I work and when I vacation, I vacation–I try not to mix the two.
Additionally, I project positivity into my life and reset my mind with regular exercise and taking breaks when needed. While the unexpected can happen, I always try my best to take this needed time for myself.
How do you motivate your employees/team?
I motivate my employees by participating in everyday, hands-on responsibilities with them. When I get involved in the team’s routine tasks, I aim to always create and instill a sense of solidarity and camaraderie. I want them to know that we operate as a team, and we should always show respect for each other’s hard work as well as admiration for everyone’s talents. Supporting their daily work also gives me a better understanding of the team dynamic and helps identify areas for improvement [and] pain points and provide better support.
However, it is important for me to strike a balance between being involved in daily tasks and managing the team. I do not believe in micromanaging or taking over tasks that the team members are responsible for completing. Instead, I aim to be an encouraging presence and offer guidance when needed. Overall, motivating team members helps create a positive work environment and culture, improves communication and boosts morale.
What keeps you awake at night?
Safety and compliance are always my top priority. As lab director, I am responsible for ensuring the well-being and protection of our team members, equipment, resources and consumers. I am consistently updating our SOPs and tightening our safety protocols.
What helps you sleep at night?
Having confidence that I can fully trust and believe in my team makes my job much easier. I can delegate tasks to my team members and know that they will complete them effectively and efficiently. This allows me to focus on innovation and tackle other responsibilities, which, in turn, also improves my ability to make important decisions and alleviate any unnecessary stress.
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