Contributors

Nic Easley is the founder and CEO of Comprehensive Cannabis Consulting (3C). Easley, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and 3C have helped more than 60 clients start up, design, build and optimize their commercial cannabis operations. Easley’s scientific background, combined with over 15 years of agricultural field and biological experience, offers the industry new possibilities of productivity, profitability and professionalism.

Helen Stone is a degreed horticulture professional who has covered the Southwest turf and landscape industry for more than 25 years. She was founding publisher of Southwest Trees & Turf from 1996-2012, and currently edits the publication. Through her business, Stone Peak Services, she works as a freelance writer, consultant, public speaker and conference coordinator.

Jamie Schau attained a B.A. in International Studies and an M.A. in International Development from the University of California, San Diego. Since early 2015, she has been a market analyst with Brightfield Group, where she performs quantitative and qualitative analyses of various aspects of the U.S. marijuana market.

Kerrie and Kurt Badertscher are co-owners of Otoké Horticulture, LLC and authors of “Cannabis for Capitalists.” They have worked with large-scale cannabis producers for more than 5 years. Kerrie has been involved with plants her entire lifetime and earned certification as a Professional Horticulturist by the 100-year-old American Society for Horticulture Sciences. Kurt brings his 34 years of corporate experience and operations management skills to bear on the business challenges of cannabis cultivation.

Paul Rutledge earned his B.A. in Business Administration from San Diego State University and holds a CPA certification in California. He is the newest addition and Partner at New Era CPAs in San Diego, Calif. Previously, he worked as a manager at a national firm. With over eight years of experience in tax planning and compliance for individuals and small to medium-sized, closely held businesses, Rutledge’s expertise helps clients navigate through the uncertainty and perceived barriers in the cannabis tax world to ensure successful business operations.

Shawna McGregor is senior vice president of The Rosen Group, a public relations agency based in New York City. She opened the Denver office in 2012. McGregor manages communications for leading cannabis brands, including cultivators, infused products producers and industry associations. She has developed publicity programs for the renewable energy and sustainability industries. She began her career in public relations working in the pharmaceutical sector. The Rosen Group offers comprehensive communications and marketing services including media relations, event management, content development, social media, media training and thought-leadership management.

Kenneth Morrow has been writing cannabis-related articles and books for more than 20 years. He owns Trichome Technologies, a cannabis R&D company. Morrow also is an award-winning grower and breeder. Has made contributions to many of today's extraction methodologies and holds multiple patents. He consults on all cannabis-related subjects. Find him on Facebook at: Trichome Technologies or Instagram: TrichomeTechnologies.

Crystal Hammon manages Leading Reads, an Indianapolis company that helps companies create original online content and build relationships with their customers and friends. An aficionado of vintage fashion, Crystal mines the fullest meaning of the word “vintage” at her blog, Dressed Her Days Vintage.

Jonathan Katz, owner of JSK Communications, is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing industry. He was editor for Industry Week magazine for seven years, and former associate editor for Lawn & Landscape magazine. Prior to starting JSK Communications, Katz served as a client services manager for Content4Demand, a content marketing agency.

Curtis Livesay, CCA, is the owner and Agronomist of Dynamite Ag, a crop consulting company working with farmers in over 20 states, spanning from Washington state to Florida and from North Dakota to Texas. In 2015, he was a consultant for 16 of the National Corn Growers Association's state and national champions and three state soybean yield contest winners. Livesay has a PhD. in Research Methods and Interpersonal Communication, and he regularly conducts independent research trials testing various products and practices with growers throughout the United States. He is also a partner and serves as the Chief Agronomist for Black Diamond Biotech.

David Hodes is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C. He is the former editor of seven different business magazines, and now writes for regional business/lifestyle magazines, such as the Washington Business Journal, Northern Virginia magazine and Washington SmartCEO. He also writes for national general business magazines and national cannabis magazines.

Steven Nelson covers legal affairs and drug policy for U.S. News & World Report. He lives in Washington, D.C., where a green thumb would be useful.