Rino Ferrarese is the CEO of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions, one of four licensed producers in the state. He has experience as a compliance officer working in FDA-regulated industries under the guidelines of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for the production of prescription, Over-The-Counter (OTC) and homeopathic human drug products. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and ISO auditor. Ferrarese also works with Elite Cannabis Enterprises developing and submitting competitive medical marijuana license applications for clients across the United States.
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.
Sam Fiske (top) and Sean Froelich (bottom) are freelance reporters and producers in Chicago. Along with their colleague John Rosin, they team a production crew and create videos covering politics, tech, business and culture. They currently produce web shows and podcasts for Technori, a startup showcase, and are published on WGN radio. The team also creates dozens of videos for their original news network, Toughington Post.
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.
Jolene Hansen is a freelance writer based in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. A former horticulture professional, she is a frequent contributor to the Horticulture Group publications owned by Cannabis Business Times’ parent company, GIE Media.
Douglas Brown is a longtime journalist who now runs Contact High Communications, a public relations firm in Boulder, Colo. Among other things, Brown works closely with BDS Analytics, using the company's GreenEdge market research tool to tell data-rich stories about the blossoming commercial cannabis marketplace.
Andrew Bozzuto is majority owner of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions (CPS), a research firm and grower and producer of flower, concentrates, vape cartridges, tablets and capsules, and more for the state’s medicinal marijuana market. Prior to joining CPS, Bozzuto served in the agricultural sector as owner of 3B Ranch, a grower of certified organic fruits and vegetables, along with naturally raised cattle, buffalo and swine. During his time at 3B Ranch, Bozzuto represented the Organic Farming Research Foundation of Santa Cruz, Calif., in Washington, D.C., to secure funding via the 2010 farm bill, and spent two years providing wholesale vegetables to Whole Foods Market. He is also an expert in sustainable recovery and waste management.
Jesse Alderman is an associate at Foley Hoag LLP, concentrating his practice on environmental, real estate and infrastructure development, with a focus on state and municipal regulatory matters and related litigation. Alderman has counseled large gaming companies in all aspects of their proposed development and licensing of gaming establishments. He has experience in guiding clients through the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process and securing federal, state and local permits for development, redevelopment and urban renewal projects, including interstate transportation facilities.
Thomas Schultz is president of Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions. He is a Wall Street lawyer and investment banker turned pharmaceutical executive. In 1996, Schultz completed an IPO-oriented merger of the last major producers of witch hazel, the EE Dickinson Company and the TN Dickinson Company. He assumed leadership of Dickinson Brands Inc., the resulting firm, until 2014. By 2003, Schultz had led the buyout of the EE Dickinson interests and managed the acquisition of Humphreys Pharmacal Inc., a company that marketed witch hazel to Central and South American markets.
