NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
The Hemp Alliance of Tennessee (HAT) has appointed five new members and a strategic advisor across various disciplines, including chemical engineering, communications, technology, finance, and business, to its Board of Directors. The new additions will serve as strategic partners to support the organization’s efforts to build upon its advances over the last two years, including leading a feasibility study on the production of hemp fiber in the state and taking part in an initiative which was granted nearly $5 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to expand the production of industrial hemp as a climate-smart commodity.
“We look forward to seeing what these new board members will accomplish during their tenure alongside our existing board members,” said Frederick Cawthon, president of HAT. “We are deeply grateful for their contributions, and we are confident their diverse experience will provide valuable perspective at a critical time for our growing industry.”
Joseph Fuson, founder of Hemp Law Group and managing partner of Freeman & Fuson, is Tennessee’s leading cannabis attorney, focusing his practice on defending those charged with marijuana related offenses. Fuson is an experienced litigator, having tried numerous cases to judge and jury over the last 16 years, helping individuals and small business navigate the legal landscape of the hemp industry in Tennessee, fighting for citizens accused of crimes, and speaking with entrepreneurs and farmers in Tennessee’s legal cannabis industry.
Kyle Kirby serves as the operational manager at TN Compounds, a hemp processing facility in Jackson. Kirby leads and manages the process of converting hemp into CBD isolate, increases efficiency in operational standards, and advises strategic business goals. Prior to joining TN Compounds, Kirby graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University and spent 4 years in the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis market, specializing in hydrocarbon extraction.
Paul Oakley, founder and CEO of Tiny Mighty Communications, is an invaluable advisor for organizations seeking to engage key stakeholders who matter most. For nearly 25 years, he managed public relations, public affairs, sustainability, and corporate and marketing communications programs for a range of domestic, international and global brands.
Christopher Watkins is an experienced cyber security professional with eight years of hands-on experience in cloud infrastructure, cyber security, and DevOps within the fintech and healthcare business industries. Watkins serves on the ownership teams of Regenerative Grow Initiative (RGI) and ShiSui Hemp.
Ned Zieler is a seasoned executive focused on transformational change and technological innovations to business and industry necessary to meet the economic and environmental demands of the future. Ned’s background is in strategy and corporate finance as both an investment banker and within investment and operational roles directing private capital. A graduate of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, he believes in the wide prospects of organics such as hemp to replace extractive natural resources in the industrial supply chain, innovating renewable solutions to legacy carbon based commodities as a means to alleviate environmental harm and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
Mark Montgomery, a serial entrepreneur, has spent a lifetime bringing transformation and innovation to entrepreneurship, tech, music, and consumer brands. Most recently, he co-founded NuSachi, producing premium hemp products for the global marketplace. Working with A-list artists, financial institutions, The Dalai Lama, venture firms, healthcare companies, spirits companies, large consumer brands, political campaigns, and startups, he’s generated hundreds of millions of dollars of shareholder value and economic impact. Montgomery will serve as a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors.
Formed in 2020, HAT aims to fortify Tennessee’s network of hemp industry players. The trade association is led by a business-minded board of directors who represent a diverse cross-section of hemp interests that operate in Tennessee and serve states across the country. The group is dedicated to increasing industry momentum and aligning industry professionals around a common understanding and guidelines for growing, processing, selling and consuming quality hemp and hemp products.
The organization prioritizes sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture and seeks collaboration regionally with the United States and Tennessee Departments of Agriculture, farmers, industry partners, elected officials, and law enforcement to continue building a safe, ethical, and long-lasting hemp economy.
About the Hemp Alliance of Tennessee
Founded in 2020, The Hemp Alliance of Tennessee (HAT) is a 501c6 non-profit trade association centered around empowering and growing a thriving hemp industry in the state of Tennessee. The alliance works with its members to support hemp education and advocate for policies and standards of practice to enable a quality hemp industry. Information about the alliance can be found online at yourhat.org or on social media @hempalliancetn.
