The (U.S.) Hemp Industries Association (HIA) elected three new board members and re-elected a fourth during elections held at the end of 2021.
Newly elected to the board are: Lauren Graham, General Counsel, Beneficial Blends; Vanessa Snyder, Director of Business Development, Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing; and Christopher Ware, CEO, KCA Laboratories.
Hermann in 5th term
Anndrea Hermann of The Ridge International was re-elected to her fifth consecutive board term.
HIA said Todd Runestad, Senior Editor at Natural Products Insider, earlier named to serve in a vacated seat, has left the board after 18 months. Board secretary Annie Rouse, whose term ended Dec. 31, was appointed to the open seat for one year.
The 2021 election was conducted by remote ballot; 11 candidates were in the running. Results were announced Jan. 9
Current officers
In addition to Rouse, current officers at HIA are: President, Mike Lewis, Director of AgrAbility for the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension; vice-president, Rick Trojan, Hemp Supply Chain Specialist, Industrial Hemp Farms; and treasurer, Rob Davison, CEO, CURE Pharmaceutical.
Continuing board members are Zev Paiss, Hemp Industry Expert, Rhizo Verified; Steve Smith, President, Pet Releaf; La Vonne Peck, past Chairwoman, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians in Southern California; Jeff Kostiuk, Director of Operations, Hemp Genetics International and Hemp Production Services (Canada); and Jennifer Knaack, Senior Director of Compliance and Science, Koi CBD.
HIA board members are elected for three years; business and farming members with at least two consecutive years of membership are eligible to stand for election to the board.
