Lee Enterprises Consulting Adds Hemp/Cannabis Expertise to Team

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - EntSun -- Lee Enterprises Consulting Inc., the world's premier bio-economy consulting group, is pleased to announce the formation of its Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team, that includes strategic partners Profit Management Group LLC (PMG) and Point Seven Group LLC (Point7), and eight new related experts. Lee Enterprises Consulting (LEC) consultants have completed thousands of projects worldwide and have in-depth expertise in all phases of the bioeconomy, including biodiesel, ethanol, biomass power, renewable chemicals, renewable jet fuels, pyrolysis, hydrolysis, gasification, waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion, torrefaction, wastewater treatment, butanol, steam reformation, biochar, carbonization and biogas. To its new Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team, the consulting group has added Rick Handley, Danny Pomirchy, and Austin Handley of PMG; and Ashley Picillo, Taylor Knepp, Katelyn Coskey and Jason Paley of Point7. LEC has also added independent expert, Doug Mers, to the team.

Martin Wahl, who has been with Lee Enterprises Consulting for many years as Director of Operations has been promoted to Vice President and will lead the hemp and cannabis industry focus according to CEO, Wayne Lee.  "We have had a small presence in the hemp and cannabis sectors for quite some time, and the time has come for us to expand now that the emerging hemp and cannabis industries are directly crossing over into the bio-economy," Lee said. "Martin will lead our Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team to deliver a new value chain for prospects who want to discover the commercial viability of hemp- and cannabis-based products and technologies."

Hemp is a fast-growing, high-yielding and mechanically strong plant that is expected to play a major role in the growing bio-economy, as it has multiple contemporary applications and many substitutes for fossil-based and petrochemical products, including industrial fibers, liquid and solid biofuels, green chemicals, and alternative wellness products, Lee explained. "These growing sub-sectors represent the future for bio-economy, and our Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team is prepared to apply their experience, expertise and networks to maximize the sector's possibilities and prosperity for prospects and clients," he said.

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"The promotion of Martin, together with the addition of Doug, and the experts at PMG and Point7, gives us the ability to expand our world-class services to the hemp and cannabis sectors, and to provide hands-on financial, regulatory and operational experience to complement our team of chemical bioeconomy experts. Our Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team understands the application and commercialization of hemp and cannabis in different segments of the economy, and have been lead consultants in helping companies establish and grown in highly competitive and regulated hemp and cannabis markets," Lee added.

Mers has provided professional consulting services to biotechnology, cannabis, and hemp industries since 2015 and has experience in all facets of the extraction business, including licensing, facility design, start-up, and commercialization.  Prior to his time as an independent consultant, Mers was a senior biotechnology professional in globally regulated human therapeutics manufacturing and spent 19 years with the world's leading independent biotechnology company, as manager of production and technical teams, and a production expert implementing and managing numerous new product introductions.

Profit Management Group is a diversified land development and financial resourcing firm founded in 1999 that has been helping clients implement cannabis/hemp facilities for several years.  Their expertise is in real estate and land development, construction and project management, financial analysis, and assistance with equity and debt. With a network of sources that finance cannabis and hemp industry projects, Rick Handley, Founder and Managing Partner leads this team that has worked in a dozen states on all types of projects including hemp and cannabis cultivation, processing, and retail facilities.

Point Seven Group is the leading global, cannabis consulting firm currently active in 75 regulated cannabis markets. Its experts have direct hands-on experience in the highly complex cannabis industry and specialize in license applications and other regulatory and operational requirements for establishing, maintaining and growing a cannabis business. Founder and CEO Ashley Picillo leads the team in providing services clients need to start or grow their businesses, including licensing, operational setup, compliance protocol, facility design and expansion, brand, marketing and product development, as well as guidance and strategy on employee hiring and training practices.

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The new strategic partners agree with Lee's assessment of the timely value of the hemp and cannabis consulting collective. "We recognize that vast team of chemical, engineering, and economic experts at Lee Enterprises Consulting brings tremendous value to our construction and financial support services for technology, development advice and due diligence review in these sectors," says  Rick Handley, founder and managing partner of Profit Management Group LLC.  Ashley Picillo, founder and CEO of Point Seven agrees, adding, "Lee Enterprises Consulting has long been recognized as the top bioeconomy group in the world, and Point7 values being part of its Hemp and Cannabis Industry Team. The respective depth and breadth of individuals on the task force deliver experience in all stages of cannabis and hemp business development, from start-up, scale-up, expansion and exit. As strategic partners, we look forward to contributing to the team's broad exploration and understanding of a wide variety of hemp and cannabis business solutions and opportunities for its clients and the industry."

ABOUT LEE ENTERPRISES CONSULTING, INC:  Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world's premier bio-economy consulting group, offering services in biodiesel, biofuels, biomass power, renewable chemicals, renewable jet fuels, pyrolysis, hydrolysis, gasification, waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion, torrefaction, wastewater treatment, steam reformation, biochar, carbonization and biogas. In addition to its team of over 100 consultants, the group maintains strategic alliances with leading alternative and renewable fuels companies worldwide and maintains ongoing relationships with top alternative fuels law firms, accounting groups, engineers, and fabrication facilities. The group's consultants and strategic partners represent the top talent in the bioeconomy and can handle almost every aspect of a project.  The group also owns National Business Brokerage, Inc., a full-service business brokerage firm specializing in the buying and selling of alternative and renewable fuels plants.

Lee Enterprises Consulting, 9821 Brockington Road, Suite 4, Sherwood, AR 72120. (501) 833-8511. www.lee-enterprises.com.