Nash Canna Fest Panelists & Guests

Informative Panel 4/19

President - HAT

Frederick Cawthon, MBA, PMP, is a visionary leader with a deep commitment to advancing innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability in the cannabis and hemp industries. With extensive experience in corporate management and the non-profit sector, Frederick is a respected figure in the hemp community.

As President of the Hemp Alliance of Tennessee (HAT) and in collaboration with Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture, we were awarded a nearly $5M U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Climate-Smart Commodities grant. The grant aims to expand the production of industrial hemp as a climate-smart commodity, evaluate its greenhouse gas benefits (GHG), and promote the value of market development to a cross-section of production agriculture, including small, medium, and underserved farm producers across the state of Tennessee.

Informative Panel 4/19

CEO & Lobbyist - TN Growers Coalition

With her 18-year experience in the TN General Assembly and Masters Degree in Public Administration, Kelley Mathis Hess brings first-hand knowledge of the legislative process, political action committees, membership trade associations and the importance of being involved in the political process. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is a registered lobbyist for the Tennessee Growers Coalition. Kelley founded the TN Growers Coalition along with others in 2018 with the goal of supporting and protecting the Tennessee Hemp industry through political advocacy.

Legalization Panel 4/19

Founder & Attorney - Hemp Law Group

Born and raised in Nashville, Joseph Fuson is Tennessee's leading cannabis attorney. Licensed in 2006, Mr. Fuson is the managing partner at Freeman & Fuson and owner of Hemp Law Group, Tennessee's only law firm focused on representing producers, manufacturers and retailers of hemp and hemp derived cannabinoid products.. At HLG, Mr. Fuson helps numerous individuals and small business navigate the legal landscape of the hemp industry in Tennessee. His criminal defense practice at F&F focuses on defending people charged with DUI, marijuana, and other drug related offenses. Mr. Fuson is an experienced litigator, having tried numerous cases to judge and jury in both criminal and civil cases in Tennessee over the last 18

years.

Director of Compliance - Hemp Law Group

Legalization Panel 4/19

Farmers Panel 4/19

Moving from California to continue his journey in Tennessee agriculture Seth was a part of the

pioneering wave of the state’s hemp revival program. He started his process by vetting, cloning and propagating high-CBD genetics for farmers looking to do outdoor production while

facilitating pathways towards organic farming.

Following a loss of interest by farmers for outdoor cultivation due to regulation and unfulfilled post production expectations, he built a reputation of quality and precision in plant health and flower production in greenhouses. As the seasons passed, so did Tennessee's policies; shifting toward restrictive legislation that decimated the viability of the hemp market. Faced with mounting regulatory hurdles, he pivoted into specialty crops like peppers and tomatoes, continuing his dedication to sustainable, regenerative organic practices.

Farmers Panel 4/19

Nick Shipley is the General Manager of Flow Gardens located in Maynardville, TN. Nick has been in the industry since 2020 but has always had a passion for the flower. He specializes in research and development for most cultivation methods currently used industry-wide including: recirculating deep water culture, top drip irrigation, as well as flood and drain with coco and rockwool. He loves learning new techniques and critiquing his formula.

Workshop on 4/20

Good Bugs VS Bad Bugs

Workshop on 4/20

Resin & Me