Daniel Kohler is a leader with a record of achievements that links innovative business strategies to operating excellence and profitable growth initiatives. Daniel brings his extensive experience in business development, supply chain, sales and operations planning and more to Hemp Synergistics, most notably in the nutritional supplement and medical cannabis fields.

His leadership experience spans a diverse list of companies, from startup through Fortune 500. Kohler has a history of developing global operating infrastructures and technology and supply chain platforms for multimillion- and billion-dollar brands, including supplement-maker Atrium Innovations (purchased by Nestle), Douglas Labs, SDC Nutrition, TY Beanie Babies, Keebler Foods and OfficeMax.

Kohler’s accomplishments driving sales growth and developing scalable infrastructure and business operations for world-class iconic consumer brands include the following:

• Ty (Beanie Babies) — growth from $50 million to $1.7 billion within two years
• PeoplePC — startup growth from $0 to $400 million within four years, initial public offering and acquisition
• OfficeMax — growth from $100 million to $5 billion within four years and IPO
• Keebler Foods — growth from $300 million to over $3 billion

Kohler has an established record of implementing solutions that improve quality, cost management and organization capability for scale and profitable growth. His commitment to operational excellence, best practices and successful process-management cultures comes from his in-depth experience in capital markets, M&A and VC relationships.

Dan has comprehensive experience with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices), solution based technology, Federal and State regulatory and compliance agencies, and development of SOPs and KPMs. His extensive expertise in the areas of supply chain optimization and management, sales and operations planning, logistics, fulfillment, brand building, manufacturing and general management will be integral to the continued success of Hemp Synergistics.

Dan’s holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a diploma in Strategic Management from Oxford University. He lends his expertise as board member of Same Page Solutions, Health Journeys, Improvita, Health and Wellness Products, and Mobilis Health, in addition to mentoring CEOs, COOs and other executive professionals.

Ron Fazio is a board certified forensic scientist with over 20 years of controlled substance experience. Ron has managed numerous accredited forensic labs, multi-discipline labs, and multi-site crime labs for the past twenty years. Through public-private partnerships, Ron has overseen the installation of 5 new crime labs in law enforcement facilities, bringing fast and local controlled substance testing to sites who needed to solve backlog and turn-around time issues.

Ron developed and launched Integrated Forensic Laboratories, the nation’s first full-service, accredited and private crime lab. He helped grow operations to 3 locations generating $2.1 million annually before coordinating the sale of the company. As Laboratory Director, he introduced and implemented Lean production scheduling and processing methods for each lab section, which resulted in a 3 day or less time line for 90% of submitted cases.

In addition to his significant multi-site operational leadership experience, Ron is well-versed in controlled substance diversion control and physical security. He holds multiple state and federal DEA permits for purchasing, handling, storing, and transporting scientific controlled substances as well as illegal substances. He is also adept at negotiating and closing major governmental contracts despite challenges.

He taught Laboratory Management courses to graduate students at the University of North Texas Health Science Center as an adjunct professor, and forensic science courses to undergraduates as a Teaching Fellow at University of North Texas.

Ron is proficient in gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography, along with organic and analytical chemistry. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Botany/Biology and his MBA at the University of Texas at Arlington.

A serial entrepreneur as far back as his days studying Psychology at West Virginia University, Russ founded Webbula, a data-centric technology company headquartered in California. In 2009, Cersosimo took an idea from concept to market, generating high-profile clientele including Google, Yahoo, T-Mobile, Neustar, and Epsilon. Webbula is now an international leader in the data industry.

Russ co-founded Keystone Integrated Care, and was successful in winning a Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensary permit. Russ' medical cannabis dispensary now has three locations in Western Pennsylvania.

In 2015, Cersosimo founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society (PAMCS), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest organization for professionals, educators, and leaders in the industry. Since its inception, PAMCS has been involved in over 50 educational events throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PAMCS and Cersosimo’s advocacy efforts were instrumental in 2016’s successful legalization campaign. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society converted to a national model and launched the Medical Cannabis Society with a mission to educate, lead, and further medical cannabis research throughout the United States.

Committed to forging partnerships that improve the capture and analysis of medical cannabis data, Russ sits on the ASTM Committee D37 for writing cannabis industry standards and is passionate about developing solutions that will shape the industry. Russ founded Miradati Technology, which is currently developing enterprise software that creates standardized data for medical cannabis research and helps facilitate patient/physician relationships and communication. Integrating both legacy and proprietary technologies, Miradati helps facilitate this rapidly developing field of cannabinoid study, producing quantifiable data that more accurately measures patient outcomes, reduces prescribing errors, and lowers patient costs.

Just before jumping into the cannabis industry, Cersosimo founded Optimal Reach Media, a marketing firm that secured University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the US Department of Defense as clients within the first year of business. Cersosimo currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Tourette Syndrome Awareness Foundation and is the Chairman of the Board of the Medical Cannabis Society.