The Florida Hemp Council (FLHC), a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 to provide structure, networking and services to the hemp industry in Florida, has recently welcomed five new board members: Brian Dickerson of Star Manufacturing Hemp; Christian Graubard of Nutrition Formulators Inc.; Sarah Groves of Southeastern Grocers Inc.; Hussein Rakine of JustCBD; and Durée Ross of Durée & Co. Inc.
FLHC say its mission is to create a thriving ecosystem aimed at catapulting the Florida hemp industry to the forefront as leaders in hemp and hemp product production. It represents all channels of the state’s economic engine, from farmers to retailers and those in between, and helps everyone to stay connected to each other. The organization says it promotes the sound development for the emerging hemp industry and gives FLHC members access to programs that enhance their professional growth.
FLHC says its goals are to keep licensing fees low, hold manufacturers to testing standards, make sure all consumer disclosures are properly labeled, promote continued research, help guide farmers so they are not taken advantage of for their land by untrusted seed sellers, and promote Florida manufacturing through state and local opportunities.
Brian Dickerson will lead the Star Manufacturing team in Florida with the opening of a processing facility in Labelle as of spring 2020. He is a partner with the law firm of FisherBroyles, where he represents pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and health care practices. He also represents private label and OTC manufacturers related to the cannabis industry, and the state and federal regulatory landscape pertaining to the Federal Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture. He has represented cultivators and processors in multiple states. In addition, he is the owner of Grassy Run Ranch, a cattle ranch in Labelle.
Christian Graubard was raised in his family business, Nutrition Formulators Inc., which his father founded two decades ago. A private label manufacturer located in Miramar, Florida, it has manufactured products for some of the largest supplement brands in the U.S., and even the U.S. military. Graubard is a graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Sarah Groves is a category manager at Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG); parent company and home of Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores. It is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. SEG grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout the seven southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Hussein Rakine is the founder and CEO of JustCBD. He is an entrepreneur with a business background in retail and distribution. Prior to JustCBD, Rakine launched Speedy Distribution, a wholesaler of smoke and vape products. He also opened World of Smoke & Vape, a chain of retail smoke and vape shops spanning multiple states. In 2017, he launched JustCBD, which now has 280-plus SKUs and services retailers in markets across the nation.
Durée Ross, president and founder of Fort Lauderdale and Aspen public relations, marketing and special events company Durée & Co. Her strategic public relations work in the CBD space has resulted in a growing list of clients, from processing facilities to consumer products sold in big box retailers. Ross, an award-winning entrepreneur, founded Durée & Company in 1999 at the age of 24.
“We are pleased to see both the expansion and diversity of our board,” said Jeff Greene, co-founder and director of business development for the council. “We are honored to have such a committed and talented representation of the industry. The combined contributions of these new board members will set us up for a very successful 2020 and beyond.”
