8:00 am
September 16–18, 2026
Fashion Institute of Technology · New York City
seed to style
Patrick Atagi, President & CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council, shares his perspective on the industrial hemp industry and the importance of collaboration in turning potential into progress. This keynote will highlight the evolving landscape of hemp, the partnerships driving growth, and the collective efforts needed to build a stronger, more connected global industry – “Working together works!”
Shannon Maher is the dean for the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, overseeing the school’s 10 associate’s and baccalaureate programs. Maher served as a faculty member and chair of the school’s Home Products Development Department from 2013-20. She has been an active member of the college community, serving with distinction on a range of collegewide and faculty senate committees. She was co-chair of the committee that guided the school in its successful accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs in 2018.
Prior to FIT, Maher spent 20 years in the manufacturing and retail sectors of the apparel and home industry fields. She arrived at FIT from Hanover Direct, Inc., a multi-brand e-commerce corporation based in New Jersey, where she was senior vice president for product development and sourcing. She holds memberships in the AATCC, CMG, and IFDA, and received her Greenleaders Certificate from the Sustainable Furnishings Council. With extensive experience in merchandising, product development, sourcing, and strategy, she continues to be active in the industry as a strategic product development consultant, having partnered with Ross Stores, AlixPartners, SUN Capital, and KPMG.
Maher earned her BA, summa cum laude, in fashion marketing and merchandising from Marymount University in Arlington, Va., her MA in integrated marketing communications at Marist College, and a higher education teaching certificate from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard.
As President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), Patrick Atagi leads a dynamic organization committed to providing high-quality networking opportunities and resources for its members and interested parties, spanning the entire industrial hemp value chain from farm to consumer. Under Atagi’s leadership, NIHC focuses on advancing market development and educating consumers about the diverse applications of industrial hemp.
Atagi brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously served under two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Mike Johanns) at the USDA, where he held several influential roles, including Director of Native American Programs, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Confidential Assistant to the Under Secretary. A political appointee under President George W. Bush, Atagi was later appointed by Secretary Perdue during the first Trump administration to the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts, and Hemp.
In the private sector, Atagi has held key leadership roles with prominent organizations, including the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the World Chlorine Council (as Secretariat), and the American Chemistry Council.
In addition to his work at NIHC, Atagi serves as President and CEO of DA Farms, his family’s farming operation in Nyssa, Oregon. He is a highly skilled business development professional, holding degrees from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
Every industry begins with a story. This session explores the journey of hemp from a once-established global resource to a modern opportunity poised for renewed growth. 1937 and its international partners will share the vision, partnerships, and market potential driving the next chapter of hemp—highlighting how storytelling, collaboration, and shared investment can help build confidence, attract new participants, and accelerate the restoration of hemp as a valuable agricultural and industrial resource.
David Knull is a senior executive and adviser with more than 25 years of international experience spanning technology, finance, investment and cross-border business across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Southeast Asia and Greater China. Advises corporates, investors and family offices on international expansion, strategic partnerships, capital formation, investment and complex cross-border transactions.
Career experience includes building and advising technology businesses, developing international commercial platforms, structuring strategic and investment initiatives, and supporting M&A and market-entry mandates. Particular strength in connecting Western and Asian commercial and financial networks, identifying opportunities across jurisdictions, and translating strategy into executable commercial outcomes.
Previously an associate professor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, with experience mentoring founders and supporting venture development, innovation and international market expansion. Holds advanced qualifications in business strategy and international taxation, with a career combining advisory, entrepreneurship, technology and international finance.
Ryan Joseph Zaczynski is an Engineer / MBA, e-commerce & Kickstarter entrepreneur, patent holder, product designer, digital strategy consultant, and 10+ year hemp industry operator.
A graduate in Agro-Biological Sciences, Dr. Riaz is a dynamic entrepreneur with extensive, cross-industry experience. His professional journey spans across molecular biology, pharmaceutical microbiology, and food safety, with hands-on expertise in QA/QC microbiology. Notably, he has contributed to Canada’s premier food safety regulator, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), where he worked extensively on regulatory affairs, food safety standards, and compliance.
Dr. Riaz brings a strong background in stakeholder negotiations, having represented regulatory bodies at various levels, including engagements with government agencies, farmers’ associations, and leading global regulators such as the FDA, Health Canada, USDA, and the European Commission.
With the global industrial hemp market projected to grow from $60 billion to over $500 billion in the next decade, Dr. Riaz recognized Pakistan’s potential to become a global leader in hemp production due to its ideal agro-environmental conditions. In response, he founded Katas Hempstead Agro Farms Pvt Ltd, an industrial hemp company, and launched the Industrial and Medicinal Hemp Foundation (IMHF) to raise public awareness and promote hemp cultivation in Pakistan.
Dr. Riaz holds an MSc (Hons) from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and a PhD in Molecular and Biological Sciences from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Klaas Eleveld is an international industrial business executive with more than 35 years of experience building and commercializing technologies, materials, businesses and value chains across Europe and global markets.
His career spans industrial technology, specialty chemicals and materials, process technologies, biomass valorization, circular materials and natural fibers, with leadership responsibilities covering market development, international sales, strategic partnerships, key accounts, operations and P&L.
Today, Klaas focuses on developing commercially viable industrial markets and value chains for hemp and other renewable fibers and materials — connecting agriculture and processing technologies with downstream applications, specifications, standards and industrial customers.
He also contributes to the development of the natural-fiber industry through FIHO, EIHA, ASTM International and the FIBRAL Material Alliance.
Creating a more sustainable future requires more than developing innovative materials—it requires building awareness, trust, and demand. This session brings together perspectives from fashion, sustainability investment, and industry communications to explore how sustainable solutions move from innovation to consumer adoption. Panelists will discuss the role of education, storytelling, transparency, and collaboration in connecting responsible materials with the markets and consumers ready to embrace them.
Alisa Harrison serves as Senior Communications Advisor for NIHC, bringing more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, consumer marketing and public affairs. She previously served in senior communications leadership at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Director of Communications and Press Secretary, and as chief brand officer for the “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” campaign. Her experience includes building national consumer campaigns, strengthening brand trust and translating complex issues in agriculture, nutrition and sustainability into clear, engaging messages for public and stakeholder audiences.
Shannon Maher is the dean for the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, overseeing the school’s 10 associate’s and baccalaureate programs. Maher served as a faculty member and chair of the school’s Home Products Development Department from 2013-20. She has been an active member of the college community, serving with distinction on a range of collegewide and faculty senate committees. She was co-chair of the committee that guided the school in its successful accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs in 2018.
Prior to FIT, Maher spent 20 years in the manufacturing and retail sectors of the apparel and home industry fields. She arrived at FIT from Hanover Direct, Inc., a multi-brand e-commerce corporation based in New Jersey, where she was senior vice president for product development and sourcing. She holds memberships in the AATCC, CMG, and IFDA, and received her Greenleaders Certificate from the Sustainable Furnishings Council. With extensive experience in merchandising, product development, sourcing, and strategy, she continues to be active in the industry as a strategic product development consultant, having partnered with Ross Stores, AlixPartners, SUN Capital, and KPMG.
Maher earned her BA, summa cum laude, in fashion marketing and merchandising from Marymount University in Arlington, Va., her MA in integrated marketing communications at Marist College, and a higher education teaching certificate from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard.
Ally Friedman is an Energy and Industry Program Officer at the Bezos Earth Fund. Earlier, she worked at the Soros Fund Management as an analyst focused on research and engagement to achieve the Fund’s ambitious net zero portfolio emissions goal. Ally started her career at the World Resources Institute, working across various environmental themes and projects. She has consulted on climate-related strategies and stories for Gap Inc, Mercato Metropolitano, and several research projects at The Fletcher School. Ally’s first environmental job was as a counselor and director at YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, her favorite place in the world.
Ally holds a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where she studied Business for Social Impact and Environment and Natural Resources Policy. She has a B.A. in Global Studies from St. Lawrence University.
Discover how data is transforming trust and transparency across the hemp fiber supply chain. This session explores how NIHC Verify and the NIHC Pulse platform combine rigorous data standards with intelligent analytics to provide farmers, processors, manufacturers, and buyers with real-time confidence in sourcing, quality, and market conditions. By turning complex data into actionable insights, these tools are helping build a more transparent, efficient, and trusted marketplace—creating a stronger foundation for the future of the hemp industry.
Lakshmy Mahon is the founder and CEO of Global Data Vision (GDV), an innovation and growth company helping organizations identify new opportunities, build stronger digital ecosystems, and turn ideas into measurable business outcomes.
Lakshmy brings more than two decades of experience across commercial strategy, product development, technology, training, certification, market development, and industry engagement. Prior to founding Global Data Vision, she spent more than 16 years with the American Petroleum Institute (API), where she served as Director of Global Industry Services and led commercial businesses spanning certification, intellectual property and distribution, training, and safety programs.
Jim Thomas is a global business and standards executive with more than 25 years of experience building markets, partnerships, and digital solutions across standards, engineering, technology, and emerging industries. He is the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Global Data Vision, where he helps organizations transform industry knowledge, data, standards, and expertise into connected digital ecosystems that drive growth and commercialization. Jim previously held executive leadership roles with ANSI, Accuris, S&P Global, and ASTM International and has worked extensively with standards bodies, governments, industry associations, and businesses around the world. He has also been a longtime advocate for the role of standards, technology, and collaboration in helping emerging industries, including industrial hemp, move from innovation to scalable global markets.
A strong domestic hemp industry depends on collaboration across growers, businesses, associations, and industry leaders. This panel brings together voices from across the U.S. hemp landscape to discuss the importance of alignment, cooperation, and shared goals in building a thriving industry. Panelists will explore how organizations and stakeholders can work together to address challenges, strengthen market opportunities, and create a more unified path forward for hemp in the United States.
Morris Beegle is an entrepreneur and longtime advocate for the industrial hemp industry, with more than a decade of experience producing events and building brands. He co-founded We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA) and spent 11 years producing the NoCo Hemp Expo.
Today, Beegle focuses on new ventures including RootSource Media, IHI – Industrial Hemp International, and PrintOnHemp.org. He also works with the National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) and is involved with the Bio-Smart Group, an international consulting firm. His work centers on advancing hemp and the broader bioeconomy through media, events, product development, and global collaboration.
As President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), Patrick Atagi leads a dynamic organization committed to providing high-quality networking opportunities and resources for its members and interested parties, spanning the entire industrial hemp value chain from farm to consumer. Under Atagi’s leadership, NIHC focuses on advancing market development and educating consumers about the diverse applications of industrial hemp.
Atagi brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously served under two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Mike Johanns) at the USDA, where he held several influential roles, including Director of Native American Programs, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Confidential Assistant to the Under Secretary. A political appointee under President George W. Bush, Atagi was later appointed by Secretary Perdue during the first Trump administration to the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts, and Hemp.
In the private sector, Atagi has held key leadership roles with prominent organizations, including the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the World Chlorine Council (as Secretariat), and the American Chemistry Council.
In addition to his work at NIHC, Atagi serves as President and CEO of DA Farms, his family’s farming operation in Nyssa, Oregon. He is a highly skilled business development professional, holding degrees from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
Joe has a rich history in innovative technology development and has been instrumental in the reintroduction of the industrial hemp industry in America. Beginning in 1993 when he founded and served as Executive Director of the 1942 Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative. In 1994, Joe and actor/environmental activist Woody Harrelson co-founded a company focused on identifying and funding innovative technologies that promote environmental sustainability.
Driven by the belief that “to know the law, you have to test the law,” Joe’s passion for making the world a better place led him to challenge Kentucky’s hemp laws. In collaboration with Woody Harrelson, he orchestrated the planting of four hemp seeds in the hills of Kentucky. This bold action helped pave the way for the reintroduction of hemp into the U.S. agricultural landscape, cementing Joe’s role as a hemp pioneer.
During this pivotal period, Joe reorganized the Kentucky Hemp Growers Co-op, worked with Governor Jones to establish Kentucky’s Hemp Task Force, and organized the first International Hemp Conference. He played a key role in securing support for hemp from both Kentucky’s and the National Farm Bureau. Joe was also a founding board member of Kenex, the first commercial industrial hemp operation in Canada, and contributed to drafting and passing Kentucky’s hemp legislation.
Joe is a founding board member of the re-incorporated Kentucky Hemp Growers Co-op Association est.1942, and is a current or former board member of; Friends of Hemp, Federation of International Hemp Organization (FIHO), Kentucky Hemp Association, U.S. Standing Committee of Hemp Organization, National Hemp Growers Association, Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association and a member of the National Industrial Hemp Council of America.
Andrew Bish is the President of the Hemp Feed Coalition and Chief Executive Officer of BISH Enterprises, a family-owned agricultural manufacturing firm based in Giltner, Nebraska. He is also the founder of Hemp Harvest Works, a company providing customized machinery and consulting for hemp producers. His work sits at the intersection of agricultural innovation, equipment infrastructure, hemp commercialization, regulatory progress, market development, and rural economic growth.
Through his leadership with the Hemp Feed Coalition, Andrew has helped advance one of the most significant regulatory milestones for hemp in U.S. agriculture. In August 2025, hemp seed meal’s official ingredient definition was published in the AAFCO Official Publication, marking the first time hemp entered the U.S. animal feed system since the Food Additives Amendment of 1958. This milestone followed HFC’s application submission in January 2021 and tentative AAFCO approval for laying hens in February 2024. Since that approval, hemp seed meal feed products have begun appearing on the market for egg-laying hens, along with a growing number of hemp treat products for other species.
A nationally recognized leader in agricultural policy and innovation, Andrew serves as a member of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) IDC (Ingredient Definition Committee), helping advance regulatory pathways for hemp-derived animal feed. He also serves as Vice President of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Treasurer/Board Officer of Hemp Education and Marketing Initiatives (HEMI), a Feed Standards Committee Member for the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA), and holds a leadership role with the National Hemp Association (NHA) SCOHO (Standing Committee of Hemp Organizations). Through these roles, Andrew works to expand market access for producers, support policy reform, and strengthen the connection between agriculture, regulation, technology, and the farm.
There are few individuals who have been more influential in the development of the U.S. hemp industry than the U.S. Hemp Roundtable’s General Counsel, Jonathan Miller. Upon helping found the Roundtable (and its sister organization, the U.S. Hemp Authority), Jonathan has served as the industry’s leading advocate for Hemp and CBD legislation on the ground in Congress and in dozens of state legislatures. A recovering politician (the Democrat was elected twice as Kentucky’s State Treasurer), Jonathan has worked across the aisle with leading hemp champions such as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on critical legislation, including the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. Now he spends his time working with Congress, the White House, the USDA, FDA and DEA to promote policies that advance the industry. In acknowledgment of his accomplishments, the National Law Journal named Jonathan to its inaugural class of “Trailblazers” among government relations professionals and Politico labeled him a “Power Player” on hemp issues on Capitol Hill.
Jonathan serves as Member in Charge of Frost Brown Todd’s Washington, D.C. office, and leads the national law firm’s broad and diverse hemp practice. Jonathan supports pro-Israel organizations and serves as President of the Robert S. Miller Family Foundation for Justice and Equity. Jonathan graduated with high honors from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He is a poker aficionado who made the final table in a 2012 World Series of Poker tournament.
Shawn Ledig is President of the U.S. Hemp Building Association, the national trade association for the hemp building industry. He is also Founder and CEO of Delta AgroFiber Solutions LLC, a Louisiana company building out hemp fiber supply chains and delivering finished hempcrete projects, and serves as a Board Member of the Industrial Hemp Research Foundation. In 2026 he was appointed Board Chairman of Louisiana’s Industrial Hemp Promotion and Research Advisory Board.
A hemp farmer, engineer, and builder, Shawn works across the full length of the supply chain, from the field to the finished wall. He partners with state officials, universities, nonprofits, and community organizations to move hemp-lime construction from model code into enforceable code at the state and parish level, tied to low income housing upgrades and housing programs for survivors of domestic violence and U.S. veterans. He is based in Mandeville, Louisiana.
Research and innovation are driving the next generation of hemp—from improved genetics and cultivation practices to advanced materials and new market opportunities. This session brings together researchers, scientists, and industry experts to explore the discoveries and developments shaping hemp’s future across the value chain. Panelists will share insights into advancements in seed development, agricultural research, fiber innovation, and the economic factors helping move hemp from field to finished product.
Clyde Carpenter is the Lab Manager at the New York Fashion Innovation Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a fiber-to-finished-product pilot and characterization facility in Troy, New York. He oversees the center’s instrumentation and testing services, through pilot-scale spinning, knitting, and weaving.
Dr. Larry Smart am a plant geneticist and breeder whose lab uses genomic tools to better understand hybrid vigor, sex determination and pest and disease resistance in shrub willow bioenergy crops. More recently, he has been leading Cornell’s hemp research and extension and has initiated a long-term breeding and genomics program to develop new hemp cultivars for New York State. He received my B.S. in Biology at Cornell University, Ph.D. in genetics at Michigan State University, and was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at UC-Davis.
Dr. Tyler B. Mark is a Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky, specializing in production economics, farm management, digital agriculture, and the hemp industry. His research has shaped the understanding of farm financial risk, machinery economics, broadband access in agriculture, and the economic viability of emerging crops like hemp.
In addition to publishing widely in leading journals and extension outlets, Dr. Mark has secured competitive grants from USDA and industry partners to support research and outreach. He is a dedicated teacher and mentor, having directed graduate studies and guided award-winning students. Through his integrated work in research, teaching, and extension, he provides farmers, agribusinesses, and policymakers with practical insights to navigate challenges in a rapidly changing agricultural economy.
Dr. Mark received his M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 2006 and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Louisiana State University in 2010.
The future of textiles will be shaped by collaboration across natural fiber industries. This session brings together leaders from the flax, linen, cotton, and hemp sectors to explore opportunities for partnership, innovation, and the development of next-generation fiber blends. Panelists will discuss how combining the strengths of these established and emerging fibers can create new possibilities for performance, sustainability, and market adoption—helping advance a more diverse and resilient natural fiber supply chain.
David Knull is a senior executive and adviser with more than 25 years of international experience spanning technology, finance, investment and cross-border business across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Southeast Asia and Greater China. Advises corporates, investors and family offices on international expansion, strategic partnerships, capital formation, investment and complex cross-border transactions.
Career experience includes building and advising technology businesses, developing international commercial platforms, structuring strategic and investment initiatives, and supporting M&A and market-entry mandates. Particular strength in connecting Western and Asian commercial and financial networks, identifying opportunities across jurisdictions, and translating strategy into executable commercial outcomes.
Previously an associate professor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, with experience mentoring founders and supporting venture development, innovation and international market expansion. Holds advanced qualifications in business strategy and international taxation, with a career combining advisory, entrepreneurship, technology and international finance.
Eric Singular is a natural fiber strategist with experience across industrial hemp, flax, and other bast fiber supply chains, working at the intersection of seed genetics, farming, processing infrastructure, certification, standards, textile markets, and brand adoption. Eric is President of INCCert, where he led the development of the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS), a global chain-of-custody certification program for industrial hemp textiles, and is helping expand that standards-based approach to flax and linen through the Responsible Flax Standard (RFS) and Responsible Linen Standard (RLS). Through his work with farmers, processors, mills, manufacturers, certification bodies, and brands, Eric focuses on building credible, scalable, and transparent natural fiber supply chains that can support rural economies, responsible sourcing, and the next generation of textile and material innovation. Eric Singular is also a Board Director of the North American Linen Association (NALA), where he supports efforts to revitalize flax fiber and linen production across North America.
Sandra Marquardt is the founder and president of On the Mark Consulting, which provides communications, research, and advocacy for the organic and sustainable sectors. She has extensive experience in the agricultural and environmental areas, with a particular focus on organic and natural fiber and textiles production and processing. Most recently, she has authored reports about global hemp production, North American flax for linen production and processing, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers on cotton. She is Secretary of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) Fiber Council and the North American Linen Association.
Buxton Midyette is the Vice President of Marketing in the New York office for Supima, the promotional brand of the U.S. Pima cotton industry. His responsibilities include all marketing, publicity and social media activities as well fashion programs that include organizing the Supima Design Competition which is in its 19th year. Buxton has been at Supima since 2002 and has over 35 years of experience in the cotton industry.
His background includes working as a Strategy Consultant specializing in retail and apparel for Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA). Previous to working at KSA, Buxton was the Director of Latin American Operations for Cotton Council International.
Buxton has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics and Latin American Studies from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
