Bios
Ian James
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ian James founded National Hemp Partners, a division of The Ideation Lab, LLC, and provides the Company's strategic vision, and development leadership in mergers and acquisitions, and analysis for the Company. Ian relies upon his 37 years of expertise in heavily regulated industries to forge and maintain successful and profitable business relationships.
He has raised roughly $100M in capital investment for various operations since 2014. From 2018 through 2019, he helped spearhead a reverse triangular merger with a sub-$90M Nasdaq company in which a vertical CBD company, SanaMundi, sought to go public. The COVID-19 Pandemic sidelined the "go public" plan. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of a Hemp Genetic and Life Science Company in Colorado. In this role, he is helping turn around the Company and return it to its core business principles and focus. He is a leader in the Hemp industry for his work on regulatory structures, labeling, and testing requirements.
Believing in strong alliances, he led The Ideation Lab and its Affiliated Companies to become the first Hemp manufacturing companies to join the National Association of Manufacturing.
In 2016, Politico Magazine named Ian one of the United States' most influential political thought leaders.
Before National Hemp Partners, The Ideation Lab and SanaMundi, Ian ran a successful marketing and advocacy firm that oversaw nearly 7 million signatures to place issues before voters. At that time, his firm developed the blueprint to amend the Ohio Constitution for casino gaming. He worked on various other high-profile social justice and ballot issues, including protecting voting rights, employment rights, and civil rights issues.
He also served in numerous governmental offices, and as a corporate executive for Merv Griffin's Players International in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, and Nevada. His knowledge of heavily regulated industries and his ability to navigate corporate relations and public advocacy allowed him to provide strategic guidance through countless efforts, which led The Ohio Magazine to acknowledge him as one of Ohio's "brightest political strategists." Ian's extensive experience in branding and media relations were evident on CBS and NBC Evening News, the Today Show, Rolling Stone Magazine, New York Times, LA Times, US News and World Reports, The Guardian, Time Magazine, Politico Magazine, and hundreds of other publications worldwide.
Ed Wassom
Founder and Chief Operating Officer
A senior executive with 20 years of experience developing and implementing vision and strategies in emerging markets, overseeing day-to-day operations, and driving revenue for companies ranging from start-ups to large public corporations. Broad global sales and marketing experience with the proven ability to capitalize on market analysis and assume bottom-line responsibility for strategic planning, pricing, market research, and forecasting. Talented at building mutually beneficial relationships with strategic business partners, industry leaders, colleagues, and employees. Excellent communication skills, combined with technical and business acumen, enhances the ability to present information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences. Sought-after public speaker invited to speak at several industry events, Universities, and trade shows. Ed is a creative and respectful leader with experience building and managing high-performing, cross-functional teams.
In addition to the Executive experience, Ed has spent the past five years launching and growing businesses in the hemp industry. Having grown up in Iowa, his knowledge of agriculture and farming has been applied to sourcing, developing, and monetizing various industrial hemp businesses. Ed has taken multiple companies from seed to and through complex bioscience applications and acquisition.
Stephen Letourneau
Founder and Chief Brand Officer
Stephen is leading the charge by directing The Ideation Lab’s Brand Portfolio. Responsible for the ideation, creation, and development of brand ethos, product development, and leading the strategy surrounding the launching of and growth of the individual product lines. Aside from merchandising for brands like RH, J Crew, and Kate Spade, his background in both Human Resources and Operations give him the ability to connect and lead the right people for the growth of the brand; while maintaining an intimate knowledge of supply chain logistics to hit these targets on time. Excited for the opportunity to take this passion across multiple categories and build the first legitimate Cannabis lifestyle brand with product lines acutely focused on the Canna-Curious, discerning luxury Wellness consumer.
As a thought leader in the space, the Stephen has spoken at both intimate gatherings for the press as well as with C-Suite panels to discuss the global cannabis trend and how the different international market will embrace and amplify the space. Looking at each product with a focus on unique end-user experience then reverse engineering that moment of engagement back down to the ideation that will fill that need.
This new and emerging market is looking for leadership that isn't focused on the current landscape but for people that are looking towards what's happening 3-5-10 years from now and setting the foundation for a brand that will exceed those needs.
Stephen is a Board member at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Board, a founding member of the Franklin County Child Task Force, an avid endurance athlete having completed 4x 70.3 Half Ironman, and a combined total of more than 35 Full + Half marathons. His primary joys are traveling and spending time with his family and being the best uncle and godfather.
"I find the harder I work, the luckier I am."
"Get the work done."