Shon Williams Email & Phone Number

• Managed company’s overall strategic direction, operations, and P&L under new medical cannabis program in AL• Drove profitability, developed org structure, created strategy/culture, collaborated with Board of Directors, hired staff, led climate-friendly facility designs, fostered community engagement, influenced state program, built brand• Led capital/fundraising & private equity investor relations—spokesperson for compelling story, built financial models, successfully raised >$15M (28% more than planned at a time when no one was successfully raising money in the cannabis industry) at $57M company valuation for cultivation, processing, transport, & retail• Expanded company’s vision with license application in Texas and eyes on additional medical cannabis states• Made strategic decision to shut down the company due to indefinite licensing delays caused by extensive litigation over the state’s selection process—preserved resources, maintained corporate integrity & relationships

• Business exec hired by clients to turn around & grow their companies with lasting, substantial improvements• As COO, assessed & completely restructured org chart, ops, finances, projects, supply chain, sales, compliance• As CRO of private equity portfolio company, drove revenue strategies aligned with company priorities & industry trends; increased bottom line monthly, led sales team, forged key alliances, launched consumer-driven products

Calgary, Alberta, Ca

• Set foundation for continued company growth from annual revenue of $6M 2019, to $30M 2020, continuing to $116M 2023 and becoming the 2nd largest licensed producer in Canada with 7.5% of market share• Curated strategies aligned with organizational goals/mission, drove growth, delivered strong investment returns• Empowered company through major events (e.g., going public, negotiating M&A, partnership development, capital/fundraising, transition into full-scale ops)—while aggressively protecting company culture/values• Oversaw program management, facility design/build (for $47M in cultivation, processing, retail), international biz dev, supply chain, real estate, security, sustainability—assessed/measured impact with KPIs• Spearheaded stakeholder and public relations by engaging with local groups, government officials, and indigenous population to fully integrate the company into the communities in which it operated

• Arete Ops quickly became leader in planning/execution/operational efficiency in legal cannabis industry as an embedded consulting firm—personally led company’s due diligence, M&A, biz dev, program mgmt, design• Took company from inception to projects in US, Canada & Uruguay and being on track for over $1M USD first-year revenue (only 6% of startups reach this milestone) when we sold at 10-mo point for ~$10M

Toronto, Ontario, Ca

• Elevated company into a truly international & multi-state, cash-flow-positive business by expanding reach from only 6 US states to 13 states plus projects in Canada & Australia; promoted agility with new products/services• Led company to record $20M annual revenue as Interim CEO; introduced mature practices to cannabis industry• Scaled business for expanded workload—stood up PM/Design dept; established design standards; identified gaps & improved cannabis cultivation facilities/ops; managed project portfolio; delivered on commitments• Transformed marketing & media strategy—emerged as leader in cannabis space with speaking engagements at world’s largest cannabis conferences; advocated for cannabis policy & legislative reform with state/local entities

Buffalo, Ny, Us

• Broadened Aerospace customer base through expansion of business opportunities with existing customers and development of new customers for wind tunnel testing and flight test operations• Developed and relentlessly implemented strategic BD plan leading to sustainable, profitable growth• Professionally represented the company around the globe as primary customer interface• In first year, drove >$1M in new business, generated 200+ new leads, overhauled customer relationship mgmt (CRM) tools/processes, won Company Values Annual Award for Inclusivity, Accountability, Innovation

Randolph Afb, Tx, Us

• Chief of Ops & Test / Chief Development Tester for $70B F-22 stealth fighter program, $415M/year in upgrades• Innovatively managed $1.6B weapons, geolocation, electronic protection upgrade—skillfully navigated Pentagon process, communicated effectively with senior Defense officials achieving successful completion within budget• Directed team (PM, finance, contracting, engineering, test, logistics, security, safety)—balanced cost/schedule/ performance/risk to optimize investments in development, test, production, training, fielding, and sustainment• Shaped future of flight/lab testing—executed business case analysis to reduce costs while maintaining capability• Guided 3 major affordability initiatives—saved $19M/yr—cited by US President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as USAF Best Practice; Team leader for team of quarter 3 times in year

Kabul, Af

• Grew & coached multi-national/agency coalition synchronizing/unifying security, governance & socio-economic development efforts of UN-established, NATO-led Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) ISAF comprised of 51 nations plus civilian orgs & donors, to maximize growth opportunities for more viable, representative Afghan govt• Implemented ISAF’s comprehensive operational targeting approach to neutralize insurgent/criminal networks; Specific focus areas in counter-insurgency/terrorism/narcotics/corruption, border control, & evidence-based ops• Clearly and accurately trained 600-person audience up to 3-star General level on ISAF core functions

Randolph Afb, Tx, Us

• Managed $30B research & development (R&D), testing, production of new Saudi F-15SA aircraft; rapidly constructed diverse international team (29 orgs & 200+ people in global network of offices) & program from ground up for largest foreign military sale in US history—demanded sharp critical thinking & relationship-building• Recruited/mentored multi-disciplined talent, fostered respectful/inclusive environment, provided direction for air superiority enhancements—Directorate (Wing level) Field Grade Officer of the Year

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

• Orchestrated US involvement in novel $3B C-17 Strategic Airlift Capability with 12 NATO/European nations culminating in the stand-up of a new IGO in Pápa, Hungary, the Heavy Airlift Wing, an operational cooperative• Championed $8B US/UK partnership in airborne intelligence through int’l procurement, sustainment, and ops• Excelled in highly-dynamic/regulated political arena of foreign disclosure, export control & int’l agreements—personally interacted/resolved differences among senior officials in Depts of Def/State, Congress, other nations• SAF/IA Senior Action Officer & Team of Year; Interviewed by NASA to be Astronaut—top 3% of 4000 applicants

Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Us

• Merged organizations into new critical branch to manage $25M/year nuclear M&S science & technology portfolio• Led initiative to transform over 600 legacy nuclear weapon M&S codes into a web-enabled, net-centric enterprise architecture, including a new validation, verification, and US/UK accreditation construct• Increased survivability of US missile defense system in high-altitude space environment

Edwards Air Force Base, Ca, Us

• Ops Engineering Flight Commander, Test Conductor/Director for $600M Bomber programs; Supervised 150-member C-17 test team; captured 13 world aviation records; C-17, B-52, F-16, C-135, C-130 aircrew • Subject matter expert to NASA for B-52 launches/drop tests of aerospace vehicles• Multiple annual/quarterly awards; Nominated for Lance Sijan leadership and Society of FTEs “FTE of Year”• Completed assignment with 464 flight hours during flight test in 30 different aircraft (fighters, bombers, cargo, tankers, trainers, helos, gliders)—independent testing equipped decision-makers with credible, trustworthy info

• Managed acquisition logistics and maintenance planning for 47 satellite control units at 23 global sites• Led on-island closure of Seychelles satellite tracking station; saved $24M; key member of diplomatic negotiation• Space Command winner USAF Communications and Information Professional of Year Award

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace)

Master Of Science (Ms), Astronautical Engineering

Master'S Degree, Military Operational Art And Science

Diploma (Ms Equivalent), Experimental Flight Test Engineering

High School Diploma