Ben Von Kennel

E: bvonkennel@gmail.com C: 214-536-4991 Plano, TX 75075

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Passionate operator who likes to get hands dirty. Experienced manager with 11 years of commercial, climate controlled hydroponic vegetable and cannabis production experience. Dedicated to building strong product knowledge while leading cross-functional teams.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Red River Management Group – Chief Operations Officer (Privately owned 5-10 employees)

Bells, TX 2019 – 2021

Managed

Led all strain phenotype selection and R&D
Managed grow team through multiple state compliant harvests without affecting

quality.
Managed Post Harvest operations
Generated sales and maintained relationships with most popular CBD Retailers in the

Dallas/Ft Worth and Houston Metroplex

Hydroshed- Co-Founder/President (Privately owned 5-10 employees)

McKinney, TX 2016 – 2019

Created the first turnkey hydroponic greenhouse in a backyard-sized footprint with commercial grade components, for schools, Non-Profits, and serious growers who want to grow year-round.
Managed Hydroshed from Concept to Installation
Maintained and managed a consistently low Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) rate
In 2018 I developed and led sales to a 400% annual growth rate.
Logistics lead for manufacturing, product install and grower training.

Amelia’s Farm D.B.A – Co-Founder/President
(Privately owned 5-10 employees)
Bells, TX 2011 – 2018
Led the operations and sales for a 12,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art commercial hydroponic greenhouse company which focused on supplying Organic produce to upscale restaurants and chefs in DFW.
Led and managed facility from concrete to install to successful harvest
LED the Greenhouse Agricultural Practice (GAP) certifications
Maintained and managed a consistent low Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) rate.
Generated sales and maintained relationships with the finest restaurants in the
all grow operations on a 15 acre farm including a 12,000 sqft greenhouse and post-
harvest climate controlled facility
Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex
• In 2018 my team completed a YOY Growth of 16% thanks to digital efforts and Client relationship management.

Knockemstiff LLC- Marketing Consultant

Capital Southwest Corporation

Dallas, TX 2010 – 2011

Independent Marketing Consultant that provided strategic Branding and Marketing recommendations on Portfolio companies for a Dallas private equity firm.

Developed and provided product analysis and insights for the Blue Magic product.
Developed and provided a marketing campaign to attempt to increase product

distribution and sales

City of Dallas

Dallas, TX from 2010 – 2011
o Developed and provided a marketing initiative to attempt to help increase

appeal of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department TPN – Account Executive

Dallas, TX from 2008 –2010

Primary Client facing partner for Retail Account creative campaigns.
• Managed all traffic and client communications from project concept to printed POS

and/ or Digital Content.

Tabs Direct – Account Manager Dallas, TX from 2006 – 2008

Production manager for Omnicom’s consolidated print shop. Provided Direct Marketing and Mail Production solutions and services to Blue Chip Clients in channels such as financial services, insurance, retail, healthcare, and travel.

PDCA Products -Manger
Houston, TX from 2004 – 2006
Managed the export/import of private label mobility scooters for the US division of a Hong Kong based manufacturing and sourcing company. Generated over $15 million in revenue in the first year.

Led the logistics for orders and shipments from Kowloon Bay Hong Kong to the Port of Houston to Canada
Led customer relations for warranty inquiries. EDUCATION

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY NACOGDOCHES, TX CROPKING Hydroponic Grower Training 2010
*References upon request