Derek Besenius is a Partner at Red Lion Partners, where he is strategically positioned to bridge the operational entrepreneurial expertise and high-level corporate experience of Red Lion Partner's remaining members. With 6 years of entrepreneurial startup experience and 5 years of executive leadership, Derek brings a wealth of knowledge in capital raising, turnaround, team building, and strategic development. He also held a policy board position for a top 501c6 organization within the state of Tennessee, further showcasing his leadership and influence in the industry.

Before joining Red Lion Partners, Derek was the CEO, Board Chairman, and formerly CFO of LabCanna Biosciences, a group of vertically aligned cannabis companies based in Nashville, TN. In these roles, he was responsible for strategic company vision, operational compliance, and strategic asset allocation in an ever-changing regulatory environment. Under his leadership, LabCanna was awarded "Best of Nashville" for five consecutive years from 2019-2023, recognized in the "Top 10 Visually Appealing Brands" by Global Cannabis Times, and nominated as one of the top 100 influential CBD professionals globally. Derek holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Binghamton University and is passionate about maximizing existing value for SMEs through innovative strategic thought processes and partnerships. He believes in collaboration and a "win/win" mindset, driving mutual growth and success across a wide range of industries.