Sgt. Craig Henderson, United States Army
Extract Labs (www.extractlabs.com)
Combat veteran Craig Henderson founded Extract Labs as a way to help heal his fellow veterans without leading them down the road to prescription addiction by offering a natural alternative to pills.
Like many great entrepreneurs, Henderson started Extract Labs in his garage in 2016, and has grown it into a multi-million-dollar business with multiple facilities and scores of employees.
In addition to selling top-quality CBD products, Extract Labs is conducting groundbreaking research through Colorado State University on the effects of CBD on cancer cells.
Before founding Extract Labs, Sgt. Henderson was the Senior Sales Engineer for Apeks Supercritical – an industry leader in CO2 extraction technology. In addition to supporting sales, he managed all training and service on Apeks’ extraction systems – both domestically and internationally. He also conducted cannabis-related research and development, and taught classes on extraction and processing techniques.
With his degrees in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in thermal sciences and renewable energy, Henderson hopes to manufacture systems that will help naturally rejuvenate the energy of his fellow soldiers and others dealing with pain.
What does your company do?
Extract Labs is a Boulder, Colorado-based full-service hemp extraction laboratory offering a proprietary line of boutique CBD-infused products. We are a total solution for other hemp industry professionals here to help them meet their business goals, and offer toll processing, white labeling, custom formulations, and finished products available at a retail and wholesale level.
What promoted you to launch it?
I founded Extract Labs as a way to help heal fellow veterans. PTSD and injuries obtained while serving in the military often result in pharmaceutical prescriptions, which can become very addictive, despite their legality. I feel that CBD can help provide a natural alternative to harmful pills.
How has your military life educated and influenced your business life?
I think that coming from a military background, its makes it easier to put yourself into a lead role and push your team towards success. I run my company with the same LDRSHIP values that got pounded into my head during bootcamp. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal courage. Every one of the Army values have helped contribute to the success of Extract Labs.
What do you hope to do with your business?
We want to continue to set ourselves apart by being the friendliest company on the market. Whether it’s our process transparency or our customer service, we love nothing more than making sure our customers know exactly what they are getting. So many of our customers come to us looking for more information before making a purchase, and there is no better feeling than helping to put their mind at ease. We feel this is paramount in an industry that is largely unregulated.
What advice would you give other Veterans looking to own a business?
Be ready for the challenge. You may think it will be easy once things get rolling, but I’m busier now with 40 people working for me than I was when I was working by myself out of my garage. The values I learned in the service have been an invaluable asset to get Extract Labs where it is today.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about Veterans?
As someone who has been there, life after the military can seem rough. Come up with a plan, set goals for where you want to be, and give yourself that same sense of purpose the military gave you. If you’ve never served, give veterans a chance. They will be your most loyal friends, your company’s hardest workers, and the ones ready to rise to a challenge and get the impossible done. Veterans are our nation’s most resilient resource.
