Scott Hewitt – CEO & President/Chief Operating Officer.

Scott Hewitt brings decades of leadership, investor relations, and operational expertise to CBR. A key figure in the evolution of the technology since 2005, he previously helped raise significant capital for predecessor entities.

Prior to Mr. Hewitt’s affiliation with Community BioRefineries, he served as a senior Strategic Intelligence Operations advisor to Special Operations forces in Afghanistan in response to a personal request from the Secretary of the Army’s Director of Intelligence.  He also has served as a Registered Principal and Executive Investment Advisor providing financial advisory services to over 1500 active and retired military clients with combined portfolios of well over $320 million.  Prior to that, he concluded a successful military career with the US Army as an Intelligence Operations Officer, beginning as an enlisted Analyst and concluding as a field grade officer.  His activities included command and staff positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels, as well as service with the National Command Authority; interface with Congressional Intelligence Committees and the White House Cabinet.  He served on two Command tours and service as a staff officer at brigade, division, corps, Joint, and national levels; he was a principal instructor at the Army Intelligence School, and as a Special Security Officer on GEN Colin Powell’s Special Staff while serving as the Commander of V (US) Corps.  Hewitt was sought out to become the ‘Defense Intelligence Oversight Officer for the Counterdrug Support Mission’. 

Mr. Hewitt served in a civilian capacity in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Mr. Hewitt’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology with Minors in Microbiology and Business Management (1977) from Iowa State University; with the Defense Intelligence College at Langley, VA where he worked toward a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence (1991); and, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Leavenworth, KS at the US Army Command and General Staff College, (1991).  Mr. Hewitt is also the founder and President/Director of the Protein Therapeutics Foundation.  With his degrees in Food Science and Technology, Business Management from Iowa State University, and with military leadership training from the Army’s Command and General Staff College, Scott has been instrumental in streamlining operations, compliance, and strategic direction. His founding of the Protein Therapeutics Foundation, focused on applications of pure plant proteins for treating sarcopenia – the progressive, generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that primarily occurs with ageing.

Vincent R. James, Ph.D. (A.B.D.) – CTO; Director, Hemp BioRefinery Division.  

Vincent James is a simple biochemist, fermentation scientist, and zymologist with deep expertise in organic chemistry, organic fermentation, brewing sciences, and bioprocessing. Zymology — the scientific study of fermentation processes and the biochemical transformations carried out by microorganisms — forms the foundation of his work. This discipline encompasses the optimization of microbial cultures, enzyme systems, and metabolic pathways to efficiently convert sugars and other substrates into valuable products such as alcohols, acids, hydrogen, and biopolymers.

He holds a master’s degree from San Francisco State University with postgraduate work at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Vincent has designed, commissioned, and developed microbreweries across the U.S. and brings extensive R&D experience in fermentation, process optimization, and sustainable biotechnology. As CTO, he leads technical innovation for Community BioRefineries operations and continues to drive advancements in feedstock processing, organic fermentation systems, and co-product valorization.

As a trained brewer, he worked for Brewers Research and Development where he was involved in all aspects of technical design, brewing production, fermentation and purchasing management where he designed, commissioned, and developed micro brewing projects. As Managing Director at California Beer Works, he was responsible for strategic planning, technical/operations management and production activities; as CEO of California Beer Works, his main responsibility was handling investments by private equity partners. With over 15 years in the brewing and distilling industry as a senior brewing leader, with extensive experience in North America and Asia, his focus in various roles progressing from Brewer, Operations Manager, General Management and CEO has been an asset for several major micro brewing companies. His strengths embrace the business spectrum of customer commitment, profit focus, quality, innovation and strategic development.

In addition to his in-depth background in Operations and General Management, Mr. James is also the President/Director of the Food For Life Foundation, a non-profit entity focused on reducing or eliminating the muscle wasting diseases suffered by both HIV and cancer treatment patients as side effects of those treatments.