USHBA Leadership Joins the Industrial Hemp Research Foundation Board
President Shawn Ledig and Director at Large Alex Escher have been appointed to the national IHRF board, deepening the connection between hemp builders and the research advancing the industry.
The U.S. Hemp Building Association (USHBA) is proud to announce that two of its leaders, President Shawn Ledig and Director at Large Alex Escher, have been appointed to the board of the Industrial Hemp Research Foundation (IHRF). The appointments place USHBA leadership inside the national organization that coordinates and supports hemp research across the country.
The IHRF is a federally approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado, with a mission of empowering hemp research nationwide. It backs and connects university-led research into the highest-impact uses of industrial hemp, spanning construction materials, transportation applications, food, and consumer products.
Learn more about the Foundation and its work at industrialhempresearch.org.
For a building association, a seat at the research table matters. The wider adoption of hemp building materials depends on sound science: standardized testing, validated performance data, and documentation that designers and code officials can trust. The IHRF research priorities align closely with the association mission, including hemp-based construction materials, material testing for transportation, and the standardization of R-value testing for hemp-lime (hempcrete) assemblies. Having builders and practitioners help shape that agenda keeps the work grounded in what the field actually needs.
“Getting hemp building materials into wider use comes down to research, testing, and standards that designers and code officials can rely on,” said Shawn Ledig, President of the U.S. Hemp Building Association. “Serving on the IHRF board lets us help direct that work at the national level and bring the builder’s perspective to the table. It is a real step forward for the whole industry.”
The appointments come as USHBA continues to advance national standards work, including progress at ASTM and adoption of the hemp-lime appendix in the building code, alongside its education and conference programming. Closer collaboration with the national research community is expected to accelerate the adoption of hemp building materials across the United States. The IHRF board convened its most recent quarterly meeting in late June 2026.
IHRF Board of Directors
The Industrial Hemp Research Foundation is governed by a national board of directors:
David Bush President
Remy Kachadourian Vice President
Jessica Cristadoro Secretary
Sasha Kalcheff-Korn Treasurer
Bill Althouse Director at Large
Shawn Ledig Director at Large
Alex Escher Director at Large
Gene Kelly Institutional Representative, Colorado State University (Fort Collins)
Jeff Smith Institutional Representative, Colorado State University (Pueblo)
About the organizations
About the U.S. Hemp Building Association: USHBA advances the use of hemp-based building materials through education, standards development, and advocacy, supporting a growing national network of builders, manufacturers, designers, and researchers. Learn more at ushba.org.
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