Brian Scotese

About Brian Scotese

Connect with me using: b•••••••@gmail.comAll Invitations to Connect WelcomeLION – LinkedIn Open NetworkerI enjoy helping leadership teams untangle complexity and get systems working the way the business actually needs them to. I’m a senior technology and operations executive and cannabis entrepreneur with experience building, scaling, and turning around organizations in complex, regulated, and high-stakes environments.My background spans enterprise IT, consulting, manufacturing, retail, and cannabis. I bring a hands-on, outcome-driven approach to stabilizing mission-critical operations, resetting IT and operating models, modernizing platforms, and aligning technology, people, and process with business reality.I’m often asked to step in at critical moments to help teams stabilize, refocus, and move forward. I’m known for sound judgment, rapid assessment, and practical execution during periods of growth, transition, or strain.I’m currently exploring short- to mid-term, high-leverage engagements, including fractional or adjunct CTO/COO roles, turnaround and stabilization mandates, operating-model and platform resets, modernization and automation initiatives, and discrete special projects—particularly within regulated or founder-led environments where experienced leadership can add immediate value.Projects I’m Open To:Fractional or adjunct CTO / COO rolesTurnarounds, stabilization, and recovery effortsIT and operating model resetsPlatform modernization and automation initiativesDiscrete special projects and executive advisoryCore Competencies: Building and Growing IT Departments Strategic & Tactical Planning Microsoft, Oracle, IBM Platform Support Resource Optimization & Workforce Planning Product, Project, and Program Management On/Offshore Vendor Selection & Management P&L, Budgets, Cost Reductions, ROI, Turn Around Projects, Departments, Companies Change Agent of Culture & Business Process Kaizen Business Process Improvement Software Selection, Implementations & Rollouts Customer Relationship Management & BuildingIf you’re navigating change and need experienced executive leadership without long-term lock-in, I’m open to the conversation.To brainstorm and collaborate on any of these perspectives, call me at (44••••••28 or b•••••••@gmail.com.

Experience

1. Founder, CEO and Board Member

   Lighthouse Sciences

   Jan 2016 — Present · Eastlake, OH, US

   Achieved licensing, build out, and scale of a premier cannabis manufacturing operator with 30 FTEs and $5M in revenue in the Ohio medical and adult use market.• Accomplished 80% dispensary penetration with Lighthouse Sciences and Lake Effect brands • • Built premium brands including Lighthouse Sciences (concentrates, vapes, edibles) and Lake Effect (#1 topical cream in Ohio). • Directed $1.2M facility upgrade, tripling throughput and improving quality 40%.• Established thriving contract manufacturing business serving leading brands.• Launched a contract manufacturing division, generating 20% of revenue.• Improved margins 25% via cultivation partnerships and distribution alliances.• Navigated biomass shortages through cultivation partnerships and strategic planning.• Collaborated with state legislators to establish a fair-competition pathway for independent processors in Ohio’s cannabis market.

Education

• Cleveland State University

  B.S.

• Ursuline College

  Business Administration and Management, General

Skills

• Resource Optimization
• Customer Support
• Technology Management
• IT Solutions
• Microsoft Office
• Oracle Enterprise Manager
• IT Management
• Kaizen
• Operations
• Internet
• Project Portfolio Management
• Management Consulting
• Customer Service
• Growing Businesses
• CTO
• Mentoring
• Strategic Planning
• Quality Assurance
• Social Media
• Business Strategy
• Department Management
• Computer Hardware
• Team Building
• Program Management
• Manufacturing
• Passionate About Work
• Employee Training
• Business Intelligence
• IT Strategy
• Project Management
• Lean Manufacturing
• CIO
• Customer Relations
• European Union
• Leadership
• Usability
• Credit Cards
• IT Service Management
• Network Architecture
• System Testing