Community BioRefinery ABOUT
About Community BioRefinery (CBR)
Community BioRefinery (CBR) is built on the principle of putting capital to work in understandable ways that produce reliable results over many years. The platform is designed for durability through diversification and operational efficiency rather than reliance on any single product or feedstock price. Its technological moat — proprietary process integration, Mechanical Reduction Technology (MRT)™, and modular architecture — provides lasting competitive advantage.
By transforming local agricultural resources into a broad portfolio of high-value products and clean energy, CBR creates resilient rural economies, advances environmental stewardship, and addresses critical national priorities in food security, renewable energy, and sustainable development — delivering both strong financial returns and meaningful community impact for the long term.
Leadership with Deep Domain Expertise
CBR is led by a seasoned team with decades of hands-on experience in fermentation science, organic chemistry, commercial biorefinery operations, and business development. The company has established valuable collaborations with leading academic and research institutions, including Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with major universities, as well as strategic partnerships with the USDA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. These collaborations provide accredited investors with added confidence in the scientific foundation, validation, and long-term viability of the CBR platform.
Leadership Team
Scott R. Hewitt Chief Executive Officer (CEO), President & COO
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 R&D 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 aging.
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, while also enabling the recovery of industrial hemp’s valuable phytochemicals and nutraceuticals.
Mr. James 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 and Director of the Hemp BioRefinery Division, he leads technical innovation for Community BioRefineries operations and continues to drive advancements in feedstock processing of the whole industrial hemp plant, organic fermentation systems, and co-product valorization — including the isolation of phytochemicals and nutraceuticals.
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.
- Board of Managers
- Scott Hewitt, Chairman and CEO; President, COO
- Vincent R. James, CTO
- Gary Halstead — Representative of EGE Primary Beta Site LLC and Engineering Services
- Gregory P. Adamson — Director; Advisor, Corporate and CBR Plant Security
- Dr. Marti Steed — Director
- Thomas Ely — Director
Advisors & Consultants
CBR is supported by a select group of experienced scientists, engineers, marketing, and legal professionals who primarily serve as outside consultants. Key advisors include:
- Nicholas Sipos (USAF COL, ret.), President of Missouri 11 Sponsors LLC
- Jeff Kraus (Boeing Safety Director), Process Engineering Advisor
- Dr. Peggy Tomasula – USDA (ret.) Ag Research Service
- Dr. Susan Duvick – USDA (ret.) Corn Hybrid Advisor
- Merle Walter – Ag Advisor
- Dublin Hennigar – Plant Operations
- Dick Fehseke (Legal)
Additional technical and engineering staff bring over 100 years of combined experience in food, agriculture, and biofuels industries.
Our History & Approach
CBR builds upon groundbreaking work originally advanced by visionary researchers, including the late Sammy Mayfield Pierce of Energenetics. With efforts dating back to 1978, years of R&D, collaboration with the USDA, and independent third-party engineering validation, CBR has refined a unique Mechanical Reduction Technology (MRT) that achieves what others have pursued unsuccessfully for decades.
Today, CBR is commercializing this platform through joint ventures, including its commercialization entity, Missouri CBR Joint Venture, LLC. The company collaborates closely with farmers, agricultural co-ops (e.g., Amalgamated Sugar), Dave Reynolds Farms (Kuna, ID), local communities, Idaho’s Community Renewable Energy Development Authorities (CREDAs), and partners such as Wisconsin’s Burnett Dairy Co-op.
What, Where & How
What — Modular, zero-waste biorefineries converting multiple local agricultural feedstocks into a diversified portfolio of high-value products and clean power.
Where — Initial focus on the feedstock-rich Idaho Treasure Valley (25–50 mile local sourcing radius), with scalability to similar U.S. agricultural regions.
How — Flexible, integrated operations with advanced continuous-flow fermentation and downstream processing. Achieves 100% molecule utilization with no heat or harsh chemicals, micron-sized particle reduction, separation and recovery of every valuable fraction, production of 20+ high-value co-products, hyper-pure water recycling, and zero waste.
Zero-Waste Philosophy
At the heart of CBR is a commitment to 100% molecule utilization and true circularity. Our process:
- Uses only cold process water — no heat or harsh chemicals
- Breaks plant material into micron-sized particles for thorough liberation of components
- Separates, isolates, and recovers every valuable fraction
- Produces 20+ high-value co-products in a single integrated system
- Recycles hyper-pure end-of-process water
- Generates zero waste
This philosophy extends to our Community Friendly framework — delivering environmental excellence, support for rural communities and farmers, and strong governance — making CBR a compelling choice for impact-focused investors.
Why CBR Matters
CBR represents a rare convergence of breakthrough science, economic opportunity, and environmental integrity. By beginning with the end in mind — high-value bio-alcohols and clean energy — the process naturally delivers a diversified portfolio of premium nutraceuticals, proteins, and bioplastics that de-risks the investment while addressing critical national needs in food security, renewable energy, and rural development. Independent USDA ASPEN feasibility modeling projects strong economics with 15-25% average annual rates of return.
Mission
To pioneer modular, community-scale, zero-waste biorefineries that create resilient local economies by transforming agricultural resources into food, fuel, materials, and clean power while resolving food-vs-fuel tensions through full biomass valorization. CBR is built for durability — delivering understandable economics, a clear technological moat, and reliable results for years to come.
CBR maintains a lean, expert-driven governance structure with a Management Board and Advisory Board. Emphasis is placed on compliance, investor relations, and community partnership. Full details on governance, structure charts, and executive bios are available under NDA.