Craig Henderson does not fit the stereotype of a CEO. You are just as likely to find him in a lab coat tweaking a new gummy formula, walking a customer through a COA, or loading pallets in the warehouse as you are to find him in a meeting. Extract Labs still feels like a startup by design, largely because Craig has never stepped away from the day to day work.
Craig grew up in a military family and went to high school in Southern Indiana, where discipline and hard work were a way of life. He ran track and cross country, laying the groundwork for the endurance and consistency that still show up in how he trains, leads, and builds companies.
Right out of high school he joined the Army and served on active duty from 2002 to 2006 as an infantry Team Leader with 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He led soldiers in Iraq, was twice nominated for the Bronze Star, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. That experience shaped how he leads Extract Labs today: calm under pressure, direct, and fiercely loyal to his team.
After the military, Craig went back to school and earned his Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville, concentrating on thermal sciences and renewable energy. His performance earned him a paid teaching role and free tuition to complete his graduate work, but his curiosity about cannabis and extraction technology pulled him toward the industry.
Craig became a Senior Sales Engineer at Apeks Supercritical in Ohio, a leader in CO₂ extraction equipment. There he did technical sales, installed systems, and trained operators across the country and overseas. He taught advanced classes on CO₂ extraction and helped brands dial in their processes long before cannabinoids were mainstream. Seeing the industry from the equipment side gave him a clear view of what most companies were doing right and what many were getting wrong.
In 2016, as hemp production took off in Colorado, Craig saw an opportunity to build something better. He bought a small rotovap, some basic lab gear, and started extracting hemp in his garage after hours. To keep the condenser cold, he literally shoveled snow into buckets. That garage project became Extract Labs.
Today Extract Labs is a vertically integrated, veteran-founded hemp company known for rigorous quality, transparent testing, and a wide range of cannabinoids and product formats. The company operates in a cGMP facility that is FDA registered, holds USDA Organic certification on key product lines, and offers select products that meet certified vegan and Leaping Bunny cruelty-free standards.
As a veteran, Craig also built a pricing structure that reflects his values. Extract Labs runs one of the most generous assistance programs in the industry, offering up to 60% off for veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, teachers, and low-income customers. For Craig, access and integrity matter just as much as innovation.
Through all of this growth, his role has stayed surprisingly hands on. He still reviews formulations, helps write and refine SOPs, works with the team on new product ideas, and jumps in wherever he is needed on the production floor or in shipping. That presence sets the tone for the entire company. Extract Labs is not driven by buzzwords or boardrooms. It is driven by a veteran, engineer, and builder who believes the best way to earn trust is to show up, do the work, and make products he is proud to use himself.
Quick Questions
What is your favorite Extract Labs product?
Muscle Cream
Name a book you’ve read that had a major impact on you.
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
What is the best thing you’ve ever watched on Netflix?
General Magic
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Never quit.
