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Rawls College Of Business To Partner With NCS For Cannabis Research Project

05.29.2018

FINDINGS WILL HIGHLIGHT FINANCIAL TRENDS IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

Denver, May 29, 2018– NCS and the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University have initiated a collaborative investigative relationship to analyze financial practices in the U.S. cannabis market. The program will involve graduate-level academics and researchers at the Rawls College of Business who specialize in accounting and data analysis. Findings from the project will provide insightful data and increased transparency to the industry by looking at accounting trends and financial modeling for the cannabis industry.

NCS is an analytics firm based in Denver, Colo., that specializes in financial modeling for the cannabis industry. Heather Carrasco and Andrea Romi, both accounting PhDs at the Rawls College, will be leading the project with NCS. The team hopes to better understand the role of accounting in helping the cannabis sector transition from a “cash only” industry flying under the Federal radar to a thriving mainstream business.

Carrasco and Romi, along with  Camors, CPA, and John Masselli, PhD., published a paper in December of 2017, titled, “From the Black-Market to the Gray-Market: Accounting’s Role in the Budding Cannabis Industry, (link: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3090386) that looked at this historical change. The collaboration between NCS and the Rawls College of Business will expand on this research.

One problem researchers face with cannabis industry data is that it is new, untouched, gathered slowly, and often self-reported. NCS and the Rawls College of Business can look at a broad range of data to identify and apply appropriate statistical analysis and accounting methodology and strengthen findings over time.

In response to the announcement, NCS CEO Adam Crabtree said, “We are pleased and excited to be partnered with a team that has a wide range of experience and expertise. Heather Carrasco and Andrea Romi have expansive knowledge in accounting and will be a vital resource as this research relationship develops”.

“This collaboration with NCS, gives us the chance to gain real world insights into practical experience and knowledge, which is often absent in academic research,” said Carrasco and Romi. “Our students benefit when we can bring real-world data back to the Rawls College of Business, and this work will certainly enhance our newly established accounting data analytics track with a real-world, relevant business scenario.”

About the Rawls College at Texas Tech University

A comprehensive, research-based business school, the Rawls College at Texas Tech University was established in 1942 as the Division of Commerce and is ranked among the top 100 business schools in the United States. With more than 4,500 students enrolled, the Rawls College of Business has more than 40,000 alumni worldwide. The Rawls College is dedicated to solving problems facing business and society and seeks to better the world by creating and sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation of business professionals and influencers.

About NCS

NCS delivers their patent-pending predictive analytics engine to provide banks and regulatory agencies with real-time monitoring and alerts for cash-intensive businesses, including Marijuana-Related Businesses (MRBs). At the core of the firm’s analytics capability is an algorithm that aggregates and analyzes vast numbers of data points, applying statistical, financial, and economic factors to create simple, easy-to-understand reports.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Paige Reimers at paige@ncsanalytics.com

About the Author Paige Reimers

Paige Reimers is the Chief Operations Officer of NCS Analytics, where she leads the company’s operations, product implementation, customer success, marketing, security, and strategic growth initiatives. Since joining NCS in 2016, Paige has been instrumental in transforming the organization from a regulatory data provider into a leading SaaS analytics company serving financial institutions and regulators nationwide. Throughout her tenure, she has advanced through multiple executive leadership roles, including Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President of Operations, before being named COO, reflecting her significant contributions to the company’s growth and success.

At NCS Analytics, Paige has overseen the development and launch of several innovative SaaS solutions, including NCS Thea, the industry’s first government-mandated cannabis lending intelligence platform. She has led cross-functional teams responsible for product implementation, customer support, operations, marketing, and strategic vendor management, helping organizations leverage trusted data to improve underwriting, portfolio monitoring, compliance, and risk management. Her leadership has also been instrumental in establishing scalable customer onboarding programs, building high-performing support and implementation teams, and driving product adoption across the financial services industry.

Paige has also played a critical role in strengthening NCS Analytics’ operational foundation. She developed comprehensive operational, cybersecurity, and risk management policies, established disaster recovery and business continuity programs, and helped the company maintain SOC compliance for multiple consecutive years. Her focus on operational excellence, governance, and customer experience has enabled NCS to scale while maintaining the trust and confidence of its customers.

Before joining NCS Analytics, Paige built a strong foundation in banking and financial services with leadership roles at consumer and commercial banks. There, she managed branch operations, risk management, regulatory compliance, and employee development while working closely with clients to identify financial solutions. Her experience overseeing operational controls, internal audits, and regulatory requirements provides valuable insight into the challenges financial institutions face when evaluating and managing risk.

Today, Paige continues to lead NCS Analytics’ strategic operations while helping shape the company’s long-term vision. She is passionate about building scalable organizations, developing innovative technology solutions, and delivering actionable intelligence that brings greater transparency to the cannabis industry. Her unique blend of banking expertise, operational leadership, and technology experience has positioned her as a driving force behind NCS Analytics’ mission to empower lenders, regulators, and cannabis businesses with trusted, data-driven decision-making.

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