DRM CEO Nic Bucholz to join MJBizCon 2026 facility design panel

DRM CEO Nic Bucholz will speak on cannabis facility planning at MJBizCon 2026 in Las Vegas, focusing on HVAC, power, permitting and other choices that shape long-term performance. The session is aimed at operators weighing new builds, expansions, retrofits and major equipment upgrades.

Why it matters: - Cannabis facility design choices can lock in costs, compliance risks and growth limits for years after construction. - DRM says the session is aimed at helping operators avoid expensive mistakes before capital is committed. - The topic lands as the industry faces tighter margins and higher pressure to get facility planning right the first time.

What happened: - DRM announced that CEO Nic Bucholz will join a facility design panel at MJBizCon 2026. - The session, "Designing & Building Commercial Cannabis Facilities in 2027," is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. - The panel will take place at the Grow World x MITA Pavilion, #27217, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. - MJBizCon 2026 runs Dec. 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. - Bucholz will also join an additional panel and several podcast conversations during the event. - He plans to meet with operators, investors and other industry professionals during the week.

The details: - Bucholz leads DRM’s work designing and developing cannabis cultivation and processing facilities. - The panel will focus on early planning and design decisions that affect how a facility performs long after construction ends. - DRM’s experience covers space programming, workflow, environmental and mechanical systems, electrical and utility coordination, and equipment integration. - The firm’s approach centers on planning the facility and the operation together. - Panel moderator Nick Morin will lead the discussion. - Other listed panelists are Jeremy of GrowPros Construction and Drew Greco of GreenStar. - A fourth panelist has not yet been announced. - The discussion is expected to cover layout and workflow, HVAC and environmental systems, electrical and utility requirements, equipment selection and integration, code compliance and permitting, operational efficiency and scalability, and avoiding costly mistakes. - Bucholz said, "There's no such thing as a perfect cannabis facility, but there is such a thing as a facility that's right for your operation." - Bucholz also said the biggest problems usually come from decisions made too early or in isolation, such as buying equipment before power is sized or drawing a layout before mapping product flow. - Bucholz said he wants operators to leave the panel thinking differently about the decisions they are making now.

Between the lines: - The panel reflects a broader shift from viewing cannabis facilities as simple construction projects to treating them as tightly engineered operating systems. - DRM is pushing a planning-first message: equipment, utilities, layout and compliance need to be aligned before buildout starts. - The event timing matters because attendees will already be surrounded by vendors and new technology, which can encourage purchases before a full facility plan is in place.

What's next: - Operators planning new builds, expansions, renovations, retrofits or major equipment upgrades are being invited to connect with Bucholz and the DRM team at MJBizCon or before the show. - DRM says interested attendees can call (916) 415-8492 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific, or visit more information. - Bucholz encourages attendees with projects on the horizon to find him after the panel to discuss their plans. - MJBizCon attendees will be able to hear the session on Dec. 3 and follow up with DRM during the conference week.

The bottom line: - DRM is using MJBizCon 2026 to argue that the biggest cannabis facility wins happen before construction starts, not after problems show up.