Speakers 2017

MARRIOTT CITY CENTER OAKLAND, CA

The Summit and panelists of active, accredited investors and successful entrepreneurs will look at what’s next for branding, media, technology, non-profits, venture-backed startups, publicly traded companies and crowd-funding in the new “green rush” industry of Cannabis and beyond.
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George Clinton

Founding Member of Parliament
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Dave Morin

Founder, Slow Ventures
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Jason Silva

Host of Brain Games on Nat Geo
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Roger McNamee

Founder, Elevation Partners
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Ricky Barry

Former Pro NBA & Hall Of Fame Athlete
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Jim McAlpine

Founder, 420 Games, New West Summit, CannaDads
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Steve DeAngelo

Harborside
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Mike Harden

Founder & Senior Partner, Big Rock
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Ophelia Chong

Stock Pot Images

Drake Sutton-Shearer

Co-founder PRØHBTD Media
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Josh Otten

Co-founder PRØHBTD Media
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Shannon Belisario

Creative Strategy + Experiential, PRØHBTD Media
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Kieve Huffman

Co-Founder - Infrastructure, PRØHBTD Media
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Derek Riedle

Founder & Publisher, Civilized
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Alan Brochstein

Alan J. Brochstein, CFA
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Reggie Gaudino

VP, Science, Genetics and Intellectual Property
jared mirsky omd agency wick and mortar

Jared Mirsky

CEO / Founder, Wick & Mortar
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Micheal Ray

Bloom Farms
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Roy Bingham

CEO & Founder, BDS Analytics

Brian Zisk

Future of Money & Technology Summit & SF MusicTech Summit, Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Ken Ramirez

Co-Founder & CEO, Alt Thirty Six
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John Perricone

Founder & CEO, Double Clef Management
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Frenchy Cannoli

Master Hashishin
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Tracy Ryan

CEO, Canna Kids
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Matt Grey

Founder & CEO, HERB
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Charles Rutherford

Business Development Director, Boveda Inc.
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Alicia Rose

Founder, HerbaBuena (Quiver)
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Swami Chaitanya

Founder, Swami Select
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Leslie Bocskor

Founder & President, Electrum Partners
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Ricardo Bacca

Founder, Grasslands & MC, New West Summit 2017
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Allen J. Miller

US Medical Director, International Cannabis Solutions
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Thomas Fogarty

CEO, Fogarty Wine
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Rachel Shipp

VP, Business Development, Green Rush
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Sumit Mehta

Founding Partner, Mazakali
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Jared Gold

Chief Cultivation Officer, Genius Extraction
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Daniel Yazbeck

Chairman & CEO, MyDx, Inc.
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Eric Eslao

CEO, Défoncé Chocolatier
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Cory Waggoner

Founder & CEO, Higher Yields Consulting
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Elizabeth Conway

Principle, Gide LLC
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Alan Gertner

CEO & Founder, Tokyo Smoke
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Jeff Zappelli

General Manager, Hall Wines
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Michael Steinmetz

CEO & Founder, Flow Kanna
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Amy Diiullo

VP Business Development & Sales, WIllie's Reserve
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Steven Yacht,  MBA CPA

Director of Business Intelligence, Higher Yields Consulting
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Natasha Irizarry

Co-Founder & CEO, Stash Box
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Brandon David

Host & Founder, Infused Show, Investing In Cannabis
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Jimi Devine

Cannabis Industry Writer, Cannabis Now Magazine & Green State
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Baran Dilaver

COO, The Firefly
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Mara Gordon

Founder, Aunt Zelda's Inc
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Olivia Mannix

CEO & Founder, CannaBrand
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Matt Stang

Owner & Operator, High Times
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Marty Higgins

Founder & CEO, Harvest
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Mowgli Holmes

CEO, Phylos Bioscience
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Chelsey McKrill

Business Development, Kikoko, Co-Founder, Sync
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Dustin Eide

CEO, CanPay
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Anna del Gaizo

Senior Associate Editor, Playboy
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Aaron Smith

Co-Founder & Executive Director, National Cannabis Industry Association
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Luke Stanton

Managing Partner, Frontera Law Group
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Carolyn Gerin

Co-Founder & Brand Strategist, Cannawise.co
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Yoffy 

CEO & Director, Jungle Control
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Samantha Miller

President & Chief Scientist, Pure Analytics
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Hugh Hempel

CEO, Strainz
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Jessica VerSteeg

Founder, AuBox & ParagonCoin
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Marcus Turner

Chief Strategy Officer, Higher Yields Consulting
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Alain Bankier

Partner, New York Angels
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Gaynell Rogers

Director & Partner, Bond Moroch Agency
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Pranav Sood

CEO & Founder, Trellis Grows
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Mark Hadfield

Co-Founder & CEO, HelloMD
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John Kemp

Data Security Specialist, Ecannex
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Matthew Greene

CEO & Founder, Edible Science, LLC
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Brett Finkelstein

Managing Director, Phyto Partners LP
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Andre Bourque

Cannabis Writer, Entrepreneur.com
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Jim Patterson

CEO, Eaze
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Ron Gershoni

Co-Founder, Jetty Extracts
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Aaron Justis

President, Buds & Roses
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Luz de la Riva

Founder, LDLR Haute Couture Cannabis, Every Day Sexy
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John Downs

Director Of Business Development, The Arcview Group
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Christy Thiel

Master Nutrition Therapist (MNT)
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Darren Roberts

CEO, CANN Media Group
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Chad Conner

VP, Pure Ratios, MSOM & LAc 
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Ean Seeb

Co-Owner, Founding Partner & Manager, Denver Relief Consulting LLC
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Jon Phillips

Founder & Manager, Silverback Management, Slightly Stoopid
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Darren Roberts

CEO & Founder, High There!
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Gretchen Gailey

EVP Communications & Government Affairs, New Frontier Data
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Marion Mathasan

CEO, Simplifiya
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Hugh Hempel

Strainz

Pamela Hadfield

Co Founder, HelloMD and Co-Founder WEmpowered
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Eli Duffy

CEO & Founder, Grownetics
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Matt Karnes

Founder, Greenwave Advisors
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April Pride

CCO/Founder of Van der Pop, CCO, Tokyo Smoke
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Dave Egerton

Vice President of Technology, CW Labs
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Daniel Grace

CEO, Dark Heart Industries
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Dr. Perry Solomon

Chief Medical Officer, HelloMD
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Lamine Zarrad

CEO & Founder, Tokken
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Eddie Miller

Founder & CSO, Green rush
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Jeremy Green

COO, hmbldt
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Jared Berry

Founder, Isodiol
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Eric Schlissel

President & CEO, GeekTek
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Zack Brown

President of Operations, Pot Valet
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Joshua Laterman

CEO, First American Holdings & The National Association of Cannabis Businesses (NACB)
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Jason Pinsky

Cannabis Producer, Bong Appetit on VICELAND,  Chief Cannabis Advisor at Eaze
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Zach Silverman

Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer, LeafLink
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Reggie Williams

Former Pro NFL & Hall Of Fame Athlete
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Matt Bartlett

VP of Operations, Garden Society
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Guillermo Bravo

CEO, Foottraffik
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Paul Campbell

VP Digital & Innovation, Privateer Holdings
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Paul Bohannon

Founder, Honu
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Gary Allen

COO, New Frontier Data
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Cy Scott

CEO and Founder, Headset
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Kyle Sherman

Founder & CEO, Flowhub
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Wendy Kornberg

Proprietor, Sunnabis Farm Humbolt County
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Steve Albarran

CEO & Founder, Confident Cannabis
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Vern Abila

President & Founder, Abila Security & Investigations Inc.
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Pamela Epstein

Esq., LL.M
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Nick Kovacevich

Co-Founder & CEO, Kush Bottles
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Cam Battley

Executive VP, Aurora Cannabis Inc.
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Regina Unegovsky

Attorney, Regal Tax Law
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Mathew Gerson

Co-Founder & CEO, Foria Wellness
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Maxim Karp

CTO, NatureTrak
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Michael Sautman

Director of California Operations, Higher Yields Consulting
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David Berg

President & Chief Technology Officer, Strainprint
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Nial C. DeMena

President & CEO, Manna Molecular Science, LLC
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Alison Ettel

Founder, TreatWell Cannabis
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Matthew Glyer

Founder, Hemp Press
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Kitty Morgan

Assistant Managing Editor, San Francisco Chronicle
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Carter Laren

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Gateway
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Karli Warner

Marketing & Communication, Garden Society
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Alex Halperin

CEO, WeedWeek
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Karen Bernstein

Principal, Bernstein IP
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Zach Eisenberg

Vice President, Anresco Laboratories
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John Kagia

EVP Industry Analytics, New Frontier Data
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Andrea Unsworth

Financial Consultant, Founder of StashTwist, Co-founder of Supernova Women
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Henry Wykowski 

Principle, Wykowski Law
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Jonathan Cachat, PhD.

Social Neuroscientist & Entrepreneur
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Steve Berg

CEO, Firefly Vapor (Ex Wells Fargo, Swiss Bank, BRC)
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Rachel Kurtz

National Cannabis Industry Association
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Travis Howard

CEO & Founder, Shift Cannabis
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David Hua

CEO, Meadow
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Socrates Rosenfeld

CEO, IHeartJane.com
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Aaron Silverman

CEO, OMG FARMS
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Steve Nolan

Managing Partner, Urban Leaf Ventures
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Andrea Brooks

Founder, Sava & Co-Founder, WEmpowered
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New West Summit 3.0 comes to Oakland for a bigger, brighter experience in one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world.

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John Perricone

New York, NY, USA
Founder & CEO, Double Clef Management

Mr. Perricone is the founder and CEO of Double Clef Management (DCM) a consulting and management firm that offers expertise across multiple disciplines in the cannabis industry. DCM works with cannabis companies all over the planet that are looking for guidance, funding, business development, and operational cannabis know-how.

DCM has been heavily involved with cannabis genetics and is well-versed in the breakthroughs in fingerprinting the DNA of individual strains, identifying and activating specific cannabinoids to promote specific medical and health benefits, and in creating a master database of genetics that are identifiable for creating superior genetics.

In 2002, Mr. Perricone moved to the mountains of Southern Humboldt. During over fifteen years of experience, he mastered virtually every type of indoor and outdoor growing techniques, eventually combining indoor and outdoor techniques to create a fully automated system in a state-of-the-art marijuana cultivation facility that is considered the industry standard today.

In 2014, Perricone founded a local chapter of California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (CCVH), a political action committee (PAC). Mr. Perricone raised over $100,000 to fund the PAC, which organized and ran stakeholder meetings with local law enforcement, lawyers, politicians, environmentalists and building and planning department experts to draft the ordinance that is now used to regulate the legal cannabis industry in Humboldt County.

With John’s deep level of experience and time spent in the field he is a perfect choice for purpose-driven for panels and keynotes on genetics, cannabis activism and advocacy, and navigating the complex issues in cannabis investment and operations in the industry today. 
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Derek Riedle

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Founder & Publisher, Civilized

Derek Riedle (pronounced reed-lee) is the founder and publisher of Civilized - a media company that speaks to motivated, productive adults who choose to enjoy cannabis as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle, but do not define themselves by it. He approaches life with wide-eyed curiosity and a gut feeling for what people want before they know they want it.

Derek has crafted the message and shaped the story of leading companies and winning political campaigns across North America. He founded strategic communications agency, Revolution Strategy and is the co-creator of Real Houses of... a television series showcasing some of the most interesting homes in North America and the personalities behind them.

Rooted in Canada’s east coast but living in Los Angeles, he’s learned to surround himself with really great people and get out of the way. Derek loves a good story, a witty sense of humor and authentic personalities. He maintains a strict no-assholes- allowed policy. 
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Charles Rutherford

Wayzata, MN, USA
Business Development Director, Boveda Inc.

I was a medical cannabis skeptic until 2013 when I was hit on my motorcycle by a careless driver, resulting in amputation of my left foot. Not wanting to take higher opiate dosages to relieve the daily unwanted companion of phantom limb pain, I reluctantly turned to cannabis and quickly became a believer. My cannabis conversion is what informs all our efforts and attention in cannabis over the other markets we've operated for 20 years. In order to help deliver products for cannabis curing, storage and merchandising, we're doing first-of-its-kind testing around the country to compile data on what humidity level different states/regions prefer for cannabis they consider "perfect". That kind of intelligence will help cultivators/dispensaries understand the wants of their patients/customers in order to deliver a consistent flower experience every time.
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Coral Grayson

Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Founder, Coral Reefer

As written by the Shorty Awards "Coral Reefer is working to rebrand the traditional pot smoker image from hippie to hip, and from male to female. Packing social media with all things cannabis, Coral Reefer invites the online community to be a “world reefer,” talking pot-centric politics and reefer recipes on YouTube with over 10 million channel views, and joining for #stoneysunday wake-and-bake Periscope live streams. With thousands of subscribers regularly tuning in to watch @CoralReefer420 take dabs while melting glass into fish, Coral helps to foster an all-gender weed-smoking community with fun-loving spirit and educated advocacy."
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Tracy Ryan

CA, USA
CEO, Canna Kids

Tracy Ryan is the CEO and lead consultant for CannaKids, a California based cooperative with a focus on supplying medical cannabis oil to adults and children looking for holistic relief for serious health conditions, specializing in pediatric cancer. Since her infant daughter’s brain tumor diagnosis in 2013, Tracy has dedicated her life to educating herself on the medicinal powers of medical marijuana. Tracy has worked on a global scale with families who are seeking education, and treatment options for their loved ones, and has guided many patients to unheard of success. CannaKids is now on a trajectory to be one of the world’s leaders for cannabinoid therapies based on scientific research and is in collaboration with some of the top researchers, doctors, and hospitals in the world. With a true passion for clinical research, Tracy has successfully secured a relationship with the Technion Institute in Israel who are leading the way in cannabis research for cancer. CannaKids is in the planning phase with a major California hospital and is expected to start in-hospital clinical trials on pediatric patients this year. Tracy is also the Vice Chair for the Women’s Grow LA Chapter, and as a public speaker, can be found speaking at medical cannabis and pediatric cancer events all over the world in her quest to educate the mass public on the power of this incredible plant. In addition, the Ryan family is the key focus of the Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake documentary, "Weed the People", releasing next year. They have also been featured in many national and international news pieces including, NationalGeographic.com, Vice News, Entertainment Tonight, and many more. As an educator, activist, and self-proclaimed “Momcologist”, it is Tracy's mission to uncover the mysteries behind this plant in hopes to formulate disease specific cannabinoid formulations for patients of all ages.
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Frenchy Cannoli

Master Hashishin

Traveling to distant places in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, my travels brought me to different hashish producing countries where I did most of my studies on Cannabis resin with local Hashishins who had been practicing their art for generations. I realize today how much trust and respect was given to the clueless but eager youth I was. I shared the life of local farmers from North Africa to the feet of the Himalayas in India and Nepal with only my passion for Cannabis resin to open doors. The knowledge and experience of resin processing learned in those countries has helped me develop a deep appreciation for the plant, for traditional techniques and more importantly an understanding of the inherent value of specific regions to the uniqueness and quality of certain Cannabis resins. A long time later, after a series of extended adventures in Japan and Thailand as a designer I finally settled down in California, a coincidence that was to redefine my life. I had never been truly conscious of the medicinal potential of the Cannabis plant until meeting patients in California, however I have always been aware of the mental well being and general health of Cannabis farmers and consumers in producing countries. This full awareness brought a new dimension to my dedication to this plant and with the legalization of medical cannabis I was able to share my passion for the traditional techniques I learned in producing countries where its benefits have been understood and used to heal and inspired for tens of thousands of years. I am Aficionado Estates official Hashishin. Aficionado is possibly the first seed company positioning its marketing strategy and the quality control of its breeding program on resin. This working relationship mirrors the relationship b.
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Jared Mirsky

Greater Seattle Area , WA, USA
Founder & CEO, Wick & Mortar (Formerly Online Marijuana Design)
 

Born in Mountain View, California and raised in the town of Monroe, Washington Mirsky was instilled with the entrepreneurial spirit by his parents, each of whom, own their own businesses. After graduating from Monroe High School he went to work for his father, who owned multiple Gold’s Gyms in southern California at the time, and it was there that Mirsky began to understand what kind of man he wanted to become. At the age of nineteen, he stopped working for his father and decided to start his own business. The artistic side that seemed to always have been present was now flourishing in the world of graphic design. With a great deal of hard work, the wisdom to surround himself with the right people, and the mentorship of an old friend Mirsky’s business grew rapidly, eventually leading to numerous connections in the cannabis industry. The Huffington Post featured Mirsky in an article that appeared in August of 2013, leading to a massive influx of new customers. He quickly recognized that there was a niche market in Seattle that was being overlooked, which gave birth to a new company called Online Marijuana Design; a branding agency specializing in companies that grow and distribute cannabis products. Jared’s ability to recognize a need in the cannabis industry is his greatest asset and with almost eight years of experience, he knew that the world of branding in the cannabis industry was virtually limitless. As it turns out, he was absolutely right; Online Marijuana Design quickly became the largest cannabis branding agency in the world. Since 2013 Mirsky and his companies have been featured in over eleven magazines including CNN Money, Geekwire, WeWork, Dope Magazine, NW Leaf Magazine, Leafly, Cashinbis, and most recently in the top 40 under 40 for Marijuana Venture Magazine and Dope Magazine Award Winner for Best Cannabis Design Firm, but for Jared the greatest achievement in his life is his son.
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Alan Brochstein

Houston, TX, USA
Founder, 420 Investor and New Cannabis Ventures

Based in Houston, Alan leverages his experience as founder of online community 420 Investor, the first and still largest due diligence platform focused on the publicly-traded stocks in the cannabis industry. With his extensive network in the cannabis community, Alan continues to find new ways to connect the industry and facilitate its sustainable growth. At New Cannabis Ventures, he is responsible for content development and strategic alliances. Before shifting his focus to the cannabis industry in early 2013, Alan, who began his career on Wall Street in 1986, worked as an independent research analyst following over two decades in research and portfolio management. A prolific writer, with over 650 articles published since 2007 at Seeking Alpha, where he has 70,000 followers, Alan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a frequent source to the media, including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV.
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Mr Leslie Bocskor

Las Vegas, NV, USA
Founder & President, Electrum Partners

Leslie Bocskor with his advisory firm Electrum Partners, and fund, The Electrum Fund, is leading the evolving discussion around policy, entrepreneurship, and investment in the cannabis industry, nationally and internationally. As founding chairman of the Nevada Cannabis Industry Association, and with his far-reaching Wall Street background, he’s helping design the models for cannabis industry investment, business and regulation, as Nevada did with gaming. Whether it's big pharma’s long tail or first-mover investors taking advantage of early opportunity, Bocskor's insights and influence have made him the trusted expert and revered pundit on getting in and getting out of cannabis investments successfully.
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Michael Ray

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Executive Director, Bloom Farms 

Michael Ray was born in San Francisco and raised in the Sierra Foothill Mountains on his family ranch known as Bloom Farms. He is a cannabis advocate, lobbyist for social change, and entrepreneur with a passion for technology and design. In 1999, Michael moved to New York City to start his career on Wall Street. By 2001 he was one of the youngest and most successful traders at his firm. But Michael tired of the “money first” mentality of Wall Street and decided to return to California and the farm he grew up on -- a place with new and unique business opportunities thanks to the development of the legal cannabis industry. There was a social revolution occurring on the West Coast and Michael found himself on the doorstep of a perfect opportunity to create a uniquely universal cannabis product. By focusing less on high potency and more on high quality, Michael and Bloom Farms’ Highlighter vapor products found success with experienced and novice cannabis consumers, alike.

As the Executive Director at Bloom Farms, Michael oversees the day-to-day operations. Bloom Farms’ first priority is to make consistently high-quality cannabis products that are available for medical cannabis patients throughout California. Michael also oversees Bloom Farms’ 1-for-1 program: with every product purchased, Bloom Farms donates one meal to a food-insecure family in California. Bloom Farms has donated over 250,000 meals to food banks throughout California in 2016 Michael has a passion for community, and since becoming a cannabis entrepreneur, he has worked with industry leaders, regulators and community leaders to legalize, regulate and legitimize California’s medical cannabis industry.
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Aaron Justis

Greater Los Angeles Area, CA, USA
President, Buds & Roses

Aaron Justis is the President of Buds & Roses, a premier Los Angeles Cannabis retailer serving customers and the community since 2006, and is a recognized thought leader in the Cannabis industry. At Buds & Roses, Aaron’s goal is, quite simply, to create the ultimate cannabis shopping experience for new and experienced cannabis users. This means consistently cultivating, sourcing and retailing only the safest and highest quality cannabis products available on the market. Further, Buds & Roses takes great care to employ highly-trained, certified, and knowledgeable staff to individually understand and meet the needs of its valued customers.

Since 2010 Aaron and the Buds & Roses team have been recognized for their efforts with consistent customer and revenue growth, as well as being the proud recipients of 26 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup awards. Aaron takes immense pride in the personal relationships that he has forged over the years with his team, customers, suppliers, members of his local community, and those advancing the safe and responsible use of cannabis nationally and internationally.

As an impassioned trailblazer in the industry, Aaron has made a personal commitment to be an instrumental and educational voice at the local, state, federal and global levels for cannabis users, advocates, and industry players everywhere. As part of this commitment, Aaron holds leadership roles as an active board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, the California Cannabis Industry Association, and the Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance.
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Steve DeAngelo

Oakland, CA, USA
Executive Director, Harborside

Steve DeAngelo is a national cannabis leader who has inspired millions throughout his four decade career as a cannabis activist, advocate, entrepreneur and educator. Driven by his compassion for others, Steve has founded many successful socially responsible ventures including Harborside, the largest medical marijuana dispensary in the world. Steve is also Co-founder and President of the Arcview Group, a company formed to introduce investors to the cannabis community, and vice versa. To attract the best, brightest and most motivated entrepreneurs and investors for the next innovative American industry, Steve and his staff operate the Arcview Angel Investor Network. Steve believes cannabis is medicine and that it should be used to further personal wellness and not be used as an intoxicant. As an accomplished speaker, Steve DeAngelo can be found at events and conferences around the world inspiring others through his work. His unique sense of style, his commitment to his community and his passion for cannabis make him both a role model and a pop cultural icon.
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Dr Allen S. Miller

Greater Los Angeles Area, CA, USA
US Medical Director, International Cannabis Solutions


As a Chiropractor, Dr. Allen Miller, D.C. specialized in Sports & Industrial Medicine. Dr. Miller spent 10 years on the Track & Field Circuit in the US, Africa, and Europe treating elite athletes. Dr. Miller was the Chiropractor for (PRCA) Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Rodeo's and the National Football Players Association. His career culminated when he was invited to be a team doctor for several nations at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. Dr. Miller spent 10 years in Africa working with the Olympic Track and Field teams of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, and many others. Following this experience, Dr. Miller was recruited as an expert advisor on Bio-kinetic and Human Performance Optimization by Carnegie Mellon University for their driverless truck and US Army Drone program. For the last 20 years, Dr. Miller is forensic injury and soft tissue trauma specialist for several large corporations and worker's compensation insurance companies. Dr. Miller is a recognized court approved expert in 14 states. 

Dr. Miller is now Director Doctors Cannabis Consulting as Worker’s Compensation cost containment, pain management & Cannabis Expert. Dr. Miller consults to several workers compensation insurance companies, to implement Cannabinoids (CBD) products for the treatment of chronic pain and opioid addiction. 
Dr. Miller is a noted speaker and published author. 
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Linn Baumgardt

Seattle, WA, USA
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Privateer Holdings


Linn Baumgardt is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Privateer Holdings, overseeing the expansion of their diverse brand portfolio into the world’s most promising cannabis markets. Linn’s creativity, strategic mindset, and willingness to push boundaries have been invaluable in establishing Leafly as the fastest-growing privately-held company in the Pacific Northwest. This year, Linn’s efforts are focused on bringing Leafly and Tilray to Germany, the world’s second-largest healthcare market.

In her previous role as Director of Marketing for Leafly, Linn helped to elevate the cannabis industry by breaking down barriers and partnering with mainstream companies like Pandora and Twitter. By analyzing market trends and legislation around the world, she created a custom algorithm that has become the standard for how Leafly approaches new regions and global markets. Prior to Leafly, Linn worked with companies such as Microsoft and the Discovery Channel and consulted for clients such as Amazon, Sprint, and Redbox.
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Robby Flannery

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
CEO, Dr Robb Farms

Dr. Robby Flannery earned his PhD in Plant Biology with an emphasis in Environmental Horticulture and a specific expertise in hydroponic crop optimization for cut-flower production from UC Davis. In other words, Dr. Flannery was technically trained to grow Cannabis from the #1 Plant Sciences University on the planet. He worked under the tutelage of Dr. Heiner Lieth and advised commercial flower growers producing crops ranging from roses and Gerber daisies to Cannabis. After providing grow recommendations, it was suggested that he get involved in Cannabis production since his PhD research specialized in the optimization of hydroponic, cut-flower production. The uncanny match of Dr. Flannery’s expertise and an absence of scientific research in Cannabis production finally caught up with him when he accepted a position as the Production Director of SPARC in San Francisco. During his time at SPARC, Dr. Flannery oversaw the launch and management of cultivation sites, where he set up horticultural practices that are standard in non-Cannabis commercial grows but are wholly absent in the Cannabis industry. He sits on the Board of Advisors for Salveo Capital, a VC firm investing in the ancillary space for the Cannabis industry. He sits on the Ag Committee for CCIA. Dr. Flannery was recently asked by the Dean of Ag Science at UC Davis to act as a panelist for an advisory council meeting to address Cannabis research needs. He actively works with Cannabis farmers to promote clean cultivation practices to eliminate the use of harmful chemicals for Cannabis production.

Additionally, Dr. Flannery was an All-American and Academic All-American college athlete, who is very interested in using Cannabis as a therapeutic tool for athletes. It wasn't until he suffered an L4/L5 herniated disc that required surgery (likely as a result of being an athlete for much of his life) that he discovered how useful of a medicine Cannabis is. I have spoken on cultivation practices as the Cannabis cultivation expert in front of local regulators & legislators on what to expect in a post-legalization world on several occassions. These presentations were more like lectures with a Q&A; section at the end. I annually lead a lecture at UC Davis in front ~300 students about Cannabis. I was personally asked by the Dean of Ag Sciences at UCD to act as a panelist for an advisory council meeting to discuss Cannabis research.
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Swami Chaitanya

Mendocino , CA, USA
Founder, Swami Select

Swami Chaitanya lives in Mendocino County where he hones the fine art of cultivating sungrown cannabis grown with organic methods in living soil. Swami has been a Judge in The Emerald Cup since it began in 2003. He is on the steering committee of the Mendocino Appellation Project and is President of the Mendocino Cannabis Industry Association. Swami is co-founder of Swami Select and a advocate of responsible cannabis cultivation.  For more information, go to www.SwamiSelect.com
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Steve Albarran

Palo Alto, CA, USA
CEO & Co-Founder, Confident Cannabis

Steve is CEO and Co-Founder of Confident Cannabis, an online B2B platform powered by the largest real-time database of legal cannabis in the world. Confident Cannabis serves thousands of cannabis producers, retailers and laboratories across the country, growing over 50% per month. Confident Cannabis was founded in 2015 when Steve and his co-founders were graduate students at Stanford University.

Prior to co-founding Confident Cannabis, Steve founded Left Lane Capital Partners, a growth equity investment firm focused on the health and wellness industry. Prior to Left Lane, Steve held various roles in private equity and investment banking firms in New York City.
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Jason Pinsky

Grater New York Area, NY, USA
Cannabis Producer, Bong Appetit on VICELAND & Chief Cannabis Advisor at Eaze.

Jason Pinsky’s wide-ranging career encompasses more than 25 years of hands-on experience with cannabis, technology, food and media.  

Pinsky established his early roots in cannabis as a judge for the inaugural High Times Cannabis Cup, held in Amsterdam in 1994. Through his relationships with the Grateful Dead and Phish communities, he has been connected with legendary varieties of cannabis including Chemdog and Sour Diesel and participated in their origin stories dating back to 1991.

As a pioneer and founding member of the technology community that created a new industry in the 90's, Pinsky founded his first software company, Image Info, in 1993 using digital imaging and database technologies to increase revenue streams and reduce expenses for fashion giants like DKNY, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Escada. Image Info was the first official digital imaging partner for New York’s Fashion Week sponsored by Apple.

In 1999 Pinsky was tapped to become Chief Technology Officer for Musicvision, and was tasked with creating new revenue streams for artists including Outkast, Mariah Carey and LL Cool J.  Using new technologies to combat revenue losses from music piracy, Pinsky leveraged the power of artist websites to create new income opportunities through advertising and sponsorships. He also created the first co-branded version of MSN, with NSYNC.

Pinsky then founded Haze City, providing consultation and expertise on digital music strategies and initiatives for clients including Phish, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews and The Allman Brothers Band. Pinsky later joined Phish as the band's first Tour Technology Manager in 2003 and was also the Technology Manager for the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2004.

In 2005 he returned to his roots and became Chief Technology Officer for The Jump Apparel Group, responsible for the technology driving Jump’s $100 million in apparel sales. Later that year, Pinsky partnered with Joe Carroll and opened Fette Sau, which has been rated New York City's No. 1 BBQ by Zagat for the last decade.

Pinsky moved beyond music and technology in 2011, opening Gotham Artisinal, a distributor of cocktail bitters, botanical extracts and cocktail ingredients to mixologists in the on-premise and specialty grocery markets. Gotham carved the path toward his deep knowledge in cannabis extraction and cannabis chemistry with the formation of his next venture, Cannastract, established in 2013. Cannastract’s founding partner Dr. Mark Scialdone went on to establish a patent for the hydrogenation of cannabis oil two years later.

In 2013, after a decade of opiate dependence due to spine surgery, Pinsky dove full-time into the legal cannabis market and returned to judging cannabis competitions for High Times, judging every Cannabis Cup in 2014 and 2015.  Through access to competition-grade medication, Pinsky was able to boost his endocannabiniod system, wean himself off of opiates and lose 100 pounds. He is currently celebrating three years of opiate-free living thanks to cannabis therapies.

Pinsky was not only integral to passing the New York State Compassionate Care Act, but was also a main proponent of expanding the qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, based on his success of using cannabis to beat opiates. His activism was featured in 2016 by Vice Media on their coverage of New York’s cannabis legislation.  He also shared his story as testimony to the New York State Opiate and Heroin Task Force established by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Pinsky leveraged his deep experience with cannabis, media and food in 2016 when he joined forces with VICELAND to bring Bong Appetit to a global television audience. Bong Appetit became VICELAND's No. 1 show and is syndicated in 44 countries around the globe. The program was later nominated by the James Beard Foundation for best television show in 2017. Pinsky's role with the show - the first credited cannabis producer on IMDB - was recognized by the cannabis industry when he was crowned King of Mainstream Marijuana by the Cannabis Business Awards at their inaugural New York Comedy Roast.
In the summer of 2017 Pinsky’s career came full circle - integrating his background with technology with his experience in the cannabis industry - when he was named Chief Cannabis Advisor to Eaze, who provides a technology platform to licensed dispensaries by creating an on-demand marketplace for cannabis consumers to purchase related products.
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Alex Halperin

Los Angeles, Ca, USA
Business Reporter & Founder,WeedWeek

I'm an independent business/enterprise reporter based in Los Angeles with a focus on the cannabis industry. In 2015, I started WeedWeek, a free and confidential newsletter on the country's fastest growing and most interesting industry. It has grown to more than 9,000 subscribers, including many leading figures in cannabis. Subscribe at WeedWeek.net. My work has been published in NewYorker.com, Mother Jones, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Pando, Fast Company, Fortune, Al-Jazeera, Business Insider Rolling Stone and many other publications. 
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Matt Grey

Toronto, ON,  CANADA
Founder & CEO, HERB

 
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Ricardo Bacca

Greater Denver Area, CO,  USA
Contributing Editor / Founder, The Cannabist

A Strong writer with 15-plus years of daily newspaper experience and a skilled reporter with history in news, business, features, sports and entertainment departments. Ricardo is a seasoned columnist on music, TV, pop culture and editorial subjects and experienced editor with a staff of 35-plus freelancers. A forward-looking leader, having taken a small annual music event (four bands at one venue) and created a full-blown annual festival of 300-plus bands stretched across four days and 25 venues.
Specialties: Journalism, arts criticism, music profiles/bios, festival leadership.
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Dale Gieringer, PhD

Greater SF Bay Area, CA,  USA
Director, California NORML

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Dr. Suzanne Sisley

 

Phoenix, AZ,  USA
Owner, Suzanne A. Sisley, MD, PC

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Fred Gardner

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Editor, Beyond THC, O'Shaunessey's

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Kyle Turley

Former NFL ALL-PRO, Founder, Neuro Armour

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Carter Laren

SF Bay Area, CA, USA Co-Founder, Gateway


Carter Laren is the co-founder of Gateway, a full-immersion business accelerator and seed investment program located in the birthplace of the cannabis industry – Oakland, CA. Gateway's mission is to bring the expertise of Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurship to the burgeoning industry of legal cannabis companies.
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Damon Stoudamire

Former NBA Athlete, Head Coach University Of Pacific

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Cliff Robinson

Former NBA Athlete

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Donovan Osborne

Former MLB Athlete

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Thomas Fogarty

Portola Valley, CA, USA
CEO, Fogarty Wine

Tommy Fogarty is the second generation owner/manager of Thomas Fogarty Winery. He has spent more than 30 years in an environment of agriculture and organic wine growing. The Thomas Fogarty wines are small production and priced in the "Ultra-Premium" bracket. Tommy sees many parallels between these two world of conscientious, organic farming of a product and creation of brand identity.
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Elizabeth Conway

Washington, DC, USA
Principle, Gide LLC

I run a national public affairs firm serving cannabis interests in multiple states from 3 main offices. I have been a panelist and speaker at cannabis, policy, healthcare, and political conferences for the past 5 years. I founded Gide to represent traditionally underrepresented, but highly complex or regulated technologies and concepts to government. Cannabis fits right in.
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Eric Eslao

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
CEO, Défoncé Chocolatier

Founder and CEO of Défoncé Chocolatier. Exquisite ingredients and veteran craft merge at Défoncé, which produces California’s finest cannabis-infused chocolates. Our seed-to-bar artisanal chocolates set new high standards for the world of edible confections.
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Daniel Yazbeck

San Diego, CA, USA
Chairman & CEO, MyDx, Inc.

Daniel Yazbeck is the founder, seed investor and creator of the MyDx Analyzer. Daniel leverages nearly 15 years of experience with Fortune 500, as a Scientist for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals specializing in Chemical R&D; technologies, and as an Engineer and Strategic Market Developer for Panasonic, creating new products and partnerships in the consumer electronics healthcare industry. Mr. Yazbeck has been a Cashflow Investor for over 10 years, holds a Master of Science degree in Medicinal Chemistry from McGill University, a minor in Marketing, and is a co-Author on several world patents and research publications.
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Jared Gold

San Diego, CA, USA
Chief Cultivation Officer, Genius Extraction
 

Jared Gold is the Chief of Cultivation with Genius Extraction Technologies. Most recently having developed and managed the largest hemp extraction laboratory in Kentucky, he is returning to California to help his team expand the Genius brand farther than ever previously imagined. Jared has a Master's degree in Sustainable Agriculture from UNC-A and years of indoor & outdoor experience ranging from small caretaker to large Humboldt operations. His intimate knowledge of cultivation is combined with 1000s of hours controlling and developing cold ethanol, CO2 and fractional distillation equipment across the country as well as the complementary experience of going from soil to sale. As CCO of Genius, Jared is currently focused on the integration and development of growing systems with Genius' laboratory settings as they take on a quickly maturing sector full of talented competitors and countless surprises.
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Sumit Mehta

San Francisco, CA, USA
Founding Partner, Mazakali

Sumit currently works on strategy and finance for The Arcview Group in addition to running Mazakali, a cannabis consulting company based in the Bay Area. Sumit has been an angel investor in the cannabis space since 2013 with ventures across Colorado, California, and Oregon. Sumit is a member of the Canopy investment committee and a mentor to their companies. Sumit is also a supporter of the Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. As a member, shareholder, mentor, entrepreneur and employee, Sumit brings a unique perspective to his role at Arcview. Prior to joining Arcview, Sumit spent nearly two decades in financial capital markets across sales, business development, management, research, analysis, valuation, strategy, capital introduction, institutional-level relationship management, wealth advisory, investment planning and operational consulting in domestic and overseas markets. Sumit’s past experience includes: Financial Advisor, J.P. Morgan Securities, Director of Business Development, DiMeo Schneider and Associates; Founder and Managing Partner, Emerald Ventures; Head of Midwest Sales and Trading, Susquehanna Financial Group, Director of Institutional Equity Sales, UBS Investment Bank; and Equity Research Analyst, Raymond James Financial. Sumit earned a B.A. in Economics with Honors from the University of Texas and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. He currently resides in San Francisco where he continues to grow his involvement in the cannabis industry.
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Rachel Shipp

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
VP, Business Development, Green Rush

Rachel Shipp is Head of Business Development at GreenRush, the largest online marketplace to purchase cannabis. Rachel has over a decade of experience working in consulting, banking, asset management, and sales. At GreenRush, Rachel is responsible for leading investor relations and business development. Prior to GreenRush, Rachel was at BlackRock and Bank of America. At BlackRock, she she was responsible for securing strategic partnerships, delivering over $6b in sales. Rachel graduated with a BA in Economics from Yale University and received her MBA from Emory Goizueta Business School.
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Baran Dilaver

San Francisco, CA, USA
COO, The Firefly

Mr. Dilaver is an entrepreneur, creator, and an accomplished executive. He successfully launched over 10 brands worldwide and has developed over 80 products. Prior to Firefly, Mr. Dilaver spent six years as the CEO of San Francisco-based United Brands Inc. Mr. Dilaver built the company into a successful global player in food technology and consumer goods, being instrumental in recruiting a world-class team while directing branding and product design activities and setting up partnerships with Starbucks, Target, Four Seasons and Diageo Spirits. Prior to United Brands, Mr. Dilaver led several major European food companies into the U.S. market including Nestle Italy and Raspini SpA. He studied Economics at University of California, Berkeley, where he excelled in academics and athletics earning scholarships in both fields, and played water polo on the national team and professionally in Europe. In his spare time, he kitesurfs around the world and helps his talented friends built large scale art installations at Burning Man.
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Natasha Irizarry

Boulder, CO, USA
Co-Founder & CEO, Stash Box

Natasha is the co-founder and CEO of Stashbox, a discovery commerce platform for cannabis. Before moving to the cannabis industry, Natasha worked in the tech space as a UX specialist and product designer at companies like OkCupid, Allstate, and Ally Bank. Now, she brings her expertise with data and design to this space helping brands get into the hands of cannabis consumers nationwide.
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Amy Diiullo

Denver, CO, USA
VP Business Development & Sales, WIllie's Reserve

Amy Diiullo is the Vice President of Business Development and Sales at CMH Brands, the Colorado licensee of Willie’s Reserve. As an entrepreneur and cannabis industry veteran, she is focused on structuring business development strategy, sales distribution and revenue growth, channel marketing programming, and aligning consumer segmentation with new product development in and outside the cannabis space. Sharing a keen interest in cannabis market as a whole, she is constantly developing and open to new market opportunities to stay ahead of the competitive curve of the ever growing industry.
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Michael Steinmetz

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
CEO & Founder, Flow Kanna

Michael Steinmetz is the CEO and founder of Flow Kana, a mission-driven company that prides itself in being the first sustainable, sun-grown cannabis brand to embrace California values and the small farmer ecosystem. Flow Kana partners with, and gives scale to, premier craft farmers in the Emerald Triangle who focus on small-batch, boutique strains. Flow Kana launched in the Bay Area on Feb 2015 with a direct to consumer, on demand, delivery service and has since expanded into a wholesale model, distributing premium sungrown flower all over the Bay Area and Los Angeles; with plans to scale quickly to the rest of the state. In his role as a distributor, Michael takes a very hands-on approach with the farmers and his partners developing the tools and infrastructure needed for them to compete successfully in a regulated, legal marketplace. Michael is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and pursued a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Economics with a minor in Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Since then, he has worked in finance at Merrill Lynch, and as an engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Most recently Michael built and sold a brand management company that manufactured and distributed food products all over Venezuela. His main passion is in marketing and brand development with many years of experience building and growing companies.
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Jeff Zappelli

Sonoma, CA, USA
General Manager, Hall Wines

After eight years managing restaurants including three years at San Francisco-based Morton’s Steakhouse, Jeff Zappelli joined HALL Wines in 2006, helping define one of the most successful Direct to Consumer industry efforts in the Napa Valley. In 2012, with the 2010 vintage, Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall unveiled a long sought-after project –a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay label under WALT which expanded Zappelli’s role to both HALL and WALT brands.
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Alan Gertner

Toronto, ON, Canada
CEO & Founder, Tokyo Smoke

Alan Gertner is the co-founder and CEO of Tokyo Smoke, a modern lifestyle business that is inclusive of Cannabis. A lover of technology, design and everything in-between, Alan most recently led a $+100M organization at Google in Asia. Alan is a proven leader in strategy and operations, including as a founding member of Google's first Global Business Strategy team while based in Mountain View, California. Alan was formerly a Management Consultant at Oliver Wyman in New York and graduated Dean’s list from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Canada’s leading business school, in 2006. As a youngster, Alan spent every moment he could interning at wild and weird startups - from building flashy flash websites to developing and selling the garbage bin billboard. An angel investor and advisor outside of Tokyo Smoke, Alan supports programs that empower the greater startup community, the cannabis movement and future generations of people pursuing their passions, including his own Time On Project (www.timeon.org) , dedicated to self disruption, mindfulness and winning at life. Alan went to computer camp as a kid, he reads too much, loves traveling, and getting lost. Tokyo Smoke was created to bring design, education, and emotion to cannabis. Ultimately, we believe in changing the world through iconic cannabis normalization.
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Luke Stanton

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Managing Partner, Frontera Law Group

Luke K. Stanton is an attorney, advisor and entrepreneur whose work over the past decade has entrenched him in the American cannabis industry. Mr. Stanton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Frontera Law Group, one of the nation’s leading cannabis business specialty law firms. Frontera has quickly developed an array of best-in-class cannabis companies, brands, producers and ancillary service providers all working to define standards for an emerging industry. Mr. Stanton has also expanded the Frontera network to include accounting, business advisory, entertainment and government affairs entities. Through these entities, Frontera has worked on projects in more than a dozen state markets across the country, and continues to push the industry to increased levels of professionalism, performance, and integrity. Mr. Stanton is also a general partner at Skytree Capital Partners, a Nevada-based private equity firm focused on the legal cannabis space, particularly as it relates to the industry’s insurance needs. Mr. Stanton brings his industry expertise to Skytree to focus on identifying businesses and business opportunities that will revolutionize the legal cannabis landscape.
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Samantha Miller

Santa Rosa, CA, USA
President & Chief Scientist, Pure Analytics

Samantha Miller is the founder, president, and chief scientist of Pure Analytics, a renowned cannabis laboratory in Santa Rosa, California. An internationally recognized biochemist, Miller served as chief science officer for Hmbltd products, where her expertise at the intersection of science, business, and therapeutic cannabis helped raised the bar for products innovation in a rapidly evolving industry.

Miller draws on 25 years of cannabis cultivation experience and more than 15 years of analytical chemistry, product development, and business insight to create groundbreaking techniques in cannabis analytics, research, and strain isolation. At Hmbltd, she served as the driving force behind the buzzed-about Hmbldt dose pen, one of TIME magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2016.” Miller is also an educator and public speaker who shares her knowledge of cannabis medicine, science, and innovation with thousands of patients and members of the public.

Prior to founding Pure Analytics in 2010, Miller worked in technology-focused products innovation. At IDEX Health and Science, she supported the design, development, and manufacture of innovative analytics, diagnostic, and biotechnology applications and ultimately took on a leadership role driving operational excellence. Early career experiences, including oversight of federally-regulated laboratories, expertise in trace-level contaminant detection, and published research of reactions that paved the way for the development of potential new cancer and AIDS pharmaceuticals, further support her pioneering role in cannabis analytics, science, and product development.
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Pranav Sood

Oakland, CA, USA
CEO & Founder, Trellis Grows

Pranav Sood is the CEO and founder of Trellis, an inventory track & trace software platform for regulated cannabis growers, manufacturers, distributors and dispensaries. Pranav’s previous experience includes management consulting and retail IT management for a leading global retailer. He graduated from business school and is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in startups and growing B2B companies. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Pranav now resides in Oakland, California. Pranav is an active thought leader in cannabis inventory management and technologies and has published several articles on the subjects. A list of published articles is available at www.trellisgrows.com/news. Pranav has leveraged his technology and compliance expertise to educate the industry and has presented at several trade shows and conferences on how to successfully leverage technology in the cannabis industry. The Trellis platform was designed within a licensed facility and features an intuitive, leading plant inventory management system that captures seed-to-sale compliance requirements. Trellis' complete platform includes suites for cultivation, manufacturing, CRM, retail and mobile apps. To develop the software, we worked alongside enterprise scale cultivators and manufacturers, such as Supreme Pharmaceutical (XCNQ:SL) and Jetty Extracts. Trellis works closely with our customers to ensure we are continuously improving and the platform delivers value beyond compliance, including business intelligence.
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Mark Hadfield

San Francisco, CA, USA
Co- Founder & CEO, HelloMD

Mark has created 3 successful companies from inception, each of which achieved success with customers, investors and exits. Workshare & nScaled were enterprise software companies, while AddLive (founding team) was acquired by SnapChat in late 2014. Always thinking of new ideas, Mark believes we live in a world with unprecedented opportunities for innovation and creation. Mark believes his success lies in his tenacity, and that companies only fail when founders give up. Mark is a father of three young girls, and when he is not working he can be found walking his dogs, or kiteboarding the beautiful San Francisco bay.
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Gaynell Rogers

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Director & Partner, Bond Moroch Agency

Gaynell Rogers is a national influencer working in management, marketing and media relations for the entertainment, arts, cause oriented & non-profit sectors with decades of experience. Her past and current cannabis clients include national thought leaders and leading brands including Steve DeAngelo of Harborside, the ArcView Group, The Farm, Hoban Law Group, and the 420 Games. Gaynell has spoken as a media relations expert at Boston University Graduate School of Journalism, the national MJ Business Daily Conference, Women Grow & the High Times Business Summit. She was formerly Head of Feature Film Publicity at Pixar and a Senior Publicist for LucasFilm as well as a marketing brand manager for several specialty food and service companies. Gaynell has recently joined the Bond Moroch agency as Director & Partner for their Alternative Health & Wellness Division, one of the most awarded independent agencies with offices around the country. She was born in New Orleans and is a passionate cook and loves music, film & travel.
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Alain Bankier

New York, NY, USA
Partner, New York Angels

Alain Bankier is Managing Partner of VSTechVentures, a partnership that provides capital, legal, tech and business advisory to companies in the cannabis industry, including extraction, brands, technology and research. He is also Chief Strategy Officer for Intiva BioPharma, Inc. an R&D; company focused on cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical formulations for medical conditions and disorders.
Alain is the co-founder of the New York Angels, one of the leading early stage investment groups in the US, where he focuses on legal cannabis, technology and food/tech industries. He is also a member of ArcView.  In the cannabis industry, Alain has invested in variety of (public and private) legal cannabis companies, including: cultivation, processing, dispensaries, R&D; and technology, edibles and other ancillary businesses.
 
Until 2014, Alain was a shareholder and Co-President/CEO of The Manischewitz Company. Prior to his career in the food industry, Alain was Head of Corporate Finance/Mergers and Acquisitions North Americas, at BNP Paribas until 2001.
 
Alain has a BS from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. He also has an MBA from NYU Stern and from HEC Paris.
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Hugh Hempel

Reno, NV, USA
CEO, Strainz

  Hugh Hempel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Strainz, Inc. Mr. Hempel is a former Silicon Valley technology industry veteran. During his 30-year career in high technology, Mr. Hempel held numerous senior management positions in many innovative and pioneering technology companies including Apple and Netscape. At Netscape, he was the Director of Online Marketing and was part of the core team that made the Internet a reality for millions of people worldwide. Prior to joining Netscape, Mr. Hempel worked as Manager of Engineering and Science markets for Apple. While at Apple, he helped define the Apple Newton Message Pad, Apple’s first handheld computer that was a revolution in personal computing. Mr. Hempel’s 13-year-old twin daughters suffer from a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease called Niemann Pick Type C (NPC), often referred to as “Childhood Alzheimer’s.” Due to their condition, they experience intractable seizures and use a non-psychoactive form of marijuana (CBD) as part of their treatment regime.  As a result of dealing with his twins’ medical condition, Mr. Hempel decided to enter the cannabis business full time and founded Strainz in November 2013 to legally develop and distribute premium grade cannabis products.
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Carolyn Gerin

San Francisco, CA, USA
Co-Founder & Brand Strategist, Cannawise.co

  Carolyn Gerin Carolyn is the co-founder Cannawise.co, a strategic branding firm with expertise in retail product launches, brand development/strategy, and media, to companies in the B2B and B2C cannabis economy. To decision to re-launch a creative agency focused solely on cannabiz comes from a desire to promote the myriad benefits of cannabis for medicinal and commercial use. The time is now, the laws are changing, and companies are launching. Cannawise.co seeks to meet the needs of the new cannabis economy. Carolyn served as Founder/CEO Subset Inc., S.F., CA: award winning digital design, print, web and product development agency with state, national and global clients. She created 3 bestselling books during her 10 years leading the firm and took a break to pursue app development, startup life, magazine press trips, and conference production. Carolyn has been published or cited in top mainstream media outlets such as CNN, Entrepreneur, Technorati, Inc., Destination I Do Magazine, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Intel IO, Randy Zuckerberg’s Dot Complicated, and this year honored by Randy in her 52 Weeks/52 Women feature. • Author Three bestselling internationally published — Anti-Bride series — the first voice in the alterna-bridal pop cultural space — since 2002, the longest selling bridal title in the history of Chronicle Books —  inspiring countless blogs in its wake. • Sr. Editor for the international romance travel magazine — Destinationido.com • App Developer Recipient of the Open Screen Nokia Award - $66,000 — for the worlds first green fashion app — Green Glam Go • Founder Subset Inc., S.F., CA: award winning digital design, print, web and product development agency with state, national and global clients. • Co-Founder of first to market conference uniting the technology behind the wedding industry — WedTechSummit.com • Product Developer/strategy/copywriting — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn • Agency Creative
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Marty Higgins

San Francisco, CA, USA
Founder & CEO, Harvest

Marty Higgins is a former real estate investor and serial entrepreneur with a passion for making a difference. He created the Harvest dispensary concept to redefine the retail experience for cannabis consumers. In 2015 he disrupted retail cannabis with the opening of the first Harvest branded dispensaries and private on-site consumption lounges. He is a highly-regarded authority on branding, dispensary development and he advise investors and entrepreneurs on best practices in MMJ real estate and retail science.
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Mara Gordon

Bodega Bay, CA, USA
Founder, Aunt Zelda's Inc

Mara Gordon – Founder, Aunt Zelda's, Calla Spring Wellness, and Zelda Therapeutics. Mara specializes in the development of treatment protocols utilizing Bio Pharmaceutical grade cannabis extracts for seriously ill patients in California. She co-founded of Aunt Zelda's, Calla Spring Wellness, and Zelda Therapeutics in order to provide real outcomes for patients with serious diseases. Prior to Aunt Zelda's, Mara worked as a process engineer, helping Fortune 500 companies create intelligent software by utilizing the Rational Unified Process. This experience has enabled her to take a detailed and scientific approach to utilizing cannabis as a Bio Pharmaceutical grade treament Gordon sits on the boards of Zelda Therapeutics, Daya Foundation, CannPal, and Hmbldt. She has presented at multiple CME-accredited medical conferences, including Patients Out of Time 2014, 2016, and 2017, and at conferences in more than 10 countries. These include CannMed held at Harvard Medical School in 2016 and 2017, CannTech 2016 in Israel. Her work is featured in the upcoming documentaries, “Weed the People”, “Mary Janes: Women of Weed”, and in Joe Dolce’s book, “Brave New Weed”.
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Aaron Smith

Washington, DC, USA
Co-Founder & Executive Director, National Cannabis Industry Association

Aaron Smith is co-founder and executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, the largest trade association representing legal cannabis businesses in the U.S and the only one working to advance the industry on a national level. Prior to launching NCIA, Aaron distinguished himself as a public advocate for marijuana policy reform — first under the auspices of a California-based medical cannabis advocacy group, Safe Access Now in 2005, and then as the California state policy director for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project until founding NCIA in 2010. Aaron has successfully built coalitions with elected officials on both sides of the aisle in order to advance marijuana law reform legislation. Aaron’s opinion pieces have appeared in major newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, and he has been a frequent commentator on national television news networks. Originally from California, Aaron is currently based in Denver.
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Chelsey McKrill

SF Bay Area, CA, USA
Business Development, Kikoko

Chelsey McKrill is a succesful entrepreneur, activist, and innovator in the Cannabis industry. Chelsey started her career in the Film & Television industry in 2010 on the directorial team of the award winning TV show Breaking Bad. This lead to Chelsey pursuing her passion for documentary filmmaking in Colorado where she produced 100 Years at Howelsen Hill, which won ‘Best Documentary Short’ at the Spirit Film Festival in 2014. As a long-time cannabis advocate and activist, Chelsey became fascinated by the new research and the rapidly evolving cannabis Industry in Denver, Colorado. In 2013, she was headhunted by O.penVAPE (now Organa Labs), which is one of the largest cannabis brands licensed in over 10 states and has a multi-national brand presence. After immersing and interacting with this new technology Chelsey created and spearheaded O.penVAPE’s first sales team and created innovative field marketing strategies for this expeditiously growing vertical within the industry. Chelsey strategized extensively for O.penVAPE to be granted one of the first Colorado state recreational licenses which allowed the company to successfully participate and dominate in the first legal cannabis market in the USA. In 2014, Chelsey relocated to California to develop O.penVAPE’s California partnership with Berkeley Patient’s Group which is the oldest and one of the most successful cannabis dispensaries in the USA. Chelsey is a successful entrepreneur and co-founded Sync (previously Synchronicity) which is an event and content platform that supports personal connection, education, and artistic endeavors through cannabis for women. Chelsey is Business Development Sorceress at Kikoko, a cannabis-infused luxury herbal tea company based in the Bay Area, California. She manages expansion strategy, sales, operations, experiential marketing, and new product development. Chelsey has a deep passion for building community, empowering women, and fighting for freedom and education.
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Mowgli Holmes

Portland, OR, USA
CEO, Phylos Bioscience

Mowgli Holmes is a molecular and evolutionary biologist. He has a PhD from Columbia University, where he was a National Research Service Award Fellow. He is a founding board member of the Cannabis Safety Institute and the Open Cannabis Project, and is Chair of the Oregon State Cannabis Research Task Force.
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Matt Stang

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Owner & Operator, High Times

Matt Stang is an owner and operator of High Times and a 15 year veteran of the cannabis industry, bringing the first large scale cannabis events to the United States and helping launch many of the brands that populate the cannabis space..
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Matthew Greene

New York, NY, USA
CEO & Founder, Edible Science, LLC

Matt Greene has spent his entire career in the marketing, advertising and AdTech industry. His fascination with technology began in 1987 while working with his client Steve Jobs in developing the launch strategies for NeXT Computers. Starting in 1998, Matt pioneered online advertising and supporting technologies for the digital ad agency he founded, Blue Ribbon Digital, where his team drove innovation across all aspects of digital media - from Search to Mobile and Video, his agency measurably generated over $2BB in revenues for their Fortune 100 clients. In this capacity, Matt has spoken at leading conferences such as AdTech, iMedia Summits and the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. Starting in 2015, Matt re-focused his energies on the burgeoning cannabis industry knowing that the need for innovation in technologies to support the industry would be mandatory. With his his new company, Edible Sciences, he and his team on concentrating their energies in solving the #1 problem facing the edibles sector: Dosing Accuracy. He will be speaking at Binghampton University's TIER Talks in SEPT '17 on technology innovations occurring in the cannabis ancillary space.
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Brett Finkelstein

Boca Raton, FL
Managing Director, Phyto Partners LP

Brett is an experienced executive, venture capital and private equity investor and advisor. He has partnered with, worked with and developed key relationships with numerous premier private equity, investment banks, and venture capital companies. As one of the founders of Phyto Partners LP, Brett’s fundamental ambition for the company’s stakeholders is to creatively apply his unique resources of extensive operating skills, certainty to close, access to capital, extensive network of resources and relentless pursuit of excellence to facilitate a more super-charged evolution for enterprises we fund, launch, and maintain activist roles in. For the powerhouse companies we invest in, advise, and or buy we will be providing more investment value and a comfort level for our financial capital partners, as well as our portfolio companies that join us. Phyto Partners LP was profiled in Forbes as one of the leaders in the cannabis industry. Phyto has invested in half of what CB insights profiled as the trailblazers of 2017. 
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Roger McNamee
Founder, Elevation Partners

Roger McNamee is a co-founder of Elevation Partners and Moonalice.  He began his investment career in 1982 at T. Rowe Price, where he managed the top-ranked Science & Technology Fund.  In 1991, he launched Integral Capital Partners, the first crossover fund (combining later stage venture capital with public market investments), in partnership with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.  In 1999, Roger co-founded Silver Lake Partners, the first private equity fund focused on technology businesses.  In 2004, Roger and his partners launched Elevation Partners, an investment partnership focused on the intersection of media and entertainment content and consumer technology.

Roger is the author of The New Normal, published in 2004 by the Portfolio imprint of Penguin Books. 

Roger serves on board of directors of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & The Rex Foundation..  He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business atDartmouth College.  He plays guitar and bass in the band Moonalice.
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Jim Patterson

SF Bay Area, California, USA
CEO, Eaze


Jim Patterson is the Chief Executive Officer of Eaze. He assumed the role on December 13, 2016. As CEO, Patterson is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the company and more broadly, a voice for patients benefitting from medical marijuana. Patterson oversees all aspects of strategy, product development, operations, marketing, investor relations and company culture.
 
In his previous role as Chief Product and Technology Officer, Patterson lead Eaze’s product strategy & roadmap, product management, design/user experience and product marketing and was responsible for the optimization of the technology and data teams.
 
Prior to Eaze, Patterson was the CEO and founder of Zinc (formally Cotap) in 2013 and now serves on the Board of Directors. Before that, Patterson was a founding member and head of product at Yammer where he established the product and brand that sold to Microsoft for $1.2 billion.
 
Patterson is an expert in technology leadership, entrepreneurship and business automation for internet technologies and the cannabis industry alike. He has a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University. He currently lives in San Francisco.
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Jeremy Green


COO, hmbldt

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Olivia Mannix
 
CEO & Founder, CannaBrand

 
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Yoffy 
CFO & Director, Jungle Control

Yoffy is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Jungle Control, which brings new green, chemical grow technology to the Cannabis industry. As CEO, Yoffy has worked to commercialize multiple products in a variety of applications across various industry markets, with a focus on the growing Cannabis market. Additionally Yoffy is an award-winning marketing professional with over 15 years of experience developing integrated marketing strategies for some of the world’s top brands.
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Dustin Eide

CEO, CanPay


Dustin Eide is the CEO of CanPay, the first legitimate debit payment platform for the cannabis industry.
 
Dustin first learned the art of a well-crafted message while working in marketing for a Fortune 300 company. He eventually determined that the corporate life was not for him and he set out to make his mark on another industry. Always one for a challenge, Dustin chose the hyper-competitive payments industry where he spent more than 7 years learning its intricacies while serving 1000’s of retail and ecommerce businesses, banks, and technology partners with creative payment solutions.
 
Following Adult-Use marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington in 2014, Dustin saw the opportunity to use his unique problem-solving skills and knowledge to build a legitimate and stable payment solution for an industry that lacked access to traditional financial services. Dustin and his team launched CanPay in November of 2016 and rapidly grew the platform into the largest legitimate payment network for the regulated cannabis industry, currently serving more than 35 dispensaries in 5 states.
 
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Ron Gershoni
Co-Founder, Jetty Extracts
 

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Jessica VerSteeg

Founder,  AuBox & ParagonCoin

Jessica VerSteeg has enjoyed a successful career as a fashion and print model for nearly a decade. During her time as a model she also became Miss Iowa US 2014 ,and placed in the top 10 at the Miss US pageant. After losing someone close to her due to an accidental over dose of painkillers she decided to dedicate herself to changing the perception of alternative pain killers like cannabis. She then founded AuBox, an upscale medical marijuana delivery service. Through the AuBox initiative she learned the laws and regulations from state to state, and county to county, are a complex web, causing the cannabis industry to be fragmented. To solve this issue, Jessica joined with a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and technologist to help bring back the trust and respect the cannabis industry deserves, with the creation of PARAGON.
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Alicia Rose

Founder, HerbaBuena (Quiver)

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Andre Bourque

Cannabis Writer, Entrepreneur.com

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Ken Ramirez

Co-Founder & CEO, Alt Thirty Six


Cofounder and CEO of Alt Thirty Six, Ken Ramirez, has leveraged his knowledge of innovation and transformative enterprise growth to become a visionary leader in the future of digital payments.  Ken in the final stages of completing his Doctorate in Business Administration with his research focused on payment acceptance strategies and identifying relative organizational and market inefficiencies. His goal is to be well positioned upon publication to incorporate his research findings into a product strategy that will have far-reaching implications for the future of the payments industry as a whole. 

Alt Thirty Six was founded in 2015 with the aim of displacing traditional payments.  Cash-intensive, cannabis merchants struggle to gain access to traditional financial and banking services and just accept the high fees for accepting and operating in physical cash.  Alt Thirty Six’s fully-integrated, Dash payments solution solves all the problems associated with Bitcoin, traditional payments, and centralized banking solutions and is currently the ONLY dash payment processor in the world, serving industry-leading cannabis merchants.
 
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Maxim Karp

CTO, NatureTrak

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Jared Berry
Founder, Isodiol

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Anna del Gaizo
Senior Associate Editor, Playboy


Born and raised in New York City, Anna del Gaizo began her career as a fashion stylist for brands and publications including Chloé, Lancôme, Self-Service and Nylon, consultant for Elle, and contributing writer for Broadly, Jezebel and The New York Observer. She now resides in Los Angeles, where as Senior Associate Editor at Playboy Enterprises (she oversees women-related content for print and digital) and an Associate Editor at PRØHBTD Media, she offers her unique perspective on culture, sex, entertainment, trends and cannabis.
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Jason Silva
Host of Brain Games on Nat Geo

Jason Silva is an Emmy-nominated and world renown TV personality, storyteller, filmmaker, and sought-after keynote speaker and futurist. 
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Jason is known for hosting 5 seasons of the Emmy-nominated, global hit TV series Brain Games, on the National Geographic Channel, broadcasted in over 171 countries.

A global keynote speaker, Jason has given talks at events for Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Oracle, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Cannes Lions, Tribeca Film Festival, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, 20th Century Fox, Cosmopolitan, PHD Worldwide, Google Zeitgeist, TED Global, The Economist, and more. 

 “A Timothy Leary of the Viral Video Age” was how The Atlantic described Silva, “part Timothy Leary, part Ray Kurzweil, and part Neo from ‘The Matrix.’
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Geroge Clinton
Parliament Funkadelic

The mastermind of the Parliament/Funkadelic collective during the 1970s, George Clinton broke up both bands by 1981 and began recording solo albums, occasionally performing live with his former bandmates as the P.Funk All-Stars. Born in Kannapolis, NC, on July 22, 1940, Clinton became interested in doo wop while living in New Jersey during the early '50s. He formed the Parliaments in 1955, based out of a barbershop back room where he straightened hair. The group had a small R&B; hit during 1967, but Clinton began to mastermind the Parliaments' activities two years later. Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, the group revolutionized R&B; during the '70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-'60s acid heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. The Parliament/Funkadelic machine ruled black music during the '70s, capturing over 40 R&B; hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums, Computer Games.

 By 1980, George Clinton began to be weighed down by legal difficulties arising from Polygram's acquisition of Parliament's label, Casablanca. Jettisoning both the Parliament and Funkadelic names (but not the musicians), Clinton signed to Capitol in 1982 both as a solo act and as the P.Funk All-Stars. His first solo album, 1982's Computer Games, contained the Top 20 R&B; hit "Loopzilla." Several months later, the title track from Clinton's Atomic Dog EP hit number one on the R&B; charts; it stayed at the top spot for four weeks, but only managed number 101 on the pop charts. Clinton stayed on Capitol for three more years, releasing three studio albums and frequently charting singles -- "Nubian Nut," "Last Dance," "Do Fries Go With That Shake" -- in the R&B; Top 40. During much of the three-year period from 1986 to 1989, Clinton became embroiled in legal difficulties (resulting from the myriad royalty problems latent during the '70s with recordings of over 40 musicians for four labels under three names). Also problematic during the latter half of the '80s was Clinton's disintegrating reputation as a true forefather of rock; by the end of the decade, however, a generation of rappers reared on P-Funk were beginning to name check him.

In 1989, Clinton signed a contract with Prince's Paisley Park label and released his fifth solo studio album, The Cinderella Theory. After one more LP for Paisley Park (Hey Man, Smell My Finger), Clinton signed with Sony 550. His first release, 1996's T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. ("the awesome power of a fully operational mothership"), reunited the funk pioneer with several of his Parliament/Funkadelic comrades from the '70s. Clinton's Greatest Funkin' Hits (1996) teamed old P-Funk hits with new-school rappers such as Digital Underground, Ice Cube, and Q-Tip.
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Dave Morin
CEO/Co-Founder, Path

Dave is an entrepreneur, investor, and photographer.

He is Co-Founder of Sunrise whose mission is to cure depression. Focused on bringing together genomics, therapeutics, spirituality, therapy, technology, and design to revolutionize how humans relate to depression. 

He is also Founder & Partner at Slow Ventures. A leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm that champions long term thinking and innovation. Slow serves a community of over 200 of the most innovative entrepreneurs and companies in the world. Including Slack, Pinterest, Evernote, NextDoor, Postmates, Blue Bottle, Allbirds, and more.

He was the Co-Founder and CEO of Path which was acquired by Kakao in 2015. He cofounded Path with the mission of being a source of happiness, meaning, and connection through simplicity, quality, and privacy in technology and design. Path continues to serves tens of millions of people every day.

Dave has had a lifelong passion for technology, entrepreneurship, culture, design, photography, nature, skiing, and improving society. He served both Apple and Facebook for several years during periods of rapid innovation and growth. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors of Eventbrite, Dwell, and Hinge. And, on the Boards of three Non-Profit Organizations, the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and Montana ExplorationWorks. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

He grew up under the big sky of Montana where he was ranked as one of the top downhill ski racers in America. Today, he lives and works in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Brit, sons Ansel & Austin, and dog Pixel.
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Cory Waggoner
Founder & CEO, Higher Yields Consulting
 

Cory is the Founder of Higher Yields Consulting, an A-Z cannabis consulting firm blends Cory’s vision, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. Cory’s multifaceted industry know-how equips start-ups for success; increasing operational efficiency through the application of Higher Yields proven model.
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John Kemp
Data Security Specialist, Ecannex

John has founded several IT consulting companies; his hands-on experience has provided a solid foundation in product development and software design. John’s systematic approach to analysis, design, and development has produced systems that will scale and can be easily maintained.
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Steven Yacht, MBA CPA
Director of Business Intelligence, Higher Yields Consulting

Steve is an expert in real-time analytics; he has designed and deployed retail and cultivation dashboards for Colorado’s best-known brands. Steve’s analysis and comprehensive dashboards have greatly augmented the success and profitability for his cannabis clients.
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Michael Sautman
Director of California Operations, Higher Yields Consulting

Michael is a leading expert in the cultivation of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis and the production of standardized cannabis products on the industrial scale. Michael has worked extensively internationally, helping federal government officials in Canada, Australia, and Uruguay, implement policies and procedures for federal programs.
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Marcus Turner
Chief Strategy Officer, Higher Yields Consulting

Marcus specializes in providing cannabis clients with highly-customized, results-oriented analytics. He uses the application of these analytics to help guide business decisions, relationship management and team development within organizations. Marcus is currently overseeing product development and brand strategy for Higher Yields Consulting new analytics platform, InDispens.io.
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Jimi Devine
Cannabis Industry Writer, Cannabis Now Magazine & Green State

Jimi Devine has been involved in cannabis reform since 2005 and has worked in the Berkeley cannabis industry since 2009 when he moved to California from Lynn, Massachusetts. He is currently serving as Staff Writer at Cannabis Now Magazine and contributing to the San Francisco Chronicle's new cannabis site GreenState.com. You can also find his writings on cannabis products and policy in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, The Hill, The Chronicle of High Education, Marijuana.com, 7x7 Magazine, The East Bay Express and in Ed Rosenthal's recent book This Bud's for You. Jimi has a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from Franklin Pierce University.
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Brandon David
Host & Founder, Infused Show, Investing In Cannabis

Brandon David is the host of the web show infused, a lifestyle documentary series focusing on how cannabis integrates into our everyday lives. He also hosts Investing in Cannabis, a weekly podcast featuring an insider's view of the cannabis startup world. Brandon is an expert on all things delivery. As an early member of the Onfleet team, he is at the forefront of the local cannabis logistics space. Brandon is a mentor at the Gateway Incubator and frequently advises startups on everything from fund raising to sales strategy. In a previous life, he helped produce the LAUNCH festival, the This Week in Startups podcast, and evaluated investment opportunities for technology angel investor Jason Calacanis. Brandon prides himself on being the most casual person in the room and hates long bios.
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David Berg

President & Chief Technology Officier, Strainprint Technologies Ltd.

As President and Chief Technology Officer at Strainprint David is responsible for the on-going development of the Strainprint application and emerging analytic products. David works directly with the company's developers, customers, partners, physicians and clinicians to deliver on the vision of a crowd sourced medical cannabis tracking ecosystem. David has a broad technical and business background with over 20 years of experience managing product and engineering teams for major multi-national technology companies. David has spent the last 4 years working in the medical cannabis industry and has experience working in commercial cultivation and distribution in Holland, Jamaica and Canada. David has a degree in finance and marketing from York University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Windsor.
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Eric Schlissel

CEO & President, GeekTek

Eric’s strong leadership and technical expertise propels GeekTek past the boundaries of a traditional IT service provider. GeekTek has a security-first approach to computing, focusing on elevating clients’ use of technology while navigating the ever-changing landscape. Eric cares deeply about the culture at GeekTek and leads by example based on longstanding guiding principles: Being Flexible, Listening and Asking, Building True Partnerships and Doing the Right Thing.
 
Eric attributes his success to an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. The day he realized his passion was for investigating how computers affect people in life and in business as opposed to developing expertise programming secure vending machines, he put down his copy of Applied Cryptography and switched his major from computer science to anthropology. The following week he began his first technology consulting practice, and brought it to Los Angeles after he graduated. Throughout Eric’s career, he has sought to bridge the gap between people, technology and security, the foundation on which GeekTek’s unique approach to client services is built.
 
Widely recognized as a thought leader in the IT industry, Eric has been featured on the cover of ChannelPro and as a subject matter expert in Strafford’s mobility webinar series. Eric has been a finalist for the Los Angeles Business Journal CIO Awards and has been quoted in The LA Times, Wired, CIO Magazine, ChannelPro, InformationWeek, InfoWorld, PC World and other news outlets. GeekTek has been consistently ranked among the top providers globally by MSPMentor, CRN and Channelnomics.
Outside of work, Eric can be found gardening with his two small children, trying to perfect the feat of growing a thriving basil plant and ripened tomatoes at the the same time. He is currently developing in the fine art of bourbon tasting, enjoys travel and is a foodie-wannabe. 
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Rick Barry

NBA Hall of Fame, Top 50 NBA Players of All Time, Retired

Rick Barry is a Basketball Hall of Fame member and one of the Top 50 NBA players of all-time.  For over 30 years, he proved to be an accomplished sports broadcaster, having covered a wide range of sports on both radio and television.  He is also the two-time World Champion in the Grand Champions Division, a one-time World Champion in the Legends Division and a one-time World Champion in the Masters Division of the ReMax World Long Driving Championships. Rick is now involved in a myriad of businesses.
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Nial C. DeMena

President & CEO, Manna Molecular Science, LLC

Nial is an entrepreneur with experience in the cannabis space from an operator and an ancillary business point-of-view. His extensive knowledge of the business requirements, compliance standards, and his progressive vision of cannabis therapeutics, as well as his progressive industry reputation, allowed him access to the best minds outside of cannabis business. In one year, he has built two ancillary companies around a team of unrivaled expertise in the area of cannabinoid medicines and delivery platforms as well as robotic automation. He is an autodidact that brings alacrity and intelligence into his projects and into the evolving, cross-disciplinary space of cannabis sciences. He received his BA from Colby College and his MA from Virginia Tech.
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Zack Brown

President of Operations, Pot Valet

Having spent over 10 years in Sales and Marketing, Zack Brown is a well-respected expert in the field. Zack earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Arizona, where he first began creating E-commerce websites. He has experience running a 5-7 person Sales Team for over 5 years with investing newsletter, Trading Tips. Zack also has over 3 years’ experience running and operating PotValet.
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Luz de la Riva 

Founder, LDLR Haute Couture Cannabis, Every Day Sexy

Adult Industry veteran and Intimate Cosmetics pioneer, Luz de la Riva embraces the benefits of two industries, Adult and Cannabis. Her luxury line of THC-CBD Intimate Cosmetics and Accessories, LDLR Everyday Sexy, opens the dialogue about sexual wellness and cannabis as the keys to a deserving experience of love and pleasure. Luz began her 25+ year career in the Adult industry due to the lack of healthy sexual products for women. In 2013, Luz’s former eponymous line of intimate cosmetics and accessories was the first US Adult brand to cross into General Market and place sensual edible products into Nordstrom's Canada—certainly not in the confections department.

Today, some of her clients include Walgreens, Nordstrom's US and Canada, Entrenue, Coco de Mer (UK), Lovely Planet (FR), Buccone (China), and Calvista (AUS). In 2015, with confidence and knowledge of the synergy between Adult and Cannabis, Luz teamed up with her youngest daughter, Luna, to create an Oakland native company that legitimizes our human sexual needs. It is Luz and Luna’s purpose and passion to create healthy, loving, and conscious relationships. As two adult industries come together, so do the responsibility and privilege of creating wealth and health for generations to come.

Luz’s past social service work includes: Sangre Latina, a non-profit theater group for Richmond youth gang members (two members received full scholarships to Stanford University), a $20 million initiative for the California Wellness Foundation titled, “Children and the Environment”, co-written with UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health Director, Michael Schwab, and the “1995 Peacemaker of the Year” Award by the Contra Costa County Panel of Conflict Resolution. *Intimate Cosmetics: Term coined by Luz de la Riva for beauty products designed to stimulate sexual desire and reveal the virtues of foreplay.
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John Downs

Director Of Business Development, The Arcview Group

John first became an Arcview member in January 2015 as Managing Director of the Marijuana International Company (MJIC) where he helped to develop the company business plan and investment materials, raised capital for MJIC’s operations and investments, and allocated investment into Willie’s Reserve, Harvest Shop, and the seed investment into Gateway Cannabis Accelerator, among others.

In May 2016 he co-founded a bay-area contract manufacturer of cannabis infused products, helping to develop and launch several infused product brands to market. He was voted a “Top 3” mentor of the first cohort of Gateway, sits on the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) Legislative and Manufacturing sub-committees, and was a founding board member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA). Prior to focusing on the cannabis industry, John launched an asset backed film fund, and was a Senior Vice President for boutique broker-dealer Euro Pacific Capital, where he advised on over $130m in primarily alternative and non-dollar denominated assets and securities.

Before Euro Pacific, he founded and operated a multi-state wholesale mortgage lender. John graduated from UC Davis with degrees in History and Political Science, where he was a student-athlete. He lives in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, where he enjoys hiking, golfing, sailing, and yoga.
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Joshua Laterman

CEO, First American Holdings and the National Association of Cannabis Businesses (NACB)


Joshua Laterman is the CEO and Founder of First American Holdings and the National Association of Cannabis Businesses.  The NACB is the first and only self-regulatory organization (SRO) for U.S. cannabis, with an aim to safeguard the survival and enhance the value of the most well-run and compliant cannabis businesses.  A former general counsel for several global financial institutions, including Natixis, Texas Pacific Group, and Arnhold & S. Bleichroder. Joshua has extensive experience managing regulatory compliance and asset and data management infrastructure. Joshua began the development of FAH and NACB over three years ago, following a nearly 20-year career in financial services.
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Alison Ettel

Founder, TreatWell Cannabis

Alison has a varied professional background from Wall St to thinktanks plus a few masters degrees. Her true calling, however, came after trying cannabis while recovering from a coma. After studying and researching the plant, she became passionate about providing high quality cannabis medicine for others and to raise the bar for the industry overall. TreatWell specializes in producing the highest quality cannabis medicine for both people and animals. Their flagship products are their tinctures, with CBD rich, acid (THCA and CBDA), and pet lines. TreatWell strives to be ahead of the curve, integrating the latest research and thinking on the benefits of the cannabis plant to offer innovative, effective and safe medicinal products for humans and animals.
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Christy Thiel

Director of Business Development, Elixinol

Christy Thiel is a Master Nutrition Therapist (MNT) from Fort Collins, Colorado who specializes in Cannabis Business Development and education. Christy’s career path includes presenting internationally about the benefits of rebounding, over a decade of personal training and specializing in ancestral nutrition and disease prevention as a MNT.

Christy started working at Elixinol in 2016 and is Director of Business Development. Her favorite subject is anything CBD, endocannabinoid system and helping others share this knowledge. Professionally she feels this research is also a missing link for most health and medical professionals if they are not utilizing it in their practices.

Christy is an approachable, kind and dedicated learner and teacher. As Elixinol and the cannabis industry grows so will her knowledge and dedication to sharing CBD’s many benefits.
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Matthew Glyer

Founder, Hemp Press

A longtime hemp enthusiast, Matthew began teaching hemp fiber workshops in 2012 as a way to share his knowledge and catalyze discussion around the virtues, benefits, and vast uses of the whole plant. Living in Oregon, surrounded by both the majestic old growth trees as well as the logging industry, Matthew recognized the need for an alternative and sustainable paper fiber source, especially in serving the rising demand of the fastest growing industry in the country: cannabis. His grassroots approach to a hemp-based business is to energize a consumer base toward using hemp fiber goods. This, in turn, applies pressure to businesses to provide those goods, which creates incentive to farmers to grow industrial hemp and (soon) factories to process that hemp. Matthew’s goal is to restore regenerative industrial hemp production to the United States by focusing on product and packaging innovation, and private label smoking accessories, all handmade in Oregon, made of and packaged in hemp.
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Darren Roberts

CEO, CANN Media Group

Darren has over 25 years experience in the publishing, events, and integrated media space. He is a seasoned executive manager with experience in growth industries, strategic positioning, marketing, and M&A.; Darren is the Chief Executive Officer of CANN Media Group, a national business-tobusiness media organization for the cannabis and hemp industry. Prior to founding CANN Media, Mr. Roberts was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the AVN Media Network “AVN” where he oversaw all global operations. AVN operated in 8 countries annually publishing over 50 printed publications and operating 9 tradeshows and conferences in addition to the AVN Awards Show. Darren was also the Chief Executive of Extreme Action Sports of America, an expo catering to the sports enthusiast. Darren is the author of “The Unsexpected Story” and executive producer of several programs in the cable and IPTV space. He is a supporter of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) as well as the American Business Media Association.

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Zach Silverman

Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer, LeafLink


Prior to co-founding LeafLink, Zach served in a diverse range of b2b-focused technical roles, including co-founder and CTO of ReachLogic Media (acquired by A6 Corp. ‘14) and product manager for Ebay Enterprise. Zach brings expertise building tools for growing businesses, including platforms for sales reporting, CRM, marketing, and data management to LeafLink as Chief Technical Officer. LeafLink, the largest marketplace for wholesale cannabis, has raised $4 Million to date. Since its launch in March 2016, more than 1,500 retailers and over 325 brands such as Kiva, Incredibles, Dixie Elixirs, Keef Cola, Wana, and Apothecanna have joined LeafLink and are doing over $150M in orders per year on the platform.
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Kitty Morgan

Assistant Managing Editor, San Francisco Chronicle

Kitty Morgan is assistant managing editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, overseeing the food, wine, home, style, travel and cannabis content on all platforms. As a media executive, Kitty has worked at some of the largest magazines in the country, including Better Homes and Gardens (where she was executive editor, and editorial director for print and digital content), Sunset (editor in chief), Oprah Magazine’s O at Home (executive editor) and Every Day with Rachael Ray (founding editor). She’s been a restaurant critic and travel editor (at the Orange County Register).
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Chad Conner

VP Pure Ratios and MSOM (Master in Science in Oriental Medicine) and LAc (Licensed Acupuncturist)

Chad Conner is Co-Founder and Vice President of Pure Ratios. He has over 16 years of experience developing and overseeing successful, integrative medicine centers in both the US and abroad. Conner is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. As a therapeutic practitioner, Conner has extensive knowledge of how the body works and how to create balance. Combined with his comprehensive study of the combination of Chinese superior herbs, Conner and his team have created products that are free of artificial additives and enhanced by herbal components that have been proven in Natural medicine to both protect the body and provide therapeutic direction to the formulation.
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Reggie Williams

Celebrity Spokesperson, Pure Ratios


After playing 14 years in the NFL, Reggie Williams is no stranger to pain. For the past 30 years, Reggie has endured 24 surgeries, a bone infection called Osteomyelitis, and skin grafts that left his right leg 2 5/8 inches shorter than the other. Williams deals with pain every day as he fights to keep his leg from being amputated. Understanding the serious risk of long-term use of opiates including addiction and irreparable damage to the body, Williams decided to pursue a holistic route through use of Cannabidiol (CBD). His use of CBDs led him to Pure Ratios’ revolutionary and patented patch in which he is now a spokesperson. He is an advocate for professional football players to use medical cannabis as a safe alternative for pain, CTE symptoms, and other degenerative conditions caused by playing the sport. In 1976, Williams was drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals, for whom he played 14 seasons (including two Super Bowls, XVI (1981) and XXIII (1988)). Williams recorded 16 interceptions, 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record) and amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. Williams has received numerous awards and recently was voted as the 12th Player in the Top 50 Bengals of All Time.
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Ean Seeb
Co-Owner, Founding Partner & Manager, Denver Relief Consulting LLC

Ean Seeb is a 3rd generation Denver native, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is athe co-founder of Denver Relief Consulting and Denver Relief; a nationally recognized boutique cannabis consulting firm and one of Colorado’s former most successful cannabis operations, respectively. In July of 2016, Denver Relief successfully sold their dispensary store to Terrapin Care Station and their cultivation and processing facilities to Willie Nelson’s cannabis brand, Willie’s Reserve. Denver Relief Consulting has consistently won operator’s licenses with and for their clients in over a dozen states.
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Matt Bartlett
Co-Founder & VP of Operations, Garden Society

Recovering Banker & Financier; worked in global and regional banking in beverage industry M&A; and capital markets agriculture finance. Experienced in brand and operations management in early-stage CPG as well as managing global logistics and supply chain for Kirkland (Costco) Wine & Spirits and multiple Napa, Sonoma and California premium & luxury wine brands. Delighted to be on this journey with two amazing business partners and countless supporters. A proud third-generation Californian from the Central Coast now living in Sonoma County where he's active in local education and the arts.
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Karli Warner

Marketing &Communication;, Garden Society

Karli began her career in the wine industry at a boutique PR agency in Napa, learning the ropes of pitching and building media relationships while also expanding her wine education. Building her repertoire in food and wine, both professionally and personally, she quickly began exploring other aspects brand and event marketing in those fields. As her career progressed she moved to Constellation Brands, the world’s leading wine company, where she learned firsthand the importance of partnerships and cross-brand collaboration to become a top-tier marketer. Through thoughtful storytelling, pitching and partnerships, Karli landed media coverage for brands on the Today Show, and in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator and Food & Wine magazine.
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Brian Zisk

Future of Money & Technology Summit & SF MusicTech Summit, Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Brian Zisk is a serial entrepreneur specializing in digital media, web broadcasting and distribution technologies. He is a founder of BuzzMakers, Inc., which produces the Future of Money & Technology Summit http://www.futureofmoney.com and the SF MusicTech Summit. http://www.sfmusictech.com He is a co-founder of the SF MusicTech Fund. Additionally, Brian is a Co-Founder and Technologies Director of the Future of Music Coalition and a Board Member and/or Strategic Advisor for a wide variety of tech companies and non-profits. Brian was previously a founder of The Green Witch Internet Radio which was sold to CMGI (NASDAQ: CMGI) at the turn of the millennium. He is active in many influential computer-mediated forums, is quoted and published extensively in the media, frequently appears on panels and at industry events domestically and abroad, and is an expert at frenzy whipping, brand awareness, and in creating new business models. He is married to Shoshana Zisk who arranged for George Clinton to appear at this event. Follow Brian on Twitter: @zisk
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Jon Phillips

Founder & Manager, Silverback Management, Slightly Stoopid


Jon Phillips is the founder and CEO of Silverback Music artist management company and Controlled Substance Sound Labs record label, along with the company's partner label and primary client Slightly Stoopid and Stoopid Records.

Phillips first became recognized in the music world for signing the original band Sublime in 1994 to Gasoline Alley/ MCA records while a young A&R; talent scout. Silverback was started by Jon and his brother Matt Phillips in 1998 and has become the brand most notable for the wave of California Roots and Cannabis inspired lifestyle music which over the past 2 decades includes bands such as Slightly Stoopid ,Sublime/ Long Beach Dub Allstars, Fishbone, Pepper , The Expendables, The Aggrolites, and others. Recently Phillips was named #18 on Variety Magazines "top impact players in "Hollyweed" !
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Guillermo Bravo

CEO, Foottraffik


Guillermo Bravo is CEO of the largest dispensary marketing agency in the country called Foottraffik, which helps dispensaries attract, engage, and nurture customers long-term loyalty.
Guillermo Bravo has 11 years of experience applying my expertise to marketing teams in both the startup and agency environments. Guillermo Bravo's passion is spearheading initiatives to drive sales, expand lead generation and develop intuitive strategies. Guillermo Bravo combines big-picture thinking, innovation, collaboration, and creativity to drive marketing campaigns. 
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Alex Halperin

CEO, WeedWeek


Alex Halperin has been covering the cannabis industry for three years for publications including Fast Company, L.A. Weekly, Slate and Rolling Stone. He writes the newsletter WeedWeek (WeedWeek.net)
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Karen Bernstein

Principal, Bernstein IP

Karen J. Bernstein is the Principal of Bernstein IP, an intellectual property firm, celebrating 10 years in practice. Karen represents a diverse group of Cannabis clients, and counsels them on creative ways to protect and enforce their intellectual property. Karen’s experience includes defending Canada’s largest generic pharmaceutical company in numerous Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) cases in federal court. She is admitted to practice law Colorado, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is the Vice Chair of the Product and Labeling Committee for the National Cannabis Business Industry Association. Her firm is also a Sustaining Member of the National Cannabis Bar Association. She speaks and writes often about intellectual property issues that affect the legal Cannabis industry and taught an online educational course produced by Green Flower Media entitled, “Protecting Your Intellectual Property in Your Cannabis Business: Identifying and Building IP to Enhance the Value of Your Cannabis Business to Attract Investors.”
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Paul Campbell

VP Digital & Innovation, Privateer Holdings


Paul is an innovative technology leader with extensive experience across enterprise businesses and startups alike. As VP, Digital & Innovation at Privateer Holdings, Paul leads all digital e orts across the Privateer port- folio of brands. Prior this role, Paul served as President and VP of Marketing for Leaf- ly, the world’s largest cannabis website. In these roles, Paul was responsible for driving Lea y from 2 million to 10 million monthly visits, quadrupling revenue over 3 years, and growing a small team into the Inc. 500’s fastest growing company in Seattle. Prior to joining Lea y, Paul helped to trans- form Microsoft into a leader in the social media space. As the global lead for Social Media Campaigns across the company, Paul led innovative social campaigns for the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft Surface, digital integrations with the NFL, ESPN, and Sundance Film Festival and was responsible for social television campaign integration, including the “Empowering” campaign for the 2014 Super Bowl.
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Darren Roberts

CEO & Founder, High There!

As co-founder of High There! Darren Roberts brings over 25 years of investment and management expertise to the company. Darren leads the High There! team in both vision, strategy, growth, and execution while driving company culture. In his tenure as CEO of the company, Roberts has grown the High There! community to a worldwide community of Cannabis enthusiasts, and has been featured in hundreds of national media outlets including: CNN. Forbes, Merry Jane, Marketwatch and Fortune. Prior to High There! Mr. Roberts worked in the financial lending sector as a managing partner, angel investor and had led rounds in multiple real estate and business ventures.
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Zach Eisenberg

Vice President, Anresco Laboratories

Zach Eisenberg is Vice President and grandson to the founder of Anresco Laboratories.  Since its inception in 1943, Anresco has primarily served food, pharmaceutical, and related industries.  Starting in early 2015, it developed methods for and started accepting samples of cannabis and cannabis-infused products.  Zach has overseen the development of this business over the past two and a half years.  Though only a lowly MBA, Zach grew up around the laboratory and "interned" in its various sections starting at the age of twelve.  He also has extensive experience performing samplings of high-risk imported foods detained as part of the FDA's DWPE program.
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Paul Bohannon

Founder, Honu

Paul is a serial entrepreneur. Despite a successful run as director for a major software company, Paul’s passion is in launching new businesses in new industries. After driving one of the hottest internet companies of the “dot com” through a stellar IPO and acquisition by United Airlines, Paul worked on changing the way people interact with information and each other.    After launching and selling two successful startups, Paul engaged his family to start a new cannabis business. Today, Honu is the 10th largest processor in the state of Washington (and has risen in the rankings every month since they began sales). After forming a strategic partnership with Strainz Inc., Bohannon was named President of the company and continues to work closely with his buyers to identify and source quality product to feed the engines of all brands falling under the Strainz canopy. Paul also leverages his startup experience to help other farms/ processors develop successful plans to help them thrive as the industry evolves and matures.   Paul has a very personal relationship with Cannabis as it was a critical tool in helping him defy the odds-makers and beat a cancer death sentence. The doctors gave him 6 months to live. . . that was 5 years ago.
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Gretchen Gailey

EVP Communications & Government Affairs, New Frontier Data

Gretchen Gailey has a wide depth of knowledge in communications stemming from more than 10 years of experience as a journalist. She has worked in network news, cable news and local news, on and off the camera, as well as in print journalism. Gailey has worked for NBC News, Fox News Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, the Weather Channel, WHTM, as well as the Associated Press, covering everything ranging from natural disasters, to terrorism, politics, to high school sports. She also served as the Communications Director for Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Capitol Hill. Gailey is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and holds a B.A. in Journalism from the Pennsylvania State University. In her free time she devotes her time to various groups that support our veterans and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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John Kagia

EVP Industry Analytics, New Frontier Data

John Kagia is the Executive Vice President of Industry Analytics for Frontier Financial Group Inc. He applies his keen understanding of market research, business strategy and industry analysis to help high performing organizations achieve their strategic objectives. Leveraging his years of experience managing research studies for industry-leading clients including Accenture, Microsoft, The George Washington University, and the U.S. Department of State, Kagia brings an incisive understanding of how market insights enable organizations to plan, grow, compete, and measure performance more effectively.
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Gary Allen

COO, New Frontier Data

Gary Allen, a visionary thought leader in the tech space, is robustly experienced in the world of entrepreneurship, from start up to exit, and is well known for his accomplishments in Marketing Technology. Some of Allen’s successes include the creation of a market first Mobile Banking app in 1998; building the market leading bid-management technology while at Performics purchased by DoubleClick, now known as Dart Search, further purchased by Google in 2007; and, as CEO, growing a top competitive intelligence firm that was purchased by Kantar Media. Allen has spent the last four years as the Principal of Spire Strategy Consulting, now known as Modern Minds, where he concentrates on bringing the ideas of startups to market. From mobile apps to a completely new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) digital education platform, Allen is committed to seeing the dreams of entrepreneurs realized. Prior to leading Modern Minds, Allen helped an aspiring business man in Minneapolis create FRWD, a marketing agency that combined marketing and consulting in a revolutionary and unique way. FRWD was one of the fastest growing market firms during Allen’s tenure as Partner.
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Marion Mariathasan

CEO, Simplifiya

Marion studied Architecture and computer Science at the University of Kansas and Computer Information Systems with a minor in Business Management at Emporia State University. After graduating from college, Marion set out to build his careerand fulfill his dreams. By 2006, Marion had founded his third company, a web and software development company called Ceylon Solutions which he is the Chairman of today. A few years later, hedecided to start another business. This time, he wanted to createsomething that would have a positive impact on the world and thats when he created SoRewarding. SoRewarding is one of the first social enterprises to engage businesses, nonprofits and individuals. Marion is also a guest speaker at Universities and other entrepreneurial events around the country.  He gives freely (time, money, compassion, friendship and just about anything else) to family, friends and even those he doesn’t know without any expectations or anything in return. He often speaks about trying to change the world from a “me” world to a “we” world and believesthat kindness is in the heart of it all. When he’s not busy running several companies, Marion tries to spend as much time as possible with his familyand friends. He enjoys cooking (mostly spicy, Sri Lankancuisine), playing tennis,traveling, and connecting with people. In 2016 Marion took an interest in the burgeoning cannabis industry. He is an investor in three cannabis related companies; Simplifya, VS Tech Ventures and the latest company, IVY.  Marion is actively involved as the CEO of Simplifya.
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Mike Harden

Founder & Senior Partner, Big Rock

Mike Harden is founder and senior partner of Big Rock, a San Francisco-based family office dedicated to serving the cannabis, hospitality and wellness communities in California and beyond. Big Rock invests, consults, and supports businesses, non-profits, and individuals who are driving positive change in these industries.
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Matt Karnes

Founder, Greenwave Advisors

Matthew (Matt) Karnes has over 20 years of diverse finance and accounting experience. Prior to founding GreenWave Advisors LLC, Matt worked in equity research focusing on the Radio Broadcasting and Cable Television industries for First Union Securities. Matt also covered Satellite Communication at SG Cowen and in addition, worked with the top ranked Consumer Internet analyst at Bear Stearns & Co – this team was consistently recognized by the Institutional Investor’s “All America Research Team”.  As a sellside equity analyst, Matt authored and co-authored numerous emerging industry research reports including such names as Google, Sirius, XM Satellite Radio, DIRECTV and EchoStar Communications.
In his most recent role, Matt was Principal and Senior Equity Analyst at Bull Path Capital Management, a New York City based hedge fund, where he was responsible for investment strategies of emerging technologies primarily within the Technology, Media and Telecom sectors. Prior to his career on Wall Street, Matt held various finance and accounting positions at PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Deloitte as well as at Texaco Inc. where he worked throughout the U.S., Europe, The Caribbean and Asia. Additionally at Chase, Matt was responsible for implementing the bank’s corporate accounting policies on commodity, interest rate and foreign currency derivative products. Matt graduated from Fordham University with an MBA in finance and earned a B.S. Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance from Miami University (OH). Matt is also a Certified Public Accountant.
GreenWave Advisors, LLC is based in New York City.
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Jim McAlpine

Founder,  420 Games, New West Summit, CannaDads

Jim McAlpine is on a mission to change the perception of cannabis and the people that use it via athletics and sports. This Silicon Valley entrepreneur is a father of two daughers and also the founder of “CannaDads”. Over the past 3 years McAlpine has become one of the most well known figures in the cannabis industry and known as the leading expert in the field of cannabis and athletics by creating The 420 Games. A national tour of athletic events to change the perception of cannabis. McAlpine also created New West Summit and is a partner in the world’s first athletic edible products by CannAthlete. “Everything in Moderation Except Sweat”(TM)  For Jim this slogan is a motto he both preaches and also lives by. Jim’s message is simple and applies to a global audience- anyone and everyone whose lives can be improved with the health benefits.
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Cy Scott

CEO and Founder, Headset

Cy Scott is co-founder and CEO of Headset, Inc., bringing data driven insights to the cannabis industry. Headset helps companies in cannabis succeed by promoting better decision making via market intelligence offerings and operational insights in a sleek, intuitive and easy-to-use package. Prior to founding Headset, Cy cofounded Leafly. Since Leafly’s inception in 2010, Cy helped to grow the site into the world’s leading cannabis information resource, a model of a successful ancillary brand in this new emerging industry. Along with his work at Headset, Cy founded a monthly Cannabis Tech Meetup hosting cannabis entrepreneurs and technology developers, which has now expanded into multiple regions throughout the US. Cy’s favorite strain is Tangie.

Headset® is the first real-time business intelligence and analytics service for the cannabis industry. We are a data-driven cannabis tech company with deep roots in cannabis. Our services address the needs that growers, extractors, processors, or retailers have through one unique platform and three key products: Retailer, Bridge, and Insights.
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Andrea Unsworth

Financial Consultant, Founder of StashTwist, Co-founder of Supernova Women

Andrea is a dedicated patient advocate and entrepreneur who came to the cannabis industry through her work as a former bond analyst for Moody's Investors Service. In this role, she researched and published numerous pieces about the industry before starting her own business, delivery-only dispensary StashTwist, in 2014. An entrepreneur with deep roots in the community, Andrea she spends much of her time working at the local level to build relationships with policy makers in Oakland and neighboring cities, collaborating with local organizations to build awareness and support entrepreneurs within the cannabis community. As a direct result of this work Andrea co-founded Supernova Women, an organization that educates and promotes the advancement of individuals and businesses owned by people of color in the cannabis industry. For fun she enjoys the elevated experience that edibles bring to a live viewing of La Traviata, growing cannabis with her partner, and being entertained by her two toddlers.
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Henry Wykowski

Principle, Wykowski Law

Henry Wykowski is recognized as one of the most respected cannabis attorneys in the country, and widely considered the counsel of choice for the most significant challenges facing the industry. As lead attorney, Henry has orchestrated the successful defense of the industry’s most important cases, including the forfeiture actions filed by the federal government against Harborside Health Center (the nation’s largest dispensary), Berkeley Patient's Group (the oldest operating dispensary) and Shambhala Healing Center. Henry has also distinguished himself in the representation of dispensaries in actions brought by the IRS. As counsel in Californians Helping to Alleviate Medical Problems (CHAMP) v. Commissioner, he established important precedents recognizing the right to deduct cost of cannabis sold and limiting the punitive applicability of IRC Sec. 280E. Henry’s forceful legal strategies have assured his clients, and the industry, continued success. His firm advises on the navigation of the conflict between federal and state law, the formation of entities, real estate matters, state, county and local regulation, current industry trends and financing.

Henry is a sought-after speaker and panelist by the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and various cannabis industry groups as an expert in cannabis law. He serves as counsel for many of the most prominent leaders in the industry. A former federal prosecutor, Henry now leads his firm's office in San Francisco. He is a founding member of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and serves as its Counsel.
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Kyle Sherman

Founder & CEO, Flowhub

Kyle Sherman is the founder and CEO of Flowhub, and serves on the board of managers and executive staff. A legalization advocate and entrepreneur, Mr. Sherman is finding unique ways to mesh technology and cannabis while driving legalization forward in the U.S. He continually defines the company’s vision, strategy, and growth as Flowhub innovates the way canna-businesses manage their compliance and supply chain. His goal is to make compliance simple, keep government transparent, and keep product off the black market. This inherent motivation keeps Mr. Sherman and the Flowhub team passionate about compliance, eliminating inefficiencies, and introducing the cannabis industry to the 21st century.
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Pamela Hadfield

Co Founder, Hello MD and Co-Founder. WEmpowered

Pamela Hadfield is Co-founder of HelloMD, the largest online community of health and wellness cannabis consumers. She has been in technology for over 15 years, creating original user experiences for some of today’s most recognizable brands. After discovering cannabis as a solution for her own chronic medical condition, and successfully getting off of opioids, she is now passionate about cannabis education, promoting cannabis as a tool for overall health and wellness.
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Eli Duffy

CEO & Founder, Grownetics

Eli Duffy is a 27 year old serial entrepreneur, cultivator, and CEO of Grownetics. Grownetics is a company out of Boulder, Colorado which has built a fully automated smart thinking garden known as the "Self Driving Car for Indoor Agriculture" and won multiple awards including the Denver Post award for Best Cannabis Technology Startup in the country.
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Wendy Kornberg

Proprietor, Sunnabis Farm Humbolt County

Wendy Kornberg, founder of Humboldt's Full Sun Farms and CEO of Sunnabis, is a second generation farmer in Southern Humboldt County. Her family owned and operated small farm practices sustainability and regenerative farming techniques, with the health of the planet and future generations always in mind. Kornberg's beliefs in cannabis as an all natural remedy have led her brand, Sunnabis, to receive accolades and awards for not only top quality flowers, but also for salves, tinctures, and bath and beauty aids.
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Jonathan Cachat, PhD

Social Neuroscientist & Entrepreneur

Over the last 4 years, Dr. Cachat raised and managed a $3.5MM investment for the development of SunGrown Indoor cultivation system. Together, it represents a game-changer that provides multiple strategic advantages over competition. A result of his data-driven approach and business sensibility, Dr. Cachat is the exclusive distribution partner of DSS systems for the indoor agricultural/cultivation market worldwide. Dr. Jonathan Cachat, PhD has a doctorate degree in Neuroscience, focusing on Psychopharmacology (drugs, brain behavior). He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 2 books on the use of adult zebrafish in behavioral pharmacology research. Dr. Cachat is also specialized in Data Science, working at the University of California, San Diego and the University of California, Davis on big-data neuroscientific data integration platforms, His business approach is consumer-centric, data-driven, political-engaged and socially responsible.

He is a founding board member of the California Growers Association, Science, Standards & Labs committee chair for Sonoma County Growers Alliance, Sustainability committee member for California Cannabis Industry Association and a member of several regional NORML chapters. Most recently, CCV Research has joined the founders circle of the Resource Innovation Institute, a non-profit dedicated to developing sustainability standards and improving resource efficiency in cannabis cultivation. His political network and strategic business partnerships are formed with some of the most popular and successful entities in their respective fields. 

Dr. Jonathan Cachat, PhD has a proven track record researching and developing novel methodologies. He is extremely knowledgeable on cannabis, its therapeutic value and the industries’ business models.

Learn more on: www.ccvresearch.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsyzi63qi5uze8o91HDhe0A
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Josh Otten

Co-founder, PRØHBTD Media

Prior to producing content for the Cannabis industry, Josh has overseeen development, financing, production and distribution for multiple films, TV shows and documentaries that were shown at more than 100 film festivals and licensed globally to FOX, CBS, Spike TV, Discovery, IFC and First Look, among others. After recognizing the emerging market need for “branded content,” Josh co-founded Screenpush, a digital agency, where he developed content strategy and created, produced and distributed original digital video spots for brand partners like Microsoft, Universal, Sol Republic, KIA and many others. As a producer and content creator, Josh has worked with directors Joel Schumacher and Morgan Spurlock and discovered/produced Academy Award winners Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin. He specializes in finding compelling storytellers and filmmakers and bringing their ideas to life through both traditional and digital outlets. Josh now leads content and production for PRØHBTD.
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Shannon Belisario

Creative Strategy + Experiential, PRØHBTD Media

Shannon Belisario is Director of Creative Strategy + Experiential at PRØHBTD Media, the leading original content studio and largest multi-platform video network in the cannabis industry. Her role encompasses branding and marketing for the company's many partners, as well as project development and strategic growth. Shannon's career in branding and experiential marketing spans a decade and began in New York City. She spent the majority of her career serving as Account Manager and National Events Producer for the William Grant & Sons portfolio, primarily focusing on the venerated single malt scotch brands Glenfiddich and Balvenie, along with projects for Hendrick's Gin, Milagro Tequila and Sailor Jerry Rum. Her work included devising integrated experiential marketing campaigns and developing national brand ambassador programs.
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Kieve Huffman

Co-Founder - Infrastructure, PRØHBTD Media

Kieve Huffman built digital media businesses and created new digital products for 20+ years. His experience at both startups and multinational media companies included a strong focus on Operations, Product Management and Business Development.

Kieve ran the digital business at BMG US, growing revenues from $1M to $125M within two years and subsequently led the $250M digital distribution business for post-merger Sony BMG. Prior to BMG, he ran the mobile content business for Infospace with $200M+ in revenues.
As part of the explosive e-sports category, Kieve was responsible for leading business development initiatives for Championship Gaming Series, the first-of-its-kind global video game league funded by DirecTV, BSkyB and Star.

As an entrepreneur, Kieve built a successful entertainment-focused digital agency and social event application with more than a dozen brands, including Audible, St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, Warner Bros, Samsung, Jägermeister, Remy Cointreau and more.
Kieve now leads all Infrastructure and Product initiatives for PRØHBTD.
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Steve Berg

CEO, Firefly Vapor (Ex Wells Fargo, Swiss Bank, BRC)

Steve Berg is Chief Executive Officer at Firefly Vapor, a premier portable vaporizer brand. Mr. Berg has worked in the cannabis industry for over eight years following nearly two decades in investment banking. He has built preeminent cannabis companies that are defining the industry.

Prior to Firely, Berg served as Chief Financial Officer of O.penVAPE, a major consumer brand in cannabis. Working in the areas of corporate strategy, business development, finance and investor relations, he helped O.penVAPE more than triple revenues and expand into seven state markets, as well as internationally, during his three-year tenure.

Previous to O.penVAPE, Berg was a co-founding partner of the thriving ArcView Investor Network, a private investment platform that has provided over $150 million of capital to 160 legal cannabis companies. Berg also authored the second edition of ArcView’s acclaimed State of Legal Marijuana Markets market research report.

Prior to the cannabis industry, Mr. Berg worked at major banking firms in the areas of investment banking, private equity, and trading. He was a Managing Director at Wells Fargo Bank's capital markets group in San Francisco, and also worked at Union Bank of Switzerland and BNP Paribas in New York. Mr. Berg holds an MBA from New York University’s Leonard Stern School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from San Francisco State University.
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Rachel Kurtz

National Cannabis Industry Association

Rachel Kurtz is Regional Manager for the National Cannabis Industry Association, making sure the NCIA is well represented in WA, OR, AK, HI, and CA. Rachel started as a cannabis activist in the mid 90’s, motivating her to attend law school. Following graduation from the University of Washington, she was a drug policy advisor to bar associations around the country, owned a medical marijuana authorization clinic, and worked with various patient and industry organizations before settling into law practice to represent cannabis businesses in the licensing process. She has worked with the speaker committee for Seattle Hempfest for 15 years and serves on the board of directors for the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy, Portland NORML, and the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance. Rachel is a lifelong Army brat and nomad, but considers the Pacific NW her home.
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Vern Abila

President & Founder, Abila Security & Investigations Inc

Vern Abila is a 26 year veteran in the security, investigative and training industries. For the past fourteen years Vern has been the President and CEO of Abila Security & Investigations. Inc. (ASI) and has led ASI from a microbusiness operating from his home to a successful multi-million dollar worldwide organization, earning the Small Minority Business person of the year for 2012. ASI’s client list includes a virtual “Who’s Who” of A-list celebrities, Fortune 100 corporations, various agencies and departments of the U.S. government and foreign governments. ASI’s core services are in, Executive/Dignitary Protection, Threat & Vulnerability Assessments, Investigations and Training. ASI also provides Logistics Support services ranging from military and law enforcement equipment sales to the provision of food stuffs and medical supplies, fixed wing and rotor aircraft around the globe to NGO’s and corporations for disaster and humanitarian relief operations.

Mr. Abila served on a US Department of State contract, to serve as team leader for the protective service detail to Ambassador Robert Frowick, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Accord & Head of Mission for the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Bosnia-Herzegovina. In his capacity he was part of the team responsible for the planning, coordinating and implementing of a security package that encompassed the personal security of the Ambassador his headquarters and residence. Mr. Abila received several letters of commendation from Ambassador Frowick and other entities involved for his role in stopping an attack on the motorcade carrying Ambassador Frowick, President Zubak and President Izetbegovic.

Mr. Abila has also served in the Republic of Haiti, performing duties as a member of the US Department of State’s, Presidential Security Advisory Unit (PSAU). He served as Assistant Detail Leader for the protection team assigned to protect Haitian President Rene Garcia Preval and former President Jean Betrand Aristide. He was also tasked with providing formal and on the job training for the Haitian Secret Service in areas such as close quarter combat skills, principles of protection, hand to hand combat, attack on vehicle and principle drills and physical training. In addition, Mr. Abila was selected to be part of a three-man team assigned to develop and train an elite Counter Ambush Team (CAT) for the Haitian Secret Service motorcade.

Mr. Abila has also served in Bogotá, Colombia as an Instructor for the US Department of States Presidential Security Program. He served as a training officer tasked with formal training in Protective Services for the Colombian Minister of Defenses Team. Subjects were; Principles of Protection, Explosive sweeps, Advances, Defensive Tactics, Terrorist Operations, Walking Formations, Motorcade Operations, Counter-Terrorist Driving, Surveillance Detection, and was the range master of the firearms course.

Mr. Abila has been awarded Diplomate status with The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS) and is certified in Homeland Security at Level III, from the organization. Mr. Abila currently sits on the ABCHS Board for Certification in Executive and Dignitary Protection, a newly formed national organization established to create professional certification within the profession.
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April Pride

CCO/Founder of Van der Pop, CCO, Tokyo Smoke

Creative entrepreneur April Pride is a design innovator whose most recent venture, Van der Pop, is a leading cannabis lifestyle brand and editorial platform for women in North America. Earlier this year, Van der Pop was acquired by Toronto-based TS Brand Co., parent company of Canada’s leading cannabis lifestyle brand Tokyo Smoke. With the acquisition, April was named Chief Creative Officer for all TS Brand Co. companies. She continues to oversee the Van der Pop brand from its Seattle headquarters.
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Travis Howard

CEO & Founder, Shift Cannabis

Travis is the Founder and CEO of Shift Cannabis Co., a cannabis business operations firm established in 2010. Shift has built and operated cannabis production and refinery business units in Colorado and New Mexico, while consulting and advising other business units in 14 additional states and 3 countries. Travis is also a founder and manager of Green Dream Cannabis, a medical and recreational dispensary and cultivation operation started in 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to these roles, Travis and Shift are equity partners in, and board members and advisors to, Auntie Dolores (Treatibles), CannaKorp, Grownetics, Halley Venture Partners, PotGuide.com, Tradiv, and Trilogy Wellness of Maryland. Travis’ expertise in the medical marijuana industry is evidenced by his annual invitations to speak and moderate panels at the National Marijuana Business Conference in Las Vegas and the National Cannabis Industry Association Conferences in Denver and New York City. When Travis is not speaking on the national stage, he’s making waves on the national page, having been interviewed for features in Worth Magazine, Dope Monthly, Marijuana Business Magazine, NCIA, and numerous local Colorado publications. Travis may be a CEO, attorney, and entrepreneur, but his most important position is as a loving husband and caring father to three children. Having worked in a family business in the special needs children sector early in his career, Travis understands and respects the subtleties of decision making that impact both the needy and those dear to him. The business of business runs deep in Travis’ blood, but he still considers himself a naturalist and adventurer by heart, continually longing for The Rocky Mountains and always planning his next journey beyond the boardroom. he Founder and CEO of Shift Cannabis Co., a cannabis business operations firm established in 2010. Shift has built and operated cannabis production and refinery business units in Colorado and New Mexico, while consulting and advising other business units in 14 additional states and 3 countries. Travis is also a founder and manager of Green Dream Cannabis, a medical and recreational dispensary and cultivation operation started in 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to these roles, Travis and Shift are equity partners in, and board members and advisors to, Auntie Dolores (Treatibles), CannaKorp, Grownetics, Halley Venture Partners, PotGuide.com, Tradiv, and Trilogy Wellness of Maryland. Travis’ expertise in the medical marijuana industry is evidenced by his annual invitations to speak and moderate panels at the National Marijuana Business Conference in Las Vegas and the National Cannabis Industry Association Conferences in Denver and New York City. When Travis is not speaking on the national stage, he’s making waves on the national page, having been interviewed for features in Worth Magazine, Dope Monthly, Marijuana Business Magazine, NCIA, and numerous local Colorado publications. Travis may be a CEO, attorney, and entrepreneur, but his most important position is as a loving husband and caring father to three children. Having worked in a family business in the special needs children sector early in his career, Travis understands and respects the subtleties of decision making that impact both the needy and those dear to him. The business of business runs deep in Travis’ blood, but he still considers himself a naturalist and adventurer by heart, continually longing for The Rocky Mountains and always planning his next journey beyond the boardroom.
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Pamela Epstein

Esq., LL.M

Pamela is the Founder of Green Wise, LLC. She has been working in the cannabis industry since 2014. She is known as a fearless advocate for local businesses with current clients ranging from startups and entrepreneurs to companies in all stages of development. Pamela ensures that her client's have the proper planning and business structure that will result in efficiency and profitability as well as an overall benefit for the cannabis industry. Pamela is a featured speaker at several cannabis conferences speaking on land use, zoning, regulatory compliance and environmental issues. Pamela also serves as an adjunct professor, most recently teaching the first cannabis law course in Arizona at Arizona Summit Law School. In addition she serves on the advisory board for Foundation Of Cannabis Unified Standards (“FOCUS”). She has worked diligently to bridge the gap between city and counties and compliant cannabis business’s, as such, she currently serves as the Special City Attorney for the City of Hollister with regard to their Medical Cannabis Ordinance and Regulations. In conjunction with the City she has worked with clients providing a solution driven "request" for reasonable regulations for such cities as Emeryville and the city Hesperia. Pamela has appeared before several cities and counties providing testimony with a focus on land use and zoning as they pertain to cannabis operations.

Prior to her work in the cannabis industry, Pamela founded and became the Managing Attorney & Legal Program Director for the Sierra Club San Diego’s Environmental Law & Policy Clinic. In this role, she worked extensively with elected and appointed governmental officials and regulatory agencies. . Pamela’s diverse background inclusive of non-profit and environmental work place her in a unique position to unique position to understand and advise clients on the emerging intersection of environmental and cannabis compliance.
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Dave Egerton

Vice President of Technology, CW Labs

David Egerton earned his B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Louisville with a focus on Physical and Analytical Chemistry where he focused on portable sensors and bio-remediation of pesticides. His introduction to the Cannabis industry came about while working on tissue culture for a bay area clone producer, after which he signed on to work at CW Analytical in 2011. Since that time, he has served as a scientist, laboratory manager and presently as the Vice President of Technical Services. Mr. Egerton has spent considerable time helping clients fine-tune their methods of extraction and infusion, all while developing and refining laboratory SOP's, validating methodologies, and developing strategic partnerships with equipment manufacturers to continually upgrade and expand CW's capabilities and service offerings. David also serves as Quality Manager for CW Analytical and has successfully led the lab through ISO 17025 accreditation, and engages with other laboratories to continuously improve the accuracy and precision of analytical data.
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David Hua

CEO, Meadow

David Hua is an entrepreneur, marketer, problem solver, and catalyst. In 2014 Hua co-founded Meadow, a cannabis technology company and Y-Combinator's first start-up to operate in the cannabis space. Prior to founding Meadow, Hua was Head of Platform at Sincerely, Head of Content and Contributors at Healthcentral, co-founded a startup called GotGame, and traded Foreign Exchange and Latin American Equities at Citigroup.
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Nick Kovacevich

Co-Founder & CEO, Kush Bottles

Nick Kovacevich has the distinction of co-founding and building one of the best-known packaging and accessory companies in the cannabis industry. Having sold over 100 million containers, Kush Bottles, under Kovacevich’s leadership, has grown to become a leader in the industry – with offices in several states, proprietary product lines, and a fully staffed compliance department. Kush Bottles recently completed the transition from a privately held to a public company. The company opted to do a natural IPO, rather than take the dubious shortcuts that so many other small cap companies elect. The company was recently named an INC 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America, and Nick was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year. Kovacevich graduated Summa Cum Laude in from Southwest Baptist University, and started and ran several successful companies prior to founding Kush Bottles. Widely interviewed in major media, Kovacevich has emerged as an expert in matters pertaining to child safety, cannabis compliance issues, industry trends, marijuana packaging and branding, and canna-business financing options. Having sold over 150 million containers, Kush Bottles, under Kovacevich’s leadership, has grown to become a leader in the industry – with offices in several states, proprietary product lines, and their own product line they manufacture in the USA.
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Daniel Grace

CEO, Dark Heart Industries

Dan has spent the last ten years building Dark Heart Nursery into the state’s most highly regarded purveyor cannabis clones and has developed an intimate understanding of California’s cannabis industry. His work at Dark Heart Nursery has given him a deep appreciation for the plight of cannabis cultivators in particular. He believes that cultivators have suffered from underrepresentation in major policy decisions since the beginning. As a grower himself, Dan know's that growers have always been on the front line of persecution, in the War on Drugs, and has always borne its most draconian consequences. Dan's mission at Dark Heart and as a board member of the California Cannabis Industry Association is to give a voice to cultivators and to win support and legitimacy for the cause.
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Cam Battley

Executive VP, Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Cam Battley is Executive Vice President at Aurora Cannabis, a producer of medical cannabis and cannabis oils under license from Health Canada. He is responsible for business development, external communications, investor relations, government relations, and medical and patient stakeholders. Cam is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cannabis Canada, the trade association of Licensed Producers, and Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Association. He previously served as Vice President for licensed producer Bedrocan Canada. With a background as a health sector management consultant, he combines experience in government, health care NGOs, and the biopharmaceutical industries. In 1997, Cam founded Health Strategy Group, Inc., a management consultancy with global clients, ranging from health professional and patient NGOs, to innovative and generic pharmaceutical firms, and biotechnology and medical device companies.

Before founding Health Strategy Group, Cam was Vice President, Creative of Canada’s largest health care communications firm, providing clients with integrated strategies designed to help health professionals, companies and charitable organizations manage crises, support opinion leaders, educate patients, and improve access to health care services. Prior to moving to consulting, Cam worked for Eli Lilly and Company, as Director of Communications for Canada. He arrived in the health sector after serving as Legislative Assistant to the Canadian Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, where he was responsible for developing legislation and shepherding it through the House of Commons, as well as negotiating with stakeholder groups and opposition parties. Cam is also the founder of Wind Gage Communications, Inc., a video and film production company. He is a guest lecturer on leadership development for the World Medical Association, and on leadership communications for the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists.
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Socrates Rosenfeld

CEO, IHeartJane.com

After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 2004 and completing his service as an Apache helicopter pilot in 2011, Socrates set his sights on pursuing a graduate degree at MIT's Sloan School of Management as a Tillman Scholar. There he was able to open his mind to the entrepreneurial spirit and discover new ways to serve his country, community, and fellow veterans. During his time in Boston reconnecting with loved ones, taking full advantage of the creative and diverse MIT community, and focusing on his own personal growth and health, Socrates discovered the medicinal benefits of cannabis. After completing his MBA program in 2014 and joining McKinsey & Company in Silicon Valley, it was not long before he co-founded www.iheartjane.com, the cannabis industry's first end-to-end online marketplace, with his brother and fellow MIT grad Abraham. Socrates has a new mission to bring legitimacy and access to medicinal cannabis and serve as an advocate for veterans' right to choose a holistic approach to physical and emotional healing.  
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Dr. Perry Solomon

Chief Medical Officer, HelloMD

Dr. Perry Solomon is the Chief Medical Officer of HelloMD.com, where he oversees all medical aspects of the business at the company’s San Francisco headquarters. Dr. Solomon is responsible for managing the extensive network of qualified physicians for HelloMD, generating content for the company’s Answers platform, speaking to various peer and consumer audiences regarding the use of medical cannabis to treat various medical conditions, and often collaborating with other medically related companies that present themselves to the business. Dr. Solomon is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist with over 30 years’ experience as a medical care provider.
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Aaron Silverman

CEO, OMG FARMS

Aaron Silverman heads up Urban’s Leafs west coast operations and brings over 10 years of experience in the Cannabis industry as a former dispensary owner, consultant and successful entrepreneur. Aaron was the co-founder and CEO of Canna Group, Inc., a full service consulting company that provided a comprehensive suite of business development, strategic, and industry-specific consulting services to companies currently operating or seeking to operate within the cannabis industry. Aaron is also the founder of OMG Farms, Inc., a lifestyle cannabis brand and manufacturer of a cannabis vape pen called the “Rooster.” In addition to OMG Farms, he is also the Co Founder of Flore on Market, an iconic restaurant located in the heart of San Francisco. Aaron has vast experience with cannabis business development, marketing, instruction and training experience. He has served as a member on the AHPA Cannabis Committee since 2010, and as a featured speaker, has toured the United States and is considered to be a subject matter expert on most things cannabis. Aaron is also a partner in Sugar Leaf Capital Fund, a private equity firm formed to invest in emerging growth companies within the cannabis sector. He is also an advisor to Canna Angels, LLC, a dedicated angel investment consortium on the forefront of the cannabis industry. Aaron excels in defining, developing and executing strategies to generate new business, expanding revenue channels, and facilitating competitive market leverage. He has very strong skills in marketing and advertising campaigns, brand development and re-branding. Aaron has a talent for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities as well as reaching and influencing key decision makers. Aaron has been a cannabis grower and has operated dispensaries. He has been a highly-sought trainer, mentor and educator in the cannabis industry.
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Regina Unegovsky

Attorney, Regal Tax Law

Regina Unegovsky is an attorney with Regal Tax & Law Group, PC. with a focus on corporate matters, regulatory compliance, and tax controversy. She routinely resolves over five million in tax issues per year on behalf of taxpayers. Ms. Unegovsky brings 10 years of experience in working with state and federal agencies to her clients, and has been concentrating on compliant start up in the cannabis industry. Regina will address the laws surrounding cannabis investment.
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Lamine Zarrad

CEO & Founder, Tokken

Lamine is an innovative thought leader and futurist in the banking industry. Lamine’s varied background includes service as a forward deployed U.S. Marine, Global Wealth Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch, and most recently as a Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Lamine’s vision for an improved banking sector sets Tokken’s course while he leads the Tokken team in a shared pursuit of connecting the underserved to the modern financial system. Lamine has been awarded a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on International Business and Russian Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Public Affairs degree with a focus on Policy Analysis/Public Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Lamine was born in the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and came to the United States as a refugee.
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Steve Nolan

Managing Partner, Urban Leaf Ventures

Steve Nolan is a serial entrepreneur, technology veteran and venture capitalist. He has over twenty-five years of technology experience, most of which has been focused on custom software development for both Fortune 500 and early-stage startups. During his career, Steve has worked for six award-winning software companies, four of which he founded. Under Steve’s leadership, his agencies have accumulated an impressive track record, helping over 75+ early-stage startups brand, create and launch their businesses. Urban Leaf Ventures is the Cannabis industry's first venture enablement agency. Urban Leaf is unlike any other agency or venture capital firm. We invest in companies we feel will make a difference in our everyday lives. We back these companies with something more valuable than just capital, but intellectual and creative capital.
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Mathew Gerson

Co-Founder & CEO, Foria Wellness

The health-oriented, socially responsible FORIA Founder and co-CEO, Mathew Gerson, set out in 2014 to combine sensuality, pleasure, and wellness into one entrepreneurial venture leading him to enter the cannabis industry. In pursuit of natural healing through plant medicine, Gerson ​grew​ FORIA ​to be the leading innovator for sexual health​ & wellness​ within the cannabis space. Having launched four successful products​, the FORIA collection now includes: FORIA Pleasure, ​the original cannabis​ female sensual enhancement oil​, FORIA Relief, to mitigate menstrual pain and ​other ​general​ ​pelvic discomfort, ​FORIA Explore​,​ ​a cannabis-infused rectal suppository to make anal play more enjoyable, and most recently, FORIA Awaken, a THC-free, all-natural sensual enhancement oil opening the door to international awareness with product being sold in over ​6​0 different countries around the world. Prior to the creation of FORIA, Gerson co-founded Sir Richard’s Condom Company, helping to address the unmet need for condoms globally with a “buy one-give one” business model in tandem with 'Partners in Health' in Haiti and retail distribution in Whole Foods Market & CVS nationally. ​Before emerging as a socially-minded entrepreneur​,​ Mathew spent ten years studying Buddhist meditation in Asia, Canada and the U.S. Mr. Gerson currently lives in Topanga, California. www.foriapleasure.com​ | www.foriawellness.com​
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Eddie Miller

Founder & CSO, Green rush

Serial entrepreneur Eddie Miller is the founder and CEO of WeSell.com, a full service digital marketing and technology firm. For 15+ years, Miller and the WeSell team have built and operated over 2,000 digital businesses. WeSell.com sits at the apex of 17 varying enterprises with a multitude of business lines as the digital operations, infrastructure, and sales partner. Miller entered the Cannabis industry in 2013 and started eCann, Inc. which mirrored the WeSell business model of using a technology platform to fuel the development and growth of cannabis businesses. Today, eCann, Inc is the leading cannabis platform and uniquely positioned to maximize the percentage of cannabis revenue that flows through it’s platform while also providing the strategy, technology, and infrastructure to support cannabis businesses. The eCann network includes 20+ businesses and is growing rapidly. The most notable businesses include: GreenRush, AllGlass, eCannabis.com, investincannabis, and Legalization.org. One additional key differentiator of eCann, Inc is its strategic partner network including growers, dispensaries, retailers, marketing, events, and technology firms that form a key asset for the companies in the eCann network. Miller is also considered a cannabis industry expert having recently started his own cannabis investor series in 2015. Miller has also contributed to several national media outlets including but not limited to Forbes, USA Today, and ABC.​
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Andrea Brooks

Founder Sava and Co-Founder WEmpowered 

Andrea Brooks is a cannabis advocate, lobbyist for social change, and entrepreneur with a passion for health and wellness. Following a disabling injury in which cannabis played a crucial role in her recovery, Ms. Brooks was inspired to enter the cannabis space. Building on previous experience working with NGOs around the world on program development, she applies her expertise in conducting needs assessments, developing strategic partnerships and creating new revenue sources to her latest venture - SAVA. SAVA is an online marketplace for curated, high-quality cannabis goods that provides access to and education about cannabis medicine to patients throughout California. Ms. Brooks is also a co-founder of WEmpowered.
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