Tosin Ajayi
Senior Policy Analyst, Cannabis NYC

Tosin Ajayi is a strategic thinker dedicated to driving social change, with a strong focus on championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. She’s a passionate cannabis advocate, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader, now serving as a Senior Policy Analyst for Cannabis NYC, an interagency hub dedicated to fostering a sustainable, equitable cannabis industry in New York. Tosin co-founded a CBD company in 2018 and established CannaPolicy at NYU Wagner in 2020 to promote responsible cannabis legalization. With a background in nonprofit fundraising and a commitment to making a positive impact, she’s a dynamic professional with an MPA from NYU and a degree in Public Health from Rutgers University.

Mike Ballard
Vice President Sales, Leafwire Media

Mike Ballard has been in the cannabis space for more than a decade, starting in the cultivation world marketing fertilizer, soil, genetics and agriculture supplies – focusing on organic farming. Since 2021, Mike has served as VP of Sales for Leafwire Media, providing marketing services to a wide array of clients including brands, cultivation, extraction, and a variety of ancillary services providers, including banking, payment processing, funding, packaging, automation and many more.

Dr. Alyza “Beast” Brevard-Rodriguez
D.Sc, Founder, CEO, The Other Side Dispensary LLC

Dr. Alyza “Beast” Brevard-Rodriguez is an unassuming thought leader disrupting the cannabis & wellness industries. An NJ industry leader and one of the nation’s most diverse cannabis operators, Alyza has strategically maneuvered her way into the industry after departing the military and has been leading the way for others. Alyza began taking her entrepreneurial journey seriously in 2015, creating SW3AT, a brick-and-mortar wellness studio. What began as a fitness apparel lifestyle brand soon grew into multiple locations throughout Hudson County, NJ.

Alyza recently earned her doctorate in Leadership, Management, and Policy, after 10 years of honorable service in the protection industries. A former U.S. Navy military police officer and policy expert for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, this 2x disabled combat Veteran used holistic wellness solutions and cannabis to materialize a soft life for herself after experiencing a career-altering injury on her final military tour. Alyza now leads multiple facilities, including her soon-to-open premium retail dispensary & consumption lounge named, The Other Side, in Jersey City Heights, Jersey City. She is a trailblazer as the 1st Black, LatinX, LGBTQ, Female, Disabled Veteran licensed cannabis operator in New Jersey.

A brand maven, Alyza has also developed various successful brands and hosts one of the leading industry podcasts called, “Coffee & Cannabis.” with over 80k streams per month. She is devoted to breaking the recurrence of generational adversity by empowering marginalized communities with ownership, resources, and inspiration.

William J. Caruso
Partner, Archer-Greiner

Bill serves as Chair of Archer’s Cannabis Group. Bill is one of the leading advocates and influencers for the cannabis industry, and served as an influential voice in New Jersey’s long battle to end cannabis prohibition. He is a co-founder of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, a group that laid the groundwork for the legalization movement. Bill was also a leader with the advocacy group, NJ CAN 2020, that spearheaded the November 2020 ballot initiative to legalize cannabis for personal use.

In his practice, Bill represents clients that are both veterans and new leaders in the medical and adult-use cannabis industries, including retailers, processors, growers and ancillary businesses. He provides guidance on marijuana-related business issues, including issues pertaining to strategic planning and transactions, banking and finance, taxation, labor and employment, land use and zoning, real estate, municipal law, and healthcare law.

Bill has a deep knowledge of New Jersey government and strong relationships with political and industry leaders in the state. Prior to joining Archer, Bill served nearly five years as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office in Trenton. He was responsible for developing and implementing the Assembly’s policy agenda, and, as top aide to the Speaker, served as lead staff negotiator on all policy matters and as liaison to the Governor’s office, Senate and state departments. He was responsible for daily management of approximately 30 policy research professionals and communications and administrative staff. During his tenure, Bill helped shepherd through numerous pieces of landmark legislation, including pension and health benefits reform.

David Fettner
Co-Founder, Grow America

For over two decades, David wore two hats; he ran a commercial construction company and was also a zoning attorney and commissioner. In 2017 he combined those unique skill sets along with his passion for cannabis to co-found, Grow America, one of the only national Consulting+Design+Build firms working exclusively in the cannabis industry.

David’s vision was to create a company that would be a true one stop for any cannabis licensee; consulting, zoning, land development, architecture, engineering, interior design, and turnkey construction. That vision came to life via Grow America, and since its inception, David and his team have worked on virtually every type of cannabis facility literally from coast to coast. David and his team worked on over sixty dispensaries, twenty cultivation facilites, and multiple infusion and manufacturing facilities across fourteen states in almost every scope and capacity. In 2021, Grow America was selected as one of eight firms hired by the State of New York to design and build the first 150 dispensaries in the state; the first public works project of any kind in cannabis. In 2023, Grow America received the New Jersey Cannabis Insider award for Excellence in Cannabis Building Operations.

David earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Iowa and Juris Doctor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, and currently sits on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Facility Design Committee.

Brett Finkelstein
Managing Partner, XIVIX Partners LP

Brett is the Managing Partner of XIVIX Partners LP. XIVIX is the cannabis focused investment company of a single family office. Brett is responsible for originating and executing on investments & acquisitions in cannabis. He has evaluated, and executed venture capital & private equity transactions for the company. He provides strategic advice, industry insight & guides the portfolio companies in capital formation, joint ventures, & commercial agreements.

Brett was a Founding Member & Managing Director of Phyto Partners LP. At Phyto Brett was primarily responsible for sourcing and structuring new investment opportunities, collaborating with senior management of existing portfolio companies on various strategic initiatives, fundraising efforts, and co- managing Phyto Partners portfolio of over 30 investments. Brett sits on the board and advises many companies in the cannabis and hemp sector.

During his 5 year tenure at Phyto Partners he has helped create Phyto Partners into one of the preeminent venture capital funds in the space, where Phyto Partners has been recognized as a Top Cannabis Investment fund by Forbes.

Some of Phyto’s notable investments are industry leaders Leaflink, Fyllo, Flowhub, Vangst, Mattio Communications, Wurk, GreenFlower Media & Lucid Green.

Brett was highlighted in Business Insider “as one of the rising stars of marijuana’s investment scene that everyone from Wall Street to Silicon Valley should know.” Brett was selected as one of the emerging leaders in cannabis and was given the honor of receiving the outstanding venture
investor by the Cannabis Dealmakers Summit.

Prior to Phyto Partners, Brett has over 20 years of accomplished deal performance and has been involved in close to a billion dollars of transactions involving a wide variety of mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, turnarounds, licensing, branding over various sectors and financial cycles. He has also held executive roles and has been involved in founding, structuring, operating, funding & strategy at both startups and established companies.

Michelle Rutter Friberg
Director Government Relations, National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)

Michelle Rutter Friberg is director of government relations for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Prior to working for NCIA, Michelle was a research analyst at a government affairs firm in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed and tracked legislation on numerous issues. Michelle is a graduate of James Madison University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History. During her studies, she held a year-long internship with Virginia House of Delegates member Tony Wilt (R). A native Virginian, Michelle currently resides in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Brookland with her husband, dog, and three cats.

Eugenio Garcia
CEO and Founder, Cannabis Now Magazine

Eugenio Garcia is CEO and founder of Cannabis Now, a media group that offers reliable, compelling and creative content to today’s cannabis consumer by way of print, digital, broadcast and social mediums. At Cannabis Now, Garcia is closely involved with the editorial process and manages the sales/revenue, distribution, marketing and investment departments.

As a long-time entrepreneur and advocate, Garcia became interested in the space when consulting in the cannabis industry. Realizing the lack of a strong and balanced voice for today’s consumer, Cannabis Now became the solution by focusing on the most relevant news, political happenings, cannabis legislation, horticultural advancements, social change, economic trends and medical information available.

Launched in 2009, Cannabis Now has experienced unparalleled growth, with Garcia’s vision leading the effort in bringing the magazine’s social media reach to over 4 million followers to date, making its social media community one of the largest interactive cannabis communities in the world.

Under Garcia’s leadership, Cannabis Now Magazine has emerged as the first cannabis publication since the 1970s to be widely distributed coast to coast. Garcia has developed high profile retail distribution partnerships for the company’s digital and print expressions, making Cannabis Now the first cannabis magazine in the world to be available on iTunes and to be distributed at airports nationwide through Hudson News. In addition, Cannabis Now is the first nationally distributed cannabis magazine since 1974 to be accepted and sold at Barnes & Noble across the country.

Lisa Gora
Attorney, Epstein Becker Green

Health care providers and businesses turn to attorney Lisa Gora for advice on regulatory compliance and representation in corporate transactions. Lisa is also a leader in Epstein Becker Green’s psychedelic and cannabis practices, providing legal guidance to these highly regulated businesses in the evolving legal framework.

Lisa regularly analyzes federal and state statutes and regulations in connection with the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law, New Jersey’s Codey Law and other state-specific self-referral laws, the federal False Claims Act, the New Jersey False Claims Act, Board of Medical Examiners regulations, licensing and reimbursement issues, and other fraud and abuse laws. Her clients include health care professionals as well as group practices and other health care entities, such as hospitals, academic medical centers, ambulatory surgery centers, management service organizations, ambulatory care facilities, substance use treatment facilities, mental health facilities (outpatient and inpatient), and nursing homes, among others.

Lisa’s health care, psychedelic, and cannabis clients rely on Lisa for regulatory advice and to guide them through transactional matters concerning mergers and acquisitions as well as the formation and structure of such entities, including joint ventures, affiliation agreements, and management services arrangements. Further, Lisa frequently lectures on ownership in health care practices and cannabis entities (buying in and separating from) and the related considerations and challenges.

On the forefront of the burgeoning cannabis industry and with many years of industry experience, Lisa helps clients in the cannabis space navigate the industry’s complicated and ever-changing regulatory landscape. Her cannabis law practice includes the representation of alternative treatment centers within the medicinal cannabis industry as well as start-ups and multistate operators in the personal adult-use cannabis industry, such as cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, delivery services, distributors, and testing laboratories. Lisa advises clients in connection with licensing, ownership, and regulatory compliance pursuant to state laws, rules, and regulations. Lisa also advises clients on regulatory considerations associated with anticipated mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, she provides advice to physicians, hospitals, and others doing business in the legal cannabis market in New Jersey concerning issues related to recommending, authorizing, administering, and possessing medical cannabis.

Researchers, academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, investors, clinicians, and other stakeholders interested in psychedelic substances trust Lisa to guide them through the legal and regulatory complexities of the emerging psychedelics field.

Lisa serves as the co-chair of the psychedelic subcommittee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is the past Chair of the Health Law Section and the past co-chair of the Cannabis Law Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Lisa is frequently featured on Epstein Becker Green’s health law podcast, Diagnosing Health Care, discussing developments in psychedelics and cannabis across the United States, and she tracks the shifting regulatory landscape on psychedelics across the United States. She was Editor-in-Chief of the first edition of Health Care and the Business of Cannabis: Legal Questions and Answers, a first-of-its-kind project published by the American Health Law Association, which offers insight into the interplay between medicinal cannabis and the health care industry, as well as related information on legal and practical considerations in connection with business opportunities surrounding medicinal cannabis and its by-products. She also co-authored “Medical Marijuana: State and Federal Law Thickets and Practical Implications” in the Health Law Handbook, published by Thomson Reuters in May 2020. Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Lisa was Co-Chair of the Cannabis Law team and a shareholder in the Corporate and Health Law teams at a regional law firm.

Leah Heise
Entrepreneur, Attorney & Pioneering Cannabis Industry Executive

Maurice Hinson, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine

Medical Doctor, General Internist; Advisory Board Member, Healthmetryx; Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine; Founder and Chairman Youth Empowerment Services in Medicine; Founder and Advisor, Black and Latino Men in Medicine

Ryan Hurley
Cannabis Practice Leader, Rose Law Group

Ryan Hurley is Cannabis Practice Leader at Rose Law Group, a full-service real estate and business law firm representing top homebuilders, developers, solar companies, schools, businesses and cannabis companies across the United States. An experienced attorney with over a decade of cannabis industry experience, Hurley is chairman of the Cannabis Practice Group and focuses on a variety of legal issues including cannabis, psychedelics, blockchain, web3, AI, water, and development. Having previously served as an attorney at Rose Law Group between 2006 and 2017, he returned to the law firm in January of 2024.

In between his roles at Rose Law Group, Hurley served as general counsel for Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated cannabis company and one of the largest greenhouse cannabis producers in North America. Hurley was an instrumental player in Copperstate Farms’ growth and development, positioning the company as a market leader through his careful compliance and risk mitigation. At Copperstate Farms, he managed compliance, HR, contracting, capital and debt raisers, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, special projects, risk management, litigation strategy, and more.

Referred to as Arizona’s “Father of Cannabis Law,”  Hurley has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona and as one of the 20 Names to Know by Phoenix Business Journal. He has been a part of the Arizona cannabis industry from its inception and played a pivotal role in the 2016 and 2020 initiatives to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. A founding member and former board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, Hurley is deeply entrenched in all aspects of the cannabis industry and a sought after expert on cannabis policy. Ryan Hurley was also a founding member of the Arizona Dispensaries Association and the organization’s former vice president.

A dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable figure in cannabis, Hurley has presented at several conferences and seminars throughout the country and been featured in many interviews in television, print, and radio. His expansive background in policy has cemented his reputation as a reliable thought leader for all aspects of the industry.

Hurley holds a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Arizona and a J.D. from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law.  Before emerging as a leader in the growing cannabis industry, Hurley was an associate attorney at Lewis and Roca LLP from 2005 to 2006, focusing on land use, zoning, water, and environmental issues.

Kristin L. Jordan
Founder, CEO, Park Jordan; Adjunct Professor, LIM College

Kristin Jordan is the Founder + CEO of Park Jordan, a commercial real estate brokerage and advisory services firm serving the cannabis industry.  She is also an adjunct professor at LIM College’s Business of Cannabis Undergraduate and Masters’ Degree Programs, real estate attorney, drug policy activist, and thought leader. Until recently, Kristin served as the Director of Real Estate at Acreage Holdings, selecting real estate sites for the company’s national footprint of cultivation, processing, and dispensary facilities, managing internal and external relationships, and negotiating and administering leases. Prior to her work in the cannabis sector, she practiced real estate law at several boutique firms and managed real estate portfolios for Kaplan, Inc., Morgan Stanley, and SoulCycle. She is a frequent speaker on real estate, cannabis regulations, and social equity and economic justice issues and in 2019 was distinguished by Forbes as one of “Fifteen Powerful and Innovative Women in Cannabis Right Now.”

Kristin’s passion for advancing cannabis reform has extended to a variety of professional and non-profit endeavors. She is the Founder and CEO of Mannada, a NYC-based cannabis professional event production company, which launched The Maze, a weekly cannabis event listing newsletter, as well as the Cannabis Summit Series including the Cannabis Media Summit, Cannabis Real Estate Summit, and Cannabis Law Summit. Kristin is also a co-founder of the Cannabis Cultural Association, a non-profit organization, and the founder of the Asian Cannabis Roundtable, a professional networking organization, both of which she serves as the President of the Board of Directors.   Additionally, Kristin is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Cannabis and is on the Advisory Board for Shoki Brands, and Drop Technologies, both women-of-color founded brands.

Kristin graduated from the State University at Albany with a BA degree and received her JD from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law.

John T. Kaden

President, Managing Partner, Navy Capital

John T. Kaden is President and Managing Partner of Navy Capital, LLC. Prior to joining Navy, Mr. Kaden was the Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment Officer for Northwoods Capital Management Partners, a TMT-focused global long/short hedge fund. Prior to joining Northwoods, Mr. Kaden was the Founder and Managing Partner of Cynthion Partners, LLC from 2006 through the end of 2013, a global macro thematic hedge fund. Prior to founding Cynthion Partners, Mr. Kaden worked in the Strategic Division of Blackrock. Mr. Kaden began his career as a macro strategist for The G7 Group, a global consulting firm that advises its clients on macroeconomic and political developments that affect financial markets. Mr. Kaden graduated Magna Cum Laude with an A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Neil Kaufman
Managing Member, Kaufman McGowan PLLC

Neil M. Kaufman is the managing member of Kaufman McGowan PLLC, Long Island’s Corporate & Securities Law Firm ™ and Corporate & Securities Counsel to the Cannabis Industry™. He is one of the leading corporate cannabis lawyers in New York and the USA and a fixture of the New York and Long Island corporate and securities legal community.

Kaufman represents emerging growth, middle market and public companies and investment firms in their corporate, securities, financing, borrowing, merger & acquisition and other legal matters. Mr. Kaufman is particularly well known for advising clients with respect to SEC regulation, public offerings, private placements and mergers & acquisitions, as well as all types of commercial contracts. He is a frequent speaker on corporate, securities and cannabis law topics, and is an approved Vistage speaker on mergers & acquisitions.

Kaufman serves as:

Member of the Board of Trustees & Chairman of the Audit Committee of iCapital KKR Private Markets Fund, a closed-end private equity mutual fund.

Member of the Board of Trustees & Chairman of the Audit Committee of Two Roads Shared Trust, a collection of open-end alternative mutual funds.

Chairman Emeritus of the Long Island Capital Alliance, a not-for-profit organization devoted to assisting emerging growth companies.

Chairman of the Long Island Chapter of Financial Executives International.

Kaufman formerly served as:

Chairman of the Board of a Nasdaq-listed technology company.

Chairman of the Banking, Corporate & Securities Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.

Kaufman received a:

J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1984, where he was a staff member of the Journal of International Law & Politics.

B.A. from Binghamton University in 1981 with recognition for outstanding academic performance.

He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.

Kaufman:

has been named one of the top cannabis lawyers in the world by the Cannabis Law Report.

is a 2014-2022 SuperLawyer.

Ed Keating
Co-Founder, Cannabiz Media

Keating is a co-founder of Cannabiz Media and oversees the company’s data research and government relations efforts. He has spent his career working with and advising information companies in the compliance space. Ed has managed product, marketing, and sales while overseeing complex multijurisdictional product lines in the securities, corporate, UCC, safety, environmental, and human resource markets.

At Cannabiz Media, Ed enjoys the challenge of working with regulators across the globe as he and his team gather corporate, financial, and license information to track the people, products, and businesses in the cannabis economy.  Ed graduated from Hamilton College and received his MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

Josh Kesselman
Founder and CEO, HBI International / RAW Rolling Papers

Josh Kesselman is an icon in the world of smoking accessories, and the founder and CEO of HBI International. HBI sells RAW Rolling Papers, a leading rolling paper brand. His plant-based rolling papers paved the way for a new era of smoking centered around unadulterated products that highlight flavor and quality. Kesselman began building the company in the mid 1990s and officially launched the RAW brand in 2005. From there, his brand has soared to new heights, sparking a global empire of rolling papers and smoking accessories that stay true to his ethos and reflect his charm and character. RAW papers are used around the globe and loved by all kinds of smokers, from roll-your-own tobacco smokers to the occasional toker to big-name celebrities.

Along with his entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, Kesselman is an activist who has used RAW’s success to bolster his many humanitarian passions. Through his RAW Giving program, Kesselman has contributed more than $3 million in direct cash contributions, as well as $200,000 of in-kind contributions to several different charities. These contributions have assisted in providing clean water to communities and to the Sisters of Mother Teresa hospitals in Ethiopia, helped homeless pets receive care and forever homes in no-kill shelters, and planted hundreds of thousands of trees to improve the environment.

A charismatic and down-to-earth entrepreneur, Kesselman has created several types of rolling papers under the HBI International name, including Elements, Juicy Jays, and Kingpin. His story is one of passion, dedication, and a never-ending commitment to improving what’s already out there. Kesselman has created a global ecosystem of smoking accessories and technology that all started from a tiny shop and a big dream in 1993. Genuine and empathetic, he has tapped into and dominated a market based on quality and an authentic connection to his wide customer base.

As a result of Kesselman’s hands-on and personable approach to business, RAW has proliferated into a cultural icon, with Wiz Khalifa dedicating a song to his products, as well as support being provided by MGK, 2 Chainz, and many other celebrity rappers. He continues to tap into his creative side several decades in, developing new products and finding ways to further improve the smoking experience and uplift the smoking world!

Gaetano Lardieri
Co-Founder, THCBD; Co-Founder, Future Entheogenic Medicines (F.E.M.)

Gaetano Lardieri has worked at several N.J. based Medical Centers and Hospitals in different capacities since 1978. He spent 26 years of his career in the field of Cancer Research in the Hospital Teaching Medical Center and Pharmaceutical settings. He has held several roles during this time. As a Research Assistant on one study he interviewed, collected genetic information and data on over 3500 patients and family members. As a Site Coordinator for a major Cancer Center in New Jersey he worked with a team of oncology specialists to identify and randomize several thousand patients to cancer clinical trials.

His work created the groundwork which lead to being a co-author on several papers on GI genetic diseases and many other peer reviewed publications.

In 1997 Mr. Lardieri started his career in the Pharmaceutical Industry. He has held permanent and consulting positions with several of the top pharmaceutical companies and CROs in New Jersey and New York. During his Pharmaceutical career he has earned certifications in Project Management and Lean Six Sigma. Mr. Lardieri was a project manager for a team which received FDA approval for a breast cancer drug.

In 2013 Mr. Lardieri transferred his Clinical Experience and Pharmaceutical skills to the Cannabis and Psychedelics Industries. He has advised many startups in the cannabis/psychedelics space and is co-founder of two companies focusing in the areas of:  Medical Cannabis, Psychedelics, Advocacy, Education, Mentorship, Nano-Research, Clinical Trials and Aerospace Science.

He is the co-founder of THCBD LLC which has a current conditional license for cannabis production and manufacturing in New Jersey.

He is the co-founder of Future Entheogenic Medicines LLC (F.E.M.) which focuses on consulting in the areas of; psychedelic wellness, research/development, harm-reduction and education.

Mr. Lardieri is the New Jersey co-state Director for Minorities for Medical Marijuana-M4MM.

He serves as an advisor on several prestigious boards: Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey-(CMMNJ), CannaCoverage, JUSTUS Foundation, UPENN Affiliate Scholars Board, HillView Med.

Mr. Lardieri has had many articles published over the years discussing cannabis/psychedelics research and advocacy. Mr. Lardieri has presented original research in the aerospace science field at NASA’s Langley Research Center and Committee on Space Research – (COSPAR). He has been named three times to the New Jersey Insider 100 Cannabis Power List, is a 2021 Black Wall Street people’s choice award recipient and sited on the 2019 New Jersey’s LGBT Power list.

Two recent major projects that he was instrumental in developing and leading:

1) he was an integral part of a global team of researchers who, in an historic first, launched a CBD nano-emulsion to the ISS-(International Space Station)-for analysis and research,

2) conducted an historic survey on psychedelics which included over 1200 participants.

Mr. Lardieri was born, raised and currently resides in Newark N.J.

Christopher Louie
Co-Founder, Made in Xiaolin

Christopher Louie, born in Brooklyn and raised on Staten Island, New York, has been a figure in the cannabis industry since 1996, initially in the legacy market. His journey took a turn in 2002 when he was incarcerated on Rikers Island, followed by a life-altering event in 2003 when he was shot in the back, leading him to explore cannabis for pain management.

A practitioner of Shaolin Kung Fu, Christopher embodies discipline and resilience, which he brings to his entrepreneurial ventures. In 2015, he and his wife, Chongsi, made a pivotal move to Colorado, where they founded Made In Xiaolin. Known for their luxury cannabis cigars, the brand blends innovation and tradition, offering a unique experience for cannabis connoisseurs. In 2024, they are expanding Made In Xiaolin into New York, marking another milestone in Christopher’s entrepreneurial journey.

Jon Lowen
Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Surfside Solutions

Jon Lowen currently is the Co-CEO/Co-Founder at Surfside Solutions Inc., a fully connected marketing platform that simplifies how advertisers and retailers onboard their 1st party data for media activation, audience segmentation and omnichannel measurement. Jon is a proven leader in the advertising technology industry, implementing strategies that deliver results across business operations and product development. Previously Jon was Chief Strategy Officer at SITO Mobile, where he was at the helm of growth strategy acquisitions and business development as he helped increase revenue 40x over his tenure to a market cap of over $250M.  Prior to CSO, Jon was COO and led operations and product at multiple companies including: SITO, DoubleVision and Carbon Media Group (formerly Outdoor Hub).

Coss Marte
Founder, ConBud, Founder, ConBody

In 2009, Coss Marte was sent to jail as the ringleader of a multi-million-dollar drug operation. Very overweight, he was warned by his physician that his current lifestyle, if left unchecked, would likely kill him. Faced with this grim prognosis, Coss started to get in shape using the tools he had — his prison cell and his own body weight. Within six months he lost 70 pounds and replicated his successful formula of body weight exercises with 20 other inmates. He then launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp that has gained over 70,000+ clients and has hired 50+ formerly incarcerated individuals to teach fitness classes. Coss is also the co-founder a non-profit organization called Second Chance Studios, which trains and helps employ formerly incarcerated individuals to become experts in AV skills and media. In 2023, he opened CONBUD, in the heart of the Lower East Side, blocks from where he worked and was arrested. At CONBUD they proudly employ justice-impacted individuals and serve NY’s finest products that represent NY Native-, BIPOC- and women- owned brands. You can find CONBUD and CONBODY on the corner of Orchard and Delancey.

Drew Mathews
Founder & CEO Green Life Business

Drew Mathews is the founder and CEO of the Nation’s Largest Cannabis Business Brokerage, with Green Life Business being awarded the 2023 Best Business Matchmaker Award at the prestigious Benzinga Cannabis Awards.

Under Drew’s leadership, Green Life Business is committed to enhancing the public’s perception of Realtors/Brokers within the Cannabis Industry through continuous education, fully embracing challenges with dedication to transparency and ethical business practices.

At Green Life Business Group, Inc., it is not just about closing deals, it is about fostering growth, promoting integrity, and leading by example in the Cannabis Industry. Join us as we continue to pave the way forward, shaping the future of cannabis business transactions with expertise, trust, and unmatched dedication.

Joe McKay
Retired FDNY Firefighter; Board Member, Clusterbusters

Joe McKay is a retired FDNY firefighter who spends his time advocating for causes close to his heart. Joe is on the board of Clusterbusters, where he works to support people living with cluster headache, the most painful condition known to medicine. He also serves on the board of the Ray Pfeifer Foundation, helping 9/11 first responders with medical needs. Joe has advocated alongside fellow first responders to get 9/11 health and compensation bills passed by Congress in 2015 and 2019, and again with Burn Pits 360 to pass the PACT Act in 2022. Joe shares his story of healing his cluster headache, PTSD and opioid addiction with psychedelics to make these medicines more legally available.

Jacob Miller
Founding Partner, Paybotic

Jacob graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in the Communication of Science and Technology with a focus in scientific computing and corporate strategy. After graduating, Jacob worked as a management consultant for KPMG in their financial services practice where he advised top global banks and government-sponsored entities on payment networks architecture, business process automation, and enterprise software platform assessments and implementations. Prior to departing the firm, Jacob helped establish KPMG’s Cannabis Industry Group, which focused on advising state and local governments. In addition to being a founding partner of Paybotic, Jacob also serves as the Managing Partner of Millers Insurance Group, a full-service cannabis and hemp-focused insurance agency.

Dawne Morris
CEO, Co-founder, PROTEUS Business Solution, PROTEUS420

Dawne Morris is the CEO and co-founder of PROTEUS Business Solution, Inc., an online enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for the cannabis industry. Dawne is a nationally-recognized cannabis entrepreneur named a Top Women to Watch in Marijuana Venture magazine and has decades of finance, digital marketing, and design experience under her belt. She previously helped grow and expand digital agency PIXELED.net and developed a successful hosting enterprise, Illuminated Hosting Service, LLC.

In 2008, Dawne pivoted her expertise to the cannabis market, partnering with her husband, David Morris, to establish PROTEUS420. Considered one of the first and most trusted cannabis seed-to-sale software systems, PROTEUS420 is focused on business growth and a streamlined user experience, while addressing the complexities of industry compliance. Dawne was instrumental in integrating her knowledge of internet marketing into the technology platform to help businesses scale successfully. As a market leading system, PROTEUS420 supports manufacturing, cultivation, distribution, and dispensary operators in markets throughout the U.S. and North America.

Dawne’s entrepreneurial drive coupled with her expertise in product and software development, has allowed PROTEUS Business Solution, Inc., and its industry-specific platform PROTEUS420 to thrive in the technology space and become an operational staple. Her intuitive understanding of business operations and supply chain needs has made Dawne a sought-after industry spokesperson specializing in branding and identity, marketing, software, web development and design, human resources, finance and management.

Jessica Naissant
Owner, CEO, Wake & Bake Cafe

Jessica Naissant is a visionary entrepreneur and dedicated cannabis advocate. She is the owner and CEO of Wake & Bake Cafe, LLC, the first woman-owned CBD dispensary in Valley Stream, NY. She earned a B.S in Biochemistry from SUNY Old Westbury.

Jessica’s deep-rooted passion for cannabis led her to create brands, products, and a lifestyle centered around cannabis education and justice. Her humanitarian spirit inspired her to volunteer as a relief effort worker in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. In addition to her accomplishments, Jessica successfully founded and operates a waste management & recycling company, REPOT BOX, specializing in cannabis waste, showcasing her commitment to sustainability. It is worth noting that Jessica’s determination and transformative approach enabled her to receive A legal Dispensary license in NY. She is the Retail licensee and founder of her dispensary “RENAISSAŃT BK,” opening in Brooklyn, NY this summer!

Jessica is the co-founder of a cannabis education Non-Profit, “Community Cultivated Foundation INC, (CCF), which is focused on educating both children and elderly about cannabis. Her tenacity and grit are reflective of her journey from a justice-involved woman to a biologist, and serial entrepreneur, and to an inspiring role model in the New York cannabis industry.

Tony Pagni
Founder & Co-Owner Perfectionist Rolling Equipment, Managing Partner, Aephex, Automated Pre-Roll System

Anthony Pagni has established a significant presence in the cannabis industry since 2014. He owned a medical marijuana dispensary in Arizona and ventured into the cannabis manufacturing business in Washington. Additionally, Anthony is a proud founder and co-owner of Perfectionist Rolling Equipment, a company known for manufacturing the cutting-edge high-speed Apehex Automated Pre-Roll System.  His enduring passion for both cannabis and technology has played a pivotal role in the remarkable success of the Apehex. He is dedicated to advancing the industry by creating efficient and user-friendly pre-roll automation solutions.

Ronit Pinto
Founder, Honeysuckle Magazine

Ronit Pinto is the Founder of Honeysuckle Magazine. Honeysuckle Media is a Clio and journalistic award-winning, female owned print and digital publication focusing on cannabis and its intersection with pop culture. Since its inception in 2103, Honeysuckle has pioneered many initiatives in plant medicine in NYC across their multi platform offerings in print, digital, OOH, creative, email, social and more. Ronit also spearheads Honeysuckle Studios, high performing, end creative agency for corporate and creative work in — photography, videography, branded content, marketing assets. events coverage and film – with her partner Creative Director, Sam Long. @honeymagstudios

Puma Robinson
Entrepreneur, Actor, Music Producer

Puma (born Puma Robinson) is a 10-season main cast member of the VH1 hit television show “Black Ink NY.” Puma is an accomplished Entrepreneur, music producer, tastemaker, and brand socialite. His influence spans across many fields of entertainment ranging from music to business to art. He is owner of Art2Ink, Tattoo studios and recipient of Vibe Magazines “First Rising Award”. Puma has recently been seen on “Celebrity Marriage Counseling/Season 11” on WE Tv; MTV’s “Ridiculousness/Season 16.

2023, we can expect to see Puma as he heads into venture capitalism in the cannabis industry also in the extreme sports arena as well as he continues to invest in business and entertainment. Catch Puma on VH1 “Black Ink NY.”

Lauren Rudick
Managing Principal, Rudick Law Group, PLLC

A “recovering litigator,” Lauren practiced commercial litigation for ten years, during which time she successfully represented clients in a wide variety of business, intellectual property, and Internet/media disputes, while contributing to the Firm’s land use and zoning practice. With a trained and sensitive eye for keeping clients out of litigation and a penchant for deal-making, Lauren has refocused her career on start-up law, regulatory compliance, M&A, and commercial and secured transactions. Lauren has also developed a niche in running due diligence, salvaging deals that have turned south, mitigating against legal exposure, and identifying and remedying abuse or misuse of corporate power and form.

Prior to starting her own firm, Lauren was the co-founder of Hiller, PC’s cannabis law practice, having come to the cannabis industry through her mother’s end of life care. What started as a passion project in patient rights during a brief residency in California, Lauren has become one of the Nation’s preeminent attorneys providing legal services to cannabis industry players in the “Green Rush.” Lauren provides clients with the most up-to-date information necessary to operate and invest in successful cannabis and ancillary businesses. With a unique, interdisciplinary, and holistic approach to cannabis business licensing, Lauren has run successful applications in competitive medical cannabis states and adult-use markets alike. Lauren is also a member of the legal team that brought an action against former Attorney General Sessions and the federal government seeking, among other things, a declaration that the mis-classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug is unconstitutional, on, among other things, due process, equal protection, free speech, and commerce clause grounds. With increasing frequency, Lauren has also been representing investors and start-up organizations in cannabis adjacent industries, including psychedelics and Ag Tech.

Lauren is an Expert Contributor to Marijuana Venture Magazine, a frequent speaker at national and local events, including, among others, the Emerald Cup, MJ Biz Con, the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition, the Women Grow Leadership Summit, BevNet, the International Cannabis Bar Association, and the National Cannabis Industry Association, and has provided pro bono legal and advocacy services to the Drug Policy Alliance, Compassionate Care New York, and the Cannabis Cultural Association. She has appeared on local and national television networks, including CBS, ABC, and Fox, has been quoted in numerous cannabis and non-cannabis publications including, among others, The New York Times, Crain’s New York Business, Inc., Rolling Stone, Forbes, HERB, Daily Cannabis Observer, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Business Daily, Leafly, the Weed Blog, Weed News, and the Fresh Toast. In 2022, Lauren was recognized by PoliticsNY as a Cannabis Industry “Power Player,” which organization which also named her as a Power Woman of Manhattan, also in 2022. For the past four years, Lauren has been serving on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the International Cannabis Bar Association, as the organization’s Treasurer. In 2021, Lauren was appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Cannabis Law and Policy Committee of the American Bar Association. And since 2021, she has been serving on the Board of Directors for Breeder’s Best, a private record-label style producer of unique cannabis genetics.

“Hawaii” Mike Salman
Founder, Chef for Higher

Hawaii Mike Salman is a branding maestro and co-founder of Chef for Higher, a pioneering culinary & culture company specializing in Cannabis-infused foods and popular tastemaker dining events. Chef For Higher launched their line of THC-infused products in New York’s adult use market in 2023, becoming the first culinary brand. For over 25 years, he’s been on the frontlines of music, media, and lifestyle, using Hip-Hop and Cannabis as conduits for pursuing his passions and refining his alchemy. Hawaii has worked with legendary Hip-Hop groups like Mobb Deep and consulted for global brands like Nike, Reebok, Estee Lauder, and Mountain Dew. As a manager, he guided the careers of influential personalities like BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester, DJ Clark Kent, and photographer Jonathan Mannion. He served as a lifestyle editor for The Source magazine, founded LTD magazine and was co-founder & editor-in-chief of tattoo publication INKED. Hawaii Mike has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, VH1, BET, Spectrum1 and Forbes. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Tim Seymour
Co-Host, CNBC Fast Money, and Portfolio Manager CNBS Cannabis ETF

Tim Seymour is founder and Chief Investment Officer of Seymour Asset Management (SAM). SAM provides both asset management and wealth management services for its clients, including direct investment and allocation to private equity and alternative assets. Tim is also the Portfolio Manager of the Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF ticker: $CNBS.

Tim has over 22 years of investment experience as a portfolio manager, allocator and capital markets professional across multiple asset classes. Tim is a recognized voice within the investment community as a trader and market strategist on CNBC. For over a decade, Tim has been a primary investor voice on CNBC’s Fast Money. Tim is often cited as one of the top finance professionals on Twitter, including The Wall Street Journal’s “Top Tweets For Your Money.”

Tim was the CIO and co-founder of Triogem Asset Management where the firm’s flagship fund was a long short global emerging market equity strategy. Triogem’s investment approach was rooted in running a low volatility portfolio that managed top down risks while employing a rigorous research process to bottom up stock picking.

Prior to Triogem, Tim was co-founder and Managing Partner at Red Star Asset Management (Moscow, New York), where he ran a core strategy emphasizing low volatility, multi-strat fund investing across Russia/Eastern Europe. Before launching Red Star, Tim was a Partner and Managing Director at Troika Dialog, Russia’s largest investment bank in Moscow. Tim started his career at UBS in
New York, focusing on international macro. Tim completed the firm’s capital markets training program after graduating with an MBA in International Finance from Fordham University.

Tim lives in New York City with his wife and two children. When he is not with his family, Tim is playing drums and singing in his two bands.

Dr. Sandra Shen
Founder, ATMOSIScience Inc.

Dr. Sandra Shen is a renowned serial entrepreneur and innovator in the field of humidity control technology. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Fudan University, Dr. Shen has spent over two decades spearheading significant advancements in humidity management. Her expertise has led to the development of more than 50 patents, showcasing her diverse range of applications from protecting herbal medicines, which is highly pertinent to the cannabis industry, to preserving oil paintings, artifacts, and advanced technologies in 5G towers and electric vehicles.

As the founder of ATMOSIScience Inc., a pioneering U.S. company in humidity control solutions, Dr. Shen has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of this technology. Her company has made notable strides in integrating advanced humidity management systems across various sectors, including industrial, medicinal, and electronic industries. Under her leadership, ATMOSIScience Inc. has emerged as a key innovator, driving forward the standards of humidity control while maintaining a strong focus on practical and sustainable applications

Jeremy Sperber
Account Executive, Genetec

Jeremy Sperber is an Account Executive at Genetec, where he focuses on enabling and supporting physical security systems for companies in the cannabis, retail, hospitality and gaming sectors.

Luna Stower
Chief Impact Officer, Ispire Vape Technology

Luna Stower is Chief Impact Officer at Ispire Vape Technology in Los Angeles (previously VP of Business Development). An experienced executive and thought-leader in the cannabis industry, she’s known for designing & manufacturing high-quality cannabis vaporization hardware for oil brands.

With over a decade of experience in the “Cannabiz,” Luna was named as one of the “Top 100 women in Cannabis” by Green Entrepreneur for her vital role building some of California’s most successful cannabis brands (Jetty Extracts, Click Spray), helping establish them as category leaders. Starting as employee #1 at both Jetty Extracts and Ispire, she played a key role in those companies’ growth and success.

A Bay Area native, she holds a Master’s degree from USF and a BA in Social Justice from UCSC, combining education & field experience to provide a unique perspective on the intersection of business & purpose. An internationally-recognized plant medicine expert, Luna is featured as a panelist, speaker, and moderator at B2B events, on podcasts, and at consumer expos, worldwide.

In recognition of her impact on drug policy and social equity advocacy, Luna has been named “Cannabis Culture Advocate of 2021” by the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, “Best Activist of 2023” by the CA Cannabis Awards, “Most Important Woman in Weed” by Green Entrepreneur, and “Global Cannabis Legalization Honoree” by CannaPortugal for her instrumental work in advancing decriminalization.

Luna is a moderator for the Emerald Cup Harvest Ball Speaker Series, Hall of Flowers Podcast guest, and judge for ‘Oscars of Weed,’ competitions “The Emerald Cup Awards,” & Mila Jansen’s (‘The Hash Queen’) “Dab-a-Doo.”

Luna’s passion for the plant and people as a lifelong advocate has led her to nurture the stability & success of widely-recognized legacy brands, spearheading their social responsibility actions and nourishing brand loyalty. Luna’s roots in community activism anchor her to a higher purpose, with a rich historical perspective and expansive professional network of sophisticated, trusted operators — making a significant impact as a powerful female voice for justice, and an influential, driving force for positive change.

Jayson Tantalo
Co-Founder & COO, Metavega Corp., Flower City Hydroponics, and Flower City Dispensary; Co-Founder & VP of Operations, New York Cannabis Retail Association

Jayson Tantalo has been in the cannabis industry for over 28 years. Jayson beat the odds as a legendary operator who experienced poverty and faced numerous hardships due to his father’s absence and a drug-addicted mother by funding his college education through illegal financial transactions from drug-related activities.

Jayson was an indoor cannabis cultivator since 2001 and a gorilla commercial grower for over 10 years. Jayson is the Co/founder of Metavega Corp., Flower City Hydroponics, Flower City Dispensary and is the COO of all 3 companies. In pursuit of his dispensary license Jayson took the initiative to help build a community with its sole purpose to form unity in the retail sector of the industry.

Jayson is one of the Co/founders & VP of Operations of the New York Cannabis Retail Association formerly known as the New York CAURD Coalition. His motto has amplified into an industry standard throughout out the entire industry as “Collaboration over Competition”. Jayson aspires to guide legendary operators toward success by sharing the knowledge acquired in college and the lessons learned by persevering through difficult times.

Sheri Tarr, Esq.
Founder and Chief Advisor, ’68 Partners

A multi-disciplinary professional, Sheri Tarr, is the Founder and Chief Advisor of ’68 Partners ,a global consulting firm helping CBD, hemp, and cannabis brands, license applicants, and licensed operators, build sustainable businesses that have a transformative impact on consumers and patients. A former Big pharma sales and marketing executive who commercialized FDA regulated products worldwide, Sheri has over three decades of real-world experience operating in highly regulated environments. After working for Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and medical device companies including Pfizer and Baxter, Sheri flipped the script and became an attorney who spent a distinguished career in the courtroom holding these companies accountable for deceptive marketing, defective manufacturing, and other regulatory violations.

Since 2018, Sheri Tarr has been deep in the cannabis industry, serving clients from early stage to established CBD, hemp, and cannabis brands; to prospective cannabis licensees; to retailers, cultivators, processors, and other licensed operators; to C-suites, investors, law firms, and regulators. specializes in full service, tailored license application preparation; fractional C-suite support for licensed operators; seamless product commercialization; profitable business plans and brand strategies; best compliance practices; and advocacy.

before legislators, investors, and other critical audiences. Sheri’s regulatory consulting and licensing experience spans multiple states including New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and beyond. Sheri has direct experience with virtually every aspect of license application preparation, from regulatory compliance and navigation, to translating regulations into compelling narratives, to drafting SOPs and business and operating plans, to preparing full spectrum compliance plans, to forging relationships with strategic partners in academia, the local community, and the business sector.

A University of Michigan alumni and Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology graduate,

Sheri serves on Boards of cannabis companies, and is a Director of Cannabis Advisory Group. A frequent speaker and commentator, Sheri is also an avid hiker, traveler and published photographer.

Lulu Tsui
Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer, On The Revel

Lulu Tsui is Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer at On The Revel, the parent company for a collection of curated educational and networking experiences democratizing information for those interested in the regulated cannabis industry. On The Revel events, known as Revelry, are conferences aimed at fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and flourishing cannabis sector. These regular in-person events along with On The Revel’s Dope People online membership community, podcast, and virtual experiences, celebrate the diverse people that have been and are currently building the cannabis industry in the aim of developing its gold-standard, with opportunities for all. Lulu is seasoned in Experience Design (XD) and User Experience (UX) with 15+ years of experience leading research, strategy, and design for enterprise software, Software as a Service (SaaS), mobile, and touchscreen technologies. Lulu applies her vast XD and UX expertise across verticals in the cannabis industry while championing ways to normalize and destigmatize cannabis and entheogens. Lulu has designed entire enterprise systems and introduced cross-platform mission-critical apps for clients Bloomberg LP, Mastercard, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, John Hopkins University, Roche, Thermo Fisher, Pearson, and McGraw-Hill. Lulu designed a software platform with Root Sciences aimed at supporting and standardizing operations and data for cannabis/hemp extraction, distillation, and post-processing. She also served as the principal experience designer for Chill, a cannabis e-commerce order and delivery platform. Along with On The Revel, Lulu serves as President of the Cannabis Media Council, an organization dedicated to destigmatizing and normalizing cannabis using the power of traditional media, and User Experience and Research Advisor at Oakland Hyphae, founders of the Oakland Psychedelic Conference and the Psilocybin Cup.

Michael Zaytsev
Academic Director at LIM College

Michael Zaytsev, often known as Mike Z, is a best-selling author, educator, and creative leader in the Cannabis community. He serves as the Academic Director at LIM College, where he spearheaded the launch of New York’s first accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Business of Cannabis.

Zaytsev authored “The Cannabis Business Book” and founded High NY, one of the world’s largest Cannabis education and networking groups, renowned for its fun and impactful events that connect industry professionals.

Outside of academia, Zaytsev is a top-tier business coach and executive advisor, providing guidance to high-performing clients at Fortune 500 companies, tech startups, and throughout the Cannabis industry. On “The Cannabis Business Coach Podcast,” he delivers valuable insights and fosters engaging discussions with Cannabis industry leaders.

Recognized as a “Cannabis Industry Power Player” by Politics NY in 2023 and 2024, Zaytsev remains committed to empowering the Cannabis community through education, events, and executive coaching.

Michael Zaytsev began his career at J.P. Morgan and Google, where he developed a robust foundation in asset management and business development. He’s a proud alumnus of Stuyvesant High School and Claremont McKenna College, holds an MBA, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education.