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Seattle / Tacoma Cannabis Business Expo
Keynote Speaker: Eric Brandstad
Category: Greenhouse Planning
Topic of Discussion: Greenhouse Planning: What Growers Need to Know
Speaking Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Biography: Eric Brandstad is the leading greenhouse and growing efficiency expert in the legal cannabis industry. Eric has been invited to speak at many events including The CWBExpo, The Emerald Cup, Santa Cruz Cup, The Golden Tarp Awards, The Cali Dep Fest, Humboldt High Grade Gala, CannaCon, and the NCIA Cultivation Management Symposium.
Eric has been managing Forever Flowering Greenhouses since 2007. He’s originally from San Joaquin County where his family has been commercially farming since 1862. Since starting with FFG, he has toured and consulted with hundreds of greenhouse owners to help them understand how their plants react in a greenhouse environment.
Speaker Schedule
List of Speakers
Click on a Speaker Below to Read Full Bio
Aaron Pelley
NWMJ Law, PLLC
Biography: Aaron A. Pelley, Senior Attorney at Pelley Law, PLLC. He is a founding member of the Cannabis Defense Coalition, Legal Committee and a Lifetime Member of the Legal Committee for the National Organization on the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). In addition to representing cannabis clients, Mr. Pelley has also earned a reputation for effectively handling white collar and high profile cases, representing both individual and corporate clients. Mr. Pelley has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers three times and has been named Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyer College for 2015 and 2016.
Alex Cooley
Solstice Cannabis
Biography: Alex Cooley is a longtime Seattle based cannabis activist and entrepreneur. He has worked to create reform here in this great state all the way up to the United Nations and so many places in between. He founded Solstice the first cannabis cultivation brand in 2011 with Will Denman to help legitimize medical cannabis. Since those early days Alex and Solstice have won countless awards for their amazing cannabis including many for CBD, expanded into adult use sales, and had a great time along the way.
Alex Wheatley
Fisher & Phillips
Biography: Alex Wheatley is an attorney with Fisher & Phillips, LLP, a national law firm representing employers of all types and sizes. Alex defends employers in employment-related administrative claims and lawsuits and has litigated several jury trials and argued numerous motions in both state and federal court. He also advises and provides training to company owners and supervisors on issues relating to workplace discrimination, family leave, wage and hour laws, and noncompetition, nonsoliciation, and nondisclosure agreements.
Amy Peradotta
Women Grow
Biography: Amy Peradotta is the Chairwoman of the Portland Chapter of Women Grow. Women Grow is a national professional networking organization with 45 chapters across the US and Canada. Women Grow serves to connect, educate, and empower women in the cannabis industry. Currently, the Portland chapter is the largest and fastest growing chapter in the country.
Andrew Pitsicalis
Purple Haze Properties
Biography: With over 20 years in the Cannabis Industry, from Cultivation, to Production, Sales, Education, Media and Consulting. Mr. Pitsicalis owned one of the largest high end functional glass distribution companies in the world. With the works of the greatest glassblowers he has distributed these fine works to hundreds of smoke shops and collectors. He is a member of Cannabis Science, a leader in cannabis scientific research as there, brand and licensing director and sit on there policy advisory board. Purple Haze Properties, LLC was founded through a partnership between Andrew Pitsicalis and Leon Hendrix, blood brother to the legendary guitar icon, Jimi Hendrix.
Brian Caldwell
Triple C Collective
Biography: Brian Caldwell is the managing member of Triple C Collective, a Washington State collective garden access point for medical cannabis and the state’s most awarded store. With their doors open for over 5 years and still growing throughout the Puget Sound region, Triple C Collective is one of the state’s largest medical cannabis dispensaries providing a vast array of products for cannabinoid therapy and pain solutions. Triple C Collective has been granted licensing for a medical/recreation store and will be converted into the new system by July 1st. Mr. Caldwell also served as Chairman & Founding of the Northwest Producers, Processors and Retailers Association (NWPPR). NWPPR was the largest Cannabis Trade Association in Washington State with a strategic focus on working with legislators and regulators to help define the regulated framework for cannabis. NWPPR encompassed all aspects of the cannabis industry ranging from attorneys, accountants, testing facilities, recreational marijuana, medical cannabis, HABA & hemp.
Catherine Morisset
Fisher & Phillips
Biography: Catharine Morisset is a partner in the Seattle office for Fisher & Phillips, LLP. She represents local and national employers in litigation in state and federal courts, on appeal, and also before the EEOC and similar state agencies in all aspects of workplace law, such as ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, Title VII, and similar state laws. Catharine uses her litigation experience to work closely with clients to provide effective preventative counseling and workforce training.
Celeste Miranda
The Cannabis Marketing Lab
Biography: Dedicated to what she does and successful in her savvy business-minded ventures, Celeste Miranda is an entrepreneur, author, founder and CEO of Miranda Marketing Labs and The Cannabis Marketing Lab. Undertaking the critical challenges of marketing an emerging industry, Miranda opened a specialized division focused on providing businesses with innovative and affordable marketing strategies. Since then, The Cannabis Marketing Lab has become a highly regarded organization in Cannabis related ventures. Comprised of a 16 person team, Celeste’s staff has years of experience and expertise in a myriad of areas such as Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Graphic & Web Design, Creative Content Production, Advertising, PR and much more. As an efficient and knowledgeable professional, Celeste is a force of nature in the realm of entrepreneurial business and marketing.
Charlo Greene
CharloGreene.com
Biography: Charlo Greene is a broadcast journalist and media expert turned activist and businesswoman who has emerged as a leading voice in the ongoing conversation about legalization, as well as diversity, in the cannabis community. Charlo successfully led the charge in Alaska’s 2014 effort to legalize recreational marijuana, securing Alaska’s place as the third state in the nation (and first Republican-led state) to legalize usage for adults. Through her newly launched socially conscious organization Go GREENE, Charlo is joining forces with nationwide grassroots activism campaigns that seek to change the way we think about cannabis.
Chris Anderson
Calyx King
Biography: Since becoming an attorney in 2002, Chris Anderson has counseled individuals, established companies, and start-ups on business strategy, organizational structure, compliance issues, and document and information management. Most recently, Chris was an attorney with the Canna Law Group, the premier cannabis-specific business law practice, where he assisted cannabis-industry clients with all phases of business formation, licensing, operations, and regulatory compliance. He started his career as a commercial litigator at Perkins Coie LLP and spent five years in Microsoft’s Legal & Corporate Affairs, advising the Office of General Counsel and the company’s worldwide Operations leaders on strategic sourcing, multinational contracting, and departmental practice management.
Chris Beals
Weedmaps
Biography: Chris Beals is the President and General Counsel for Weedmaps and its affiliated companies. Weedmaps is the largest and oldest technology company in the cannabis sector with key verticals including the dispensary, doctor and deal information site Weedmaps.com and the media sites marijuana.com, WeedmapsTV and cannabis.com. In this role, Chris works in close collaboration with the CEO to guide strategic policy and business decisions to help the company continue its rapid growth while navigating the constantly evolving regulatory environment. Prior to joining Weedmaps, Chris served as Senior Vice President with a New York-based investment fund and previously worked as an M&A and technology transactions associate with the law firms Covington & Burling and Davis Polk. Chris received his law degree cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Pennsylvania. Chris graduated in 2002 from the University of Pennsylvania with a BSE in Systems Engineering and BA in Economics.
Chris Crew
THC Law Firm
Biography: Chris Crew, Canna-Consultant, has dedicated much of his professional career to the cannabis industry. Chris has used has J.D. from the University of Oregon to help promote the interests of lawful marijuana businesses. An enthusiastic, forward-thinking master communicator, Chris is quick to make connections, business relationships and friends -- and keep them. Clearly passionate about cannabis, business, and law, Chris excels in the cannabis industry because he has the skills and knowledge base that others lack. Chris is the owner of several different types of marijuana businesses, from a consulting firm to a private lending institution to a retail marijuana shop. Chris is incredibly experienced in the industry and has become an expert in crafting a successful marijuana business.
Fortunately, he shares his skills and connections with others through his consulting firm and seminar business, Marijuana Workshops. He has been hired to help with over 250 licenses and applications in Washington, Oregon, and Maryland.
Chris Sayegh
The Herbal Chef
Biography: Christopher has pioneered the effort of Cannabis Infused Fine-Dining to elevate the perception of Marijuana into mainstream media. These dinners include art, music, fine wine and top notch ingredients, simultaneously and effortlessly educating his audience while entertaining them at the same time. Currently, Chris is producing gourmet edibles, frozen CBD and THC-infused dinners, as well as catered and private dinners. With the innovation of the Frozen THC/CBD infused Meals and the two television shows being produced about The Herbal Chef, Chris has already been able to solidify his space as the #1 Cannabis Infusion Chef in the World.
Daniel Gustafik
Hybrid Tech
Biography: Daniel Gustafik has 20 years of experience working on industrial power & controls, clean rooms, server centers and marijuana production facilities. In 1997 he designed and built his first cannabis facility. Since then he has worked on the largest semiconductor facility in the world along with the largest cannabis facility to date. Industry first achievements include; first approved extractor for I-502, first rebates for cannabis LED, first rebates for cannabis mechanical systems & 12 years of CEA (Controlled environment agriculture) design. With a background in electrical engineering, Dan currently holds many licenses in multiple states. As the founder of Hybrid Tech he and his design build team have completed over 90 cannabis projects throughout the US and Canada.
Danielle Rosellison
Trail Blazin' Productions
Biography: Danielle Rosellison is an owner/operating manager at Trail Blazin’ Productions. Trail Blazin’ is a licensed business venture, started by local professionals looking to meet the demand for legal cannabis. They cultivate pesticide free, award winning, sustainably grown with LED’s, legal cannabis. Her tenacity stems from an intrinsic passion to take the values that the Cannabis Community has shared for decades, and help integrate them into corporate, mainstream America. Some of her vehicles to do this include sitting on the board of The Cannabis Alliance and as an Ambassador to the Whatcom Chamber of Commerce. When she's not working…wait, she’s always working. If she did have time off, she enjoys reading, traveling and doing outdoor activities with her family.
David Murét
Viridian Staffing
Biography: David Murét is the Co-Founder and COO of Viridian Staffing. With a diverse background including everything from Public Policy and Law, to Information Technology, Finance and Business Development David serves as Viridian’s “Swiss Army Knife,” providing essential support to Viridian’s best-in-class recruiting team. As a veteran of multiple start-ups he demonstrates a keen appreciation of the challenges business owners face as well as the importance of assembling the right team. As a life-long activist and organizer he has a gift for identifying and valuing people’s innate strengths and putting them in positions where they can realize the greatest positive impact within an organization.
Dennis Clark
O2 Grow
Biography: Dennis Clark is the founder and President of O2 Grow, a division of the Oxygen Research Group, LLC. After successfully bringing this patented fine bubble technology to market in the fishing industry, Dennis found that he was fielding inquiries from horticulturists wanting to add supplemental oxygen to their grow. Dennis has worked with horticulture research programs at the University of Minnesota and also the University of Tennessee. He is looking forward to sharing the benefits of increased dissolved oxygen at the plant root.
Ed Rosenthal
Consultant
Biography: Ed Rosenthal is the world’s leading expert on the cultivation of marijuana. In his more than forty years as the “guru of ganja,” he has written or edited more than a dozen books about marijuana cultivation and social policy that cumulatively have sold over two million copies. His “Ask Ed” marijuana advice column ran in High Times for several decades and still appears internationally. One of his books on marijuana cultivation is the only book of its type to be reviewed by The New York Times.
Farmer Tom Lauerman
Farmer Tom Organics
Biography: A popular speaker at Cannabis and Hemp related Events, Farmer Tom is also a guest blogger and contributor to numerous publications such as ‘The Columbian;’ ‘Cannabis Chronicles;’ and ‘The Cannabis Daily Record.’ Farmer Tom is the most recognizable Organic Cannabis Farmer in the industry, where his brand and likeness embody a clean, outdoor living and organic lifestyle – fulfilling his life mission. He is a passionate activist, a member of the Washington State Cannabis Commission Formation Committee, and he has worked with WA state LCB to legalize all concentrates. He is an advocate for creating standards in the cannabis industry to ensure safety and efficacy, and he is the first farmer to work directly with any federal agency (NIOSH).
Geoff Doran
Tradiv
Biography: Co-Founder & Vice President of Business Development for Tradiv, Inc. Geoff comes from the fundraising and marketing industries. He spent four years as a marketing director for the Hardee’s Franchise system along with four years raising funds for a prominent educational foundation. Geoff has extensive business development skills, along with a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Drury University.
Hunter Garth
General Cannabis
Biography: For such a young man (he’s just 27 years old), Hunter Garth has accomplished a lot—and he’s just getting started. Currently managing director of General Cannabis’s GCS division, Hunter joined the Marine Corps at age 19 and served tours of duty in Africa and Afghanistan, where he participated in 175 combat missions as an Infantryman. After leaving the service in 2012, he worked at Merrill Lynch before heading to Colorado to start his own company, Iron Protection Group, which focuses on security for businesses in the legal cannabis industry. After 18 months, he sold his company to General Cannabis Corporation, and became a shareholder and partner in the company, which now has five divisions, including the Chiefton Supply apparel company. In addition, he serves as an advocate for veterans, particularly those with PTSD. In describing his company’s success, Hunter says, "Our approach is to be the first-to-market and best-in-market. The Colorado marijuana industry has told us what it needs, and we jump on it and fulfill that need."
J Chandler
Urban-Gro
Biography: Serving as the Vice President of Cultivation Technologies, Chandler has been managing and consulting for large-scale organic vegetable farms and greenhouses, as well as Cannabis production facilities since his graduation from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Production Horticulture in 2003. He has a wide breadth of knowledge of integrated pest management, fertility and automation in large-scale operations. After three years as Director of Cultivation for a highly awarded Denver dispensary, he successfully launched Cannabis IPM Solutions in 2014. In 2015, urban-gro brought him on board to do the same for their customers.
Jedidiah Haney
Cannabis Alliance
Biography: Over the last decade, Jedidiah Haney has built himself a name as a business development leader by continually being ahead of the curve of popular industrial trends. He is constantly engaged in helping develop the cannabis industry by focusing his energies on endeavors that have purpose. His current projects include the launching of the Washington State Cannabis Commission in collaboration with the WSDA and cannabis industry stakeholders. Jedidiah also serves as Strategic Advisor for a non-profit organization named Twenty22Many. The veteran group was formed in response to the suicide crisis that is sweeping our nation at rates of over twenty-two per day. With his help this group is being developed to become a modern VFW, modeled as 501c-19. In the groups short existence Twenty22Many has already accomplished passing a bill in 2015 that added PTSD and TBI as qualifying conditions to Washington State’s medical cannabis program.
John Davis
Cannabis Alliance
Biography: John Davis is a founder and Executive Director of the Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics Washington’s oldest and largest industry group. CCSE merged with 3 other organizations to form the Cannabis Alliance of which he is a founder and Board member. He is a founding member, Board member and Vice Chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association. He has worked on drug policy reform for over 20 years. John was a Board member of Hemp Initiative Projects of Washington State starting in 1993 where he helped to author early marijuana legalization initiatives and run the campaigns.
John has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, NPR, CNN Money, Bloomberg, Fox Business, Al Jazeera, New York Times, GQ and many more. John was Cannabis Business Executive’s pick for #8th most influential person in cannabis. He has also served as a cannabis policy expert to the State of Washington and the City of Seattle. John helped author the Washington State implementation guide for 502 (legalization) implementation with the State Regulatory group.
Joy Beckerman
Hemp Ace International
Biography: Joy Beckerman is the Principal at Hemp Ace International, a Seattle-based consulting and brokerage firm. After opening the first hemp store in NY in the early 1990’s, Joy served as Secretary to the Vermont Hemp Council upon passage of the first Vermont hemp bill in 1996. She then commenced an extensive dual career as a compliance and complex civil litigation paralegal supporting Seattle’s elite counsel. Joy is an internationally respected voice who has presented at continuing legal education seminars and numerous colleges and conferences over the last nearly quarter of a century. Joy works directly with legislators and policymakers and is an Advisor to and Board Member of multiple Cannabis associations and entities.
Jim Shirreff
Shirreff Insurance
Biography: Jim Shirreff, CLCS, is a cannabis industry insurance specialist and the owner of Shirreff Insurance Agency in Puyallup, WA for the last 28 years. He can be reached for comments and consultation by email at jim@shirreff.com.
Kathryn Rubin
National Grow Technologies
Biography: Ms. Rubin has over 13 years of progressive experience in the field of forensic investigation of the built environment. Over the past decade, she has specialized in indoor air contamination, air quality sampling and moisture-related building failures. Collectively with her colleagues, her efforts are now focused on the cannabis industry to evaluate the performance of cultivation and production facilities, determining fungal and particulate contamination pathways into and throughout the building, and providing solutions to reduce the risk of microbial proliferation into the indoor environment.
Keith Boyce
Cannabis Alliance
Biography: Since 2013 Keith Boyce has been deeply involved in the cannabis industry. He was the President of the non profit Washington Marijuana Association. He is currently a founding member and Vice President of The Cannabis Alliance. The Cannabis Alliance is a Washington state based 501c (6) non profit trade accociation working with state legislators and agencies on policy that will help move the cannabis industry forward in a positive, ethical, and sustainable manner through education and smart policy. Keith is also a member of the Washington Cannabis Commission formation committee. Working to establish the first agricultural commission for cannabis in Washington state, and the nation.
Kirsten Nelson
Blunt Branding
Biography: Kirsten Nelson is co-founder of Blunt Branding, a strategic marketing firm that focuses on revenue generation. Through Kirsten's unique psychological approach and educational background, she focuses on the business infrastructure necessary for explosive growth. Kirsten takes special interest in helping smaller businesses establish solid brands that will withstand the corporate influx in cannabis industry growth. In addition to ghostwriting a Wall Street Journal bestselling book, she has proven successful by increasing her client’s revenues consistently by triple digits.
Lance Ott
Guardian Data Systems
Biography: Lance Ott is a 17-year veteran of the financial services industry. He has extensive experience in merchant services including credit and debit card processing, PCI security, fraud, technology and payments consulting. Mr. Ott is the former Vice President of National Bank of California Merchant Services and currently operates as CEO of Guardian Data Systems. He is a cancer survivor and fierce advocate of alternative medicine, including medicinal cannabis.
Since the inception of Guardian Data Systems, Lance has become a ubiquitous presence at cannabis industry conferences and events produced by the National Cannabis Industry Association, International Cannabis Association/Cannabis World Conference, MMJ Business Daily, Native Nations Events and Secure Cash Transport Association. Last year, Mr. Ott was ranked #38 in the top 100 most influential cannabis business executives by Cannabis Business Executive.
Lezli Engelking
FOCUS
Biography: Lezli Engelking possesses 18 years of professional experience across pharmaceutical, mental health, non-profit, cannabis and communication industries. More than 12 years with Eli Lilly laid the perfect foundation for her role as executive director of the first chain of vertically integrated cannabis operations in Arizona. Lezli’s proven success in the highly-regulated pharmaceutical industry and her first hand experience working in the unregulated cannabis industry place her in an ideal position to lead the company creating the first and only third-party validated, international, quality and safety-based, voluntary-consensus cannabis specific standards.
Mark Oury
Guardian Data Systems
Biography: Welcome to Guardian Data Systems. Founded in 2008, Guardian has built an unparalleled reputation as the undisputed thought leader in the development of compliant comprehensive financial management, payment, and banking solutions for the cannabis industry. We strive to promote equal rights in banking and payments for the cannabis industry while aiming to exceed our clients expectations. Guardian is a compassionate financial and merchant services provider founded on Credibility, Legitimacy & Transparency.
Marty Campbell
Tacoma City Council
Biography: Council Member Campbell was born in Omaha, NE. He attended the University of Nebraska before coming to Tacoma to open two small businesses. Through his involvement in Tacoma, he became more involved in neighborhood and community issues. He has served in a leadership role for several community organizations, including the Cross District Association, New Tacoma Neighborhood Council, The Grand Cinema, First Creek Neighbors, Dome Top Neighborhood Alliance, TEAM, Downtown Merchant’s Group, City Club of Tacoma and many others.
Michelle Moore
Adaptive Plastics
Biography: Michelle Moore is the second generation owner and CEO of the Adaptive Plastics, Inc., makers of: Solexx Greenhouses and Greenhouse Coverings and the revolutionary Grow4it, the Complete 4-Season Food Growing System. With 20 years of greenhouse experience, Michelle is a published author, Oregon State University Master Gardener and member of Garden Writers Association. Greenhouse growing and sustainability is Michelle’s passion. She is a Fulbright Scholar and earned an International MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management and currently lives in Oregon with her husband, and their twin girls. You can contact Michelle at: mmoore@solexx.com.
Michelle Rutter
NCIA
Biography: Michelle Rutter is Government Relations Coordinator 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 graduated from James Madison University and 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). There, she communicated with constituents, businesses, and government officials alike, facilitating meaningful conversations. Michelle was also honored to be named one of The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2015. A native Virginian, she currently resides in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Capitol Hill.
Mike Long
The Grow Expert
Biography: Mike Long – a.k.a. ‘Go Ask Mike’ by those who have known him in the hydroponic industry for a quarter century – is one of a rare breed. He has established and successfully operated his own chain of hydro shops, and has both the growing skill set as well as the business background for successful small business. Recognizing the global reality, he traveled the world seeking manufacturing partners and both wrote the specification, established testing and certification criteria, and he continues to manufacture and import components and complete fixtures regularly for his clientele. He’s equally at home advising a hobbyist as he is troubleshooting a major 502 production problem – and delivering a business solution that works for the financiers as well as a practical ‘fix’ for the guys on the floor. Mike sees both points of views, and is often the intermediary for these partnerships!
Nathan Mendel
Your Green Contractor
Biography: Nathan is the founder and President of Your Green Contractor (YGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mendel and Company Construction. After YGC completed its first dispensary project in 2012, Nathan quickly realized there was a huge unmet demand for cannabis related projects that were completed in the same fashion as any other commercial project. Today, Your Green Contractor is quickly expanding across the U.S. and is recognized as one of Denver’s most trusted and well respected names in the construction of marijuana facilities. Nathan has presented to numerous audiences in multiple states speaking about the complexities of building projects in the cannabis world and has been quoted in multiple local, regional, and national publications and news stories.
Neil Juneja
Gleam Law
Biography: Neil Juneja is the founder of Gleam Law, a cannabis-focused law firm with offices in Washington and Oregon. He is a licensed patent attorney and has successfully filed over 60 trademark registrations for cannabis with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Neil have written numerous article on cannabis law and intellectual property as well as spoken at many events including in the National Mall in Washington DC and at the Seattle Hempfest in front of 150,000 people. Some of Gleam Law’s notable clients include the first Seattle recreational marijuana retailer, the musician Snoop Dogg, and many publicly traded companies working in the cannabis industry. Neil has also been in Newsweek, Time Magazine, and on several documentaries for his work in the cannabis industry.
Nic Easley
Comp. Cannabis Consulting
Biography: Nic Easley is CEO of Comprehensive Cannabis Consulting (3C), where he promotes hemp and cannabis awareness and cultivation, prioritizing socially and environmentally responsible practices. Over the past nine years in Colorado and nationwide, Nic has helped more than 60 clients design, build, start up, and optimize their operations. His scientific background, combined with over 15 years of agricultural field and biological experience informs his sustainable practices and policies, offering the industry new realms of productivity, profitability, and professionalism.
Nick Brown
CannaContainers
Biography: Nick Brown is the founder and president of CannaContainers, a packaging solutions provider. Nick is passionate about developing innovative packaging for the Cannabis industry. The birth of his nephew spurred him to create child resistant packaging that meets or exceeds all current government standards, with a focus on CR packaging and labeling. Nick has a BBA from the University of Michigan School of Business, and holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter. Prior to founding CannaContainers, he worked for eight years on Wall Street as a Vice President at Citigroup, and then as a Director at BNP Paribas.
Nick Kovacevich
Kush Bottles
Biography: In his role as CEO for Kush Bottles, Nick directs all business relations and financial strategy for the company. He also oversees the organization’s senior management team. Nick has been integral in making critical strategic, growth, and financial decisions since the company’s inception. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science from Southwest Baptist University where he studied Sports Management and earned Academic All-American honors. While at SBU, Nick played small forward for the men’s basketball team, leading the Bearcats to the Sweet 16.
Patrick Cox
Tax Defense Partners
Biography: Patrick Cox is a Managing Member of TDP and Vice President of Business Development. Patrick has been involved in Sales and management for 20 years. Using his degree from Law School combined with his sales experience has enabled Patrick to excel at leadership. His background along with his attention to detail has led to success at every step in his career. He has interfaced with all top level executives throughout the country to establish the necessary criteria for a successful sales organization. Early in his career, he specialized in successful negotiations of numerous local and state police union contracts. Patrick’s interactions with top union and state officials started his development in sales and strategic planning. Today, as a Managing Member and VP of Business Development for TDP, he is responsible for revenue generation and day to day operations of the sales department. Using Key Performance Indicators and coaching has led him to success and growth for TDP. He collaborates with Marketing and Finance to create a vision that ensures success.
Robert Carp
Cottens & Carp
Biography: Robert Carp is a former High Tech Entrepreneur of the Year and a Harvard trained government scientist. Carp works as a practicing attorney in the Boston area, and is a frequent speaker nationwide on the subject of marijuana business operations, corporate structure and tax issues in the industry. Carp is a prolific author, with his latest book, "The Marijuana Business Operations Guide" leading Amazon's category for this topic. Carp is also a tax attorney and an Enrolled Agent with the IRS practicing in tax courts around the country.
Robert Lerman
eBottles
Biography: Robert Lerman is the owner of eBottles, whose principals have been active in the business of supplying bottles to major marketers of consumer products for over 35 years. Their products are manufactured by the finest producers from the U.S., Europe and Asia. The bottles, jars and closures we offer are the same components you will find on store shelves everywhere used by major manufacturers of consumer products.
Roger Martin
Grow For Vets
Biography: Roger is a proud Veteran of the United States Army who has been coping with constant pain since the 1970’s. He credits cannabis with having saved his life in 2010, by helping him overcome a ten year dependency on dangerous prescription drugs, including Oxycontin and Ambien. Inspired by encounters with fellow Veterans suffering from PTSD and other serious medical conditions, Roger began offering free cannabis to Vets in March 2013. In January 2014, he formalized his efforts by establishing Grow for Vets U.S.A., as a Colorado nonprofit corporation. Since then, Grow for Vets has provided more than $750,000.00 worth of free cannabis products to thousands of the bravest among us.
Shango Los
ShangoLos.com
Biography: Shango Los is a lifelong business strategist and cannabis enthusiast. He has hosted 50 episodes of Ganjapreneur, the industry's leading cannabis business podcast and now is preparing for a book release and national speaking tour. He is also founder of the Vashon Island Marijuana Entrepreneurs Alliance, a cannabis trade organization that organizes farmers and promotes cannabis products produced on the island while also educating patients on the health benefits of cannabis.
Shelly Peterson
Urban-Gro
Biography: Serving as the Vice President of Sales, Lighting, since 2012, Shelly’s passion for eco-friendly solutions and creating a sustainable environment ensures that the commercial cultivator is provided with a lighting plan that utilizes the least amount of equipment. Further, her skills learned in the commercial lighting industry have enabled her to work with regional electrical providers to maximize available utility rebates for urban-gro’s customers. Shelly holds a Bachelor Degree in Finance, and currently resides in Fort Collins, Colo., with her husband Justin, and their two children.
Sunny Kaercher
Miller Soils
Biography: An avid lover of the outdoors and natural systems, Sunny Kaercher recognizes the importance of soil to support all living things. She studied land use planning and environmental policy at CU Boulder, continuing on for Natural Resource GIS and Peace & Conflict Studies certificates. A strong advocate for making existing industries more sustainable, she has found a home with Miller Soils LLC (supporting organic soils designed to retain water and nutrients). She has soil research experience with the Colorado Department of Wildlife and has worked for several businesses focused on efficiency and Lean production, a philosophy that embraces eliminating waste and respecting people. She sees the opportunity that bio-based materials and products present for creating thriving sustainable industries, particularly cannabis and hemp. When not in the garden or working, you will probably find Sunny backcountry skiing, helping out with natural building projects, or adventuring somewhere in the West!
Todd Arkley
Arkley Accounting Group
Biography: Todd Arkley, CPA, is the owner of Arkley Accounting Group, a Seattle, WA based accounting firm dedicated to helping small businesses within the cannabis industry grow and thrive. Prior to founding Arkley Accounting Group in January 2014, he served as CFO at the Seattle law firm of Lee Smart, P.S., Inc. Todd has deeply immersed himself in the cannabis industry’s specific financial issues, such as IRC 280e, banking, and state/local taxes, while also integrating his extensive accounting and operational background developed over the past 14 years working for law firms and private industry. He was written and spoken at length regarding accounting and tax issues surrounding the cannabis industry via the Center for Cannabis and Social Policy, the Center for New Revenue, and Marijuana Venture magazine. He is a member of both the WSCPA, the AICPA, and also teaches cannabis taxation classes for both CPAs and accounting students.