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Keynote Speakers

Matthew Morgan
CEO, Former CEO of Reef/Tryke
Matthew Morgan

CEO, Former CEO of Reef/Tryke

Matthew Morgan, 32, is founder and CEO of Reef Dispensaries / Tryke Companies, which operates vertically-integrated facilities in Nevada and Arizona, in both recreational and medical markets. Reef is the industry leader in Nevada, with its Las Vegas Strip location

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Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Congressman Earl Blumenauer

Congressman Blumenauer is a national leader on cannabis reform and a founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

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Cameron Forni
Cameron Forni, Co-Founder and President of Cura Cannabis Solutions
Cameron Forni

Cameron Forni, Co-Founder and President of Cura Cannabis Solutions

Cameron Forni, 31, has built a strong reputation in the cannabis industry for being an innovative, energetic, and focused professional; he is well known in the industry as one of the world’s leading authorities on the design for cannabis vape

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Rick Garza
Rick Garza, Director
Rick Garza

Rick Garza, Director

Rick Garza has been with the Liquor Cannabis Board since 1997. During Rick’s career with WSLCB he has also held the positions of Legislative and Tribal Liaison, Policy Director and Deputy Director. Prior to joining the Liquor and Cannabis Board,

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Steve Marks
Executive Director, OLCC
Steve Marks

Executive Director, OLCC

The 53-year-old Steven Marks is a veteran of public service, with 30 years of service to the State of Oregon. Prior to joining the Oregon Liquor Control Commission as Executive Director, he served as a policy advisor in the

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Noah Stokes
Founder/CEO, Cannaguard Security
Noah Stokes

Founder/CEO, Cannaguard Security

With years of experience and technology industry, Noah believes that with the proper utilization of technology and intelligent design you can make a MJ facility one that people will avoid, rather than attack. Founder of CannaGuard Security, the Nations’ Premier Cannabis

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2018 Presenters

Please note that all sessions and speakers are subject to change without notice.

M. Wolf Segal
Cannabiculturist/Quantum Photobiologist/Media Figure/Consultant/"Pot Star", Time 4 hemp Broadcasting/SPARTN-GrowSmith/farmer in the Sky
M. Wolf Segal

Cannabiculturist/Quantum Photobiologist/Media Figure/Consultant/"Pot Star", Time 4 hemp Broadcasting/SPARTN-GrowSmith/farmer in the Sky

Michael Wolf Segal aka the Farmer in the Sky: a) planted his first indoor crop, under VHO Gro Lux lighting in 1975; b) invented the grow method now known as Sea of Green (SoG); c) was part of the design team which devised the first eight-sided paraboloid reflectors; d) along with Bill Lermer and Larry wrote the column Farmer in the Sky, which appeared in Sinsemilla Tips: Domestic Marijuana Journal from 1982 until October 1989. In this capacity, he was either the first or one of the first to speculate in writing about the possibilities of LEDs, aquaponics and sealed room growing in cannabiculture. He was the first to introduce and write about the earliest ceramic metal halides—the Osram Optimarcs and the first ceramic high-pressure sodiums—the Ceramalux-4. This phase of his life ended when the indictments in Operation Green Merchant were unsealed. He went away from 28October1989-24February2005 after pleading down to 3,999 plants from the 12,000= in the original indictment.

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Marco Materazzi
Managing Shareholder, Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Marco Materazzi

Managing Shareholder, Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Marco is a general business lawyer with a practice focused on emerging growth companies, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and range of other business matters. Marco represents clients across many industries, with a focus on the cannabis industry since 2015. He has significant experience advising clients with respect to corporate governance, securities offerings, intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, entity structure, shareholder agreements and general contract negotiation. Prior to joining Emerge Law Group, Marco was a partner at Tonkon Torp LLP. He also previously worked in London and Hong Kong for Herbert Smith LLP, where he represented corporate clients and investment banks in a range of business transactions, including public securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Marco received his J.D. in 2005 from the UCLA School of Law, and his B.A. in 1999 from Cornell University.

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Mark Hackett
Senior Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Mark Hackett

Senior Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Mark Hackett focuses his practice on employment law, particularly for the cannabis industry. For over twenty years, he has used his extensive experience advising employers about the full range of employment law issues, including wage and hour laws, employee handbooks and workplace policies, medical and other leaves, and employee performance. Prior to joining Emerge Law Group, Mark worked as General Counsel and Human Resources Director for a large Portland natural foods manufacturer, owned his own law firm, and was a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine, one of the Northwest’s largest law firms. Prior to law, Mark managed a family wholesale distribution business, gaining valuable experience as an employer and business owner.

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Ted Bernhard
Ted Bernhard

Ted Bernhard is a seasoned business, securities, tax and regulatory compliance attorney with a professional career spanning over two decades. He began his legal career with one of the largest and most prominent law firms in the Pacific Northwest and joined 7 Point Law to continue serving entrepreneurs, businesses, and private equity investors.
Specifically, Ted helps organize privately owned companies and assists with structuring and negotiating financial transactions. It brings into play his business law expertise, executive management experience, and venture capital private equity knowledge. His outside interests include nature photography, birdwatching, and volunteering to ref Upward Youth Basketball games. He has more energy than his two labradoodles combined. Almost.
Ted earned his undergrad degree in Mathematical Economics (magna cum laude) from Princeton. He graduated from Willamette University College of Law. Between college and law school, he worked in New York City as an analyst for the consulting firm Booz-Allen & Hamilton.
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Dustin Powers
Dustin Powers

-Partner for 8 years in 2 large OMMP farms
-Partner for 2 years with Rebel Roots, an OLCC processor
-Previous General Manager of Green Labs LLC, a WSLCB licensed grower/processor
-Trained directly under GreyWolf and Joe Oakes at PharmGold
-SkunkPharm Collaborator
-Lab Society Collaborator and Consultant
-Independent Lab Consultant 
-Social Media Entrepreneur
-Industry Innovator
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Dan Nicholls
Dan Nicholls

Dan Nicholls, CFA has a distinguished background in investment banking and financial securities. He created and manages the Marijuana Index, a stock index that tracks the top cannabis stocks in the U.S. and Canada. Featured in over 100 publications, including the Washington Post, Reuters, CNBC, and Forbes, the Marijuana Index is one of the leading resources for analyzing the cannabis public securities markets. Dan has also provided investment banking and capital raising services to more than 50 cannabis companies over the last three years. Previously, he worked at a boutique investment bank where he led $1 billion in healthcare M&A transactions. Dan graduated with honors from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and is a CFA charter holder.

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Nick Yerico
Director of Sales, Apeks Supercritical
Nick Yerico

Director of Sales, Apeks Supercritical

Nick Yerico is the Director of Sales at Apeks Supercritical, an Ohio-based CO2 extraction company. He is also in charge of the service department and helps troubleshoot issues that customers experience. Nick has more than 10 years' experience in various industrial and mechanical projects involving similar equipment. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Economics from the State University of New York College at Fredonia.

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Norman Ives
Cannabis Program Manager, Mosaic Insurance Alliance
Norman Ives

Cannabis Program Manager, Mosaic Insurance Alliance

We’ve also invested time and effort to become NXT Level certified with the utilities: a unique training/education program that gives us a special standing with the utilities, as they have the confidence in our products and confident we know how their rebate systems work. For the client, it helps get the best, above-board rebate.

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Rob Brown
President, CannaSafeSolutions
Rob Brown

President, CannaSafeSolutions

Rob Brown is a trainer, entrepreneur, and the owner of two businesses: CannaSafeSolutions, a distributor of PCO safety apparel including disposable gloves, masks, and shoe covers and Thorn Smith Labs, the leading provider of analytical unknowns to colleges and universities worldwide. Mr. Brown's background includes developing and conducting corporate training, especially utilizing the DISC and Managing by Values methodologies. He is a seasoned presenter with extensive training from Communispond. He has presented to such groups as the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE), and the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), and Smith Barney. Smith Barney Consulting Group named Rob the Trainer of the Year for the Group‚ Northeast Division.

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Ryan Michael
Co-founder & CEO, KindTyme
Ryan Michael

Co-founder & CEO, KindTyme

As a marketer, photographer, developer & designer; Ryan brings over a decade of professional experience to the cannabis community. Co-founder & CEO of KindTyme, he & the KindTyme team dedicate each day to improving Mary Jane's image one canna-business at a time.

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Sean Clancy
Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Sean Clancy

Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Sean Clancy's practice focuses on business and intellectual property. As outside IP counsel for a variety of innovative industries including state-licensed cannabis, entertainment media, design, consumer products, food, beverages, professional services, software, and new technology, Sean advises on state and federal trademark rights, copyrights, packaging and labeling, publicity, privacy, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, and licensing. As general business and corporate counsel, Sean negotiates, prepares legal documents, and advises on relationships spanning from entity formation and ordinary business to complex transactions, regulatory compliance, and disputes.

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Sean Lucas
Digital Director, NUG Digital Marketing
Sean Lucas

Digital Director, NUG Digital Marketing

Sean is a certified marketing professional for Google, Bing, and Yahoo. He has over 11 years of experience as a digital marketing specialist. He has an extensive background in digital strategy and implementation. He’s lived and worked in China and has specialties in digital strategy, online marketplace development, and eCommerce. Most recently, he’s achieved sales and marketing accolades in eBay Motors and Google. He’s current in all trends and technologies with a deep understanding of best practices and requirements. His strategic approach to marketing and advertising, along with his understanding of all aspects of campaign management, helps Sean make critical decisions that translate into positive ROI and successful execution of deliverables.

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Stephen Gold
Founder, The Daily Leaf
Stephen Gold

Founder, The Daily Leaf

Stephen Gold has a background in sales and marketing of the arts. During his five years working in the fashion industry, he led a global sales team of five employees and three agents. After living in New York City his entire life, Stephen decided to follow through on his passion of marijuana and moved to Oregon to get involved in the industry. In Oregon, Mr. Gold met his business partner Andy Yashar and created the GroupOn-esque marketing platform The Daily Leaf, which has been serving the Oregon cannabis community for over 2 years now. The Daily Leaf helps drive consumers through dispensary doors giving them up-to-date information on all of the best deals and exclusives in town.

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Todd Dalotto
Horticultural Scientist, CAN! Research, Education & Consulting
Todd Dalotto

Horticultural Scientist, CAN! Research, Education & Consulting

Todd Dalotto is a horticultural scientist, consultant, and educator specializing in cannabis. His horticultural research degree from Oregon State University emphasizes sustainable agriculture and plant breeding, he Chaired Oregon’s Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana and has served on various legislative and rules advisory committees for the State of Oregon. Todd founded the first U.S. hemp food business Hungry Bear Hemp Foods, authored the world's first hemp cookbook The Hemp Cookbook: From Seed to Shining Seed, and founded Oregon's first cannabis medical clinic, education & support center, Compassion Center. He serves on Americans for Safe Access's Patient-Focused Certification Review Board, the Cannabis Certification Council's Technical Advisory Committee, and is president of CAN! Research, Education & Consulting in Albany, Oregon, where he breeds and conducts horticultural research, teaches, and consults businesses on the horticultural science & public policy of cannabis.

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Rob Bovett
Legal Counsel, Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)
Rob Bovett

Legal Counsel, Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)

Rob Bovett currently serves as Legal Counsel for the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC), where he primarily works on policy matters relating to governance, elections, ocean issues, and drugs. He previously served as the elected District Attorney (2009-2014) and appointed Assistant County Counsel (1992-2009) for Lincoln County, Oregon. He is the author of many of Oregon’s drug laws, including those relating to meth lab control. Mr. Bovett created numerous state and local initiatives that provide science-based solutions to problems caused by substance abuse, such as HOPE and other diversionary programs. He has authored many opinion pieces on drug policy, including those published by The Oregonian and The New York Times, has provided over 500 presentations regarding drug policy, and has appeared on numerous programs, such as Good Morning America, National Public Radio, and PBS NewsHour and FRONTLINE.

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Adie Poe
Instructor, CEO, Washington University School of Medicine, Habu
Adie Poe

Instructor, CEO, Washington University School of Medicine, Habu

Dr. Adie Poe is a junior faculty member at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, MO. As a neuroscientist, she has been studying the addictive and pain-relieving properties of opioids and cannabinoids for the last 14 years. Her work has been consistently funded by the National Institute on Drug abuse, and she has received numerous awards for her cutting-edge work. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Poe is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of habu health, a research group committed to instilling consumer confidence in cannabis purchases by harnessing scientific rigor. If you’d like to be a part of an exciting hybrid between citizen science and personalized medicine (and recreation), please visit http://www.habuhealth.com/pilot.
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Eric Wendt
Green Leaf Lab
Eric Wendt

Green Leaf Lab

Eric has been working in chemistry labs his entire professional career. He got his start in the pharmaceutical industry working with many of the top Fortune 500 pharma companies on product development, formulation work, and stability studies. After three years living and working in the Midwest, the lure of all the outdoor activities Portland had to offer prompted a move to the Pacific Northwest. He took a position in the quality control laboratory of a growing vitamin, mineral, and nutritional supplement company located in Vancouver Washington. There he facilitated the growth of the laboratory and worked on analytical method development to reduce turnaround time, expand the testing capabilities of the lab, and assist with new FDA oversight and regulations of the nutritional supplement industry.  Next he spent time with an instrumentation company working as a technical consultant and outside sales for analytical chemistry applications ranging from academic research, oil and gas industry, pharmaceuticals, and environmental applications. In November of 2015, he joined Green Leaf Lab and has worked to bring its operations in line with the standards required in a regulated industry and has helped Green Leaf Lab become one of the premier cannabis laboratories in the Northwest. Eric also had the opportunity to participate in the RAC committee meetings and was a member of a subcommittee helping to craft the new testing requirements for the industry. When he’s not working, Eric enjoys spending time outdoors and is an avid rock climber, backcountry skier, and mountain biker.

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Jenna Rice
Jenna Rice

Jenna Rice comes to the cannabis industry after 20 years of development in retail food service management. Jenna moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1994 to attend Lewis and Clark College, where she earned a degree in Religious studies. After graduation Jenna spent several years growing an artisan import company from Bali, Indonesia, but found her professional home in the food dens of Portland where she spent her years honing her management skills and style. Jenna thrives in leadership development and increasing her knowledge of professional management, customer service and business philosophy. Jenna has managed teams and operations in several restaurant settings in both California and Oregon, from boutique catering business to high volume, full meal service to multi-state bakery chains. Jenna joined the Cannabis industry in early 2017. It is a perfect home for her mix of skills, passion for cannabis and alignment with growing new businesses.

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Trista Okel
Founder & CEO at EMPOWER™
Trista Okel

Founder & CEO at EMPOWER™

Trista Okel is a woman on a mission: reduce America's use of harmful pharmaceuticals by empowering people with natural, healthy, pain-relieving alternatives. Trista has been an active medical cannabis advocate since 2004, when she began developing her flagship product, Empower® Topical Relief Oil, to ease her mother's agonizing pain. Her company, Empower BodyCare, has won local and national acclaim for her effective, luxurious, spa-quality products. Trista is proud to be the founder & CEO of one of a handful of companies offering "ambassador products" to people who, prior to using cannabis or hemp infused topical products, would never consider using cannabis.

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Brent Kenyon
Brent Kenyon

Brent Kenyon is a 25 yr cannabis activist and business man who started (Southern Oregon
Alternative Medicine) Oregon’s largest medical marijuana clinic chain. Brent also participates in many other areas in the industry such as dispensaries, farming, and processing products. He sat on the OLCC rules advisory committee as well as the finance committee for measure 91. He was recognized by Rob Patridge the former chairman of the OLCC as the most influential person in cannabis in Oregon last year. His involvement in the political process and marijuana movement in many states over the last 25 yrs has also made him one of the most effective and educated consultants in the country.
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Jeremy Sackett
Founder, Cascadia Labs
Jeremy Sackett

Founder, Cascadia Labs

Jeremy Sackett is the VP of Product Development at Altopa, a consumer wellness company that has developed revolutionary technology platform that allows consumers to find, customize and blend plant-based extracts at home. Altopa will launch their countertop device called the “Oblend” nationally in 2018.

Jeremy has extensive professional experience in the contract research and clinical supply manufacturing sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. Jeremy brought his expertise in cGMP systems and in highly regulated medicinal product development to the Cannabis Industry when he founded Cascadia Labs, which continues to operate a multi-facility laboratory network providing industry-leading cannabis analytical testing services with Jeremy’s strategic and visionary support.

With an innovative and science-based approach to cannabinoid formulations and plant-based medicine, Jeremy dedicates his professional efforts to a personal mission of finding solutions for improved well-being for our local and global community.

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Catherine Sidman
Cascade Sciences
Catherine Sidman

Cascade Sciences

Catherine Sidman has been a laboratory equipment expert specializing in vacuum applications for 14 years. Working closely with the Alchemist Resource researchers (formerly known as SkunkPharmers),  Catherine introduced industrial brands like Agilent, Cascade TEK, Cascade Botanical, Welch and Edwards to the cannabis space in 2013.  She has an in-depth understanding of how laboratory and vacuum applications can be optimized for cannabis processing.

Catherine now brings her expertise to Cascade Sciences, building bridges between industrial equipment manufacturers and the emerging cannabis processing entrepreneurs.

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Ammon Ford
Ammon Ford

Ammon holds joint JD and MBA degree from Seattle University’s School of Law and Albers School of Business and Economics with a focus in entrepreneurial business law. He is fascinated by the development of cannabis in law and economics and looks forward to navigating the industry for decades to come.

At Seattle University, Ammon’s Nocturnal Brewing team was the Grand Prize Winner of the 17th Annual Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition, hosted in 2015 by the Albers Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center. In 2013 he founded the Cannabis Law Society (CLAW), the first cannabis-centered law student association in the US, and served on the boards of the JD/MBA Student Association and Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity.  

When he is not working, you can find Ammon camping, reading poetry, and spending time with his wife and their dog Stubby Charlie.

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Randall Huft
Creative Director, Innovation Agency
Randall Huft

Creative Director, Innovation Agency

Randall Huft is considered one of the leading experts in cannabis brand development, marketing, advertising and public relations. A well-known speaker and author on marketing and business-building, Randall has developed award-winning campaigns throughout an illustrious career, and contributed to the growth of many successful companies, including Fortune 500 corporations and start-ups in the cannabis industry that have gone on to become leaders in their market.

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Jerry Norton
CEO, American Hemp Seed Genetics
Jerry Norton

CEO, American Hemp Seed Genetics

State of Oregon appointed Oregon State Industrial Committee, Founder of Oregon Hemp Convention, Oregon Medical Marijuana Cup, American Hemp Seed Genetics, CBDHoneyStix.com, Kler Solutions, State of Oregon Agricultural Hemp Seed AG-R10408331HH Oregon Hemp Industry Association.

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Vanita Spaulding
Managing Director, Cogent Valuation
Vanita Spaulding

Managing Director, Cogent Valuation

Vanita is a 33 year expert in business valuation with expertise in the cannabis industry. She has taught the valuation courses of the American Society of Appraisers for over 15 years, has significant speaking experience, including trial testimony.

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Amanda Borup
Policy Analyst
, OLCC
Amanda Borup

Policy Analyst
, OLCC

Amanda Borup is a Policy Analyst with the Recreational Marijuana Program of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Borup is responsible for helping stakeholders understand and implement the agency’s administrative rules and advising on recreational marijuana policy issues. She has served in a variety of executive branch and agency positions within Oregon and Illinois state government. Prior to joining the OLCC Borup was responsible for developing state policy for the Illinois medical marijuana program. Borup began her professional career in Southwest Oregon working for the Oregon State University/Curry County Extension Service. Borup has a B.A. in Human Development from Oregon State University.

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Jesse Sweet
Director, Administrative Policy and Process OLCC
Jesse Sweet

Director, Administrative Policy and Process OLCC

Jesse Sweet is the Director of Administrative Policy and Process for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. As the Commission’s legal policy coordinator, Mr. Sweet is responsible for drafting and interpreting administrative rules and advising on legislative and policy issues related to alcohol and marijuana. Mr. Sweet works directly with legislators and industry stakeholders in order to provide technical guidance and advance the Commission’s policy objectives. Mr. Sweet also supervises the Commission’s hearings unit. Mr. Sweet has been with the OLCC since 2010 and he holds degrees from University of Oregon School of Law and Oberlin College.

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TJ Sheehy
Data Analyst, 
OLCC
TJ Sheehy

Data Analyst, 
OLCC

TJ Sheehy is a Data Analyst with the Recreational Marijuana Program of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Sheehy joined the OLCC in February, 2016, and is responsible for overseeing Metrc, Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System. Prior to joining the OLCC Sheehy was with Mile High United Way, in Denver, Co, and most recently was Research Director for Children First Oregon. He has a BA in Political Science from Seattle University, and Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.

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Anthony Johnson
Duff Johnson Consulting
Anthony Johnson

Duff Johnson Consulting

Anthony Johnson, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate that has worked on campaigns in multiple states, was the director of the Vote Yes on 91 campaign that was responsible for the Measure 91 legalization campaign that passed in 2014 with over 56% of the vote. Today, as director of New Approach Oregon, he is working to effectively implement the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. As a co-owner of Duff Johnson Consulting, along with this wife Sarah Duff, Anthony helps cannabis businesses (and ancillary ones) succeed, whether it is getting properly licensed, complying with regulations, or through public relations efforts; clients have included Cannabliss, the International Cannabis Business Conference, Oregon Natural Roots and Ashland Alternative Health. You can read Anthony's blogs on some of the important cannabis issues of the day at www.WeedNews.co
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Christine Smith
Founder and CEO, Grön Chocolate
Christine Smith

Founder and CEO, Grön Chocolate

Christine Smith, got her degree in architectural design at the Univ. of Texas Austin.  Arriving in Oregon in 1999, she embarked on a 20-year career as an architect while her husband Jasper owned and operated a medical marijuana dispensary.  Christine applied her rich understanding of thoughtful proportions and exacting composition to start Gron Chocolates in 2014. Christine takes a principled approach to environmentally smart business practices, and enjoys downtime with Jasper, their two kids and dog, cat, two horses and five chickens.

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Anthony Taylor
Compassionate Oregon
Anthony Taylor

Compassionate Oregon

President of Compassionate Oregon & Commissioner of the New Oregon Cannabis Commission.

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Courtney N. Moran
LL.M. founding principal of EARTH Law, LLC
Courtney N. Moran

LL.M. founding principal of EARTH Law, LLC

Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. founding principal of EARTH Law, LLC is the leading expert championing legal policy for a sustainable Cannabis hemp industry. Courtney's article, Industrial Hemp: Canada Exports, United States Imports was published by the Fordham Environmental Law Review. She successfully lobbied on behalf of the Oregon Industrial Hemp Farmers Association for passage of HB 4060 and SB 1015, protecting Oregon hemp agricultural interests. She authored H 3559, establishing the South Carolina hemp program. She also provided foundational language for Wisconsin industrial hemp legislation, AB 147, AB 183 and SB 119 establishing the Wisconsin hemp program. Courtney serves on the Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section Executive Committee, National NORML Board of Directors, and Verified Life Cycle Board of Directors. Courtney is also the appointed NORML Hemp Liaison and the national Hemp Industries Association Legislative Review Committee Chairwoman.

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Aaron Pelley
Attorney, 7 Point Law, PLLC
Aaron Pelley

Attorney, 7 Point Law, PLLC

Aaron Pelley has played an active role in Cannabis Law for over a decade. He helped build the foundation for legal protections in medical cannabis law and is a leading advocate for the cannabis business. His passion for this new realm of practice led to the launch of 7 Point and the formation of a boutique law firm unsurpassed in cannabis law. He’s not afraid of a challenge. In addition to representing cannabis clients and their business interests, Aaron has earned a reputation for effective high profile litigation. His representative cases convey his ability to handle a diversity of complex legal matters. He has also been invited to speak at Legal Education Seminars and Cannabis Conferences throughout the U.S. Aaron has been repeatedly named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers.

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Ken Erickson
Chief Product Officer, Krimzen
Ken Erickson

Chief Product Officer, Krimzen

Dr. Ken Erickson has been actively involved in the field of health care since the age of 15. As a private practice Chiropractor and clinic director for a multi-disciplinary practice for nearly 20 years, Dr. Erickson became interested in the technology needs of clinics in and around the health and wellness space. This fascination led to active involvement in several entrepreneurial offshoots including software development, intellectual property licensing, and distance learning systems for health and fitness professionals. As Chief Product Officer for Krimzen, Dr. Erickson is dedicated to ensuring that Krimzen's end-to-end enterprise software solution for the Cannabis industry exceeds the expectations of every client - both now and well into the future.

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Mario Ceretto
Founder, New Era CPAs, LLP
Mario Ceretto

Founder, New Era CPAs, LLP

Mario is the founder of New Era CPAs, LLP. and has been helping clients in the cannabis industry across with litigation support, compliance, 280E strategy, and tax preparation since 2009. Mario has served as an expert witness in a medical marijuana defense case (People v. Jovan Jackson(2013)) and was appointed by the Court as the CPA for the first medical marijuana business to file bankruptcy in federal court.

Mario's professional experience is representative of his entrepreneurial character, one not afraid to deviate from the stereotypical norms. After leading audit engagements for large publicly traded companies at PwC in Portland, Oregon, Mario founded an accounting practice in San Diego and has helped hundreds of clients in accounting, consulting and tax engagements. 

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Alan Hanson
Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Alan Hanson

Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Alan spent over 15 years as the general counsel of MAPS Credit Union and developed it into the only large-scale cannabis banking program in Oregon. He recently joined Emerge Law Group to help other banking clients developing cannabis banking programs to help support the industry.

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Chelsea Cantone
Sales Manager, Subzero Scientific
Chelsea Cantone

Sales Manager, Subzero Scientific

Chelsea Cantone was trained in medical cannabis extraction techniques by Skunk Pharm Research. She is the Sales Manager for Subzero Scientific in Gresham, Oregon.

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Corey Frye
Lead Extraction Technician and Owner, Dab Factory LLC
Corey Frye

Lead Extraction Technician and Owner, Dab Factory LLC

Corey Frye is the Lead Extraction Technician and Owner of the Dab Factory LLC in Hillsboro, Oregon.

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Bob Long
Owner and Principal Consultant, CwM H2O, LLC
Bob Long

Owner and Principal Consultant, CwM H2O, LLC

Bob is a water and natural resources consultant with more than 20 years of experience. Bob’s love of all things water led him to Seattle in 1991 where he started his consulting career as a Hydrogeologist. Since then, Bob has worked on water right acquisition, water right renewal, water supply development, water conservation planning, thermal and renewable energy development, as well as expert testimony and transactional due diligence. Bob started CwM H2O, LLC, where he is the owner and Principal Consultant.

Bob’s credentials include Registered Geologist (RG) and Certified Water Rights Examiner (CWRE) in Oregon and Washington; he is a Licensed Hydrogeologist (LHG) in Washington.

Bob enjoys running in strange places and in all weather. When not in the office he is known to fly fish, ski, and support his daughters’ in school and sports. A confirmed Syracuse University sports fan, Bob bleeds orange during the college football, basketball, and lacrosse seasons.

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Andrew Hunzicker
CFO, CFO Bend
Andrew Hunzicker

CFO, CFO Bend

Andrew Hunzicker, CPA is President of CFO Bend. He is an expert in Cannabis startups, CFO services, turnaround strategies, high-growth strategies, capital sourcing, mergers, exits, and wealth protection. He has provided executive leadership and business counsel to companies across many industries including retail, manufacturing, energy, medical/bio, high tech and more. In 2017, he was the runner up in the Portland Business Journal CFO of the Year Award.

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Anton Kimball
Anton Kimball

In the cannabis arena, Kimball Design creates new brands, logotypes, and packaging for some of the most successful cannabis producers and distributors. Recent projects include designs for Attis Trading Company, Celadon Farms, Green Cross Brand, Lifted Farms, Beacon dispensaries, Magic Wand, Windy River, Fulcrum, Thalo CBD, Clear Bright Dawn, PureForm Botanicals, BioPure CBD and Passport Cannabis.

The Kimball studio worked with Sonoma's CannaCraft to recreate the company's Absolute Xtracts brand. ABX products, sold at over one thousand California dispensaries, feature striking new Kimball-designed packages, with support materials such as advertising posters, retail point-of-purchase, merchandising, and decorative apparel. The studio also developed the new logotype and packaging for Humboldt's Finest, one of the premier producing groups in Northern California, as well as branding for the collective, Infyniti Grown, including the creation of a custom, proprietary typeface.

Anton was also a speaker at the 2017 INDO EXPO, delivering a seminar on cannabis brand development and enhancement.

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Amber Wise
Scientific Director, Avitas Agriculture
Amber Wise

Scientific Director, Avitas Agriculture

Amber Wise has a bachelor's and a PhD in Chemistry and has conducted research in the areas of environmental chemical exposures, toxicology, public science involvement and air quality, pesticides, public policy and risk assessment.  She was a university chemistry professor for 5 years and has taught many different undergraduate chemistry courses in California, Bangladesh and the South Side of Chicago.  She’s been the Scientific Director at Avitas Agriculture since November, 2016 and oversees their scientific endeavors in both Washington and Oregon.  This position brings her love of chemistry, botany, and the desire to raise the scientific bar in the cannabis realm together in one challenging and fun job. 

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Beau Whitney
Economist, New Frontier Data / Whitney Economics, LLC
Beau Whitney

Economist, New Frontier Data / Whitney Economics, LLC

Beau Whitney is the senior economist at New Frontier Data. Beau has a unique blend of high tech business operations skills, economics and political analysis, as well as cannabis industry experiences. Beau is also a supply chain expert going back to his days at Intel Corp.. He is the former chief operations officer and compliance officer of one of the largest vertically integrated, publicly traded cannabis company in North America. His experiences incorporated growing, extraction, edible manufacturing and wholesale and retail distribution operations. As an economic and policy analyst, his Whitney Economics white papers analyzing the cannabis market have been referenced in Forbes Magazine, USA Today, as well as in cannabis industry publications and across the Associated Press wire. Beau has provided policy recommendations at the state and national levels and is considered an authority on cannabis economics.

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Jesse Fernández
Jesse Fernández

I started as a farm hand and trimmer in large club grows of Mendocino, California. Most notably for Emerald Cup winner and co-founder of Aficionado Seed Company. Shortly after, I began experimenting with tincture style concentrates and RSO under the California Medical program. I then continued this work in the state of Oregon doing medical transfers as an OMMP patient, branded as Hive Honey edibles and Concentrates. Since 2014 I have worked with Nectar Cannabis Retail stores currently as a Super Lead Budtender at the Montavilla Location. I’m known by some as the weed whisperer because I do a good job pairing a consumer's needs with the right products; what they want to feel, how long they want it to last, what’s good for writer block, a first date and more. Because I sample many products and chat with reps about their process, I have an inside perspective and in depth experience with what works for various needs. It’s been an amazing Journey. I’m glad to say I talk about weed and consult with people about Cannabis for a living.

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Ben Pirie
Strategic Legal Counsel, 7 Point Law
Ben Pirie

Strategic Legal Counsel, 7 Point Law

Ben Pirie combines years of cannabis counsel with an ex-litigator’s appreciation for collaboration and risk management. He uses his experience as in-house counsel to a Fortune 100 company to serve clients in business transactions, contracts, entity formation, securities compliance, corporate governance, intellectual property, licensing, and proper use of Oxford commas. Ben has been advising clients in the cannabis industry in Oregon since 2015, and recently joined 7 Point Law, PLLC, a full-service, Cannabis-exclusive law firm with offices in Washington, Oregon, California, and Maryland.

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Alisha Holloway, PhD
VP of Data Science, Phylos Bioscience
Alisha Holloway, PhD

VP of Data Science, Phylos Bioscience

Alisha Holloway is a data scientist with expertise in genomics and statistical analysis of big data. She was an Assistant Professor at UC San Francisco School of Medicine, and was the founding director of the Gladstone Institutes Bioinformatics Core Facility. She earned a PhD focused on molecular evolution at the University of Texas in Austin.

At Phylos, Alisha has returned to her roots in population genetics, where she leads efforts to use modern genomic and molecular breeding tools to study the genetic variation of cannabis, and improve the quality of plants available in the legal market.  

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Cheryl Landeros
Operations Director, Sproutly USA/Growers Guild Farm
Cheryl Landeros

Operations Director, Sproutly USA/Growers Guild Farm

I received my Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration majoring in Accounting, Finance, and minoring in Economics in 2013 from EWU. I started in the Cannabis Industry in 2014 as the Accounting/Operations Director of Canna-Daddy's and Busy Bee Distributing. I have helped various companies in the cannabis industry optimize their 280E deductions, create complete transparent financial records, and make decisions about moving forward in this high risk industry, In October of 2017 I moved to Eugene to take the position of Operations Director for Sproutly USA and Growers Guild Farm to help move them forward in this difficult and ever changing industry.

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Corinne Celko
Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Corinne Celko

Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Corinne Celko practices land use and development law, obtaining permit and entitlement approvals for a wide variety for development projects, with an emphasis in the cannabis industry. Corinne assists clients in building what they what, where they want, and how they want. She is committed to helping clients move nimbly and efficiently through the land use and development approval process so that their projects can become a reality. Corinne has experience advocating at local government hearings, assisting with local land use application procedures, obtaining commercial building permits, and handling cases before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. Over the past two years, she has worked extensively with various cities and counties throughout Oregon to adopt regulations specific to cannabis-related uses. Prior to joining Emerge Law Group, Corinne was Counsel in the Real Estate and Land Use practice group at Perkins Coie, LLP.

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Dale Roberts
CPA - President, High Growth CPA Services
Dale Roberts

CPA - President, High Growth CPA Services

Dale is the founder of High Growth CPA Services Inc. Dale worked as a Revenue Examiner for Sales, Use and Business taxes in the State of Alabama from 2003 to 2010. After moving on to greater challenges, Dale worked his way up the accounting ladder in private companies spending several years as an Accounting Manager in various industries designing, implementing, operating and improving accounting and administrative systems for new and existing companies. Seeking greater challenges, Dale earned his CPA in Alabama and began the practice in the exciting City of Portland to be in the forefront of accounting solutions for the rapidly growing recreational cannabis industry. When it comes to the complex legal and regulatory environment of running a canna-business, having a CPA and an experienced prior regulatory auditor on your side is a valuable resource. Dale's currently holds a valid CPA license in Alabama & Oregon.

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Casey Houlihan
Executive Director, Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association
Casey Houlihan

Executive Director, Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association

Casey Houlihan currently heads up PNW Development for BDS Analytics - a leading market research and data analytics firm in the cannabis industry - and serves as the Executive Director of the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association [ORCA], a statewide trade association of over two hundred businesses that share a goal of a vibrant, thriving retail cannabis market.
He is a political consultant and organizer that has been actively involved in developing cannabis policy in Oregon for years and brings institutional knowledge as well. He led the statewide field campaign for Measure 91 with New Approach Oregon, and helped to qualify the measure for the ballot.  He's has worked as a labor organizer, a legislative assistant in the Oregon Legislature, Deputy Communications Director for two Eugene-area representatives, and has worked on campaigns of all shapes and sizes.
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Dan Gustafik
Founder & President, Hybrid Tech
Dan Gustafik

Founder & President, Hybrid Tech

As the founder of Hybrid Tech, Dan Gustafik has brought to fruition years of experience in the cannabis, contracting, and equipment technology sectors. He has a passion for maximizing the potential of cultivation facilities utilizing his knowledge of the intricacies of integrating cannabis systems with best cultivation practices. He enjoys balancing running his own business by exploring the Pacific Northwest outdoors with his family as much as he can.

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David Rheins
Founder/Executive Director, MJBA
David Rheins

Founder/Executive Director, MJBA

David Rheins is Founder and Executive Director of the Marijuana Business Association. Providing business intelligence, professional networking, and commercial opportunity for participants in the legal cannabis industry, the MJBA is the leading business organization in the fastest growing industry in America. MJBA hosts cannabis industry trade events, professional education seminars and meetups in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New York, Nevada and Massachusetts, and publishes the popular MJHeadlineNews on Facebook, MJNewsNetwork.com, and Marijuana Channel One on YouTube. David Rheins is a frequent speaker and moderator at Seattle Hempfest, CannaCon Shows, Cannabis Creative Conference, Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo, and many others.

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Douglas Strabel
Founder, Greenmark Expense Reduction Solutions, LLC
Douglas Strabel

Founder, Greenmark Expense Reduction Solutions, LLC

Doug's business background is in Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management. His experience began in the semi-conductor industry in California. He went on to work with multiple semi-conductor start-ups including VLSI Technology and Synertek. Later as a Director of Procurement for Seagate Technology he expanded his experience in the computer peripheral industries and consumer products industries. He was a co-founder of 3Delta Systems (3DSI), an internet-based credit card authorization and Level-3 line item detail payment system. Today 3DSI offers merchants a variety of fully hosted Internet-based payment systems. Between 2000 and 2006 Doug played a major role at Netflix, Inc. as the Director of Materials. Doug founded Greenmark ERS in 2010 to provide management consultancy in the supply chain arena, including project management and logistics with the goal of increasing profit margins by reducing clients cost of purchased materials and services.

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Genny Kiley
Attorney, Emerge Law Group
Genny Kiley

Attorney, Emerge Law Group

Genny Kiley is a co-founder and shareholder of Emerge Law Group, and focuses her practice on business and corporate law. Genny serves as chair of Emerge’s Cannabis Compliance and Licensing practice group and has helped hundreds of cannabis businesses navigate state and local marijuana rules and regulations, obtain recreational and medical marijuana licenses, and avoid common pitfalls unique to the cannabis industry.

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Jackson Capdeville
Technology Consultant, Eden Labs
Jackson Capdeville

Technology Consultant, Eden Labs

Jackson founded an organic, locally sourced, self funded distillery in Santa Cruz, CA in 2007. From this experience, he quickly learned that balancing safety and production was critical to his companies success. After utilizing these lessons himself, he optimized production workflow, without sacrificing safety, to one of the largest wineries in WA, in 2012. As the wine industry mindset became more frustrating, he shifted focus to plants as medicine and began his career at Eden Labs, the most trusted name in the engineering of extraction and distillation systems based on operational efficiencies, safety and the purity of product required to legalize Cannabis on a medical platform. At Eden, Jackson again used his experience as a business owner to train operators in the safe and optimal use of supercritical co2 and ethanol systems and further supports them pre and post sale to make profitable decisions for their production and production facilities as Eden’s chief Technology Consultant

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Jeffrey Friedland
CEO, Friedland Capital
Jeffrey Friedland

CEO, Friedland Capital

Jeffrey Friedland is an investor, author, business executive and a thought leader in the global cannabis industry. Mr. Friedland's latest book, Marijuana: The World's Most Misunderstood Plant was published in late 2015.

He is CEO of Friedland Capital, which was formed in 1982. Over the decades the company’s business has evolved from merchant banking with a focus on emerging market, to today, where Friedland Capital focuses on investments in the global cannabis industry. He is CEO of publicly-held INTIVA BioPharma Inc. (NTVA), which is developing cannabinoid-based drugs under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protocols, and CEO of the majority shareholder of Canada-based INTIVA Inc.  He is also a board member of Israel-based CannRX, a company focused on cannabis-based pharmaceutical development.

Mr.Friedland has been the chief executive officer and a director of a NASDAQ listed financial services company, a director of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company, and the chairman of the supervisory board of a Hong Kong-based company with a stock market listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Mr. Friedland is featured in two weekly online television shows, Cannabis Insider TV (www.cannabisinsider.tv) and Marijuana Stocks of the Week.

Mr. Friedland has been featured or quoted in numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, the New York Times, Bloomberg Television, USA Today, Verslo Zinios (Lithuania), Vercernji (Croatia), International Business Times, the South China Morning Post, the Guam Daily Post, the Forward, the Jewish Week, Quartz, the Jakarta Globe, Israel Daily Television, BreitBart, NBC.com and Forbes.

Mr. Friedland has been a frequent speaker at conferences and events throughout North America, Europe and Asia, including speeches to individual, institutional investors, and cannabis industry entrepreneurs and business owners on the cannabis industry. 

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Jesse Kloberdanz
Jesse Kloberdanz

Jesse Peters
CEO/Founder, Eco Firma Farms
Jesse Peters

CEO/Founder, Eco Firma Farms

Jesse Peters owns Eco Firma Farms and serves as the CEO of the Company. With more than 21 years of Marine Corps service, and nearly 10 years of professional fire fighter service, Mr. Peters has earned political credibility within the cannabis space; a space in which Mr. Peters has worked for over 26 years developing his craft as a cannabis subject matter expert and cultivator as a Master Cultivator. Mr. Peters is a founding member of the Oregon Cannabis PAC and the Oregon Cannabis Association and has testified to state and local legislators and has worked with the OLCC on rules governing cultivation regulation within Oregon. Through his work within the industry and by establishing Eco Firma Farms, Mr. Peters is arguably the force behind the most recognizable cannabis cultivation brands within the state.

Mr. Peters has owned Eco Firma Farms and served as the lead cultivator for the past 17 years. He began by assisting friends with their cultivations in the late 1990s

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Jimmy Makoso
Co-Founder, VP, Lucid Labs
Jimmy Makoso

Co-Founder, VP, Lucid Labs

Jim Makoso is an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry who has built 2 companies over the last 4 years. In January 2015, he founded Lucid Labs, an extraction processing and technology company. Mr. Makoso’s vision was to create a scientific approach to cannabis essential oil extraction processing by utilizing customized scientific equipment in combination with proven scientific processes. Lucid Oils, is the consumer brand that all Lucid Labs products are sold under. Lucid Labs operates through partnership in several states in the USA. Prior to his involvement in the cannabis industry, Mr. Makoso served as a licensed finance and investment professional in New York City and Miami. Mr. Makoso hopes to bring a level of professionalism to the cannabis industry that will help develop viable and sustainable legitimacy within it.

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Samuel Grosz, Esq.
Samuel David Law
Samuel Grosz, Esq.

Samuel David Law

At the Law Office of Samuel Grosz, we pride ourselves on confident, constructive client relationships. We provide responsible, trustworthy legal advocation for local businesses and members of our community. Mr. Grosz has advised many cannabis companies, represented taxpayers before the IRS, and litigated on behalf of his clients.

Mr. Grosz holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University and earned his law degree cum laude from Seattle University. He has a B.A. from Portland State University in finance and marketing with a minor in Russian language. Also, he earned a graduate certificate in Real Estate Development. He brings vast business experience as business owner and investor when working with clients.

He keeps abreast of current local tax matters a member of the Oregon State Bar, Tax Law Committee.

Mr. Grosz is licensed to practice in both Oregon and Washington.

Areas of Practice:
Tax Law, Business Law, Marijuana Law, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, & More!

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Sara Batterby
CEO, Hifi Farms
Sara Batterby

CEO, Hifi Farms

I entered the cannabis industry shortly after the passing of Measure 91 in October of 2014. I had moved to Oregon from the Bay Area with a background in startups and early stage venture capital and I had no idea I would find myself in an entirely different but incredibly exciting startup community. I came from a background in startups and then in angel investing through a fund which I co-founded in Silicon Valley. That experience was unique in Oregon and I quickly put it to work building and funding Hifi Farms.

I also realized that many of Oregon's cannabis entrepreneurs lacked experience and needed support in preparing for and raising early capital. I did a lot of mentoring and ultimately created a clear and teachable methodology, "Courting Angels" that challenges a lot of what founders often hear about how to be successful at this task. I deliver this as a conference workshop all across the country and, since leaving Hifi Farms in November of 2017, I have started working on a book to make this information as broadly available as possible. I founded The Batterby Group to continue to offer this support because I believe that raising capital should be about what you know, and not who you know, and that any competent founder can do it if they know how. I think democratizing access to capital is a foundational step in establishing and maintaining diversity in our cannabis industry and this is something I have always been passionate about.

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