CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER, NEW YORK OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT

L. Simone Washington is the Chief Equity Officer for the Office of Cannabis Management where she leads the Social and Economic Equity and Internal DEIA teams and is responsible for ensuring the integrate of equity across the agency’s operations. As an equity practitioner, Simone focuses on driving progressive change at the intersection of racial and economic equity. With nearly 2 decades of experience, Simone has worked with numerous preeminent social justice organizations and mission-led corporations to implement equity-first principles across their value chains, including the Ben & Jerry's, BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) and Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, where she was spearheaded global equity & inclusion operations designed to improve internal culture as well as external business practices. Simone is the co-author the 2021 World Economic Forum Lighthouse Action on Social Justice Through Stakeholder Inclusion

CO-FOUNDER, B NOBLE

Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Brathwaite) emerged in late 1970s New York as a pioneering graffiti artist, exhibiting internationally alongside contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Futura 2000. A central figure in the city’s downtown cultural scene, he helped transform graffiti into a global art movement and co-produced, starred in, and scored the influential film Wild Style. He went on to direct music videos for artists including Snoop Dogg, Nas, and Queen Latifah, and from the late 1980s to mid-90s was the original host of Yo! MTV Raps. Fab continues to create and exhibit visual art while producing and directing film and television projects. His 2019 Netflix documentary Grass is Greener explored the intersections of cannabis, music, and criminal justice. Inspired by that work, he launched the social equity cannabis brand B NOBLE in 2021, in partnership with Curaleaf.

CO-FOUNDER, KATAN ASSOCIATES

Seth Yakatan is a veteran corporate finance executive and influential thought leader in the cannabis, wellness, and biotech sectors. As co-founder and partner of Katan Associates, Inc., he has managed strategic transactions exceeding billions in value, drawing from his earlier experience at Union Bank of California. . A prominent voice in the cannabis industry with 37,000 LinkedIn followers, Seth frequently speaks at major industry events including Benzinga, MJ Unpacked and Hall of Flowers, and serves as a trusted advisor to key companies like Eaze and The Glasshouse Group. His experience includes founding roles in cannabinoid therapeutics companies, board membership at FitLife Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTLF).

CEO, THE TRAVEL AGENCY: A CANNABIS STORE

Paul Yau is the Co-Founder CEO of The Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store brand of dispensaries with locations in Union Square, Downtown Brooklyn, Fifth Avenue and SoHo. Prior to co-founding The Travel Agency, Paul worked in the cannabis sector as an investor, consultant and advisor. Before entering the cannabis space, Paul spent the bulk of his career working in private equity and venture capital, as an investor as well as an operator. He co-founded an award-winning startup in the health & wellness space. Paul lives on the North Fork of Long Island with his wife and two children. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Paul has lived in New York for 19 years. Paul is a Chartered Accountant and has a B.Comm from the University of Melbourne.

CEO, FLUENT

David Vautrin is the CEO for FLUENT. Vautrin began his cannabis career in 2016 starting up CannaRoyalty in California. CR was a vertically integrated operator including cultivation, processing, manufacturing and distributed to over 500 dispensaries. The company rapidly developed into an early-stage MSO, rebranded to Origin House and successfully sold to Cresco in 2020.
Thereafter, Dave returned to New York to participate in the burgeoning cannabis market.

Vautrin played an instrumental role starting up The Travel Agency in 2022, which operates three stores in NYC. In June of 2024, joined RIV Capital as CRO to expand the retail operations and lead the statewide wholesale business. RIV is vertically integrated and serves both medical and adult consumers. Vautrin assumed the Interim CEO role at RIV Capital to support the impending combination with Cansortium. The combined company has 42 retail locations and cultivation

CEO, GOTHAM

Joanne Wilson is a dynamic entrepreneur, angel investor, and philanthropist with a diverse career spanning multiple industries. As an early-stage angel investor, she built a portfolio of over 150 companies, focusing on supporting female entrepreneurs and businesses that align with her values. Joanne is the founder and CEO of Gotham, a concept store where cannabis meets culture. In business and beyond, Joanne is steadfastly committed to philanthropy and social justice. She serves as the Chair of The Public Housing Community Fund and sits on the board of Friends of the High Line.

PARTNER, FOLEY HOAG LLC

With 18 years of legal practice and 6 years in the cannabis industry, Jeff leverages his legal expertise and deep cannabis industry knowledge to serve as a trusted adviser to cannabis industry operators, investors and ancillary businesses on early-stage corporate structuring and financing, joint ventures, M&A, strategic partnerships, and commercial contract negotiations of all types, as well as state and federal regulatory matters.

CO-FOUNDER, THE CANNABIS COLLECTIVE

Shahbaaz Kara-Virani (SKV) lives at the intersection of technology, revenue & leadership. He spent 7 years at Salesforce before building top companies in the global cannabis industry including Lift & Co, Dutchie, & KIND.

Currently, he is the principal of SKVentures which invests, advises and acts as a fractional growth/revenue officer for market leading cannabis companies. Shahbaaz has also Founded CannAcquire, a retail acquistion platform based in Canada as well as Co-Founded The Cannabis Collective in New York.

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER, TERPENE BELT FARMS

Andrew Lowitz is a founding member and Chief Revenue Officer of Terpene Belt Farms Andrew is a career Commercial Executive, Chief Revenue Officer, Board Member and Executive Team Advisor. He is responsible for strategic and operational commercial leadership, modeling and execution across Marketing, Business Development, Sales, Customer Growth/Retention Andrew is also the Co-Founder of Cannabis Collective - a think tank community built to support leaders in the burgeoning Cannabis industry.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER, CANNABIS MEDIA COUNCIL

Amy Deneson is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Cannabis Media Council, a first-of-its-kind trade association on a mission to deprogram the war on plants by ending the mainstream media moratorium on cannabis advertising. Under her leadership, the Council launched their inaugural CLIO award-winning PSA campaign "I'm High Right Now," which has reached all 50 states and the Spanish language version “Estoy High Ahora Mismo” was created in Puerto Rico and celebrated globally. She is the primary author of FULL SPECTRUM: Guidelines for Responsible Cannabis Advertising, the industry’s first set of nationwide, self-regulatory standards–now in its third edition and updated annually. In 2019, she co-founded Pheno, an omnichannel advertising agency for cannabinoid brands, businesses, and revolutions. Additional executive leadership roles include Curaleaf, House of Puff, and blur. She lives in New York City.

FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER & FRACTIONAL CCO, CANNABIS MEDIA COUNCIL

Nancy is a tech-savvy content strategist and highly empathetic leader with more than 20 years of journalism experience. Currently a fractional Chief Content Officer at Cannabis Media Council, which provides access to education and resources that are grounded in science, compassion, civil rights, and social justice. From 2023 to 2025, she served as Head of Content at PS (fka PopSugar) at Vox Media, where she led a top-to-bottom redesign and relaunch of a beloved wellness brand. Between 2020 and 2023, I served as a content strategy consultant for brands, including House of Wise, a woman-owned and -operated CBD startup. I graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and I live in Brooklyn with my partner and my rescue dog. I’m an active mentor with the American Society of Magazine Editors and a frequent judge of the National Magazine Awards.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, PROHIBITION PARTNERS

Stephen is Co-Founder & CEO of Prohibition Partners, a global leader in cannabis tech, data and media. Stephen is a highly regarded cannabis thought leader, who frequently contributes to Bloomberg, Financial Times and The Economist on the industry and is a regular public speaker, having presented at over 100 events including – SXSW and Adweek. He collaborates with investors, entrepreneurs and regulators to identify, qualify and maximize the opportunities in the global cannabis industry.

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER, ROSEN GROUP

Lori Rosen is the founder and president of Rosen Group, an award-winning, fully integrated public relations and communications firm headquartered in New York City. A self-proclaimed news enthusiast, she has dedicated her career to the dynamic world of media. With a history spanning four decades, the firm maintains a strong roster of issue-oriented clients including industry associations, policy-driven media outlets, and sustainability-focused organizations. In 2013, Rosen Group became an early pioneer in the budding cannabis industry providing public relations support to a range of both plant-touching and non-plant touching businesses across the supply chain, earning industry recognition that includes topping the Observer’s PR Power List in Cannabis and Green Market Report’s Top Most Effective PR Firms.

CEO, HAPPY MUNKEY

Vladimir Bautista is the CEO and Co-Founder of Happy Munkey, a globally recognized NYC cannabis lifestyle brand rooted in culture and community. A legacy pioneer from Sugar Hill, Harlem, Vlad is a leading voice for social equity and Latino representation in the legal cannabis space. Under his leadership, Happy Munkey opened two state-licensed dispensaries 151 Dyckman Street in Manhattan and 453 Fulton Street Cemetenting its place in cannabis history. A Clio Award-winning cultural strategist and sought-after speaker, Vlad has appeared at MJBizCon, The Yale Club, and CannaSalud, and has been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, CNBC, and more. From producing iconic consumption events to partnering with Columbia University, his mission is to uplift communities historically excluded from the industry. Vlad continues to prove the future of cannabis is not just legal it’s inclusive, creative, and unapologetically NY.

CEO, SPEEDWELL PARTNERS

Heather Molloy is an experienced investor and strategist with a decade of leadership in capital allocation and corporate development across the regulated cannabis sector. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Speedwell Partners, she has overseen investments spanning hemp and cannabis industries. Previously, Heather led M&A and strategic transactions at TerrAscend. Her experience combines deal making, financial structuring, operational insight, and a deep understanding of complex regulatory environments. Heather has served on both public and private company boards, where she supports management teams in executing growth strategies and navigating capital markets. She brings a pragmatic approach to investing—balancing strategic vision with rigorous financial execution to help businesses scale responsibly and attract aligned capital partners.

INVESTMENT FUND CO-FOUNDER, PHYTO PARTNERS LP

Brett was a Founding Member & Managing Director of Phyto Partners LP. At Phyto, Brett was responsible for sourcing and structuring new investment opportunities, collaborating with senior management of existing portfolio companies on various strategic initiatives, fundraising efforts, and co-managing Phyto Partners portfolio of over 30 investments. Brett sits on the board and advises many companies in the cannabis sector.
He has helped create Phyto Partners into one of the preeminent funds in the space, where Phyto has been recognized as a Top Cannabis Investment fund by Forbes.
He provides strategic advice, industry insight & guides the portfolio companies in capital formation, joint ventures, & commercial agreements.
Brett was highlighted in Business Insider “as one of the rising stars of marijuana’s investment scene that everyone from Wall Street to Silicon Valley should know."

MANAGING PARTNER, JEFFREY HOFFMAN & ASSOCIATES PLLC

Jeffrey is a cannabis attorney and legalization activist with over 25 years of experience starting, operating, advising, and selling businesses. His legal practice focuses entirely on cannabis, including licensees in the adult-use cannabis market, patients and practitioners in the medical cannabis space, and cannabis adjacent product and service providers. He has a particular interest in justice involved individuals as well as social and economic equity cannabis license applicants. In this capacity, he aids cannabis prisoners in gaining their freedom and assists those convicted of cannabis offenses in getting such convictions expunged from their record.

CEO, STICKY CARDS

Varun Sharma is the Founder and CEO of Sticky Cards, a Toronto-based company helping cannabis retailers connect directly with their customers through digital loyalty cards stored in Apple and Google Wallet. Sticky Cards replaces traditional SMS marketing with branded push notifications—compliant, instant, and completely free to send.

Before founding Sticky Cards, Varun led Spark&Spur, a marketing agency that worked with brands like CIBC, Aurora Cannabis, and KIND Magazine. His background in marketing and technology led him to create a simpler way for dispensaries to drive repeat visits, reward loyal customers, and build lasting relationships—all without apps or text message fees.

Today, Sticky Cards is trusted by dispensaries across North America looking to modernize how they engage customers while staying compliant and on brand.

SENIOR CANNABIS & PSYCHEDELICS REPORTER, LAW360

Sam Reisman is the senior cannabis and psychedelics reporter for legal industry news website Law360, reporting on the changing relationship between drugs and the law. He covers policy and litigation in the cannabis and psychedelics spaces with a focus on the evolving body of caselaw, legislation to reform drug policy, and how lawyers and activists that work in the field of controlled substances have navigated the tensions between federal and state policy.

CEO, MISS GRASS

Kate Miller is the co-founder and CEO of Miss Grass, a brand on a mission to help the world get good at weed. Inspired by her stint working at a dispensary in college and powered by a decade-long career in entertainment, Kate is dedicated to making cannabis accessible, rewriting the pervasive and shameful narrative around this plant, and building a community of conscious cannabis consumers.

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER, SSC ADVISORS

Brian is the co-Founder and Managing Partner of SSC Advisors. SSC advises emerging companies in the cannabis industry, primarily with respect to strategy, M&A, restructuring, debt placements or exit strategies. SSC represents many of the larger public MSO’s in the cannabis space as well as a number of the emerging single and multi-state private cannabis companies, including Cresco Labs, Curaleaf, Ascend Wellness, Acreage, Curio Wellness and Greenlight Cannabis, among others.
From mid-2018 thru Sep 2020, Brian served as EVP - Finance of Grassroots Cannabis. While at Grassroots, Brian focused on finance, strategy, capital markets, investor relations and M&A. During his tenure at Grassroots, Brian was responsible for raising in excess of $200mm of capital and ultimately led the merger of Grassroots and Curaleaf. Brian started his career in banking, private equity and credit and has served on various boards.

CEO, BLAZE

With a dedication for driving innovation through technology, CEO and Founder Chris Violas uses his on-the-ground experience in cannabis operations and Amazon business development to support the growth of cannabis retailers. His background in business information systems and online security, coupled with his time as an owner of a dispensary and delivery service, gives him the perspective necessary to drive the expansion of BLAZE’s powerful platforms.

Prior to launching BLAZE, Chris worked for Amazon Web Services, where he partnered with new companies to establish their cloud-based operations and meet or exceed the security standards. Chris has a B.S. in Business Administration from Cal Poly with a concentration in Information Technology. He lives in Orange County, California, where he spends time outside the office running, camping and backpacking with his family.

CO-OWNER AND VP OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING, GOTHAM BUDS

Malika Bellamy is the sole woman Co-Owner and Vice President of Communications & Marketing at Gotham Buds, the largest Black and Brown-owned dispensary in uptown Manhattan. Raised between Washington, D.C. and the Bronx, Malika has always been a city girl with a deep love for storytelling and building authentic connections. She earned her B.A. in Communications and Public Relations from Clark Atlanta University, an experience that laid the foundation for a dynamic 15+ year career spanning government policy, luxury consumer goods, and advertising. Today, Malika is deeply committed to developing community-driven initiatives that center and empower Black and Brown communities, both within the cannabis industry and beyond.

ENTERPRISE SALES MANAGER, WEEDMAPS

Liana Benson is the Enterprise Sales Manager at Weedmaps, where she oversees the company’s MSO clientele and strategic market development across the U.S. In this role, Liana leads a team dedicated to servicing enterprise accounts and driving sustainable growth through innovation, collaboration, and deep industry partnership. With a focus on aligning technology, data, and market strategy, Liana plays a key role in helping cannabis operators navigate an evolving regulatory and competitive landscape. Her work ensures that Weedmaps remains a trusted partner and driving force in shaping the future and development of the industry at a local level. Passionate about advancing the industry through connection and insight, Liana brings a unique perspective on enterprise growth, market expansion, and the power of strategic collaboration within the cannabis ecosystem.

VP OF STRATEGY, HYBRID MARKETING CO

Jenny is a business strategist and marketing leader with 20+ years of experience executing double-digit growth for organizations in highly regulated industries. She is dedicated to evolving the cannabis sector by helping to instill business maturity and sustainable growth throughout the full supply chain—from seed to sale, from the U.S. to international markets.

As the VP of Strategy for Hybrid Marketing Co., Jenny hyper-focuses on the unique business outcomes of every client leveraging five key business drivers: revenue, risk, cost cash-flow, and asset utilization. The result: consistent, high ROI.

Jenny doesn’t step lightly — she charges with a collaborative spirit, limitless compassion, and serious grit. Based in Denver, CO., Jenny is an
outdoors-obsessed, high-altitude ultramarathon runner and a play-first-homework-later Mom.