Full Name
Ngiste Abebe
Job Title
Vice President of Public Policy
Company
Columbia Care
Speaker Bio
Ngiste is Vice President of Public Policy at Columbia Care, one of the nation’s leading cannabis companies. She leads on crafting equitable cannabis policy and community engagement. Prior to that, she was co-founder of Undaunted Ventures, a political consulting firm which specializes in innovative narrative, training, and leadership coaching services, and which grew out of her work training organizations and working on campaigns across Virginia. She is the co-founder and co-director emerita of New Leaders Council Virginia, a progressive leadership institute. Ngiste holds a BA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a Masters in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She happily gives and receives recommendations for sci-fi novels and board games.
Full Name
Ryan Andoos
Job Title
Owner
Company
Route 27 Hemp Yard
Speaker Bio
Ryan is the owner of Route 27 Hemp Yard, a business with a mission to pave the road towards new-age, sustainable cannabis cultivation. Every single one of their CBD products are handcrafted from seed to seal. Ryan is also the Chairman of the Long Island region of the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association.
Full Name
Jenny Argie
Job Title
Founder
Company
Jenny's
Speaker Bio
Jenny’s is a woman-owned cannabis brand founded on health, wellness, and love. Based in the heart of Hudson Valley, New York, Jenny’s has been a leader in New York’s legal cannabis industry by being one of the first Processors to be licensed for hemp (CBD), and now for adult-use cannabis.
Jenny Argie's journey is not just about creating cannabis products; it's about crafting a thoughtful path to wellness that aligns with your lifestyle. Jenny's turned passion into purpose, blending the therapeutic essence of full-spectrum cured resin with the joy of guilt-free indulgence.
Jenny's secret? A fusion of tradition and innovation. Imagine sugar-free, kosher, vegan gummies that not only soothe the soul but also respect the body. Decadent milk chocolates enriched with baked quinoa that offer a symphony of flavors while harnessing the calming power of THC. Vapes and pre-rolls that deliver the full essence of the flower with the full benefits of its chemistry.
Our commitment goes beyond taste; it's about the experience. Eco-friendly packaging and a nod to diverse dietary needs reflect our dedication to both the planet and our community.
As New York's canvas of cannabis evolves, Jenny's stands as a beacon of innovation and wellness. Explore the Jenny's difference. Indulge in our THC product line and let us wrap you in a blanket of care, quality, and a little bit of happiness. It won’t surprise you that her website is www.jennyloves.me.
Jenny Argie's journey is not just about creating cannabis products; it's about crafting a thoughtful path to wellness that aligns with your lifestyle. Jenny's turned passion into purpose, blending the therapeutic essence of full-spectrum cured resin with the joy of guilt-free indulgence.
Jenny's secret? A fusion of tradition and innovation. Imagine sugar-free, kosher, vegan gummies that not only soothe the soul but also respect the body. Decadent milk chocolates enriched with baked quinoa that offer a symphony of flavors while harnessing the calming power of THC. Vapes and pre-rolls that deliver the full essence of the flower with the full benefits of its chemistry.
Our commitment goes beyond taste; it's about the experience. Eco-friendly packaging and a nod to diverse dietary needs reflect our dedication to both the planet and our community.
As New York's canvas of cannabis evolves, Jenny's stands as a beacon of innovation and wellness. Explore the Jenny's difference. Indulge in our THC product line and let us wrap you in a blanket of care, quality, and a little bit of happiness. It won’t surprise you that her website is www.jennyloves.me.
Full Name
Tom Buchan
Job Title
Vice President
Company
Park Strategies
Speaker Bio
Tom Buchan is an attorney, and a Managing Director at Park Strategies. Mr. Buchan has a background in serving clients in many industries, including insurance, professional practice, cannabis, healthcare, energy and environmental issues. He represents clients before both houses of the New York State Legislature, the Executive Chamber, and local governments. Mr. Buchan helps clients to navigate State Government in New York by providing assistance in developing legislative proposals, budget items, and regulatory solutions.
Mr. Buchan previously served as a legislative fellow in the New York State Senate, where he worked for the majority coalition’s Counsel/ Program Office. In that role he analyzed legislation for active lists and committee agendas, briefed members on legislation, and participated in budget negotiations and budget subcommittee meetings on behalf of the Senate majority coalition.
Mr. Buchan previously served as a legislative fellow in the New York State Senate, where he worked for the majority coalition’s Counsel/ Program Office. In that role he analyzed legislation for active lists and committee agendas, briefed members on legislation, and participated in budget negotiations and budget subcommittee meetings on behalf of the Senate majority coalition.
Full Name
Michelle Fields
Job Title
Attorney
Company
The Mary Jane Consulting Group
Speaker Bio
Michelle Fields is a practicing Attorney in New York State with litigation experience (Criminal, Business Immigration, and Contract Law) and now a Cannabis Attorney/Legal Writer /Advisor in Regulatory/Compliance S.E.E.D-Sustainability and Educational Development, and Global Business Development/Licensing.
She serves as Special Advisor/Consultant to The Mary Jane Consulting Group and as a Board Member of the New York Cannabis Industry Association for NYC/Hudson Valley. She is the Legal Cannabis Writer for the Caribbean Newspaper, Whereitzat Magazine, and the co-author of several published Cannabis white papers by the New York Cannabis Industry Association.
The Queens Meet Up Group creator, Cannabis Conversations, and Culture (The Business of Cannabis). A proud Trial Attorney and Change Agent, she is committed to Social Justice Reform, Global Social Equity, Inclusion, and Equality.
Her commitment to global activism and empowerment has led her to establish the first school library in Trelawney, Jamaica, where she facilitated the donation of thousands of schoolbooks. She has volunteered and donated to Kliptown Community Center in Soweto and the Ethembeni Children’s Home (0-3 years old affected by HIV/AIDS) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She serves as Special Advisor/Consultant to The Mary Jane Consulting Group and as a Board Member of the New York Cannabis Industry Association for NYC/Hudson Valley. She is the Legal Cannabis Writer for the Caribbean Newspaper, Whereitzat Magazine, and the co-author of several published Cannabis white papers by the New York Cannabis Industry Association.
The Queens Meet Up Group creator, Cannabis Conversations, and Culture (The Business of Cannabis). A proud Trial Attorney and Change Agent, she is committed to Social Justice Reform, Global Social Equity, Inclusion, and Equality.
Her commitment to global activism and empowerment has led her to establish the first school library in Trelawney, Jamaica, where she facilitated the donation of thousands of schoolbooks. She has volunteered and donated to Kliptown Community Center in Soweto and the Ethembeni Children’s Home (0-3 years old affected by HIV/AIDS) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Full Name
Warren Harasz
Job Title
VP of Regulatory Compliance
Company
Cannaspire
Speaker Bio
Warren Harasz, PhD ABD, Vice-President of Regulatory Compliance at Cannaspire, oversees business license application development, SOPs, employee handbooks, business plans, as well as retainer projects for business consulting and project management. During his time with Cannaspire, Warren has developed business license applications in Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Mexico, Mississippi, and more states each month as legislation changes.
Warren’s background is as a cannabis cultivator with over 17 years of experience and projects including indoor cleanroom hydroponics, deep water culture, light deprivation greenhouses, and organic full-sun cannabis. Before joining the Cannaspire team, Warren worked for over a year and a half with Big Island Grown on the Big Island of Hawaii helping with cultivation consultation, facility buildout, vendor management, and developing SOPs as well as training employees in their roles and responsibilities.
Warren’s background as a Berkeley-trained college professor gives his technical writing and document development a polished finish, and his consulting approach is to teach clients everything they need to know to develop their businesses and stay compliant with state and federal regulations. This includes developing in-house audits, checklists, and operating procedures custom to fit any business’s needs. Additionally, Warren has a robust background in employee training within the cannabis industry. Warren has worked for over a year in Sparc/Peace in Medicine a licensed dispensary in Santa Rosa, California, and has extensive experience in cannabis extraction and manufacturing. His passion for the cannabis plant and experience operating within the industry has translated very well into clients’ abilities to start up successful and compliant facilities.
Warren’s background is as a cannabis cultivator with over 17 years of experience and projects including indoor cleanroom hydroponics, deep water culture, light deprivation greenhouses, and organic full-sun cannabis. Before joining the Cannaspire team, Warren worked for over a year and a half with Big Island Grown on the Big Island of Hawaii helping with cultivation consultation, facility buildout, vendor management, and developing SOPs as well as training employees in their roles and responsibilities.
Warren’s background as a Berkeley-trained college professor gives his technical writing and document development a polished finish, and his consulting approach is to teach clients everything they need to know to develop their businesses and stay compliant with state and federal regulations. This includes developing in-house audits, checklists, and operating procedures custom to fit any business’s needs. Additionally, Warren has a robust background in employee training within the cannabis industry. Warren has worked for over a year in Sparc/Peace in Medicine a licensed dispensary in Santa Rosa, California, and has extensive experience in cannabis extraction and manufacturing. His passion for the cannabis plant and experience operating within the industry has translated very well into clients’ abilities to start up successful and compliant facilities.
Full Name
Freeman Klopott
Job Title
Vice President
Company
Marino
Speaker Bio
Freeman Klopott is a Vice President at Marino – a New York-based public relations agency with an industry-leading cannabis practice – and has spent two decades as a journalist and public affairs and communications professional, developing the stories that shape public opinion, respond to crises, and build brands.
Prior to joining the Marino team, Freeman was the first Communications Director, and among the first to join the team, at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. In that role, he built the communications program and team from the ground-up, elevating the rollout of New York State's adult-use market into an international story with a messaging platform that has defined the market.
The Office was his last stop in a series of roles at the highest levels of New York State Government. As Communications Director for the NYS Division of the Budget, Freeman helped lead the response to the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent, successful fight for Federal funding. He also developed messaging across state agencies for New York State's more than $200 billion annual budget.
Before that, Freeman led communications at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York State’s housing agency, where he she shaped and elevated messaging around the Governor's $20 billion affordable housing plan and the State's oversight of approximately one million rent regulated apartments. He also served as the Communications and Marketing Director for the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), where he developed a new communications and marketing program.
As a journalist, Freeman started out covering local news for The Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire and later The Washington Examiner in Washington, D.C. before covering New York State politics and finances for Bloomberg News in Albany.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts & Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Prior to joining the Marino team, Freeman was the first Communications Director, and among the first to join the team, at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. In that role, he built the communications program and team from the ground-up, elevating the rollout of New York State's adult-use market into an international story with a messaging platform that has defined the market.
The Office was his last stop in a series of roles at the highest levels of New York State Government. As Communications Director for the NYS Division of the Budget, Freeman helped lead the response to the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent, successful fight for Federal funding. He also developed messaging across state agencies for New York State's more than $200 billion annual budget.
Before that, Freeman led communications at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York State’s housing agency, where he she shaped and elevated messaging around the Governor's $20 billion affordable housing plan and the State's oversight of approximately one million rent regulated apartments. He also served as the Communications and Marketing Director for the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), where he developed a new communications and marketing program.
As a journalist, Freeman started out covering local news for The Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire and later The Washington Examiner in Washington, D.C. before covering New York State politics and finances for Bloomberg News in Albany.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts & Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Full Name
Hal McCabe
Job Title
Mayor, Village of Homer
Company
Cannabis Association of New York
Speaker Bio
Mayor Hal McCabe has worked in every level of government over the past 25 years and came to CANY with a passion for helping small farmers and small businesses. Hal’s other former careers include: SCUBA instructor, motorcycle racing instructor, motorcycle franchise owner, and corporate espionage expert. A graduate of Ithaca College, Hal is an avid hunter, camper, lover of chicken wings, and he was once a guest on Oprah. (No, he won’t say why.) He has been the Mayor of the Village of Homer, NY, since 2017.
Full Name
Katie Neer
Job Title
Of Counsel
Company
Dickinson & Avella PLLC
Speaker Bio
Katharine Neer assists clients on New York state regulatory and legislative issues. Katie primarily focuses on regulatory compliance issues for heavily regulated industries, including cannabis, gaming, and financial services.
Prior to private practice, Katie served as Assistant Secretary for General Government and Financial Services in the New York State Governor’s Office. At the Governor’s office, Katie was a member of the state operations team overseeing policy and operations for six agencies: the Department of Financial Services (DFS); the State Insurance Fund; the Department of State; the Department of Tax and Finance; the Office of General Services; and the Gaming Commission. During her time in the Governor’s Office, Katie was responsible for negotiating and overseeing the implementation of several key policy initiatives, including Paid Family Leave, Ride-Share, and the DFS’s cybersecurity regulations.
Katie also gained in-house experience in the cannabis industry, working as the Director of Government Affairs for a multi-state-operator and Chair of the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association. In those roles, she gained a specialized understanding of the challenges facing cannabis operators in several states, including New York, where policymakers recently enacted legislation to legalize and regulate cannabis for adult-use.
Katie was listed as an attorney on The Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” List for Administrative and Regulatory law in 2021. In 2018, she was profiled as an Albany 40 Under 40 Rising Star. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
A member of the New York State Bar, she received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, her M.P.A. from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and her B.A. in political science from SUNY Albany, where she earned the 2009 SUNY Chancellor’s Award of Excellence and played Division I Lacrosse.
Prior to private practice, Katie served as Assistant Secretary for General Government and Financial Services in the New York State Governor’s Office. At the Governor’s office, Katie was a member of the state operations team overseeing policy and operations for six agencies: the Department of Financial Services (DFS); the State Insurance Fund; the Department of State; the Department of Tax and Finance; the Office of General Services; and the Gaming Commission. During her time in the Governor’s Office, Katie was responsible for negotiating and overseeing the implementation of several key policy initiatives, including Paid Family Leave, Ride-Share, and the DFS’s cybersecurity regulations.
Katie also gained in-house experience in the cannabis industry, working as the Director of Government Affairs for a multi-state-operator and Chair of the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association. In those roles, she gained a specialized understanding of the challenges facing cannabis operators in several states, including New York, where policymakers recently enacted legislation to legalize and regulate cannabis for adult-use.
Katie was listed as an attorney on The Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” List for Administrative and Regulatory law in 2021. In 2018, she was profiled as an Albany 40 Under 40 Rising Star. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
A member of the New York State Bar, she received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, her M.P.A. from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and her B.A. in political science from SUNY Albany, where she earned the 2009 SUNY Chancellor’s Award of Excellence and played Division I Lacrosse.
Full Name
Venus Rodriguez
Job Title
Doula and CEO
Company
New York Retail Association (NYCRA)
Speaker Bio
Venus Rodriguez-McGregor is a Doula, a Childbirth Educator with degrees in Women’s and Infant’s Health and Psychology. She has worked and trained with Midwives in homebirth for over 24 years. Throughout the last 14 years she has also been learning and working alongside Curanderos from Peru, organizing healing ceremonies. As well as running empowerment healing/retreats for women. She is currently one of the CAURD applicants in NY and the CEO of Sana Cannabis LLC. Venus was recently appointed Chair for the CAURD Coalition’s Women’s Committee. Her brand merges her two passions; health and wellness with Cannabis. Creating experiences for growth, healing and conscious cannabis community building. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family. Venus is deeply committed to supporting people on their journey to live their best lives.
Full Name
Joe Rossi
Job Title
Managing Director/Cannabis Practice Group Leader
Company
Park Strategies
Speaker Bio
Joe Rossi serves as a Managing Director of Park Strategies and the leader of their Cannabis Practice Group. Joe focuses on state and local government relations, business development, relationship management and strategic planning. Joe is known to be a zealous advocate for his clients with his unique perspective gained through experience working in organized labor, the public sector, and the private sector.
Mr. Rossi is based in Syracuse and Albany, providing a strong presence for Park Strategies in Central New York and the Capital District. Before joining Park Strategies, Mr. Rossi served as a Senior Business Advisor with Empire Advocates LLC, a subsidiary of Barclay Damon LLP. He also served as Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Prior to that, he served as Political Director of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 200 United. Joe has represented the Cannabis Association of New York since it was created.
Mr. Rossi is based in Syracuse and Albany, providing a strong presence for Park Strategies in Central New York and the Capital District. Before joining Park Strategies, Mr. Rossi served as a Senior Business Advisor with Empire Advocates LLC, a subsidiary of Barclay Damon LLP. He also served as Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Prior to that, he served as Political Director of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 200 United. Joe has represented the Cannabis Association of New York since it was created.
Full Name
Sheri Tarr
Job Title
Founder and Chief Advisor
Company
'68 Partners LLC
Speaker Bio
A multi-disciplinary professional, Sheri Tarr is uniquely positioned at the intersection of cannabis, commercialization, and compliance. She has amassed over three decades of real-world experience operating in highly regulated environments. Sheri first held leadership positions in sales and global marketing with Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Then she flipped the script and became an attorney who spent a distinguished career in the courtroom holding these same companies accountable for deceptive marketing, defective manufacturing, and myriad regulatory violations. More inspired by medical innovation than litigation, Sheri founded , a strategic consultancy focused on helping life sciences and cannabis companies build sustainable businesses that have a transformative impact on consumers, patients, and the global economy.
As a pharmaceutical executive-turned litigator, Sheri has a deep understanding of the complex business, organizational, and regulatory challenges faced by cannabis industry stakeholders. She intimately knows the tension between profit and risk, and has witnessed first-hand the adverse consequences to companies and consumers that result when these priorities are misaligned. Using her business savvy and legal know-how, Sheri collaborates with clients of to develop practical compliance and business strategies -- from concept to consumer to exit -- that strike a healthy balance between financial goals and foreseeable risk.
Since 2018, Sheri Tarr has been deep in the cannabis trenches, serving clients ranging from early stage to established CBD, hemp, and cannabis brands; to prospective cannabis licensees; to cultivators, processors, retailers, and other licensed operators; to C-suites, investors, law firms, and regulators. specializes in pre-license application preparation; full service license application consulting; business advisory and brand strategy; commercialization of regulated products; regulatory navigation; best compliance practices; packaging and labeling; strategic partnering; and advocacy before legislators, investors, and other critical audiences. medical and recreational licensing experience spans more than 30 states including New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Georgia, and beyond. Sheri has practical experience with virtually every aspect of application preparation, from translating regulations into compelling narratives, to drafting SOPs, to developing business and operating plans, to preparing product safety plans, and forging relationships with strategic partners from academia, the local community, and the business sector.
As a pharmaceutical executive-turned litigator, Sheri has a deep understanding of the complex business, organizational, and regulatory challenges faced by cannabis industry stakeholders. She intimately knows the tension between profit and risk, and has witnessed first-hand the adverse consequences to companies and consumers that result when these priorities are misaligned. Using her business savvy and legal know-how, Sheri collaborates with clients of to develop practical compliance and business strategies -- from concept to consumer to exit -- that strike a healthy balance between financial goals and foreseeable risk.
Since 2018, Sheri Tarr has been deep in the cannabis trenches, serving clients ranging from early stage to established CBD, hemp, and cannabis brands; to prospective cannabis licensees; to cultivators, processors, retailers, and other licensed operators; to C-suites, investors, law firms, and regulators. specializes in pre-license application preparation; full service license application consulting; business advisory and brand strategy; commercialization of regulated products; regulatory navigation; best compliance practices; packaging and labeling; strategic partnering; and advocacy before legislators, investors, and other critical audiences. medical and recreational licensing experience spans more than 30 states including New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Georgia, and beyond. Sheri has practical experience with virtually every aspect of application preparation, from translating regulations into compelling narratives, to drafting SOPs, to developing business and operating plans, to preparing product safety plans, and forging relationships with strategic partners from academia, the local community, and the business sector.
Full Name
Frank Tice
Job Title
Director of Legal
Company
Etain / RIV
Speaker Bio
Frank is the Director of Legal at RIV Capital, Inc., a purpose-driven cannabis packaged goods (CPG) company focused on delivering a premium cannabis experience which operates Etain, LLC, a New York registered organization. Frank advises RIV Capital on its cannabis operating business and provides advice on a variety of matters including mergers and acquisitions activity; regulatory matters; commercial agreement drafting, negotiation, and review; and compliance with day to day needs of operating a state licensed cannabis business. Prior to joining RIV Capital, Frank was in house counsel for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, where he was part of a business strategy and deal team that focused on the cannabis industry. Frank frequently speaks and writes on cannabis related legal matters and has been published in Westlaw, Law 360, Lexblog, the American Bar Association, and other media platforms.
