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Seattle / Tacoma Cannabis Business Expo
Keynote Speaker: Eric Brandstad
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: Greenhouse Planning: What Growers Need to Know
Speaking Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Biography: Eric Brandstad is the leading greenhouse and growing efficiency expert in the legal cannabis industry. Eric has been invited to speak at many events including The CWBExpo, The Emerald Cup, Santa Cruz Cup, The Golden Tarp Awards, The Cali Dep Fest, Humboldt High Grade Gala, CannaCon, and the NCIA Cultivation Management Symposium.
Eric has been managing Forever Flowering Greenhouses since 2007. He’s originally from San Joaquin County where his family has been commercially farming since 1862. Since starting with FFG, he has toured and consulted with hundreds of greenhouse owners to help them understand how their plants react in a greenhouse environment.
List of Speakers
Click on a Speaker Below to Read Full Bio
Aaron Pelley
Pelley Law
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Aaron A. Pelley, Senior Attorney at Pelley Law, PLLC. He is a founding member of the Cannabis Defense Coalition, Legal Committee and a Lifetime Member of the Legal Committee for the National Organization on the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). In addition to representing cannabis clients, Mr. Pelley has also earned a reputation for effectively handling white collar and high profile cases, representing both individual and corporate clients. Mr. Pelley has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers three times and has been named Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyer College for 2015 and 2016.
Alex Wheatley
Fisher & Phillips
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Alex Wheatley is an attorney with Fisher & Phillips, LLP, a national law firm representing employers of all types and sizes. Alex defends employers in employment-related administrative claims and lawsuits and has litigated several jury trials and argued numerous motions in both state and federal court. He also advises and provides training to company owners and supervisors on issues relating to workplace discrimination, family leave, wage and hour laws, and noncompetition, nonsoliciation, and nondisclosure agreements.
Andrew Pitsicalis
Purple Haze Properties
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: With over 20 years in the Cannabis Industry, from Cultivation, to Production, Sales, Education, Media and Consulting. Mr. Pitsicalis owned one of the largest high end functional glass distribution companies in the world. With the works of the greatest glassblowers he has distributed these fine works to hundreds of smoke shops and collectors. He is a member of Cannabis Science, a leader in cannabis scientific research as there, brand and licensing director and sit on there policy advisory board. Purple Haze Properties, LLC was founded through a partnership between Andrew Pitsicalis and Leon Hendrix, blood brother to the legendary guitar icon, Jimi Hendrix.
Catherine Morisset
Fisher & Phillips
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Catharine Morisset is a partner in the Seattle office for Fisher & Phillips, LLP. She represents local and national employers in litigation in state and federal courts, on appeal, and also before the EEOC and similar state agencies in all aspects of workplace law, such as ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, Title VII, and similar state laws. Catharine uses her litigation experience to work closely with clients to provide effective preventative counseling and workforce training.
Celeste Miranda
The Cannabis Marketing Lab
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Dedicated to what she does and successful in her savvy business-minded ventures, Celeste Miranda is an entrepreneur, author, founder and CEO of Miranda Marketing Labs and The Cannabis Marketing Lab. Undertaking the critical challenges of marketing an emerging industry, Miranda opened a specialized division focused on providing businesses with innovative and affordable marketing strategies. Since then, The Cannabis Marketing Lab has become a highly regarded organization in Cannabis related ventures. Comprised of a 16 person team, Celeste’s staff has years of experience and expertise in a myriad of areas such as Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Graphic & Web Design, Creative Content Production, Advertising, PR and much more. As an efficient and knowledgeable professional, Celeste is a force of nature in the realm of entrepreneurial business and marketing.
Charlo Greene
Purple Haze Properties
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Charlo Greene is a broadcast journalist and media expert turned activist and businesswoman who has emerged as a leading voice in the ongoing conversation about legalization, as well as diversity, in the cannabis community. Charlo successfully led the charge in Alaska’s 2014 effort to legalize recreational marijuana, securing Alaska’s place as the third state in the nation (and first Republican-led state) to legalize usage for adults. Through her newly launched socially conscious organization Go GREENE, Charlo is joining forces with nationwide grassroots activism campaigns that seek to change the way we think about cannabis.
Chris Beals
Weedmaps
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Chris Beals is the President and General Counsel for Weedmaps and its affiliated companies. Weedmaps is the largest and oldest technology company in the cannabis sector with key verticals including the dispensary, doctor and deal information site Weedmaps.com and the media sites marijuana.com, WeedmapsTV and cannabis.com. In this role, Chris works in close collaboration with the CEO to guide strategic policy and business decisions to help the company continue its rapid growth while navigating the constantly evolving regulatory environment. Prior to joining Weedmaps, Chris served as Senior Vice President with a New York-based investment fund and previously worked as an M&A and technology transactions associate with the law firms Covington & Burling and Davis Polk. Chris received his law degree cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Pennsylvania. Chris graduated in 2002 from the University of Pennsylvania with a BSE in Systems Engineering and BA in Economics.
Chris Sayegh
The Herbal Chef
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Christopher has pioneered the effort of Cannabis Infused Fine-Dining to elevate the perception of Marijuana into mainstream media. These dinners include art, music, fine wine and top notch ingredients, simultaneously and effortlessly educating his audience while entertaining them at the same time. Currently, Chris is producing gourmet edibles, frozen CBD and THC-infused dinners, as well as catered and private dinners. With the innovation of the Frozen THC/CBD infused Meals and the two television shows being produced about The Herbal Chef, Chris has already been able to solidify his space as the #1 Cannabis Infusion Chef in the World.
Daniel Gustafik
Hybrid Tech
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Daniel Gustafik has 20 years of experience working on industrial power & controls, clean rooms, server centers and marijuana production facilities. In 1997 he designed and built his first cannabis facility. Since then he has worked on the largest semiconductor facility in the world along with the largest cannabis facility to date. Industry first achievements include; first approved extractor for I-502, first rebates for cannabis LED, first rebates for cannabis mechanical systems & 12 years of CEA (Controlled environment agriculture) design. With a background in electrical engineering, Dan currently holds many licenses in multiple states. As the founder of Hybrid Tech he and his design build team have completed over 90 cannabis projects throughout the US and Canada.
David Murét
Viridian Staffing
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: David Murét is the Co-Founder and COO of Viridian Staffing. With a diverse background including everything from Public Policy and Law, to Information Technology, Finance and Business Development David serves as Viridian’s “Swiss Army Knife,” providing essential support to Viridian’s best-in-class recruiting team. As a veteran of multiple start-ups he demonstrates a keen appreciation of the challenges business owners face as well as the importance of assembling the right team. As a life-long activist and organizer he has a gift for identifying and valuing people’s innate strengths and putting them in positions where they can realize the greatest positive impact within an organization.
Dennis Clark
O2 Grow
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Dennis Clark is the founder and President of O2 Grow, a division of the Oxygen Research Group, LLC. After successfully bringing this patented fine bubble technology to market in the fishing industry, Dennis found that he was fielding inquiries from horticulturists wanting to add supplemental oxygen to their grow. Dennis has worked with horticulture research programs at the University of Minnesota and also the University of Tennessee. He is looking forward to sharing the benefits of increased dissolved oxygen at the plant root.
Farmer Tom Lauerman
Farmer Tom Organics
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: A popular speaker at Cannabis and Hemp related Events, Farmer Tom is also a guest blogger and contributor to numerous publications such as ‘The Columbian;’ ‘Cannabis Chronicles;’ and ‘The Cannabis Daily Record.’ Farmer Tom is the most recognizable Organic Cannabis Farmer in the industry, where his brand and likeness embody a clean, outdoor living and organic lifestyle – fulfilling his life mission. He is a passionate activist, a member of the Washington State Cannabis Commission Formation Committee, and he has worked with WA state LCB to legalize all concentrates. He is an advocate for creating standards in the cannabis industry to ensure safety and efficacy, and he is the first farmer to work directly with any federal agency (NIOSH).
J Chandler
Urban-Gro
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Serving as the Vice President of Cultivation Technologies, Chandler has been managing and consulting for large-scale organic vegetable farms and greenhouses, as well as Cannabis production facilities since his graduation from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Production Horticulture in 2003. He has a wide breadth of knowledge of integrated pest management, fertility and automation in large-scale operations. After three years as Director of Cultivation for a highly awarded Denver dispensary, he successfully launched Cannabis IPM Solutions in 2014. In 2015, urban-gro brought him on board to do the same for their customers.
Jim Shirreff
Shirreff Insurance
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Jim Shirreff, CLCS, is a cannabis industry insurance specialist and the owner of Shirreff Insurance Agency in Puyallup, WA for the last 28 years. He can be reached for comments and consultation by email at jim@shirreff.com.
Lezli Engelking
Focus
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Lezli Engelking possesses 18 years of professional experience across pharmaceutical, mental health, non-profit, cannabis and communication industries. More than 12 years with Eli Lilly laid the perfect foundation for her role as executive director of the first chain of vertically integrated cannabis operations in Arizona. Lezli’s proven success in the highly-regulated pharmaceutical industry and her first hand experience working in the unregulated cannabis industry place her in an ideal position to lead the company creating the first and only third-party validated, international, quality and safety-based, voluntary-consensus cannabis specific standards.
Michelle Moore
Adaptive Plastics
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Michelle Moore is the second generation owner and CEO of the Adaptive Plastics, Inc., makers of: Solexx Greenhouses and Greenhouse Coverings and the revolutionary Grow4it, the Complete 4-Season Food Growing System. With 20 years of greenhouse experience, Michelle is a published author, Oregon State University Master Gardener and member of Garden Writers Association. Greenhouse growing and sustainability is Michelle’s passion. She is a Fulbright Scholar and earned an International MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management and currently lives in Oregon with her husband, and their twin girls. You can contact Michelle at: mmoore@solexx.com.
Nathan Mendel
Your Green Contractor
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Nathan is the founder and President of Your Green Contractor (YGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mendel and Company Construction. After YGC completed its first dispensary project in 2012, Nathan quickly realized there was a huge unmet demand for cannabis related projects that were completed in the same fashion as any other commercial project. Today, Your Green Contractor is quickly expanding across the U.S. and is recognized as one of Denver’s most trusted and well respected names in the construction of marijuana facilities. Nathan has presented to numerous audiences in multiple states speaking about the complexities of building projects in the cannabis world and has been quoted in multiple local, regional, and national publications and news stories.
Neil Juneja
Gleam Law
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Neil Juneja is the founder of Gleam Law, a cannabis-focused law firm with offices in Washington and Oregon. He is a licensed patent attorney and has successfully filed over 60 trademark registrations for cannabis with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Neil have written numerous article on cannabis law and intellectual property as well as spoken at many events including in the National Mall in Washington DC and at the Seattle Hempfest in front of 150,000 people. Some of Gleam Law’s notable clients include the first Seattle recreational marijuana retailer, the musician Snoop Dogg, and many publicly traded companies working in the cannabis industry. Neil has also been in Newsweek, Time Magazine, and on several documentaries for his work in the cannabis industry.
Nic Easley
Comp. Cannabis Consulting
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Nic Easley is CEO of Comprehensive Cannabis Consulting (3C), where he promotes hemp and cannabis awareness and cultivation, prioritizing socially and environmentally responsible practices. Over the past nine years in Colorado and nationwide, Nic has helped more than 60 clients design, build, start up, and optimize their operations. His scientific background, combined with over 15 years of agricultural field and biological experience informs his sustainable practices and policies, offering the industry new realms of productivity, profitability, and professionalism.
Nick Brown
CannaContainers
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Nick Brown is the founder and president of CannaContainers, a packaging solutions provider. Nick is passionate about developing innovative packaging for the Cannabis industry. The birth of his nephew spurred him to create child resistant packaging that meets or exceeds all current government standards, with a focus on CR packaging and labeling. Nick has a BBA from the University of Michigan School of Business, and holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter. Prior to founding CannaContainers, he worked for eight years on Wall Street as a Vice President at Citigroup, and then as a Director at BNP Paribas.
Roger Martin
Grow For Vets
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Roger is a proud Veteran of the United States Army who has been coping with constant pain since the 1970’s. He credits cannabis with having saved his life in 2010, by helping him overcome a ten year dependency on dangerous prescription drugs, including Oxycontin and Ambien. Inspired by encounters with fellow Veterans suffering from PTSD and other serious medical conditions, Roger began offering free cannabis to Vets in March 2013. In January 2014, he formalized his efforts by establishing Grow for Vets U.S.A., as a Colorado nonprofit corporation. Since then, Grow for Vets has provided more than $750,000.00 worth of free cannabis products to thousands of the bravest among us.
Samuel Terpstra
CannaPatents
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Samuel is an attorney with Brubaker Terpstra PLLC in Seattle, WA, a small firm specializing in business and intellectual property law. Samuel advises startup businesses on matters ranging from intellectual property to contract negotiation. Samuel has worked with clients in many aspects of the cannabis industry, including growers, breeders, concentrate processors, retailers, and ancillary businesses.
Shelly Peterson
Urban-Gro
Category: TBD
Topic of Discussion: TBD
Speaking Date: July 20, 2016
Biography: Serving as the Vice President of Sales, Lighting, since 2012, Shelly’s passion for eco-friendly solutions and creating a sustainable environment ensures that the commercial cultivator is provided with a lighting plan that utilizes the least amount of equipment. Further, her skills learned in the commercial lighting industry have enabled her to work with regional electrical providers to maximize available utility rebates for urban-gro’s customers. Shelly holds a Bachelor Degree in Finance, and currently resides in Fort Collins, Colo., with her husband Justin, and their two children.