This summit is tailored specifically for investors seeking to navigate cannabis investment opportunities and will deliver pertinent topics driving the national cannabis investment landscape in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Delve into critical topics for investors, including considerations for entering emerging cannabis markets and strategies to maximize your exit. Gain valuable perspectives on the future of cannabis regulation from TTB alcohol regulators, delve into lobbying efforts, explore political viewpoints from elected officials, and uncover investment strategies shared by seasoned cannabis investors.

Experience two engaging panel discussions complemented by Q&A sessions and networking opportunities. Don’t miss this unique chance to connect with industry leaders and acquire actionable knowledge at the forefront of the cannabis investment realm.

3:00PM: How to Effectively Enter an Emerging Market

Moderator:

Jordan Tritt, Founder & CEO of The Panther Group

Jordan is the Founder & CEO of The Panther Group and day-to-day manager of two cannabis venture funds. Jordan has been a key player in the sector since 2014, strategically deploying $40 million across 50 companies.

Before venturing into cannabis, Jordan received his masters degree from the University of Michigan in accounting and held pivotal roles such as CFO, VP of Finance, and Controller for high-growth private companies and venture funds, successfully raising over $30 million.

Panelists:

David Pijor, Chairman and CEO of FVC Bank

David W. Pijor, Esq., is the Chairman and CEO of FVCbank, a $2.2 billion full-service community bank serving small to mid-sized businesses and professional clients by providing credit and cash management products.

Mr. Pijor is an early proponent of supporting licensed cannabis-related businesses (CRB). The Bank meets the financial and regulatory compliance directives of the states where it operates. He has positioned the Bank with experts who are knowledgeable in the type of banking services needed by owners of cannabis operations, including dispensaries, cultivators, processors, testing labs, wholesalers, and CBD/hemp businesses.

Mr. Pijor graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Economics with High Distinction. He obtained a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center.

Holden Farahani, Co-Founder and CEO of Camaraderie Group

With over 30 years of experience as a Subway restaurant developer, Holden contributed to the development of the first non-traditional Subway outlet, which later became one of the highest volume locations globally. His work in coordinating cobranding efforts with Auntie Anne’s helped secure the Subway-Walmart contract, and he also played a role in creating standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for corporate use across the Subway chain.

Transitioning his expertise to the cannabis industry, he successfully launched a licensed operation located 1,000 miles away during the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdowns. Holden overcame obstacles by building an online training platform, along with in-house SOPs, to establish a thriving business.

Innovation led them to create Dagda Farming Solutions, a fertigation and irrigation system that standardized production processes for consistent yields. Prioritizing operational efficiencies and margin optimization, he navigate mature markets with low wholesale prices, showcasing adaptability in demanding environments.

Christina Johnson, CEO of Standard Wellness

Christina Betancourt Johnson, founder and CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland, leads the vertically integrated cannabis business while serving as a board member on the U.S. Cannabis Council, the National Hispanic Cannabis Council, and Maryland’s Advisory Board on Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis. She also is co-founder of two additional plant-touching businesses in New York and Washington, D.C., and an investor in a cannabis tech start-up. Christina champions equity, conscious capitalism, and community engagement in the cannabis sector.

GREG M. D’AGOSTINO, Partner of Tenax

With over 20 years of experience in public affairs, Greg is a highly-skilled strategist that has managed campaigns for a wide spectrum of highly-regulated industries and complex legislative and regulatory issues.

He leveraged his decades of public affairs experience to spearhead Tenax’s multi-state expansion of the cannabis practice, providing cannabis consulting and project management services to clients in emerging and legal markets across the country.

Greg’s top priority is delivering value to clients by helping new operators get started in the industry, assisting existing operators to enter new markets, and expanding their portfolio of assets. Greg is driven to protect the position of his clients in the marketplace, all to deliver clients a return on their investment.

Greg is a creative problem solver and a passionate advocate for his clients, leveraging his extensive knowledge of the cannabis industry to develop innovative solutions that drive success. He is an experienced strategist and negotiator, adept at navigating the ever-changing landscape of the cannabis industry to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients and is committed to delivering results that exceed expectations.

4:00PM: Building Business Value for Your Future Exit

Moderator:

Felix Kushnir, Shareholder at Shulman Rogers

Felix Kushnir is a strategic business lawyer and advisor who represents private equity, venture capital and corporate clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, financings, technology transactions and joint ventures, as well as other transactional and securities matters.

Co-Chair of the Firm’s Cannabis Industry Group, Felix uses his substantial experience to help dispensary owners, cultivators, processors, investors and product developers in Maryland, Colorado, California and New Jersey with matters including equity financings, transactions and issues relating to corporate governance.  Before joining Shulman Rogers, Felix practiced law for eight years in Washington, DC, with international firms. Prior to starting his legal career, he held financial and corporate development positions with Fortune 50 companies in the financial services, energy and telecommunications industries. He also played a role in shaping economic policy at the U.S. Department of State.

Panelists:

Heather Malloy, Founder and Managing Partner of Speedwell Partners

Heather Quinn Molloy, Founder and Managing Partner of Speedwell Partners, has over twenty five years of experience in capital markets and began investing and consulting in the legal US cannabis market in 2015. Speedwell Partners is an active equity investor in proven operators and business models in the US cannabis market.

Heather also serves on the board of Gold Flora and select private companies. Previously, Heather was with TerrAscend Corp. where she served as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Corporate Development. In this role, successfully closed over $300mm in acquisitions and managed significant capital raising and investor relations.

Before moving into the cannabis industry, Heather was a founder of two registered investment advisors with over $800mm in assets under management. Asset types included senior direct real estate loans, equipment-based financing, emerging market lending, structured credit, derivative strategies, mezzanine debt and private equity.

Previously Heather spent over 14 years at Swiss Re where she was instrumental in launching the structured credit business. She structured and marketed multiple deals, established trading relationships for a proprietary derivatives product company and helped launch an asset backed commercial paper conduit in Canada. Heather has an MBA with a concentration in finance from the New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business and graduated cum laude from Boston College with degrees in Marketing and Philosophy.

Michael Harlow, Cannabis Industry Group Leader for CohnReznick

Michael Harlow is the Cannabis Industry Group leader for CohnReznick and the Office Managing Partner of the Bethesda, Maryland office. As such, Michael enjoys working with a variety of clients across country in the Cannabis industry and representing the firm in the Washington, D.C. region. He has more than 20 years of experience in public accounting serving clients in attestation, accounting, and tax advisory roles and has extensive experience across multiple real estate-related industries including homebuilding, land development, residential management, commercial management, and land engineering.

For the past 7 years Michael has focused on growing the Cannabis Industry Group as a client serving Tax Partner, with clients throughout the nation and the regulated cannabis ecosystem from single dispensaries through the largest MSOs in the country. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Maryland.

Bethany Frick, CEO of District Cannabis

Bethany Frick is the CEO of District Cannabis, a thriving cultivator providing premium flower to the D.C. and Maryland markets at affordable prices. By end of 2024, District will be vertically integrated in both markets. In addition to creating a great place to work for all team members, Bethany’s key areas of focus are on business growth, sales, and marketing. Most recently District Cannabis opened their first retail store in Union Market, Washington D.C. and they launched two new pre-roll lines.

Prior to District Cannabis, Bethany worked in management consulting at Accenture and Slalom, and in the beverage alcohol industry at Diageo and Total Wine & More. Her experience in the regulated alcohol industry and problem solving as a management consultant have been critical in addressing the needs of the business.