Wesley Hein the President of the CDA and currently heads up Mammoth Distribution / Heavy Hitters’ Global Brand Initiatives which includes handling the company's strategic relationships, as well as its legal, licensing and government affairs departments. Wesley has extensive experience in managing high growth companies. Past experience includes co-founder & President of Enigma Records (acquired by EMI), Executive Vice President of the Walt Disney Company's Hollywood Records division, co-founder of Cinebase Software (merged into Kodak), and co-founder of Enigma Digital (acquired by Clear Channel Communications). Wesley also serves on the board of directors of the California Cannabis Manufacturers Association (CCMA), is Head of the Steering Committee of Legal Cannabis for Consumer Safety (LCCS), and is a member of the California Advisory Board of Americans for Safe Access (ASA).

Mark Luciano Ainsworth is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience, including a decade of pioneering work in the cannabis industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Lowell Farms Inc. (CSE:LOWL; OTCQX:LOWLF), Mark has been at the forefront of redefining cannabis perceptions and ensuring consumer safety. Since co-founding the company in 2014 under its original name, Indus Holdings, Inc., he has guided its strategic direction, operational leadership, and transition from a private entity to a publicly traded company in 2019.Mark’s leadership at Lowell Farms has been marked by a commitment to innovation, compliance, and operational excellence. He has implemented transformative strategies to navigate the complexities of the cannabis market while fostering sustainable growth. His expertise extends across consumer goods, manufacturing, and brand development, making him a trusted advisor in the cannabis space.Before his cannabis ventures, Mark founded Pastry Smart, the first American Humane Certified and Organic bakery and confectionery manufacturer in the U.S., and served as Executive Pastry Chef for The Ritz Carlton and Pebble Beach Company. This unique blend of culinary artistry and business acumen has shaped his disciplined, process-driven approach to problem-solving.Today, Mark offers consulting services to cannabis companies seeking to scale, restructure, or navigate regulatory challenges. His services include fractional executive leadership, board advisory, and corporate strategy consulting. With a proven track record of success, Mark is dedicated to helping cannabis businesses thrive in a competitive and evolving industry.

Mark Russ serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at Gold Flora, where he oversees all revenue streams for the company. His responsibilities include direct management of Gold Flora’s 16 retail stores across California and leadership of its statewide distribution arm, Stately Distribution.Before joining Gold Flora, Mark was the West Region President at Curaleaf, where he oversaw operations across six states, managed 14 Curaleaf-owned dispensaries, and led a diverse portfolio of brands, including Select. Earlier in his career, he held executive roles at Lowell Farms and Constellation Brands, where he successfully developed go-to-market strategies and built high-performing sales teams that consistently delivered exceptional results. Beyond the cannabis industry, Mark served as Executive Vice President at Red Bull, leading sales, marketing, distribution, and operations across the Western United States for nearly a decade.

Rodney Holcombe is the Vice President of Public Policy at LeafLink, the industry’s largest cannabis wholesale platform that operates in over 30 states and territories. LeafLink believes that better access to modern financial services will propel the industry towards sustainable growth. The company’s industry-defining tools make it easier for cannabis businesses to create, manage, pay for, and ship their orders, as well as access insights and banking services to further optimize operations. In 2024, LeafLink announced the acquisition of leading cannabis banking platform Dama Financial and the wholesale platform LeafTrade. Prior to joining LeafLink, Rodney was the New York State Director for Criminal Justice Reform at FWD.us and a Staff Attorney at the Drug Policy Alliance, where he successfully worked to advance cannabis equity and record change legislation. He also served as a member of the policy committee for both the Minority Cannabis Business Association and the National Cannabis Industry Association. Rodney holds a BA in Journalism from Howard University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is a member of the California State Bar.

Ms. Woodson is a nationally recognized cannabis policy expert with over 20 years of experience in Government Affairs, compliance, and regulatory strategy. She serves as President of the Board of Directors for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), advocating for policies that strengthen the industry, including tax relief for low-income patients and protecting marketing freedoms for brands.As Senior Director of Compliance & Licensing at Kiva Brands, one of the most recognized cannabis brands in the industry, she oversees multi-state regulatory strategy, licensing, and government relations. Her expertise lies in navigating the complex intersection of policy, regulation, and business, ensuring compliance while driving sustainable growth.Her career spans both advocacy and enforcement, having led successful campaigns to liberalize cannabis laws while also serving as a government regulator with the California Fish and Game Commission. This dual perspective allows her to craft pragmatic compliance solutions that align business objectives with evolving legal frameworks.Ms. Woodson holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University in Washington, D.C., equipping her with the analytical expertise to interpret and influence policy effectively. She has advised policymakers, industry leaders, and advocacy groups on balancing compliance with business growth in highly regulated markets.Committed to fostering a culture of accountability and proactive compliance, she emphasizes collaboration and strategic problem-solving to bridge gaps between regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. With a vision for regulatory excellence, she continues to shape industry standards and advocate for policies that support a thriving cannabis marketplace

Geoff Hoopes is the founder and CEO of UpNorth Distribution. With a passion for community, for creating a positive work place culture, and for the cannabis plant itself, Geoff has been able to build a company that supports over sixty-five living wage jobs throughout the state of California. Geoff takes great pride that many of these positions are based in Humboldt County, the area where he was born and raised, and where UpNorth Distribution’s story first begins.Although Geoff’s path in the licensed California cannabis recreational market started with a focus on distribution in October of 2015, that road quickly led to the creation of the UpNorth and Daze Off indoor flower brands. UpNorth’s success, establishing itself as a leading brand in California’s competitive market, led to the brand’s expansion into the Illinois and Arizona markets in 2022; thus far, the brand launch has posted an impressive trajectory in both markets. In addition to being UpNorth Distribution’s acting CEO, Geoff now travels between the three states advising on post-harvest production processes, brand development, genetic portfolio expansion, and sales strategy for UpNorth’s partner, Aeriz Holdings. Geoff’s past notable work experience also includes environmental restoration projects, management of public lands, building trades, lumberyard and millwork, retail, food service, and cannabis cultivation. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation fromCal Poly Humboldt (2011) and an A.A. from College of theRedwoods. Geoff currently resides in Humboldt County, California.

Josh began his career in chemistry at Eastern Washington University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and degrees in physics and biology. His quest for a deeper understanding of science led him to graduate school, where he attended the joint doctoral program at the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University. His primary focus was in hardware mass spec and developing new novel ionization sources. Josh saw the problems in the analytical cannabis industry with the lack of analytical research and public understanding associated with it. He wanted to change this, and with his knowledge and passion for the industry, Josh co-founded ICAL in 2016. Together they’ve made it InfiniteCAL’s mission to ensure only safe; quality products are allowed to be sold to consumers and educate the industry and public about the need for testing. In 2021 Josh co-founded Symbio US another analytical lab testing outside of cannabis and hemp Josh is the co-chair of the ACIL cannabis and hemp working group, sits on the SAW and ARC group for the state of MI, actively works with ASTM, AOAC and regulators across the country to improve the industry.  

As the Chief Operating Officer at Nabis, Will Brophy manages strategic projects and planning with a focus on operational innovation. He works with his talented team to marry day-to-day operational demands with the goals and vision of the broader company.
He strives to harness sustainable growth and frequent process optimization to bolster the reliability and precision of Nabis operations in the ever-changing world of cannabis regulations. At the same time, he constantly assesses how technology and customer service can disrupt traditional distribution paradigms to add additional value to the cannabis supply chain.
An expert in analyzing and solving logistics and supply-chain problems, Will previously worked in strategy and operations with distribution giant McMaster-Carr, food delivery startup Maple, travel brand Paravel, and global tech investment firm Coatue.
Will is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Oakland, where he enjoys unplugging whenever time allows in the extraordinary outdoor environment of the Bay Area.

Logan Feldstein is the Vice President of Compliance & Licensing at Sunderstorm, where he has played a key role in developing and implementing regulatory strategies that have supported the company’s expansion across manufacturing, distribution, and retail in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Illinois, and internationally in Thailand—with no signs of slowing as Sunderstorm continues to grow its national and global footprint. He specializes in regulatory strategy, operational compliance, and legislative analysis, with expertise spanning the full supply chain, enabling him to navigate complex regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions. Based in Los Angeles, he is passionate about fostering a transparent, functional, and forward-looking regulatory framework for operators of all sizes. 

Benjamin Warner is the Principal of QCI Solutions (“Quality, Consistency, Integrity”), a California-based consultancy that provides fractional regulatory affairs leadership to commercial cannabis operators, and the Founder of Bradley: Virtual Compliance Companion, a technology platform that automates compliance analysis and operational guidance for commercial cannabis businesses nationwide. Benjamin has over seven years of frontline experience in the weeds in multiple jurisdictions, having designed and led compliance programs across the entire supply chain beginning at retailer MedMen, brand manufacturer, cultivator, and retailer STIIIZY, and later as Director of Compliance for statewide distributor HERBL Solutions where he was fortunate to work alongside and build relationships with leading CA cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers alike. On the CDA Board, Benjamin intends to serve as a vociferous advocate for stakeholders across the supply chain, marrying a deep passion for the plant and its people with a laser focus on operational excellence. Benjamin seeks to leverage his combined, hands-on expertise to enrich the CDA’s efforts to shape pragmatic policy, and press for operator-focused solutions rooted in love of the plant, care for people, and proven business fundamentals. Benjamin is a Montgomery County, Maryland native, holds a B.A. from Indiana University Bloomington, and is a member of the Association of Certified Commercial Cannabis Experts (ACCCE), Sonoma County Cannabis Alliance (SCCA), and Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA).