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Oregon Cannabis Assoc Publishes 2020-2021 Board Of Directors Election Results

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The Board of Director’s election has closed and the newly elected Board is listed below. I have been inspired and hearted by this process. An incredible group of 25 candidates applied to serve on the Board, all leaders in the Cannabis Community who believed in the mission of our Association and wanted to help us achieve more. The Board was voted on by our members who made the difficult decision to chose the top 13 candidates who would best represent their interests and lead our organization. We continue to take steps forward to diversify our leadership and make space for an inclusive cannabis industry in Oregon. There is still plenty of work to do to make room for small businesses, women and queer owned companies, and most importantly the BIPOC Community. This election is a small step forward, we now have a Board that is almost 50% female identified, and representative of all businesses sizes, from all around our state. 
Our Social Justice Committee (along with fighting to get the PDX Cannabis Tax out of the Police Department’s budget and into social equity programs), has planned for a sustainable long-term commitment to equity in Oregon’s Cannabis Industry. As part of that, I am proud to announce that we are now offering free memberships to BIPOC owned cannabis businesses, whose voices have been and will continue to be added to the direction of our Association. If you are interested in membership or would like to help our Social Justice work, please email me at kim@orcannabisassociation.org.

Sincerely,

Kim Lundin |  she/her  |  Executive Director
Oregon Cannabis Association

Molly Conroy is CEO & Co-Founder of Scientia Labs, a B2B extraction and manufacturing business, and Canapa, a CBD brand. She received her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s in International Relations, and has worked at multiple trade associations in various industries, working predominantly on policy and economic affairs, including previously serving as Program Director of the OCA. She has also held project management and public affairs roles within the regulated cannabis market.
Heidi Fikstad is co-owner & CEO of Moss Crossing dispensary. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a degree in Design | Media Arts, and has been in the Cannabis industry for a decade. She’s previously served 2 yrs as Vice President of Women Leaders in Cannabis & 2 yrs as Chapter Organizer of Eugene Tokeativity, which align with her passion for philanthropy and the normalization of Cannabis. Her skills as an organizer and designer have been a valuable asset to every project she’s taken on.
After growing / managing for a large heritage farm in Humboldt County for nearly a decade, Kendra Freeman decided to go after her dream of owning her own farm. Shortly after this she co-founded Oso Verde Farms. She co-founded MENDIa CBD company, to improve the lives of athletes. She was appointed a year term on the OCA board for 2019. She is the committee chair for the Social Justice Committee which helps facilitate the OCA’s expungement clinics.
Jesce Horton is an engineer by education and a horticulturalist by passion. Due to his past work in industrial energy efficiency and recent cannabis success, Governor Brown appointed Jesce to the Task Force for Cannabis Environmental Best Practice. Last year, with his wife and notable industry executive, Jeannette Ward Horton, Jesce founded a historic initiative, the Nu Leaf Project. Currently, Jesce’s focus is growing his Dope Cup award-winning Tier I Cultivation business, LOWD and opening his retail dispensary, Strattus.
Nathan Howard, along with his brother Aaron, founded East Fork Cultivars in 2015. Their mission is to provide accessible plant-based medicine and expand the genetic diversity of the cannabis plant. He currently serves on the Oregon Cannabis Association’s Board of Directors and Human Access Project’s Board of Directors. He’s an advisor to Initiative Petition 34 (Psilocybin Service Therapy Initiative), was a founding member of the Craft Cannabis Alliance and the campaign to create interstate cannabis commerce by the end of 2021.
Anna Kaplan is Co- Founder and CEO of SugarTop Buddery, an OLCC licensed Producer and Wholesale Distributor based in Eugene, Oregon.  Before manifesting the vision of SugarTop in 2015, Anna received a Masters of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has had a career in restaurant management. She is the current President of the 501 C-6 non-profit Women Leaders In Cannabis and has a passion for community building, the arts, and the empowerment of women.
Doug Morris, an attorney with Miller Nash, represents cannabis businesses in the PNW, from startups to market-leaders, in business contracts, compliance, disputes, acquisitions and sales. He works with growers, processors, retailers, owners and allied businesses. He’s a committed non-profit volunteer and board member with Metropolitan Public Defender, SOLVE and Albertina Kerr. His firm supports OCA’s Regional Happy Hours and sponsors The Initiative. He is trained in expungement services.
Oscar Nelson is a small town weed guy. “Gary Reynolds and Oscar Nelson are two craft cannabis connoisseurs who found a passion for retail before entering the cannabis market. As the Co-Founders of Sweet Relief, they’ve grown a retail chain currently consisting of 5 dispensaries, a grow facility, as well as a hydroponics store all located in northwest Oregon. They’ve worked tirelessly towards building a craft cannabis brand that is solidified within the Oregon market that they actually help mold as sitting board members of the Oregon Cannabis Association.” Marijuana Retail Report
Hunter Neubauer has a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. He got his start selling medical devices and surgical instruments and implants, working with surgeons in the operating room. Taking the strong business development he learned in the medical field to the cannabis industry, Hunter is co-owner of Oregon based cannabis company Oregrown. Hunter is passionate about advocating for reasonable rules and regulations for the legal cannabis industry.
Jesse Peters is a seasoned cannabis cultivator, entrepreneur, and now the founder and CEO of Mantis Growth Investments. Previous to Mantis, Jesse was the CEO and co-founder of Eco Firma Farms, an indoor cannabis cultivation facility designed to operate entirely on wind power thus proving that environment and business sustainability are simultaneously possible. He is also a founding member of the OCA, a retired Marine, firefighter, national speaker, and ambassador for the cannabis industry.
Jeremy Pratt has strongly believed in the legalization of cannabis ever since reading The Emperor Wears No Clothes in high school. He has been growing cannabis for over 25 years, 17 of those as an Oregonian. Jeremy started Nectar in 2014 with $80k and has worked everyday since to grow the business. He has 5 children and a dedicated partner who helps him in everything he does.
Catherine Leathers Self is the Co Owner of Self Made Cannabis Company. She represents both Portland and the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. Catherine has been actively involved with the Oregon Cannabis Association through lobbying efforts in Salem, DC, networking events and the Summer Fair. This past year she served on the board. She is a fifth generation Oregonian and former educator. Catherine values building relationships through genuine connections within the Cannabis community.
Meghan Walstatter is a co-owner of Siren Cannabis a OLCC licensed cultivation company in Clackamas County. Meghan sold Pure Green, a dispensary, to C21 last year. She has been a cannabis grower for over 17 years. She is a founding member of the Oregon Cannabis Association (OCA) and currently serves on the OCA Board. Meghan has served on advisory committees with the OLCC and the City of Portland. Meghan wants to support other women as they rise-up within the industry and promote sound policy/regulations.

Source: https://cannabislaw.report/oregon-cannabis-assoc-publishes-2020-2021-board-of-directors-election-results/

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