Dasheeda Dawson is a global cannabis advocate, award-winning Fortune 100 business strategist, and a bestselling author on the cannabis industry. Her advocacy and thought leadership have also been featured across multiple outlets.
Dawson has nearly 20 years of business development, strategic management, and brand marketing excellence while leading transformative organizations in both the public and private sectors, nearly a decade of which has focused on the growing cannabis industry.

As an advocate and policy advisor, Dawson was pivotal to the 2021 landmark passage of New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. While fighting for legalization in her home state, Dawson was tapped to lead cannabis regulation in Portland, Oregon. As cannabis program manager for the City of Portland, Dawson oversaw all regulatory licensing, compliance, education, and equity initiatives for the city’s cannabis industry. Supported by ongoing cannabis tax revenue allocation, her office managed the Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED) Initiatives, which includes the nationally-modeled SEED Grant Fund, the country’s first community reinvestment fund tied to local cannabis tax revenue. Under her leadership, Portland approved a multimillion-dollar Cannabis Emergency Relief Fund, becoming the first government jurisdiction in the country to allocate cannabis tax revenue to provide aid and emergency relief to the industry.

Dawson currently serves as the primary liaison between SBS, other city agencies, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (NYSOCM), as well as community stakeholders, including elected officials, community boards, and industry associations. She currently leads the New York City Cannabis Advisory Council, an advisory board of industry and community stakeholders that aims to ensure innovation and equity are central to the success of this emerging industry.

Jeffrey is a cannabis attorney and legalization activist with over 25 years of experience starting, operating, advising, and selling businesses. He is a leader in promoting pro bono advocacy for the rights of those impacted by anti-cannabis enforcement in the United States. Jeffrey holds a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a BA in Russian and East European Studies from the University of North Carolina.

Tunisha is a Champion for Small Businesses, MWBE Consultant, State Lobbyist, Speaker, and expert on government at all levels in New York State. Tunisha’s long career as a Political Campaign Consultant and Community Organizer includes helping faith-based leaders and communities of color navigate government and run for offices. She was a Political Organizer for NY ACORN and was the first African American Woman to serve as Executive Director of the New York State Senate Conference of Black Senators. From her role with the New York State Senate Democrats, Tunisha was later appointed as an Affirmative Action Administrator for the NYS Department of Labor – Division of Equal Opportunity Development by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In 2015, Tunisha launched the MWBE Consulting Group for Capalino to help MWBEs and Non-MWBEs connect/comply with City and State regulations to successfully secure government contracts. She is the creator of a NY based MWBE Directory and co-creator of the MWBE Connect NY mobile app, which streamlines how MWBEs find government contracts that match their capabilities. Through webinars, workshops and panel presentations, she gives MWBEs the blueprint for success. Tunisha also provides technical assistance on several of the firm’s legislative and community engagements.

In 2019, Tunisha founded The Source Consulting Group, LLC., to help businesses small and big with elevating their status in the world from a business and legislative perspective. She has worked on several pieces of legislation since creating The Source that are changing lives and communities. Tunisha also founded the Association of Black Lobbyists and Consultants (ABLC) later that year to be the organization that focuses on uniting and empowering lobbyists and consultants. She also created it to be the united base of support for black political leaders.
Throughout all of her endeavors, Tunisha always maintains her motto of ensuring that “communities of color and women continue to have a voice along with equity for all.”

Tunisha is a proud mother to her sons Quincy-Elton and Noah, and a devoted
wife to her husband Harold C. Miller, Jr. Tunisha is also a proud member of
member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., Founding Circle Member of Higher
Heights for America and Board Member of the NY Diversity Council Advisory
Board

C-Level Executive with over 20 years’ experience helping to drive growth and value for businesses and investors alike. With extensive experience ranging from startup, early growth, VC/PE backed portfolio companies and Fortune 1000 public corporations, Paul develops and executes strategies to help companies grow, reposition and/or reorganize, raise capital and successfully exit.
Paul is the co-founder and CEO of Union Square Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store, A cannabis retail company that is committed to supporting efforts to reverse the damage created by the war on drugs. Passionate about supporting women and BIPOC owned cannabis companies and helping to build generational wealth in communities of color.

Marcus Belfrey has over 20 years of experience as a Project Analyst and Researcher specializing in the planning, coordination and execution of projects ranging from independent film productions to small business developments.