2026 SUNY Cannabis Conference

Chef Camille Le Caer is a French-trained private chef based in Buffalo, NY. A graduate of CÉPROC Paris and Lycée Hôtelier de Dinard in Brittany, Chef Camille brings a refined yet creative approach to modern French cuisine, blending classical techniques with the ingredients and culture of Western New York.

He is the owner of Camille Private Chef LLC, known for bespoke fine dining experiences, seasonal pop-ups, and immersive culinary classes. Chef Camille has also appeared on multiple Food Network productions, including Guy’s Grocery Games (winner, 2020), Chopped (runner-up, 2023), 24 Chef in 24 Hours (2024), and the Halloween Baking Championship (2025).

Reena has been advocating for social justice causes most of her life with much of her work focused on the inequities and racism in the Cannabis industry. In an effort to promote healthier and more approachable ways of consuming cannabis, Reena pairs her culinary skills and knowledge of ganja to create a unique culinary experience for her audience. As a young girl, Reena witnessed her grandmother using Cannabis in the making of various salves and remedies while her father battled the law and society for his choice to partake.

Many of her family members were victims to the War on Drugs so her participation in the industry is both personal and political and she sees it as one of the greatest and most ignored civil rights violations of all time. Reena is the recipient of Now Magazine’s 2019 Readers Choice awards for Best Edible Maker, has been featured on the CBC’s The Current, Episode “Cooking With Cannabis”, Zoomer Media’s ONE Network, alongside most major Canadian publications including The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, The Canadian Press, Chatelaine, Flare, Liisbeth, Now Magazine and various other major and independent media sources on a variety of cannabis-related content.

She is currently the owner/operator of The Limin Coconut, a Caribbean Catering Company, and The High Society Supper Club, a Cannabis Catering and Event Group. Reena is also a founding member of The Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty.

Chef Nathan Koscielski, CCE, is an Associate Professor of Culinary Arts at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) / SUNY Niagara, where he has been teaching for the past nine years. With over 18 years of experience in culinary education, Chef Koscielski previously served as a high school culinary arts instructor, earning the 2015 CAFÉ & Kendall College Green Runner-Up Award for establishing an authentic Farm-to-Table program. His professional background also includes working under Executive Chef Dan King at The Buffalo Club and Chef Norman Hart, CEC, CCE, AAC, at The Niagara Club.

Chef Koscielski holds an Associate of Specialized Technology in Culinary Arts from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Career and Technical Education from SUNY College at Buffalo.

He is recognized for creating SUNY’s first credit-bearing culinary cannabis lecture and lab courses, CUL 250: Culinary Cannabis and Edibles and CUL 255: Culinary Cannabis Extracts, Concentrates, and Isolates. Since launching in 2021, more than 100 students have earned American Culinary Federation certifications through his program. In 2024, he presented on culinary cannabis at the American Culinary Federation’s National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

Thomas O’Neill is the managing partner of Aggressive Organics Inc., a founding member of the board for the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance, and a board member for the Cannabis Trades Association. As a long-standing advocate for cannabis legalization, he has continued to work and grow within the cannabis space beyond legalization, lobbying for legislation that will support cannabis hospitality and tourism models around the world.

With a career as a commercial broadcast director behind him, Thomas brings a unique perspective and approach to his work within the cannabis industry leading Aggressive Organics, or Agrow, in its work as an agricultural technology company; focused on ideation, research, development and implementation in the agriculture, cannabis, forestry, and tourism sectors.

Chef Tim Pettigrew is the Founder and Executive Chef of Aggressive Organics Ltd., bringing decades of hands-on experience in culinary innovation, hospitality operations, and brand development across Canada and abroad. After honing his craft in international kitchens and leading high-profile restaurants in Ottawa, Muskoka, and launching Grindhouse Inc. in Toronto, Tim expanded his focus to the evolving cannabis industry.

Since 2019, he has partnered with co-founder Thomas O’Neill to create cannabis-centered hospitality programs, culinary SOPs, and research initiatives that are helping shape the future of cannabis tourism and elevated guest experiences. Tim’s approach blends creativity, professionalism, and a genuine passion for thoughtful, intentional food service.

Recognizing a gap in the healthcare system, Megan set out to bridge the divide between patients and the world of cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics and founded EntheaCare (formerly Trusted Cannabis Nurse) in 2022.

With over 13 years of nursing experience in diverse fields like oncology, labor delivery, and hospice care, she brings a unique perspective to her practice.

Megan holds a Master of Science degree in Medical Cannabis Therapeutics and built a team of nurses that have helped thousands of patients find relief through the therapeutic and intentional use of holistic plant medicine.

Beyond her qualifications, Megan is a global and national speaker, researcher, advocate, and content creator. Megan is thrilled to be back at SUNY for another year, showing how cannabis nurses are the future of cannabis health & wellness.

Sammie is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of experience in critical care and post-anesthesia recovery. After turning to medical cannabis to manage PTSD & survivors guilt following the frontlines of Covid, she now educates patients, healthcare providers, and dispensary staff on cannabis therapeutics. As the founder of Nursing Nature’s Way, Sammie empowers others through evidence-based education, blending clinical expertise with personal experience to bridge the gap in healthcare.  

Ariane is a nationally recognized nurse educator, speaker, and holistic health expert with over 17 years of experience in critical care, hospice, and integrative healing. Based in Texas, she bridges clinical expertise with ancient plant wisdom—specializing in cannabis education, mindfulness, and psychedelic facilitation and integration.

As an endocannabinoid specialist and trusted guide in the plant medicine space, Ariane supports individuals navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, chronic pain, and addiction. She is particularly passionate about helping people take intentional tolerance breaks, explore microdosing as a tool for transformation, and build healthier, more conscious relationships with themselves, cannabis, and other sacred plant medicines.

Ariane has supported over 200+ people with psilocybin and/or cannabis therapeutics over the past 4 years. Through her holistic approach, she has helped close to 100 safely decrease their pharmaceuticals with little to no adverse effects. She has worked with people in both groups,  one on one, and retreat settings to find relief from pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction. She uses a client centered approach that is evidence based and focuses on integrating foundations of health like nutrition, mindfulness, breath work, and movement.

Carey S. (Clark) Cadieux, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, RYT, FAAN has been a nurse for 32 years, with a wide practice background including acute care, pediatrics, hospice care, and parish nursing. Dr. Cadieux is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, an Associate Professor at Binghamton University, and Past President of the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA).

Dr. Cadieux is the editor of and author in the textbook Cannabis: A Handbook for Nurses (2021, Wolters-Kluwer). She currently works with doctoral students and teaches an interprofessional medical cannabis course. Dr. Cadieux looks forward to sharing knowledge about the incorporation of cannabinoid science, caring theory, and holistic modalities into the role of the holistic cannabis care nurse coach.

From pediatric nurse to patient to advocate, Nikki Lawley’s journey is one of remarkable transformation. In 2016, a traumatic brain injury ended her career as a pediatric nurse and thrust her into a difficult world of pain and prescription medications. Through that darkness, she discovered the plant—and with it, her purpose.

As the founder of Nikki and the Plant, Nikki uses her lived experience to illuminate the healing power of cannabis for brain injury recovery, invisible illnesses, and disability rights. Her voice has become a powerful force across trade shows, boardrooms, and podcasts alike.

Nikki serves in advisory roles with several cannabis industry leaders and helps shape wholesale strategy for Entourage Wholesale, representing the FLUENT House of Brands in New York. She lives on Grand Island, NY, with her husband and their beloved fur babies.

Nikki’s favorite quote:

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” — Lao Tzu

Dr. Kimberly D. Gwinn is a Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee who investigates the influence of natural products in One Health systems. The overall goal of her research is to uncover the origins, functions, and ecological roles of natural compounds that mediate interactions both within and between organisms. Her research focuses on creating biopesticides from agricultural waste, particularly those from medicinal plant extraction processes, as well as exploring the impact of microbial toxins in plant-based products.

She has published on disease of hemp and is currently focusing on inflorescence diseases caused by species of Fusarium. Dr. Gwinn teaches courses on the use of plant and microbial products as medicines and on their use as biopesticides. She is an avid proponent of undergraduate research and is nationally recognized for research investigating the role of undergraduate research in STEM development. Her most recent undergraduate research projects include hemp seed pathology and transcriptomics of HLVd-infected cannabis.

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Matthew Gates is the founder and principal consultant of Zenthanol Consulting, established in 2010. He has supported growers across the USA, China, India, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and beyond, providing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) expertise for a wide range of crops, including Gerbera, Rose, Citrus, Tea, Tomato, and Cannabis.

Matthew focuses on a holistic multidomain approach to IPM with strong emphasis on operational, evolutionary, and ecological pest awareness recognized as the “everswarm concept” tailoring preventative and curative strategies to each cultivation context with consideration for the speed and expansion of regional and global pest adaptation and diverse countervailing options. He is an active science communicator, sharing empirical strategies and thorough pest analysis through the Zenthanol Consulting YouTube channel and other media platforms. His educational outreach is grounded in academic research and practical experience, fostering a robust and informed grower community.

Recent publications include contributing author to the 2024 New York State Cannabis sativa L. Guide Book for Cornell University’s agricultural extension, several academic publications on cannabis pest ecology, and a systematic review of neem chemistry’s interactions with cannabis and its pests.

Matthew is known for his expertise in common, rare and emerging crop pests, strategic pest analyses in his pest primer series, and comprehensive science-based IPM procedure. His work continues to shape best practices in the cannabis, pest management, and broader agricultural domains via accessible information, operational vigilance, and ecological stewardship.

Nellie Brown is the Director of the Workplace Health and Safety Program of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.  Nellie also provides expertise for the Cannabis Workforce Initiative. A certified industrial hygienist (Board for Global EHS Credentialing, Diplomate of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene), biologist and chemist, Nellie earned a master’s degree in a multidisciplinary program in natural sciences and applied science from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. Nellie also provides industrial hygiene services for the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Western New York, a clinic funded by NYSDOH for diagnosis and treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses. 

Nellie provides virtual and on-site training and technical assistance on a wide range of occupational safety and health hazards including chemicals, biological agents (including COVID-19), ergonomics, occupational stress, shift-work and long hours of work, crisis and violence prevention, hazard analysis techniques, and indoor air quality for employers, labor unions, and the public. She is the author of numerous occupational health hazard manuals, training programs, and articles; her publications on Cornell University’s DigitalCollections@ILR e-Library have been downloaded over 290,000 times in over 180 countries.

“Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF; AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Vergara has been part of e scientific teams at private companies including Steep Hill, Inc. who are a global leader in agricultural testing, and the biotech company Front Range Biosciences.

Dr. Vergara  joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist’ to help  farmers with their crop in late 2021.

Dr. Vergara’s scientific publications include the comparison of the cannabinoids by the federally produced Cannabis to that produced by the private market. These results were featured in news platforms such as The Atlantic, Science, and FiveThirtyEight. Some of her other scientific publications are a compilation of the existing genomic tools available for Cannabis research that was featured in Science, and the maternally inherited genomes (chloroplast and mitochondria). Vergara has authored these publications along with collaborators from the private sector in the Cannabis industry as well as academics from several institutions worldwide.Vergara is also an international consultant and policy advisor and has advised companies in the US and Latin America. Additionally, she has worked as an expert witness for multiple legal cases in the US and abroad. http://vergarascience.com

Dr. Jose Leme graduated with his bachelor’s in Agronomic Engineering from Universidade Estadual de Londrina. For his master’s degree, he studied Precision Agriculture at Auburn University, followed by his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech with a focus on Plant Sciences. He started at SIU in Fall 2021, bringing his expertise in cannabis science and cultivation systems. He has a joint appointment in the School of Forestry and Horticulture and the School of Biological Sciences. The Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Systems lab focuses on areas of controlled environment agriculture, plant secondary metabolites, nutraceutical/pharmaceutical biology, phenomics, plant physiology, and growing practices. His team aims to determine how to leverage environmental controls (light intensity, duration, quality, temperature, and CO2), plant nutrition, biostimulants, and hormones to improve plant yield and quality. More specifically, the research group is developing techniques to optimize plant yields and quality based on key crop steering traits that increase sustainability and efficiency via plant physiological, biochemical, and agricultural approaches.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-leme-ph-d-b94809138/

Website: https://www.drleme.com/

Melissa Moore is an Assistant Professor and the Horticulture Program Coordinator at SUNY Niagara, where she specializes in cannabis education and leads a million-dollar grant initiative designed to expand cannabis curricula across four SUNY colleges in Western New York.

Before transitioning into academia, Melissa spent over two decades in Laytonville, California—deep in the Mendocino County mountains—where she developed extensive expertise in the cannabis industry. She has since applied that experience to higher education, playing a central role in building SUNY Niagara’s cannabis degree program and authoring six of its eight courses.

Melissa is also the founder and organizer of the annual SUNY Cannabis Conference in Niagara Falls, NY. This flagship event brings together leading voices in cannabis science, business, and innovation. The 2024 conference achieved national recognition by hosting the first-ever American Culinary Federation–sanctioned National Culinary Cannabis Competition.

In 2024, she also published the first cannabis-focused article to appear in the Old Farmer’s Almanac, marking a historic moment for the long-standing publication.

Rob Mejia is an award-winning adjunct cannabis professor at Stockton University where he teaches the Introduction to Medical Cannabis, Social Justice and Cannabis, and Cannabis Internship Preparation courses. He also helped launch CHRIS – the Cannabis & Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton – as a hemp and non-medical research hub and cannabis education center. In addition, he is President of Our Community Harvest: A Cannabis Education Company, which creates cannabis educational materials including online courses. He is also one of New Jersey’s most sought-after cannabis and hemp speakers and presenters.

His cannabis authorship includes The Essential Cannabis Book: A Field Guide for the Curious, The Essential Cannabis Journal: Personal Notes from the Field, and Cannabis Careers: The Insider’s Guide to a Budding Industry (April 2025). Rob is currently launching several cannabis brands and regularly teaches medical patients and their families how to cook with cannabis.

In recognition of his cannabis advocacy and education efforts, he is the recipient of the Inaugural Excellence in Cannabis Education Award for the state of New Jersey. https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2022/05/nj-cannabis-business-awards-2022-excellence-in-education-winner-revealed.html

Dr. Nina Hicks is currently a practicing family medicine physician at Delmont Medical Care in Franklin Square, New York. She is a clinical assistant professor at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She not only provides medical cannabis care with her patients at Delmont Medical Care but also she provides medical cannabis recommendations and consulting through her company, Hicks Medical Consulting. She was inspired to help patients improve their quality of life with medical cannabis after seeing the benefits it offered her late husband, who had brain cancer.

Dr Hicks earned her M.D. from University of Kansas School of Medicine, an M.B.A. from Quinnipac University and a B.S. from UCLA. She completed residency training in Family Medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital

Ed Wells is a leading industry expert on cannabis post-harvest environmental control, and he takes great pride in helping cultivators dial in their processes to create superior cannabis products. A veteran of the HVAC industry, Ed’s knowledge of facility operations and systems guides his work at Cannatrol and is a critical aspect of the company’s high degree of customer satisfaction and retention.

His understanding of the key factors that affect saleable yield and product safety—and the need for stable and controlled environments—are core factors in Cannatrol’s ongoing development and success. A native of Vermont, Ed still calls the Green Mountain State home and enjoys golfing and being outdoors when time permits.

Russ Hudson is an internationally recognized cannabis researcher, author, and consultant with more than three decades of experience in the field. His career spans regulatory affairs, scientific research, and global consulting, with a focus on advancing evidence-based understanding of cannabis and its complex chemistry. Through his Cannabis Chemistry Collection – hosted at CannabisChemistry.org – Russ publishes rigorous, citation-driven works that explore the roles of terpenes, flavonoids, esters, and other compounds in shaping cannabis pharmacology and consumer experience. His publications, including The Big Book of Terps and The Formidable Book of Flavonoids, are regarded as foundational texts within cannabis science and are used by researchers, educators, universities and colleges, and professionals worldwide.

As founder and director of regulatory affairs at Cannabis Consultants Group, Russ advises clients across North America and Europe on licensing, compliance, product development, and testing standards. His work has influenced both industry practices and regulatory frameworks by translating complex scientific insights into practical strategies for operators, policymakers, and educators. Russ also serves as CEO of Little Dragon, an AI-powered cannabis recommendation platform that applies the same science described in his research to match consumers with products based on their unique chemical profiles.

Lance has spent years cultivating brands and telling stories, formerly in the mainstream digital media and marketing space with companies like Scripps and AutoTrader prior to making the jump to the legal cannabis industry. Since a shift in late 2013, Lance has helped build big name industry brands like Weedmaps, The Cannabist, and GreenBroz. He has had a strong focus on marketing and business development, taking these brands global. Along the way he has established a substantial network around the world, a huge help when writing a monthly column on international legalization.

Lance more recently brought his varied knowledge and passion-first attitude to Grove Bags in 2022, where he’s been tasked with growing the company’s footprint with an eye toward moving into emerging markets around the globe. As a cancer survivor, and having grown up in Northern California, he has seen firsthand and embraced the benefits of cannabis, and how it can be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Having spent the past several years speaking at expos and conventions, he enjoys connecting with other advocates who are interested in the different facets this blossoming industry has to offer.

Seth Brophy is a chemist specializing in emulsions and product formulations, who has worked in a variety of spaces including fabric coatings, composite materials, household cleaners, detergents, and beverages prior to entering the cannabis space. Now he is the Chief Science Officer of Nowave LLC, and has been formulating their products for more than five years, including during their time as the CBD products company, Bad Days.

Now, Nowave is responsible for a host of brands, with Off Hours, Luci, and Weed Water featured as their in-house brands. Seth’s work for Nowave has run the gamut from matrix optimization, process development, equipment training, flavor work, effect studies, and a host of compliance tasks.

Drew builds relationships that last from backstage to boardrooms. Known for his bold yet respectful presence, he leads with curiosity, cultural sensitivity, and a deep belief in people-first connection. Whether navigating complex regulatory landscapes or mentoring future leaders, Drew brings business acumen, intuition, and authenticity to every interaction. 

He’s helped grow markets, educate industries, and challenge the status quo, always with a willingness to listen, share, and elevate others. His early career in music and media promoted live events and developed retail content for Best Buy and Target Corporation. He learned a timeless truth: everyone wants to feel seen, heard, and valued. The past ten years at Boveda have placed Drew at the cutting edge of cigar freshness, musical instrument preservation and cannabis flower quality.

Drew’s motto? We get one chance to make a first impression. Make it count and make it real.

TOPIC: ​​Ecological Perspectives on Cannabis Sativa Phytochemistry: Biotic Interactions and Abiotic Stress in Managed and Natural Systems

BIO: Dr. Ericka Kay is a chemical ecologist whose work bridges plant phytochemistry, insect ecology, and applied agricultural science. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, where her research focused on how phytochemical composition in Cannabis sativa shapes interactions with naturally occurring arthropod communities across cultivated, feral, and experimentally stressed plants. Drawing from nearly two decades of hands-on cultivation and field experience throughout the western United States, Dr. Kay integrates observational surveys, multi-year field experiments, and laboratory bioassays to understand how environmental stressors influence Cannabis phytochemistry and the ecological functions of plant chemistry.

Commercial Cultivation Specialist with Advanced Nutrients and a practitioner with extensive experience in regulated cannabis production across the United States, Puerto Rico, and international medical markets.

Clovis specializes in applying evidence-based nutrient strategies, environmental optimization, and standardized cultivation methodologies to improve yield consistency and operational efficiency in commercial grow environments. His work focuses on bridging practical field experience with data-driven approaches that strengthen both plant performance and financial margins in an increasingly complex industry landscape.

He has collaborated with cultivators ranging from small medical facilities to large-scale, multi-regional producers, helping teams remediate underperforming systems, implement reproducible cultivation protocols, and align production practices with regulatory and quality-assurance standards.

Bill is a pioneer in the indoor garden industry, having sourced and distributed grow lights, nutrients, hydroponic systems, air-quality equipment, and tissue-culture solutions to more than 30 countries since 1998 from his base in San Francisco. He currently develops next-generation propagation technology from his lab in Santa Rosa, where he provides advanced cloning services to medical and adult-use cannabis facilities around the world.

Bill’s international work includes five years of collaboration in Colombia, more than a year and a half advancing cultivation and tissue-culture practices in Thailand, and new ongoing tissue-culture initiatives in South Africa.

Before joining Colligan Law in 2023, Aleece served as general counsel and strategic advisor with MariJade Industries/MJI Solutions. Prior to this, she was the cannabis service team leader for Barclay Damon, where she oversaw 16 cross‐disciplinary attorneys who represented individuals and organizations participating in or impacted by legal cannabis operations. She began her career as an associate attorney with Green Light Law Group in Portland, Ore., assisting businesses entering that state’s recreational and medical cannabis markets.

Aleece’s experience has been called upon many times, with dozens of media, conference, podcast, publication and other speaking appearances among her credits. She currently serves on the Cannabis Advisory Council of Niagara County Community College; as a Policy Committee Member of the Cannabis Association of New York; as Program Executive Chair of the New York State Bar Association Cannabis Section; and as a member of the Buffalo Cannabis Working Group. She also previously served as chair of the New York State Bar Association Cannabis Committee; and treasurer of the Oregon State Bar Cannabis Section. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for the University at Buffalo’s School of Law, teaching the course, “The Green Rush,” to prepare students to practice cannabis law in New York state. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University, followed by a J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Tom (Phoenix) Ballistrea is the founder, owner and sole proprietor of Cannabaceae (kan-uh-bay-see-ay) which has the privilege of being licensed as a Micro-business in the Adult-use Cannabis industry in New York state. Phoenix (Tom) cultivates artisanal Cannabis grown in synergy with nature that is; full sun-grown, in native soil, using regenerative practices in Western NY tailored for the Cannabis connoisseur.

Prior to founding Cannabaceae, Phoenix gained extensive knowledge of the Cannabis plant through his legacy experience, attended Suny Niagara completing the Cannabis curriculum through the Workforce Development Program, successfully completed the Master Certificate Program at Cannabis Training University and is a graduate of the Cannabis Compliance Training and Mentorship program through the Office of Cannabis Management in NY. Phoenix also served as a Technical Assistance Provider in the Cannabis Hub and Incubator Program, assisting Social and Economic Equity applicants through the application process for the Adult-use Cannabis industry in NY. His work continues through; collaborations with local community, aiding industry professionals, creating craft style Cannabis and normalizing Cannabis in our

Mike Casacci has had a passion for growing and advocating for cannabis since he was a teenager. At 17 years old Mike grew his first plants hydroponically, and began using cannabis regularly.  Over the years, Mike and his family waited patiently for NY to legalize cannabis. In 2015, The Casacci family applied to be an registered organization and advocated for early access for medical patients. The Casacci’s eventually set up a CBD processing facility and hydroponically grew CBD for seeds.  In 2022 they purchased a 45,000 sq/ft climate controlled greenhouse in WNY and started the brand “House of Sacci”. House of Sacci has a team of dedicated and experienced growers that are passionate about growing the best cannabis possible. Today House of Sacci is sold in about 1/3 of all NY legal dispensaries.

Shawn St. John is a lifelong participant in cannabis culture, coming from a legacy growing family that shaped his early understanding of the plant’s value, versatility, and community impact. Today, Shawn serves as the Inventory Manager at Satisfied Mind Cannabis Store in North Tonawanda, where he’s quickly advanced by integrating his personal history with professional discipline. At Satisfied Mind, Shawn oversees inventory strategy, trend analysis, and consumer engagement, using his hands-on product knowledge and lived experience with cannabis to guide thoughtful curation as well as to strengthen vendor relationships.

Joleigh Wylucki is the owner and founder of Love Nug Cannabis Dispensary in North Tonawanda, New York. A multi-business entrepreneur with experience across several industries, she brings a strong background in marketing, advertising, and public relations to every venture she leads. Joleigh is known for her hands-on approach, community focus, and commitment to elevating New York’s legal cannabis market through education, quality standards, and exceptional customer experience.