NY Opportunity Tour | Canna Advisors

Join us in Rochester, Albany, and NYC in June

Are you a cannabis entrepreneur looking to expand or make your start in the newly regulated New York marketplace? Are you searching for the trusted advisors and industry-leading resources needed to help guide you through the process?

Then you won’t want to miss your chance to mix and mingle with state and national-level influencers and learn from industry leaders who have worked in regulated cannabis markets across the US and internationally.

Join us on the “Insights & Influencers: NY Opportunity Tour” coming to Albany, Rochester and NYC this June co-presented by the National Cannabis Industry Association and Canna Advisors.

Hosted by two industry-leading groups that have been on the forefront of building the cannabis industry as entrepreneurs, investors, and advocates, this event will provide insider insights into opportunities in the New York industry as well as what’s on the horizon for federal policy. Make the investment, take the time, and do the work to position yourself for success in the empire state!

Event Agenda

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Influencer Power Hour

Enjoy networking, drinks, and appetizers

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Insights & Opportunity Overview

Welcome & Introductions
Top Considerations for License Applications
Investment & Capital
Real Estate
Staffing & Stories of Success
Importance of Advocacy & Closing Remarks

Panelists

Aaron Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)
Jay Czarkowski, Founding Partner, Canna Advisors
Sumer Thomas, Director of Regulatory Operations, Canna Advisors
Bob Wagener, VP of Business Development, Canna Advisors
Michael Schwamm, Partner, Duane Morris [Brooklyn event]

Special Guests: New York Office of Cannabis Management

Representatives of the New York Office of Cannabis Management will also be setting up informational booths at the events so you can meet with regulators face-to-face.

Registration

NCIA members receive 2, 5 or 10 tickets based on your level of membership.

Non-member passes and additional member tickets beyond your allotment are available for $100 now until the day of the event.

Tickets go up to $150 the day of the event and limited quantities will be available at the door until we reach capacity, so act fast!

More About our Panelists

Aaron Smith:

Prior to launching NCIA, Aaron distinguished himself as a public advocate for marijuana policy reform — first under the auspices of a California-based medical cannabis advocacy group, Safe Access Now in 2005, and then as the California state policy director for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project until founding NCIA in 2010. Aaron has successfully built coalitions with elected officials on both sides of the aisle in order to advance marijuana law reform legislation. Aaron’s opinion pieces have appeared in major newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, and he has been a frequent commentator on national television news networks. Originally from California, Aaron is currently based in Denver.

Jay Czarkowski:

An influential cannabis entrepreneur, investor, and advocate, Jay has served as a leader and pioneer in the cannabis industry since 2002. A well-connected and respected industry insider, Jay and his team have helped win licenses and build cannabis businesses in 33 states and internationally. Jay is a Founding Member of the NCIA, a sustaining member of SSDP, and a Lifetime Member of the Arcview Investment Group. In 2016, he received the Arcview Group’s Outstanding Member award for his career service to the industry. Jay is a sought-after speaker for national and international cannabis conferences and has been featured and quoted in numerous leading publications including Newsweek, NASDAQ Trade Talks, U.S. News & World Report, New York Business Journal, Crane’s New York Business, Benzinga, Business Insider, and Politico.

Sumer Thomas:

As a licensed attorney, Sumer offers a unique perspective on the legal landscape of the cannabis industry as well as a critical eye toward new laws. Sumer’s interest in the evolution of cannabis is bolstered by her law degree from the University of Florida. Her legal background in tax, business, and administrative law brings a broad perspective for solving clients’ complex problems. Sumer has an in-depth understanding of mature and developing state cannabis markets, along with a global perspective gained while living abroad. Sumer speaks Chinese and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Colorado. She is a member of NORML, the Retail Committee of the NCIA, the Colorado Bar Association, the Boulder County Bar Association, and the International Cannabis Bar Association. She is often asked to speak at national cannabis conferences.

Bob Wagener:

Bob is a veteran strategist with more than 25 years of experience and 12 years of executive-level service at public and private companies. He has successfully grown both small business startups and Fortune 100 companies with international services. Approaching a decade of cannabis expertise, Bob has helped cannabis entrepreneurs across the U.S. to identify their market potential and achieve their goals through extensive forecasting and financial modeling. Bob enjoys the unique dynamic of the cannabis industry that combines massive growth potential and tangible community benefits. He looks forward to helping the next generation of cannabis entrepreneurs enhance and expand the market through mainstream investments.

Michael Schwamm:

Michael represents public and private entities in the cannabis industry in all aspects of their business affairs. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, angel and venture capital financing, and other capital formation transactions, as well as providing general corporate counseling. Within the cannabis sector, he advises companies of all sizes, including startups, venture-backed companies, privately held businesses, and public companies, in all aspects of their business affairs. In particular, he has worked on two of the larger cross-border public company mergers and well as industry roll-ups. He also provides services to venture capital and private equity funds and angel investors as well as high net worth individuals and family offices, in connection with fund formation and investment. Michael has moderated or participated on a number of panels focusing on investing in cannabis.