Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm PDT
Location: Expert Dojo 395 Santa Monica Place Mall, Santa Monica
The Green Strategic Interest Group is specifically dedicated to cannabis. For the first event in October, we want to focus on the importance of cannabis alternatives for opioids. We are curating a panel of experts to address the topic from varying industry perspectives.
Moderator: Laura Toomey
Panelists include:
Harry Nelson
Harry Nelson, co-chairman of the Adaptive Health Capital board and member of the investment committee, is a leading healthcare advisor best known for the eponymous law firm he founded, Nelson Hardiman, LLP. At Adaptive Health Capital, he specializes in healthcare transaction advisory services and funding—Mergers & Acquisitions, bridge financing, etc.
Kimberly Kovacs
Kimberly Kovacs is a serial entrepreneur and investor across multiple sectors such as technology and life sciences and has a distinguished, results–driven, track record in executive leadership and finance. Kovacs has personally raised more than $100 million in venture dollars for companies she’s either founded or co-founded — resulting in many successful exits. In looking at investment opportunities in the cannabis space, it became apparent to Kovacs that there was a significant void in the women’s cannabis space, particularly as it related to women’s wellness and the various conditions that could be treated with cannabis.
Tracy Ryan
Tracy Ryan is the CEO of CannaKids, a California based medical cannabis company, and the founder of the 501c3 SavingSophie.org. After her infant daughter’s brain tumor diagnosis in 2013, Tracy dedicated her life to helping patients who suffer from life-altering ailments with a focus on children. Now in full swing with human & animal model trials with one of the world’s leading cancer immunologists, it’s her mission to not only end the suffering of those inflicted by cancer but also develop a cure her daughter.
Michelle Ross, PhD
Dr. Michele Ross is our ScienceJane! She is a neuroscientist and has studied the effects of drugs on the brain for over a decade. Dr. Ross teaches at the Holistic Cannabis Academy, is the author of Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency, and was the founder of the first 501c3 nonprofit research institute on cannabis and women’s health.
Rico Tarver
Rico Tarver is a serial entrepreneur with a firm footing in the rapidly expanding global cannabis industry. Rico helped industry ancillary leader, Baker Technologies between 2017-18 breakthrough the most competitive region of California; amassing a roughly 30% sales footprint in the legal retail market before merging with 3 other companies to form TILT Holdings (https://www.tiltholdings.com/) exiting and moving on to become EUREKA Vapor’s VP of Sales assisting with their re-emergence on the plant-touching side.