Speakers
Jesce Horton is an engineer by education, an energy management and automation expert through training, and a horticulturalist by passion. In 2013, soon after moving to Portland, OR, Jesce began growing medical cannabis in his home for two elderly patients who were suffering with cancer, pain and insomnia. After having success in medical cannabis cultivation, Jesce founded LOWD, an adult-use Tier I indoor connoisseur focused cultivation facility in metro Portland. Also, he co-founded the
Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), the first and largest non-profit organization founded to create equal access and economic empowerment for cannabis businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs.Due to his past work in industrial energy efficiency and recent cannabis success,Oregon’s own Governor Kate Brown appointed Jesce to the Task Force for Cannabis Environmental Best Practice. He has continued this work through joining the Board of Directors for the Resource Innovation Institute (RII), an organization that is building the central platform for energy issues and collaboration in the cannabis industry. In 2019,
he was elected Chairman of the Board to help RII develop a market-driven certification
standard to propel adoption of energy-efficient grow techniques.
As a result of his hard work and dedication to making positive contributions to the cannabis industry, Jesce has been featured by numerous publications like Forbes, the Guardian, The Washington Post, Cannabis Business Times, Marijuana Business Magazine and USA Today. Additionally, he has served on numerous federal, state and local cannabis regulatory advisory committees that have helped shape the legal cannabis market in Oregon and California. Jesce sits on the Board of Advisors for some of the most respected companies in the industry, like MJ Biz Daily and Ben’s Best, the cannabis company founded by Ben of Ben & Jerry’s.
Through his consulting practice, Jesce has designed over 200k square feet of cannabis cultivation space between Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Missouri. He has helped lead companies to profitability by licensing some of his best-selling genetics, assisting with team development, and developing custom standard operating procedures.
Jesce sees it as his mission to leverage his resources and experience to make a positive and sustaining impact in the cannabis industry: “Cannabis has the ability to do amazing good in our society, but the industry will never reach its full potential without keeping sustainable business practices, like diversity and environmental efficiency, as core principles of development and growth.
In 2019, with notable industry executive, Jeannette Ward, Jesce cofounded an historic initiative initially funded by the City of Portland, the Nu Leaf Project. This new non-profit has now crossed over $2 million in grants and low interest loans to cannabis business owners and career hopefuls. In his spare time, Jesce enjoys writing, hiking and playing catch with his two sons,Tabor and Hendrix in his beloved home of Portland, OR.
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Tess Melody Taylor is a private educator and a successful entrepreneur, known as the founder of the self-funded CBD skincare line called TAYLOR + tess. Her brand has garnered widespread recognition, having been featured in prominent publications like Forbes, BuzzFeed, MJ Lifestyle, Everygirl, and Cheddar, and being carried at Nordstrom stores. Hailing from Texas, Tess has a strong affection for BBQ, weed, and denim, making them some of her cherished indulgences.
Her venture into the CBD industry was sparked by her personal journey, inspired by the needs of her veteran parents who sought opioid-free pain management solutions in 2019. Tess's upbringing was marked by a deep connection to cannabis and food, and she owes much of her culinary expertise to her maternal grandfather, Jesse James "Granddad" Robinson. Born into a sharecropping family in Waco, TX in 1927, he embarked on a transformative journey to California at the tender age of 16. Rising to become a celebrated chef in the Navy, his culinary skills were revered, but his reputation was equally founded on his calm demeanor, kind nature, and his active involvement with the National and Virginia chapters of the NAACP. The legacy of "Granddad" lives on through Tess, manifesting in her own culinary creation, "Saucy."
"Saucy" represents an elevated and savory infused condiment brand rooted in Texas traditions, boasting healthy ingredients that enable Californians to safely gather around cannabis-infused meals once again. Tess's dedication to precision in dosing ensures that her products cater to both seasoned cannabis connoisseurs and those eager to explore its delights. At her table, diversity thrives, and inclusivity reigns supreme, as she firmly believes that there is always room for one more at the table.
Fueled by her passion for positive change and social equity, Tess joined the board of Our Academy after being a mentee in the 501(c)(3) non-profit’s first cohort. Comprised of BIPOC entrepreneurs and investors, women, LGBTQIA+, and allies; the organization is an embodiment of unity amidst diversity and between grassroots and corporate alliances, recognizing that embracing different perspectives fosters strength and growth. Driven by a desire to bridge societal gaps, provide access to resources and, and promote visibility for all marginalized groups, Tess and her team stand united, striving to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Dasheeda Dawson is a global cannabis advocate, award-winning Fortune 100 business strategist, and bestselling author on the cannabis industry. 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 led cannabis regulation in Portland, Oregon for a number of years. In that role, Dawson oversaw all regulatory licensing, compliance, education, and equity initiatives for the city’s cannabis industry. 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.
In October of 2022, Dasheeda was appointed Founding Director of Cannabis NYC by Mayor Eric Adams. As profiled by the New York Times, she returns home to lead the city’s efforts to become a global leader in cannabis industry excellence. As the founding director, she oversees the interagency creation and curation of citywide resources and services to help build a sustainable cannabis industry, including helping entrepreneurs to apply for licenses, access financing opportunities, and navigate municipal regulations.
Dawson serves as Board chair of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition, a national organization of industry policymakers and regulators often referred to as the leading architects of cannabis equity and reform in the United States. She received her MBA from Rutgers Business School and completed her undergraduate degree in molecular biology at Princeton University.
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Dr. Meisha Porter is the inaugural President and CEO of The Bronx Community Foundation. Dr. Porter was previously Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation. As the first black woman to take on this role she was responsible for educating 1.1 million
students in over 1,800 schools.
Dr. Porter has deep roots in the Bronx having started her career as a youth organizer which ultimately led to the creation of The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice (LGJ), the first Urban Assembly school. During her tenure at LGJ, she served as Community
Coordinator, Internship Coordinator, and taught English before becoming an Assistant Principal and then taking the helm as Principal in 2004. In addition to these roles Dr. Porter also served as Superintendent of Community School District #11 as well as Executive Superintendent for the Bronx where she was deeply invested in sharpening school leaders’ equity lens and building collaborative practices across schools. Having worked her way up through the ranks, she is exceedingly aware of the challenges city schools and communities face and has dedicated her life to improving the learning environment for all students.
As a Bronx resident, Dr. Porter looks forward to leveraging her current role to continue her deep commitment serving communities and families in the Bronx. Through her work at The Bronx Community Foundation she will lead the efforts to support and invest in community power to eradicate inequity and build sustainable futures for all Bronxites. Dr. Porter holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in Cross Cultural Literature from Hunter College, a M.A. in Educational Leadership from Mercy College and an Ed.D from Fordham University. Dr. Porter sits on the boards of the Municipal Credit Union, The Urban Assembly, New Visions for Public Schools and BuildOn.
Tahira Rehmatullah is a Partner at Highlands Venture Partners, Co-founder of Commons, and member of the board of directors of the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform. Tahira has held a range of positions throughout her career, from investment management to brand building, and is an investor and adviser to numerous cannabis businesses. She is passionate about fostering and promoting BIPOC and female leadership in this industry and beyond. Tahira's latest book, Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice, co-authored with Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, was released in April 2023 by MIT Press. She earned her MBA from the Yale School of Management and B.S. in Finance from The Ohio State University. Tahira resides in New York City.
Jeannette co-founded NuProject in 2018 in Portland, OR. Since founding, the organization’s services have grown from grants and technical assistance to historically-excluded entrepreneurs to also include mission-based funding via low-interest loans and other funding instruments. The organization’s funding footprint includes Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma and Canada. When Jeannette launched NuProject, she was also leading marketing and public relations for Akerna, a publicly-traded cannabis technology. Jeannette entered the cannabis industry in 2015 following 15 years in communications and marketing roles at Fortune 100 companies, including 10-years at The Coca-Cola Company. Jeannette is particularly excited about the potential of cannabis industry revenues as a pool of economic justice funding for Black communities. Arrested for a cannabis-related charge at 20, and a personal observer of the criminal injustice system’s insidious impact on Black families, Jeannette is passionate about addressing economic inequities for historically excluded communities.
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Erin Hackney has over 25 years of business development and strategy experience including nine years dedicated to cannabis. Erin has founded two cannabis brands: Julian Marley’s JujJu Royal (raised $1m) and Mezz Brands (raised $4m). Hackney spent the last 3.5 years working along side Al Harrington raising $30+M in capital for Viola’s current market expansion. Erin currently holds the position of VP of Sales and Trade Marketing for Fernway where his teams are focused on market share growth in MA and market expansion in NJ and NY.