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PRESENTED BY
STAGE SCHEDULE
PACC STAGE SPONSORED BY
11am-12pm
Jim Belushi Fireside Chat
Moderated by Marc Shepard President & Founder of NECANN
12:15pm-1:00pm
Legalization Roundtable
PANELISTS
Meredith Buettner
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition
As a Harrisburg insider, Meredith brings a keen understanding of Pennsylvania's political landscape and unique experience in advocacy and campaigns to the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition. As the Executive Director, Meredith manages all administrative aspects of the statewide industry association as well as actively contributes to cannabis policy making in Pennsylvania. She was instrumental in the passage of Act 44 - the most extensive update to the Commonwealth's medical marijuana statute since its passage in 2016. Meredith was named to City & State PA's Healthcare Power 100 for the last three years as well as Metro Philly's 2022 Cannabis Power Players List. Meredith has extensive experience in professional politics and fundraising for political organizations and candidates up and down the ballot across Pennsylvania. She has developed and executed fundraising and political strategies for a variety of clients at the local, state, and federal level and has played a key role in some of the state's most closely watched campaigns. Prior to her political work, Meredith served as an advocate for the business community in various roles at the Main Line Chamber of Commerce. Her work included government affairs, member relations, event development and meeting planning. Meredith has both a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from Villanova University.
Kristal is an experienced professional with 10+ years in criminal justice advocacy & community engagement. Recognized for raising awareness on mass incarceration & related issues, fostering collaborative relationships, & supporting victims of the war on drugs. Skilled in story telling, community engagement, team leadership, business development, cross-functional collaboration, victims' rights, government relations, public speaking, foster-care system, & criminal justice reform. Founder of Free My Weedman, empowering communities affected by drug criminalization. Collaborating with officials on cannabis-related policy. Proactive in engaging with community orgs, incarcerated constituents, & govt. Colleagues describe me as a progressive, driven, down-to-earth, and strategic leader.
Kristal Bush
Social Impact Strategist
Free My Weedman
Theresa Nightingale
Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility
Cresco Labs
Theresa Nightingale is a dedicated advocate and cannabis professional with over 15 years of experience in the cannabis space. Currently serving as the Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cresco Labs, Theresa is committed to promoting social equity, consumer education, and responsible practices within the cannabis sector.
In recognition of her efforts, she was honored as the Cannabis Advocate of the Year by the PCF Organization in 2023 and has had the privilege of speaking at esteemed platforms such as the Smithsonian Newseum and the Boston Freedom Rally. Her advocacy work includes organizing expungement and "know your rights" events, co-hosting the Pittsburgh Cannabis Festival, managing thousands of volunteer activations, and lobbying for comprehensive cannabis reform in Harrisburg.
Theresa also serves on the board of the Jefferson County Development Council and is an active member of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee (15-2). Recently, she collaborated with Pittsburgh City Council to enact a bill safeguarding medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination. Additionally, Theresa is currently working on an ordinance aimed at reducing penalties for consensual adult sex work in Pittsburgh.
1:30pm-2:15pm
Women of Ethos
PANELISTS
Jessica VanDeWalle is a seasoned professional with 16+ years of experience driving growth and exceeding sales targets through innovative strategies and cross-departmental collaboration. Her career spans interior design, project management, and the energy sector, with leadership roles at Burt Hill, Quad3 Group, Exelon, and Happy Valley, where she was promoted to Vice President of Wholesale in 2020.
In August 2024, Jessica joined Ethos as Vice President of Wholesale, where she leads strategic expansion and market growth. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has studied strategic sales management at Harvard University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, painting, and supporting the Kansas Jayhawks.
Jessica VanDeWalle
Vice President of Wholesale
Ethos
Julie Power
Vice President of Retail
Ethos
Julie joined the retail team at Ethos in October of 2020 and became the VP of Retail in August 2023. Her career experience was cultivated in diverse industries including technology, higher education, banking, and retail. She served in roles in data analytics, project management, and human resources, continually gravitating toward opportunities to build strong teams and increase efficiencies. Originally from Ohio, Julie lives with her husband and daughter in Pittsburgh, PA and enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, and building jigsaw puzzles. She is an amateur musician occasionally performing in a musical group on vocals and bass guitar.
Hannah Lanoue-Carrizo is the Senior Manager of Marketing & CX at Ethos Cannabis, where she leads overall marketing strategy and customer experience initiatives. With a background in retail management, digital growth marketing, and digital strategy, she is passionate about creating compelling brand stories that elevate customer engagement.
Hannah is dedicated to de-stigmatizing cannabis both in society and the professional world, ensuring that Ethos delivers a high-level customer experience through exceptional marketing and storytelling.
Beyond her career, she is a mom of two, a guitarist for over 20 years, and a Star Wars nerd. With a degree in Sustainability and Corporate Leadership, she is also passionate about our natural world and the systems that keep it flowing.
Hannah Lanoue-Carrizo
Sr. Manager, Marketing and Customer Experience
Ethos
Vanessa Montesdeoca
Regional Retail Manager
Ethos
Vanessa Montesdeoca has been with the company for over four years, starting as a Product Associate to break into the industry. Through hard work and dedication, she has gained valuable experience and now proudly serves as the Regional Manager for Northeast and Southeast Pennsylvania. In this role, Vanessa oversees operations and collaborates closely with her team to ensure continued success.
Outside of work, Vanessa is a devoted mother to her 3-year-old son, who brings immense joy to her life. When she's not focusing on her career or spending time with her family, she enjoys traveling and discovering new places and cultures. Balancing her professional and personal life has been incredibly fulfilling, and Vanessa feels fortunate to have both her career and family to nurture and cherish.
Emily Allan is the Brand and Trade Marketing Manager at Ethos, leading creative campaigns that blend education, storytelling, and strategy. A proud West Virginia University alum with a background in wine and a passion for breaking stigmas, she brings a fresh perspective to cannabis marketing.
Emily Allan
Brands and Trade Marketing Manager
Ethos
Faith Long
Pharmacist
Ethos
Faith has been a pharmacist medical cannabis space for over a year and joined the Ethos team as a Medpro in July 2024. After gaining experience in the pediatric, hospital, and retail pharmacy settings, she loves using her clinical background when consulting with patients about medical marijuana. Coming from the tip of the Emerald Triangle - Humboldt County, CA, Ethos was the perfect landing spot for Faith once moving to Pittsburgh, PA. Outside of providing patient care, she enjoys spending time with her cat, Luma, being outdoors hiking, and attending live music events.
Jessica Winter is a marketing professional with over five years of experience in the cannabis industry. She specializes in curating, creating, and sharing content that educates consumers about the plant. As a strong advocate for education, Jessica aims to empower individuals to become highly informed about their own cannabis journey.
Jessica Winter
Content and Campaigns Marketing Manager
Ethos
2:30pm-3:15pm
Heightened Testing Lab Oversight: Are You and Your Lab Partner Ready?
PANELISTS
Nicole Perry is an experienced operations and quality management professional with a strong background in the cannabis and chemical industries. Currently serving as the Regional Quality Manager for Trulieve, she oversees quality operations across multiple facilities in the Northeast, ensuring compliance with state regulations and industry best practices in PA, WV, OH, MD, and WV.
Previously, she was the Director of Operations for an independent grower/process in PA, where she managed cultivation, processing, compliance, and business expansion efforts. With a degree in Forensic Science and expertise in GMP, GLP, quality control, process improvement and lean manufacturing, she has successfully led teams, optimized production workflows, and driven regulatory compliance throughout her career. Her leadership spans roles in laboratory management, quality assurance, and operational efficiency, making her a key contributor to the industry’s growth and development.
Nicole Perry
NE Regional Quality Manager
Trulieve
Brandon DaLonzo
Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing
FarmaceuticalRX
Brandon DaLonzo is a seasoned cannabis industry professional with expertise in sales, marketing, retail operations, and brand development. With a proven track record of driving market expansion, fostering strategic partnerships, and enhancing consumer education, he has been instrumental in shaping the accessibility and transparency of medical cannabis in Pennsylvania.
Currently serving as a sales and marketing leader at FarmaceuticalRX, Brandon focuses on bridging the gap between cultivation, product innovation, and patient access. He has played a key role in expanding brand visibility, optimizing retail performance, and ensuring that patients receive high-quality, affordable medicine. His background includes overseeing marketing initiatives, managing dispensary relationships, and executing sales strategies that drive growth while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
Brandon’s career spans leadership roles in sales and marketing, where he has successfully launched new products, developed go-to-market strategies, and built strong teams within the cannabis industry. His ability to navigate regulatory landscapes, drive consumer engagement, and advocate for operator accountability and transparency has made him a trusted voice in the industry.
wever, when not at the grow or visiting a dispensary Brandon can be found at home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; spending time with his partner, hiking, building Legos or relaxing with his pets.
Mallory is the VP of Commercial Development, focusing on developing services tailored to Cannabis cultivators and processors beyond the standard compliance test. Mallory’s experience managing a multistate processor brings a unique perspective to ACT Laboratories, ensuring that the voice of the customer is heard throughout the organization.
Prior to joining ACT, Mallory worked as the Senior Director of Processing and Formulations at Holistic Industries, where she oversaw research and development (product and processes), hydrocarbon, ethanol, and CO2 extraction, edibles and infusion kitchens, and the Analytical QC Program in 7 states (CA, MI, MO, MA, PA, MD, DC). In addition to overseeing all processing and analytical operations, Mallory was the key decision-maker and point of contact for all third-party testing relationships nationally. Previously, she assisted in the validation of Lectenz® products at Lectenz®Bio in customer applications including affinity chromatography, Western blot, and kinetic measurements.Mallory received her academic training in Biochemistry from Auburn University.
Mallory Paul
VP of Commercial Development
ACT LAB
Stephanie Zimmerman
Corporate Quality Manager
ACT LAB
Stan Gourentchik is the Director of Processing at Ethos Cannabis, with five years of experience in the cannabis industry. He has previously held roles at Michigan-based Lume Cannabis Co. and Green Leaf Medical, specializing in hydrocarbon and solventless extraction, as well as infused flower products. Before transitioning to cannabis, Stan worked as an inorganic chemist in the precious metals industry. He holds undergraduate degrees in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Neuroscience from the University of Delaware, along with an MBA.
Stan Gourentchik
Director of Processing
Ethos
3:30pm-4:15pm
Cannabis Activism with SSDP
PANELISTS
Gina Vensel
Director of Communications
SSDP Board of Directors
Karley Snyder
Board Chair
SSDP Board of Directors
Kennedy Landers
SSDP Board of Directors