Kaliko Castille
MCBA PRESIDENTKaliko Castille is the Co-Founder of ThndrStrm Strategies, a digital marketing and strategic communications firm. Before starting ThndrStrm, Kaliko spent 10 years in the marijuana reform movement, starting out as an activist and intern for NORML before going on to start a political action committee to raise money for legalization and eventually start a dispensary. Kaliko went on to run sales and marketing for various cannabis industry startups, eventually leading the business development and marketing teams for National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).
Brandon L. Wyatt, Esq
MCBA SECRETARY
Brandon L. Wyatt Esq., is a decorated army combat soldier and disabled veteran. He received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. Despite being a business attorney, Brandon is dedicated to law and applied sociology in the arena of employment/ labor law, civil rights, disability rights, and Veteran’s health care. Throughout his legal education and career, Brandon has sought and undertaken targeted tasks which have cultivated keen analytical skills, a functional understanding of policy development.
Jessica Velazquez
MCBA TREASURERJessica Velazquez is Managing Partner of Indiva Advisors, LLP, a CPA and financial services firm focused on assisting cannabis businesses and owners navigate the unique accounting, tax and financial industry challenges. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Jessica grew up in a predominantly Mexican immigrant neighborhood on the Southside of Chicago and experienced the social injustice of the War on Drugs firsthand, as it disproportionately affected her minority community. She wanted to help shift the conversation.
Todd Hughes
MCBA CHAIRHailing from Pittsburgh, PA, Todd Hughes is a graduate of Howard University’s College of Engineering and Architecture, a serial entrepreneur, and community organizer. He has applied his engineering and analytical skills, as well as his project management and business development expertise toward helping establish numerous businesses that practice corporate social responsibility and diversity across the country. Over the last 10 years, Todd has emerged as a thought leader and passionate change agent in the Cannabis Industry. His advocacy work has removed implicit biases, economically empowered entrepreneurs, facilitated reform, and enabled minority equities in an otherwise unstructured industry.
David Abernathy
David Abernathy is President of Data & Government Affairs for a cannabis investment and market research firm called The Arcview Group. A passionate advocate for social justice and cannabis reform, he’s worked in the cannabis industry since 2009. In addition to his work with The Arcview Group and the MCBA, David currently teaches Economics of Cannabis at Oaksterdam University, co-owns a miniature golf company, serves as a Trustee for a French American bilingual school in Berkeley and helps run a cat rescue nonprofit that opened America’s first cat cafe in 2014.
Brandon Banks
Brandon Wyatt is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Natural Selections Dispensary in Northglenn Colorado. After years of working for several Fortune 500 companies including McDonald’s Co, JP Morgan Chase, and Philip Morris, Brandon moved to Colorado and transitioned to the medical marijuana industry. Beginning his career as a master grower he cultivated several award-winning cannabis strains during his time at Green Man Cannabis including High Times Cannabis Cup winning genetics.
Mario Guzman
Mario Guzman is the founder of Sherbinskis and the creator of “Gelato”. He’s a first generation Mexican American, son of a Mexican immigrant and Irish immigrant. Over twenty years ago he partnered with the plant. He’s been part of the medical marijuana movement for over 20 years. His desire to serve is to ensure that the next generation of minority cannabis business professionals have the assistance and guidance by other minorities he didn’t have when he started. He’s a leader, a team builder, will bring that and the many lessons he’s learned by raising over 30 million dollars for my brand over the last 6 years.
Cedric Haynes
Cedric started his journey in policy via the U.S. House of Representatives, holding various positions in personal and professional offices, including parliamentarian and subcommittee director for the Homeland Security Committee. He currently serves as the Director of Emerging Marketplaces for Weedmaps. Prior, Cedric served as Director of Public Policy and Partnerships, shaping Weedmaps’ policy perspective and conducting research and analysis on state and local cannabis markets nationwide. Cedric holds a JD from Mississippi College, and a BA from Tougaloo College. He is a firm believer that “how we create marketplaces is a reflection of who we want to participate”.
Kika Keith
Kika Keith is a nationally recognized Mom-trepreneur and activist with over twenty-five years of experience building high-growth businesses and community organizations. Kika will launch her highly anticipated Gorilla Rx Wellness Co. in the heart of Los Angeles—purposefully located on Crenshaw Blvd to provide jobs and community reinvestment locally. Marginalized communities are at the forefront of Kika’s mind as she seamlessly balances pro-bono consulting and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Willie Mack
Willie Mack is a brand marketing executive, creative director and photographer with over 20 years of experience in creative and executive leadership in New York City and Los Angeles. He has led teams to execute award-winning marketing campaigns for clients that include Absolut Vodka, Estée Lauder, GQ, Microsoft, Montblanc, Persol, Ray-Ban, TED, the Obama Administration, Vanity Fair, and Wired Magazine. He is also a co-founder of Think BIG and Frank White, where he serves as the company’s CEO and leads its executive management and strategic vision.
Barrington Rutherford
As Cresco Labs’ Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Community Integration, Barrington Rutherford’s work on real estate and community integration has allowed the company to grow operations from one state to twelve states. Mr. Rutherford’s work has been a critical component to Cresco Labs’ growth strategy to be one of the largest vertically integrated US-based cannabis companies.