Cannabis is Coming – What are Marketers Doing About It – May 23
More than 100 licensed producers are preparing themselves for the much anticipated legalization of cannabis by the end of this summer. With complex regulations across the country, how are marketers keeping up with this $8 billion industry?
Join this unique AMA panel discussion to hear perspectives from local farmers, distributors, entrepreneurs, and more, to better understand how marketers will play an integral role to shape this trending industry.
This AMA event will take place at Revival, 783 College St., on Wed,. May 23 – just 2 days before the Lift Cannabis Expo taking place in Toronto May 25-27.
Presenter & Panel Moderator
Bill Mohri, M Consulting & CannaSights – President
Bill is currently President of M Consulting and CannaSights, an advisor at MaRS, a Mentor at the American Marketing Association (AMA), and an angel investor. He has vast marketing strategy and partnership strategy experience from his senior roles in the tech and the CPG sectors.
Previously, Bill was Head of Partnerships and Strategy at Microsoft Canada and at MSN International, a Director at Deloitte Consulting, and in brand management at Kraft and Coca Cola Limited.
Bill was a recipient of the Circle of Excellence award while at Microsoft and was the recipient of the prestigious Superior Achievement Award at Kraft. He holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Toronto.
Panelists:
Josh Lyon, Hiku Brands – Head of Marketing & Partnerships
Josh Lyon is the Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships at Hiku, Canada’s preeminent cannabis brand-house. A storyteller by nature, Josh most recently founded and ran a company focused on health and wellness in the office place. A proven strategist, Josh led the Global Consumer Insights Division at IMI International, a marketing consulting and research firm. Here he studied consumer behaviour and worked with Fortune 100s and 500s, agencies and properties on how best to reach, engage and incent their customer base. Getting his start in marketing at DDB Canada, Josh graduated with Great Distinction from the internationally recognized Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University
Lisa Campbell, Lifford Wine & Spirits – Cannabis Portfolio Specialist
Over the years, Lisa Campbell became a true cannabis expert by working extensively in international drug policy with Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. As the founder of the Women Grow Toronto chapter, Lisa is now launching a cannabis subsidiary for Lifford Wine & Spirits, helping cannabis companies navigate the emerging cannabis industry across Canada and beyond. Lifford Cannabis Solutions will work with cannabis companies to help their brands come to market across all ten provinces, leveraging Lifford’s national salesforce and longstanding relationships. Lisa has a strong background in public affairs, and holds a Masters of Environmental Studies from York University.
Kerri-Lynn McAllister, Lift Co. – CMO & Tech Marketing Leader
Kerri-Lynn McAllister is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Lift & Co., a trailblazing technology company that connects the cannabis community. Previously, Kerri-Lynn was a member of the founding team at Ratehub.ca, Canada’s leading financial product comparison platform, serving more than five million users annually. During her tenure as CMO, Ratehub.ca secured $12-million in series A financing. Kerri-Lynn is also an early-stage investor in Zoocasa, and remains an advisor to this and other notable real-estate tech companies. A graduate of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, Kerri-Lynn regularly shares her insights into digital marketing and technology at conferences and meetups including the Richard Ivey School of Business, OneEleven, and Elevate Toronto.
Grant McLeod, Seven Oaks – Managing Director
The road from Kabul to cannabis may not seem obvious, but for Grant McLeod, Managing Director of Seven Oaks, it was the natural next step when he returned to Canada in 2017. Grant is an active Metis lawyer with over 13-years of legislative and regulatory experience working for the Attorney General’s Office (Ontario), the Privy Council Office (Ottawa), and for the United States government in Washington, DC and Afghanistan. Grant has been a regular consumer of cannabis for over 25-years and wanted to apply his regulatory skills to create a cannabis brand for like-minded, highly functional and professional consumers. Seven Oaks is a late stage LP applicant focused on processing and distributing cannabis. The company is Indigenous owned and operated with the name itself referring to a historical battle site where the Metis fought the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Mathew Columbro, Vindica Cannabis Corporation – Cannabis Consultant
Mathew Columbro is an experienced consultant and project manager in the Canadian cannabis industry. He got his start with the most successful cannabis security consulting firm operating Canada wide. Involved in projects from the boardroom to preconstruction site meetings to completed site audits, Mathew has gained insight and knowledge of all aspects of the heavily regulated cannabis licensing system.
Mathew now helps clients become Licensed Producers of cannabis by supporting them through many aspects of the application process. He works with applicants to build a successful business plan, connects clients with essential products and services and can manage the entire application. Mathew has also assisted in due diligence, brokering acquisition and investment deals and offering consulting services for investors, businesses and start-ups looking to enter the cannabis industry.
Jamie Briggs – Director of Emerging Markets
Jamie Briggs has been with Canada Post since 2004 in various roles focued on eCommerce and International Trade. He currently leads the Cannabis sales and strategy portfolio focusing on both licensed producers and the upcoming recreational launch nationally. By leveraging Canada Post’s unique knowledge regarding Canadian online shopper preferences, Canada Post is well positioned to play a major part in the oline Cannabis path to purchase. Prior to joining Canada Post, Jamie led the International Logistics, Customs and Transportation groups of an International Protective Equipment Manufacturer that distributed to over 130 countries worldwide.
Event Schedule:
5:30 pm Doors Open
6:15 pm Guests Welcome, Soapbox
6:30 pm Presentation from Bill Mohri
6:45 pm Panel with Formal Line of Questioning
7:10 pm Extended Q&A with Panel & the Audience
7:45 pm Networking (30-45 min)
8:30pm End of the Event
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