CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT

Joseph Calderone has 10 years consulting experience in cultivation, processing and dispensary operations. His consultancy, TreeFrog, worked closely with Schwazze (former Medicine Man Technologies), a publicly traded operator in Colorado. In this capacity, he supported both medical and recreational applications in 11 states helping to build a database of actionable documents that address all areas of the Cannabis Industry value chain, including but not limited to Operating Plans, SOPs, Diversity & Inclusion Plans, Environmental Impact, Product Recall, Record Keeping and more. In the area of genetics, Joseph worked with Cornell University's school of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). His unique cultivar genetics helped establish the USDA National Hemp Germplasm Laboratory in Geneva, New York (in partnership with Cornell). He has also collaborated with brands in the areas of multi-cannabinoid product formulation. In New York, he helped secure a $10 million dollar conduit bond financing for hemp processing and extraction. More than anything Joseph is inspired by the ethnobotanical and ethical-botanical characteristics while also dedicating himself to the botanical and biochemical aspects of this incredible cannabis plant. His work with the Hourani, Sapara, Achuar, Shuar and Kichwa indigenous groups in the Amazon through participatory practices in sustainable development shaped his interest in joining this interesting yet exasperating industry. He is CEO/CCO of Grateful Valley Farms (AUCC #34), Co-Founder and Board Member of Cannabis Farmers Alliance (CFA), and a proud member of Farm Bureau. Prior to the Cannabis Industry, Joseph worked in the areas of Finance, Start-up, Web 2.0, Risk Management, IT, Data Science, Public Relations, Brand Marketing and Communications, and Copyrighting (to name a few). He holds an MBA from POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Milan, Italy), an MFA in Writing/Poetics from the Buddhist, Naropa University (Jack Kerouac Award Scholar) and a BA in History/Government from Georgetown University. In addition he holds a variety of Executive Education certifications from MIT in Data Science and Cybersecurity. He speaks Italian, Spanish and possesses knowledge of a variety of other languages. https://www.treefrogs.co/https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephecalderone/www.emplantx.com

CO-FOUNDER, TREASURER

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CO-FOUNDER, VICE PRESIDENT

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CO-FOUNDER

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Justin "Justice" Merkel is a passionate cannabis grower and advocate. With a deep love for the plant, he co-founded the Cannabis Farmers Alliance to promote sustainable practices and support the cannabis community. Additionally, he founded Starlit420, a space-themed company that merges his enthusiasm for cannabis with innovative concepts. While he has over 20 years of experience as a mechanical engineer and HVAC business owner, Justin's true dedication lies in advancing the cannabis industry and celebrating its many benefits.

CO-FOUNDER, SECRETARY

Kate Miller has a MA in Sustainable Development with a concentration in Policy Analysis and Advocacy. For the last 14 years, she has been the owner and farmer at Weathertop Farm in Sharon Springs, where they specialize in Cannabis and certified organic herbs and berries. The herbs and fruit are used to make a line of organic drink mixers and teas under the Weathertop brand. Kate’s cannabis company is Peregrine Toke, which will soon be opening a micro dispensary in Cherry Valley, NY. Prior to farming, Kate's background is quite varied, working for many years in human services as a Director of Residential Programs for children and adults in conjunction with the MD Department of Juvenile Justice and Developmental Disability Administration. She also has an AA in Professional Cooking and Baking and moved to Ireland to take a position with a hotel as a pastry chef. While there she was recruited by the HSE to run early intervention programs for at-risk teens for several years. While working on her MA thesis, Kate moved to New Delhi, India to work with renowned environmental activist Vandana Shiva, spending her time focusing mainly on anti GMO campaigns, teaching basic activism skills to teens, and small scale organic farming. Kate is passionate about creating an equitable, fair and inclusive cannabis community where all growers can thrive and reach their full professional and economic potential. 

CO-FOUNDER

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