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 Growing Together

 
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More Than Just Lobbying

The OCIA conducts constant industry research and data collection to provide the best information to our members and policymakers, as well as, regular networking events, educational forums, and supply chain growth opportunities. At OCIA, we believe it is necessary to shift the paradigm surrounding cannabis from an approach of controlling an illegal narcotic to policies built upon supporting a new agricultural commodity and opportunities for medical innovation. This starts with implementing public policy that reflects a business friendly environment, supports patient accessibility and medical research, and helps position Oklahoma as a national leader in cannabis production and product development in advance of national decriminalization.

 
 

ADVOCACY

Our staff and members work extensively with the Oklahoma House and Senate, our Congressional delegation, regulatory agencies, and local governments to advance our legislative and regulatory policies supporting a friendly environment for Oklahoma’s cannabis industry. From the Capitol to local town halls, we are dedicated to educating policymakers on critical issues for our industry.

COMMUNITY

Through public forums and partnerships, we offer an array of events for cannabis businesses to meet, expand relationships, and open doors with non-cannabis related community members, such as chambers of commerce, banking, finance, code compliance, and more. We strive to build positive relationships for our industry beyond the business members of our community.

EDUCATION

Each month, we host multiple events to provide the most current and accurate information to our members through our OCIA POLICY & PINTS throughout the state, featuring open discussions with policymakers, regulators, and relevant members of the community. Our guests have included elected officials, agency directors, and technical staff with direct impacts upon Oklahoma’s cannabis industry.

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WHO WE ARE

Meet our board of distinguished professionals who are committed to bettering the Oklahoma cannabis industry

 

BLAKE CANTRELL

OCIA PRESIDENT

Chief Executive Officer, The Peak Dispensary

  • A native Tulsan, Blake attended the University of Oklahoma for his undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing upon his graduation from OU in 2008. Immediately after graduation from OU, Blake returned to Tulsa upon his acceptance into the University of Tulsa’s JD/MBA graduate degree program. During his time at TU Law, Blake served as an Editor on the Tulsa Law Review, joined the American Inns of Court, and was accepted into the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity. In 2011, Blake graduated from TU Law School, earning his Juris Doctorate with Honors, along with his Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business. After graduate school, Blake relocated to Boulder, CO where he passed the Colorado Bar Exam, and has maintained his status as an active member of the Colorado Bar since 2012.

    Blake’s career has primarily been focused in entrepreneurship, where he is able to use his legal training to negotiate and draft complex business transactions and navigate the complex regulatory and legal issues affecting his businesses. Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Blake gained experience by founding and scaling his first startup company, OrderUp Oklahoma. OrderUp was a tech- and restaurant-industry business offering app-based food delivery services to partner restaurants (e.g. Postmates / DoorDash), which Blake initially launched in Norman, OK in 2014. After the success of the Norman market, Blake quickly expanded the business into other markets across Oklahoma, including Stillwater, Oklahoma City, and Moore. The rapid scale and success of OrderUp drew M&A interest, which culminated with Blake negotiating and executing an acquisition of OrderUp and its assets by GrubHub, Inc. in late 2018.

    Shortly after closing of the GrubHub acquisition, Blake quickly pivoted into Oklahoma’s fledgling cannabis industry. Initially, he briefly served as Partner and General Counsel of The Peak and The Supply Distribution, until he took on his current role as Chief Executive Officer for both companies in October of 2019. Since then, he has overseen the expansion of The Peak Dispensary chain across Oklahoma, including establishing The Peak as one of the only FTC-compliant cannabis franchisors in the United States. As CEO of The Supply Distribution, Blake oversees operations of one of the largest cannabis wholesale and distribution outlets in Oklahoma.

    Aside from running his companies, Blake is very active in the Oklahoma cannabis industry at large. In late 2020, Blake was appointed by the Oklahoma State Commissioner of Health to serve on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Council, which is tasked with advising OMMA and other regulatory agencies as they promulgates rules governing the Oklahoma cannabis industry. After his appointment by the Commissioner, he was then elected to serve as Chairperson for the MMAC by the other appointees to the Board.

    Additionally, Blake was also elected to the serve as President of the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association, a large Oklahoma-based cannabis industry organization which focuses on regulatory compliance and assisting its membership in navigating the complexities of the Oklahoma cannabis industry.

KAIMBRI WHITE

OCIA VICE PRESIDENT

Partner, Climb Collective

  • Kaimbri White received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She is currently a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and her practice focuses solely on cannabis law. She is a partner in Climb Collective, a cannabis consulting agency based in Oklahoma City. While she was in law school, Kaimbri’s work on tribal cannabis in Oklahoma was published by the American Indian Law Review in 2018.

    Kaimbri has spent the last three years researching and writing about cannabis regulations nationwide. Her heightened focus on the Oklahoma market makes her an excellent resource for cannabis and hemp businesses seeking regulatory compliance. Kaimbri received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013.

LAWRENCE CAGIGAL

OCIA SECRETARY

Chief Executive Officer, The Cagigal Group

  • The Cagigal Group recognizes that our clients need more than just another commoditized CPA firm or 280e accounting service. Whether you are just starting on your journey or are a seasoned veteran, you will find we truly understand the challenges facing the cannabis sector. Benefit from our passion for continuous learning and growth as we continually track both local and national laws and trends that impact our industry. Combined with our strong relationships, The Cagigal Group provides the foundation for a more comprehensive and consultative approach than what the market typically provides. In creating these market connections, we provide better data-driven decisions and overall results for our clients.

JOANNA HAMRICK

Sales Executive, Primal Cannabis

  • Joanna D Hamrick has over 20 years of retail and inventory management experience; specializing in inventory management and identifying shortages along with providing detailed plans for loss prevention. She has also owned OKC Sign and Metal; a successful sign company that did all exterior signs for Integris Hospitals, Oklahoma University, and the Bricktown Ballpark; and previously owned a small grow and cannabis seed breeding facility in eastern Oklahoma.

    She is currently the Sales Manager and Operations Manager at Primal Cannabis; a large outdoor cannabis grow, small indoor cannabis grow and processing facility in NW Oklahoma. Responsibilities include managing the sales team, implementation of compliance, logistics for deliveries, inventory management, packaging and product design, and assisting the executive team in decision-making for the company. She is well-versed in Oklahoma cannabis rules and regulations.

    Joanna is also a member of the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association. She has served on the Board for the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association since 2018 helping to influence Oklahoma cannabis policy change with state legislators and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. She has also done voluntary work for Products With A Purpose which has helped initiate community programs that help people who were imprisoned for cannabis felonies.

    Joanna is married to Steve Hamrick and blessed to have a daughter who is currently in college. She is a member of First Christian Church of Edmond, Oklahoma, and volunteers on Wednesday evenings with the youth group. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and watching football.

MIKE ERVIN

Owner, Oklahoma Pure

  • Bio Coming Soon!

TRAVIS SMITH

Founder & CEO, Smokey Okies Cannabis

  • Travis C. Smith founded Smokey Okies Cannabis in 2018, one of the longest running indoor cultivators in the State. Smokey Okies produces top shelf flower, as well as live hash rosin, single-source infused pre-rolls, solventless gummies. In addition to growing really good weed, Smokey Okies has an active and popular blog that regularly publishes educational videos and articles on cultivation tips for the home grower.

    Travis is also a practicing attorney, and is committed to looking out for the rights of cultivators in this new industry. Travis takes an active part in the OCIA's lobbying efforts, as well as participating in messaging, content and publishing for OCIA.

ANDY STEWART

Owner, Honey Creek Labs

  • Bio Coming Soon!

TARAS FILENKO

CEO, Seed Cannabis Co

  • Bio Coming Soon!

BUZZ BANFIELD

Owner & Operator, Native Harvest

  • Bio Coming Soon!

Roni A Jawdeh

Owner, Astoria Growers USA

  • Roni A Jawdeh is a single parent , Studied international Business and Marketing at the California State University in Fullerton managed his own successful Mortgage and Real Estate development company with over 60 loan officers , had his own web development company in the beginning of the .com era . ran a successful construction company in the early construction boom in Dubai ( UAE ) . currently owns 2 indoor Medical Marijuana grows , as well as Dispensaries in Vinita, Tulsa and OKC, and working on building a Sports bar Grill and Lounge / Dispensary in one location in OKC.

JOEY MEIBERGEN

Co-Founder, Primal Cannabis

  • Joey Meibergen is a fifth-generation family member to provide leadership within the Johnston Family’s operating companies. His primary experience has been focused with the family’s ag-retail and grain business. While acting as President of W.B. Johnston Grain Co, he led a divesture of both W.B. Johnston Grain Co. and Johnston’s Port 33 Inc. He is now responsible for overseeing the operations of Johnston Seed Co. Joey graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2004 with a bachelor’s of science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources (Agribusiness and Finance Option). Joey has been an active board member in the following organizations: City of Enid Aviation Advisory Board, Transportation Elevator and Grain Merchants Association, Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, Grand National Quail Club Board, The Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, The Autry Tech Foundation Board, The Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving on the following boards:, The Enid Regional Development Alliance Board and the board of directors for United Way of Northwest Oklahoma. Joey is also a graduate of Oklahoma Ag Leadership Class XIII and was in 2015 was honored as one of the Journal Record’s Achievers Under 40.

NATHAN RICHTER

President, Richter Law Firm

  • Bio Coming Soon!

JASON SNOW

President, Hanger Creek Ranch

  • Jason Snow spent over 25 years as a Director and Senior Logistics Manager in various industries, including telecommunications, eyewear, event production, golf industry, and cannabis. He has extensive experience in all aspects of operations management, analysis, demand planning, supply chain, budgeting, P&L, shipping, receiving, inventory control, purchasing, contracts, and sales team leadership. Jason has successfully, and with minimal turnover, led teams of over 300 employees, including successfully interviewing, hiring, and coaching employees, and has been recognized for his team-building abilities and management skills. Throughout his career, Jason has led negotiations of multi-million dollar contracts with companies like Nike, Verizon, AT&T, and MCI.

    Throughout his entire professional career, Jason continued to nurture a passion for cannabis. Beginning in the 1980s, he would grow small batches and experiment with different outdoor growing techniques. He has traveled internationally to explore and learn about seed production and cannabis business development. In the early 2000s, Jason began managing full scale grow rooms. Jason participated with NORML So.Cal for medical shops start up of grows, dispensaries and regulations. He has consulted and advised investors in Southern California cannabis startups, advised on compliant delivery services, and managed cannabis cultivation for medical facilities. Jason served as the Director of Logistics & Security for a large cannabis farm in Southern California where he developed and managed all fleet operations, including developing a supply chain for clones, flower and cash handling transportation throughout the state of California. In this role he also developed scalable systems across all fleet and warehouse operations, actively pushing his team to think outside the box to streamline processes and other related metrics. When he left the company for Oklahoma, they had grossed over eighty-five million dollars in two short years of operation.

    Jason has held multiple board positions over the years, including sitting on the board of the Pacific Youth Football League, various Homeowners’ Associations, and the American Culinary Foundation. Most recently, Jason joined the board of the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association (OCIA), where he advocates for Oklahoma cannabis farmers and sensible regulation with an eye toward enhancing the Oklahoma economy.

    Jason is currently the owner of Hangar Creek Ranch, a family owned and operated indoor hydroponic medical cannabis farm located on 30 beautiful acres in Southeastern Oklahoma. Jason is dedicated to producing clean, all natural medicines and uses only the finest nutrients and non-toxic treatments – always with potential patients in mind.

    Jason has been married to his wife Jennifer Lee Snow for 21 years and together they have 1 son, Eirik Snow, 19, who has spent the last several years apprenticing at Hangar Creek Ranch. Jason is an avid football fan and former high school and youth football coach. Jason is an enthusiastic supporter of American military veterans and sponsors the Special Forces Brotherhood Motorcycle Club. When he finds himself with a moment of spare time, Jason enjoys putting his culinary degree to use at home and spending time with his family and 3 rescue dogs.

ADAM HUTCHINSON

Founder, CannaSpyglass

  • Prior to founding CannaSpyglass, Adam Hutchinson was President of Stonebridge Consulting, a business advisory and technology service for the energy industry. As President, Hutchinson led their business transformation which included establishing multiple new companies. Before this role, Hutchinson held positions in engineering and technology at Petrohawk Energy and Chesapeake Energy respectfully. Hutchinson started his career with global consulting giant Accenture where he served clientele in their resources market unit after earning a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Since entering the cannabis industry, Hutchinson has utilized his expertise to develop CannaSpyglass’ information databases and has expanded the company’s reach to include partnerships with multiple major companies in the cannabis industry. He currently lives in Oklahoma and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, two sons, daughter, and pets at the lake.

RYAN KEISEL

Attorney & Activist

  • Bio Coming Soon!