MEET OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tina Ulman
President
Tina Ulman is a UNLV graduate and Las Vegas resident of 10 years. She is currently the Brand Manager for Old Pal, the state’s top selling cannabis flower. Old Pal is a multi-state brand under a licensing partnership with Flower One, the largest cultivator in Nevada.
Tina recently formed the Chamber of Cannabis with four of her industry colleagues. She resides as President and has been a prominent voice for cannabis reform in Nevada for the past 2 years. Most recently she served as the Director of Development for Las Vegas NORML where she traveled to Washington DC and Carson City to meet with legislatures in 2019 to voice the concerns of Nevadans. Tina was awarded 2020 Cannabis Activist of the Year for Las Vegas and recognized as one of the most influential women in cannabis by Vegas Cannabis Magazine.
Tina is working closely with her representative, Assemblyman Steve Yeager, on reforming the current DUI law, social consumption venues and expunging records. One could absolutely say she is “living her dream.”
Dani Baranowski
Vice President
Dani Baranowski is a passionate cannabis advocate and multipotentialite focused on changing the stigma surrounding cannabis. She is currently Lead Sales and Operations Specialist at State Flower Cannabis and Valhalla Confections, a vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator. She has had the opportunity to educate consumers all over the world in her roles in the cannabis industry from Canada, to Columbia, to Croatia. Speaking and sharing her cannabis knowledge across several platforms has allowed her to perpetuate her passion for changing the world with holistic healing.
Dani has been a “High Times Cannabis Cup Judge,” panelist for “Women in Weed,” and a moderator for “Patient Advocacy” and “Vape Safety” at an international convention. Prior to legalization, Dani was charged with felony cannabis possession and was afforded a lucky plea deal that changed her life, allowing her to thrive and cultivate success in this industry. She advocates for allowing the same opportunity to others who have been unjustly penalized for cannabis.
Bri Padilla
Secretary
Bri Padilla has put her multimedia training and advocacy background to work for organizations at every level in the industry. A dynamo in the cannabis space, Bri has worked as a writer, researcher, educator, and translator to help businesses develop everything from SOPs and marketing strategies to websites and blog content. She is passionate about using her knowledge to help to develop canna-businesses, legitimize their brands, educate their audiences, and engage with the communities they’re trying to heal.
As a digital marketer for multiple Nevada dispensaries and brand ambassador for companies including Cannabella and Apothecanna, Bri has also been able to successfully leverage her experience into outreach efforts that help cannabis businesses succeed online and off through education. Bri’s commitment is also reflected in her continued community work as an advocate. Bri currently works as the Secretary for the Chamber of Cannabis, and is a CORE member of the Cannabis Equity and Inclusion Community. She is also a founding member of Las Vegas’ NORML chapter and has served one of the Las Vegas market leaders for Women Grow since 2018.
Tiffini Tasby
Treasurer
Tiffini Tasby has been a resident of Las Vegas for over 14 years and serves as the Treasurer of The Chamber of Cannabis. Currently serving as a Validator for The Arizona Department of Economic Security. New to the cannabis industry but a consumer for over 20 years, she is highly dedicated to reform and evolution for Marijuana. Tiffini comes from a background in hospitality having worked with MGM Resorts for 8 years. She has served with the Blinded Veterans Association as well as various other charitable organizations throughout Las Vegas.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nicole Buffong
Board Member
Nicole Buffong began her career in cannabis after being diagnosed with HIV in March of 2017. Determined to not take synthetic drugs for the rest of her life, she went against her doctors’ recommendations and launched her own holistic healing initiative, Cannabis Connection World. An entrepreneur, cannabis patient, and advocate, Nicole works as the Western Regional Director for Minorities for Medical Marijuana. Throughout her professional endeavors, Nicole leverages more than a decade of experience to consult clients on the benefits of a holistic healthy lifestyle while speaking globally about the many benefits of using medicinal plants. She is passionate about helping people understand the power of food and self-care, and advises individuals seeking to become a part of the legal cannabis industry.
Nicole’s experience in executive and community outreach operations also includes launching the Georgia chapter of Minorities for Medical Marijuana in 2017. She also served as the acting Chapter president for the state of Nevada, bringing a diverse perspective to the new, and rapidly growing hemp and cannabis industry. Pairing passion with philanthropy, Nicole seeks to become a cannabis legislative lobbyist in the fight for health equity throughout the country. Nicole is excited about expanding the legal cannabis industry to the Caribbean and ensuring that the region has the resources it needs.
Davin Homan
Board Member
Tazia Farmer
Board Member
Tazia Farmer is a small cannabis business owner and entrepreneur whose more than a decade of experience in the beauty and wellness industries informed the development of her island-inspiring and award-winning CBD wellness brand, Pualani Products.
Launched in 2019, Pualani Products specializes in skin care, beauty, and wellness products. Though the brand is still in its infancy, Pualani’s approach to education and quality has made it a fan favorite among a growing community of consumers. Her customers run the gamut from experienced massage therapists and American Ninja Warriors, to soccer moms, influences, CEOs, and more! Pualani Products are online and in select retailers in Nevada with plans for domestic and international expansion in 2021.
Sam Rodriguez
Board Member
Bio Coming Soon.
Chef Stacy Dougan
Board Member
Chef Stacey Dougan is recognized nationally and internationally as a celebrity plant-based chef successfully combining the art of culinary vegan cuisine with the mastery of entrepreneurship. A vegan chef for over 22 years, Chef Stacey was the founder and Executive chef of Simply Pure Vegan Restaurant, the second vegan restaurant to open in Las Vegas. Her restaurant attracted celebrity clients such as President Bill Clinton, artists Usher and Erykah Badu and New Jersey State Senator Cory Booker. After seven years, she closed her flagship Simply Pure location in Downtown Las Vegas and is set to open another restaurant location in Las Vegas in June 2022.
In 2020, Chef Stacey created AYE, a plant-based edibles cannabis brand that features healthy infused snacks like dehydrated kale chips, tinctures and plant-based cooking oils. Chef Stacey is a pioneer in the cannabis space, creating luxury plant-based infused culinary dining experiences in Las Vegas.
She has been a cannabis consumer for 7 years and has masterfully integrated the healing power of plant-based food with the healing power of the cannabis plant. When she is not cooking or creating new recipes, Chef Stacey enjoys reading, playing basketball, music and spending time with her son, Zion.
Frankie Soken
Board Member
Bio Coming Soon.
Christine Gamez
Board Member
Christine Gamez is the General Manager at The Source Dispensary in Reno, NV. As a young adult, Christine was a medical mystery and had an abundance of unanswered health questions. Over the 12 years of searching for an answer, plant medicine came knocking at the door. In 2016, Christine had brain surgery to aid in her healing. It was then that she saw a drastic change in holistic medicine, Christine was not only able to find healing, but also found a space in the legal cannabis industry and opened Blum Dispensary.
As a graduate of Truckee Meadows Community College, she utilizes her passion for healing and knowledge of business to help break down the stigma in the Northern Nevada community. Christine has launched off a few dispensary locations and is focused on ethical business, educating the community on healthy consumption, and normalizing parenthood in cannabis.
When Christine isn’t in the shop or working in the community, she can be found on the ski slopes, floating the river, or hanging with her husband, son, and 3 dogs.
MEET OUR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Jodeci Gonzalez
A resident of Las Vegas for 3 years and Ball State University Graduate, Jodeci Gonzalez is the Executive Administrator with the Chamber of Cannabis and Founder of a bluntly holistic brand J.A.D.E. Jodeci has served the cannabis industry through various roles from budtending, cultivation, and management. Gonzalez joined the Chamber as a community member to stand up for the proposal and campaign for AB 341, Social Consumption Venues and AB 400, Cannabis DUI Reform. In 2019, Gonzalez was charged with a cannabis DUI and was granted the opportunity to testify on Cannabis DUI Reform as the Chamber worked closely with Assemblyman Steve Yeager to pass both AB 341 & AB 400.
In 2021, Jodeci was hired by the Chamber and works as the Executive Administrator for the organization, handling membership admissions for individuals and businesses. Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Jodeci was an HR Consultant for Indiana University Health’s East Central Region Nursing Program and a 7-year cannabis medical patient.
MEET OUR ADVISORY BOARD
Brooke Eastham
Editor-in-Chief
Brooke Eastham is passionate about elevating and empowering the groups and individuals she supports. She is a mentor to cannabis innovators, an entrepreneur, and a corporate leader in marketing operations and sales enablement. As an editing enthusiast, a data queen, and a development devotee, Brooke’s goal is to bring her skills, dexterity, and ambition to the cannabis space.
Maggie Presley
Compliance Advisor
Maggie Presley is Wholesales Sales Specialist for Euphoria Wellness whose experience in the cannabis space spans from cultivation to compliance and everything in between. A Las Vegas native, Maggie’s entrance into the legal cannabis industry came about through a local job fair she attended to support her cousin. From there, she has been on the ground floor of some of Nevada’s largest and most well-known cannabis brands, including Green Therapeutics, Cannabiotix, Nuveda, and Solaris Farms.
From working to build out SOPs and compliance protocols to bringing storefronts online, Maggie’s efforts have helped build this industry into the standard-setting market that it is. From seed to sale or soil to oil, Maggie can help you with it. Through her role as the Compliance Advisor for the Chamber of Cannabis, she hopes to bring awareness to the need for transparency, accountability, and education in our space.
Scot Rutledge
Legislative Advisor and Lobbyist
Scot Rutledge is a partner and government affairs specialist with Argentum Partners, a full-service communications firm in Nevada. He provides political strategy, regulatory and government affairs services to his clients in the cannabis industry, including the Chamber of Cannabis. Scot has worked on dozens of issue advocacy, legislative, and political campaigns since arriving in Nevada in 2004. His years of experience in political advocacy, campaign finance and management, and government and regulatory affairs has developed his reputation as a trusted advisor to Nevada’s decision-makers.
Scot managed the 2016 ballot advocacy campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol in Nevada and continues to serve clients through the implementation of cannabis laws and regulations. His efforts to develop a well-regulated solution to the issue of public consumption of cannabis has established him as a leading voice on social use policy in Nevada. He continues to work on state and local cannabis consumption legislation and regulations in Nevada and has consulted with regulators across the country on the issue of social use venues.
Brian Applegarth
Tourism and Travel Advisor
