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.
Ashley Ciliberti
Director of Memberships
Ashley Ciliberti was born in Las Vegas and is heavily involved in her community. She is a mother and holistic healthcare advocate, and she has built a career on those foundations. She has been in the cannabis industry for almost four years and is a vocal supporter of accurate testing, cannabis reform, ethics and integrity, and lab credibility. She has continued to foster those cannons as Director of Business Development for NV Cann Labs, a minority-owned cannabis lab in Nevada. Simultaneously, she also provides educational platforms and opportunities for clients and the community alike by regularly engaging in cannabis activities and with cannabis organizations throughout the industry including NORML and Women’s Grow.
Prior to working in cannabis, Ashley worked in chiropractic healthcare and created a self-help website focusing on mental health and positive self-esteem. Ashley has seen firsthand how holistic and cannabis treatment can change lives, including her own sons. She is dedicated to having a powerful voice and continuing to advocate the benefits of cannabis. Ashley is committed to helping shape the industry while encouraging more opportunities for minorities and women.
Shelby Stanley
Secretary
Shelby Stanley has a commitment to doing anything she can to help growers and producers bring safe, legal cannabis to the market has driven Shelby Stanley’s career with Digipath Labs since 2014. As Operations Manager, Shelby ushered clients through the testing and reporting processes quickly and professionally, delivering on time, every time. Shelby also helped with the passage of Question 2, the 2016 initiative that legalized recreational cannabis in Nevada, she is an active member of the NCIA. She helped start LV Women Grow chapter and spoke at Millennials in MJ panel and CBD.io convention. In 2014, Shelby’s stepfather, Dan, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. What was a profession she was extremely passionate about, became very personal for her.
With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence Shelby helped Digipath Labs become a leader in the industry. In July of this year Shelby started her own advising company Dandee, LLC which is dedicated to helping all license with anything they could need help within regulations, site audits on facilities from scientific background gained with Digipath Labs. Shelby has been in the industry for 6 years November 1st and continues to have the same passion and dedication to regulations in the Nevada industry!
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bri Padilla
Director of Communications
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 Director of Communications 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.
Christina Thomas
Director of Veterans Voices
Christina Thomas is a retired US Air Force veteran and the owner of an ancillary cannabis business. She works as a certified medical cannabis consultant and a certified wellness, mind-body spiritual practitioner. She is the creator and founder of Herbally Free, a CBD company and product line. Outside the cannabis industry she she serves as the Chair to Southern Nevada Veterans Advocacy Council, Southern Nevada NAMI volunteer and speaker, Hope Means Nevada committee for teen suicide awareness, as well as serving on the committees for recovery peer support programs.
Christina’s work and passion as a national speaker for military sexual trauma, PTSD and healthcare rights has led her to become a pioneer for young women overcoming trauma. She’s a wife and mother who travels the world to learn more natural ways to help others treat and heal the mind, body and spirit. In 2021, she launched her own talk show, Battlefield to Wellness, which is available on YouTube and WWBDTV, the Roku Channel.
Damien Smith
Director of Black/African American Voices
Damien Smith is a powerhouse creative and cannabis entrepreneur who works towards normalizing cannabis consumption and positively representing the Black community. Through his work, Damien has been a leader in the Las Vegas cannabis industry for more than four years, always presenting and pursuing innovative ideas in branding, marketing, production, and entertainment. Damien has worked tirelessly with dozens of cannabis companies from seed to sale, and beyond— building their brand identities and helping them connect with customers.
Throughout Damien’s business and personal ventures, he has stayed true to his culture’s identity, and advanced his knowledge and leadership skills. He is currently the CEO of We Are The Culture’s History, a production company that creates compelling content for multiple industries. He is also the CEO of Cannabis Culture Entertainment, a marketing company that manages full campaign strategies for businesses within the cannabis industry. In all of Damien’s roles, he stays true to his roots, recognizes the need for strong Black voices within the cannabis industry, and he is proud to be an influential member of the Chamber of Cannabis.
Davin Homan
Director of Latino/Latinx Voices
Kayleigh Shea
Director of Research and LGBTQIA Voices
Kayleigh Shea (she/her), is a creative multi-disciplinarian, business futurist, marketing strategist, passionate cannabis consultant, avid activist, advocate and humanitarian, leader and learner with a passion for questioning the status quo. She possesses more than eight years of combined experience in management and leadership, sales, and cannabis. She is a dedicated volunteer and political activist who has worked with both local and national organizations. Currently, Kayleigh works as a cannabis industry consultant and sales professional of both THC and CBD infused products with AMA and Cannahemp through 1933 Industries Inc. The company provides award-winning cannabis products to the Nevada market as the State’s very first licensed facility.
Kayleigh is also a small business owner and creatrix for House of Heresy, LLC, a lifestyle brand of handmade, limited, and one-of-a-kind smoking accessories, high fashion and couture, jewelry, home decor, art installations, and retail displays. She also volunteers with Grassroots Law, a non-profit organization fighting to liberate our communities from the oppressive systems of policing, incarceration, and injustice.
Nicole Buffong
Director of Medical Voices
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.
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
