MARY Fest 2023 Speakers & Moderators
Tremaine Wright
Keynote Speaker
Tremaine S. Wright is a former member of the New York State Assembly who thereafter, served as the first Director of the DFS Statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment. Ms. Wright is an attorney, entrepreneur, and activist who is a second-generation Bedford Stuyvesant resident invested in preserving the rich legacy of her community and building a strong foundation for the future. She has dedicated her career to empowering and creating opportunities for her neighbors and her community.
Lana Van Brunt
Cannabis Creativity & Branding In the Modern Era
Lana Van Brunt, along with co-founder Hayley Dineen, is half of the Brooklyn-based duo behind Sackville & Co., a design-focused contemporary cannabis lifestyle brand, and Sackville Studios, the first multidisciplinary cannabis product design and production studio creating products from the ground up for both cannabis industry leaders and newcomers alike.
David Holland
Cannabis Business Regulations: What You Need To Know
David is a sought-after civil and criminal litigation attorney who has an extensive background in civil and criminal RICO cases as well as representing a broad range of stakeholders in the Cannabis industry. His clients span from legacy market operators, social equity applicants, entry-level investors to coordinating, advising and serving as management in the Executive Suites of noted cannabis-related organizations. David has been and remains a leading voice in New York’s legalized cannabis laws and emerging industry rules and regulations.
Kristina Lopez Adduci
Cannabis Creativity & Branding In the Modern Era
Kristina Lopez Adduci is an entrepreneur, speaker, art collector, and curator. She’s the founder and CEO of House of Puff, a New York-based cannabis brand. The company began with her conception of the cannabis products she wanted for herself. Since, Kristina has evolved the brand to leverage the power of art as a vehicle for social change.
Paul Weaver
Food & Beverage: Adding Flavor To The Industry
Paul Weaver is a passionate innovator and product developer with over a decade of experience across both the alcohol and cannabis industries. He is Director, Head of Cannabis at The Boston Beer Company, where he leads the Company’s Canadian cannabis division. In 2022, Boston Beer launched TeaPot, a line of refreshing THC-infused iced teas blending specific strains with specific varietals of tea. Prior to joining Boston Beer, Paul was Director of Innovation at Canopy Growth Corporation and previously served as Senior Manager of Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company. Paul believes cannabis to be a force for good in the world and dedicates his career to bringing high quality products to new consumers in a safe, friendly, and consistent manner.
Jesse Kirshbaum
Cannabis Creativity & Branding In the Modern Era
Jesse Kirshbaum is an American entrepreneur, talent agent, author, executive producer and dealmaker. The multi-hypenate creative businessman has made his career focused on the epicenter of entertainment, technology and brand marketing. He started his career finding and developing talent and from there has extensive experience securing talent for concerts, tours and endorsement deals for his various clients and brand partners internationally. In the same way he is known for helping to break artists, he now focuses on building robust strategies and campaigns for big & emerging brands that wish to break into the mainstream zeitgeist. He is known as one of the top deal makers and thought leaders in the music, tech and brand intersection. He writes and curates Beats & Bytes, one of the premiere weekly newsletters in entertainment and the biggest music newsletter on LinkedIn. He also has a column for Adweek titled Beats, Bytes & Brands.
STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS