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College of Business

Cannabis Caucus 2018

CWU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE 2018

Friday, April 27, 2018, 8am-2:30pm, Sue Lombard Hall
601 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-859-4139  cb@cwu.edu
 

CANNABIS CAUCUS 2018

Thank you for joining the CWU College of Business and the Economics
Department as we gather with distinguished business professionals from
the cannabis industry for this year’s Economic Outlook Conference. The
Cannabis Caucus aims to broaden community knowledge of the trends,
challenges, and opportunities in the Pacific Northwest cannabis industry.

SCHEDULE

8:00 am - 9:00 am: Business Breakfast and Welcome
Bruce Tabb, Ellensburg Mayor
 
9:00 am: Overview of the Effect of Cannabis on State Economics
Steve Lerch, Washington State Chief Economist
 
9:30 am: Cannabis Industry Analysis
Cassie Koefod, Kenneth Zummach, Eric Staats, Mallory Icenhower
 
10:00 am: Regulatory Presentation
Rick Garza, Director, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
 
10:30 am: Coffee/Networking Break
 
10:45 am: Producer/Processor Panel
Andy Brassington, Chief Financial Officer: Evergreen Herbal
Jeff Doughty, CEO/Chemistry Manager: Capitol Analysis
Jeff McPhee, COO, Stickybudz
Kyle Stamback: Cultivation, Northwest Grown
 
11:30 am: Retail Panel
Cory Wendt, Co-Owner/Operations Manager: The Happy Crop Shoppe
Lynn Ciani, EVP: Numerica
Rob Hendrix, Owner, Cannabis Central
Dr. Magdalena Bialic-Davendra, CWU Business Professor
 
12:15 pm: Lunch n' Learn
John Ufkes, Attorney, John Ufkes Law
Dr. Toni Sipic, Rob Hendrix, Rick Garza, Andy Brassington
 
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Cannabis Business Research at Central
Dr. Toni Sipic, Dr. Peter Gray, Kenneth Zummach
 

GUEST SPEAKERS

KYLE STAMBACK, DIRECTOR OF CULTIVATION, NORTHWEST GROWN
Kyle Stamback began his professional cannabis career running medical
cooperatives. He developed a passion for commercial cultivation, which
took him into the recreational market. Stamback leads Northwest Grown
in producing some of the highest quality cannabis in the country. As a
consultant specializing in lean cultivation, Stamback helps farms minimize
waste, increase efficiency, and maximize value and profits.
 
ANDY BRASSINGTON, CFO, EVERGREEN HERBAL
Andy Brassington is the CFO of Evergreen Herbal, a leading Washington
manufacturer and distributor of cannabis-infused beverages, chocolates,
candies, oils, sugars, teas and other products. Before entering the legal
cannabis industry, Brassington founded Cascade Asset Development, a
commercial real estate, equipment management, and finance company
specializing in the food and beverage industry.
 
ROB HENDRIX, OWNER, CANNABIS CENTRAL
After nearly 30 years in the car business, Rob Hendrix decided to change
careers and opened Ellensburg’s first recreational marijuana store: Cannabis
Central. Hendrix, who earned an economics degree from CWU, is a strong
advocate for legalized marijuana and a board member for the Washington
State Cannabusiness Association.
 
JOHN UFKES, JUDGE PRO TEM, KITTITAS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
John Ufkes, judge pro tem for Upper and Lower Kittitas County District
Court, has extensive experience in land use, water, and real estate law. In
2014, as a member of Save Our Agricultural and Rural Spaces (SOARS),
Ufkes objected to marijuana production in agricultural/rural zoned
lands. Later that year, Kittitas County instituted more restrictive land use
regulations.
 
STEVE LERCH, WASHINGTON STATE CHIEF ECONOMIST
Stephen Lerch is the executive director of the Washington State Economic
and Revenue Forecast Council. Previously, he was an economist and
researcher on public finance and health care issues in government and the
private sector. Lerch most recently held the position of Research Director at
the Washington State Investment Board.
 
RICK GARZA, DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON STATE LIQUOR & CANNABIS BOARD
Rick Garza is the agency director of the Washington State Liquor and
Cannabis Board and has been with the board since 1997. He also held
positions of Legislative and Tribal Liaison, Policy Director and Deputy
Director. Prior to joining the Liquor Control Board, Garza served 13 years as
a staff member for the Washington State Legislature.
 
JEFF DOUGHTY, CEO, CAPITAL ANALYSIS
Jeff Doughty formed a medical cannabis testing lab in 2013. Three years
later, the small, one-person lab transitioned into Capitol Analysis. As a
physicist in the cannabis industry, Doughty and his team help clients with
scientific cannabis testing.
 
CORY WENDT, CO-OWNER, THE HAPPY CROP SHOPPE
Cory Wendt is co-owner and co-founder of The Happy Crop Shoppe, one
of the first 10 marijuana retailers to open in Washington. In 2016, Cory was
named one of the Wenatchee Valley’s rising business people. The Happy
Crop Shoppe was also named the Wenatchee Valley’s best cannabis store
three years in a row.
 
JEFF MCPHEE, COO, STICKYBUDZ
Jeffery McPhee founded one of the first tax paying medical cannabis
dispensaries in Central Washington. The fourth-generation Yakima Valley
orchardist is the COO for MLM Entertainment, LLC, a top tier 3 producer
and processor. He is also the CEO of Cannabis Input Systems, LLC, a hemp
and cannabis commercial fertilizer company.
 
LYNN CIANI, VP, NUMERICA
Lynn Ciani has over 30 years of experience as a lawyer representing the
financial industry. She was a partner in the corporate/securities department
of the law firm McKenna & Fitting before moving to Washington. Ciani is a
member of the Washington, Idaho, and California bars.
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