The Canna Empowerment Series
Schedule
Mon Jun 12 2023 at 03:00 pm to Sun Jun 18 2023 at 05:00 pm
Location
Massachusetts/Boston | Boston, MA
Welcome to Rooted In & the City of Boston's Cannabis Empowerment Series!Join us for an educational journey through the ins and outs of participating in the cannabis industry as well as owning and operating a successful cannabis business. This empowering series will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed in the rapidly-growing cannabis industry.
Over the course of several sessions, we will cover a wide range of topics, including licensing and regulations, marketing and branding, product development, financial management, and more. You will hear from industry experts, successful cannabis entrepreneurs, and city officials, who will share their insights and expertise.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur looking to enter the cannabis industry or someone who is curious about this exciting and rapidly-evolving field, the Cannabis Empowerment Series is the perfect opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals, learn from the best in the business, and empower yourself to thrive in the world of cannabis.
You can choose to attend just one session that covers a topic you're particularly interested in, or you can attend all sessions to get a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Register now for any or all days of the Cannabis Empowerment Series and take the first step towards building a successful cannabis business.
Tentative Schedule | June 12 - June 18
*Schedule is subject to changes*
Monday, June 12
Understanding Our History Through Cannabis
Location: Big Night Live (Studio B) 110 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02114
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kick-off Soiree + Networking
Day one will kick off empowerment week with a grande soiree at Studio B on Causeway St in Boston. This day will focus on understanding our history, getting inspired and building connections in this community. A selection of complimentary passed hors d'oeuvre will be available for guests.
Special Guests:
Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion at the City of Boston
Ava Callender Concepcion, CCC Commissioner
Kim Napoli, Counsel at the Mensing Group
Alia Forrest Director of Business Strategy at the City of Boston
Shekia Scott, Cannabis Business Manager at the city of Boston
Joanne Keith, Founder of Rooted In
Rokeya Begum, Founder of Rooted In
Solmon Chowdhury, Founder of Rooted In
Brian Keith Founder of Rooted In
Angela Brown, Co-Founder + CEO of Coast Cannabis Co.
Dru Ledbetter Founder Zeb Boutique;
Mario Signore, Founder of Greenline and Green Flash
Gabe Viera, Founder of Zyp Run
Jessica VanDeWalle, Vice President of Wholesale at Happy Valley
Tuesday, June 13
Let’s Get Started: You Have an Idea, Now What?
Location: 2225 Washington St, Boston, MA
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
One of the hardest steps to bring a business out of the concept phase is actually taking that first step. This class will cover which businesses are available to all applicants with a focus on social equity candidates, and how they can marshall the building blocks to get started.
Special Guests:
Paul Evangalista, Executive Vice President at Needham Bank
Robert Boyda Vice President of Business Development
Joey Milbauer Director of Accounting at Diapoules & Feinstein, CPAs P.C.
Wednesday, June 14
Let’s Get Down To It: The Nitty-Gritty of Getting Your Business Through the City
Location: City Hall, 1 City Hall Square #900, Boston, MA 02201
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Moving any proposal through the city can be intimidating and overwhelming. On this day, participants will meet at City Hall, and be introduced to representatives from the different City of Boston departments who will process cannabis applications as they move through the city. Participants will hear from members of the Boston Cannabis Board (BCB), Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS), Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (EOI) as well as meet members of the City Council and/or their representatives.
Special Guests:
Jasmin Winn and Allyson Quinn from the Boston Cannabis Board (BCB)
Shekia Scott and Alia Forrest from Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (EOI)
Jessica Thomas from Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Enrique Pepen from Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS)
Regine Desir from the Clerk’s Office
Juan Lopez from City Council
Thursday, June 15
Real Talk on Real Estate
Location: Offices of Prince Lobel 1 International Pl Ste 3700, Boston, MA 02110 (ID requirement)
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location Location Location is the most important aspect of starting any business, cannabis is no different. In this module, we will hear from premier zoning attorneys in the City of Boston, as well as Boston real estate experts who have successfully pivoted into the cannabis industry. They will share their experiences on choosing a location, negotiating with landlords, and holding property while working through the permitting process.
Special Guests:
Mike Ross, Partner at Prince Lobel
Sean Hope, Founder of Yamba Market
Solmon Chowdhury, Founder of Rooted In.
Friday, June 16
We’ve Got Traction & Approvals: What’s Next?
Location: 2225 Washington Street (Offices)
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The CCC and Me. The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is the regulatory and permitting body for the Cannabis industry in Massachusetts. In this module, we will hear about the CCC application process and equity provisions meant to assist applicants. We will also hear from compliance experts and an active Dispensary General Manager on generating compliant SOPs for your location.
Special Guests:
Sara Grande, Compliance Manager at Vicente LLP
Jose Diaz, General Manager at Rooted In
Saturday, June 17
Congratulations, You’ve Commenced Operations: How Can We Run a Successful Business?
Location: Roxbury Community College
Time: 3:00PM – 7:00PM
Bringing everything together from Monday through Friday, the Saturday agenda will consist of the hands-on work required to create a strong, professional business plan. Participants will work closely with finance and legal experts to develop financial models that can be used to attract funds which are needed to build a business from the ground up.
Technology: Bring a computer, please reach out at least 5 days in advance if you would like to use one for this session.
Special Guests:
Sean Coleman, Partner at Coleman and Gomes
Nicholas Gomes, Partner at Coleman and Gomes
Shekia Scott Cannabis Manager at the City of Boston.
Sunday, June 18
Everything They Don’t Tell You & You Wish They Did
Location: : Long Live Brewery (Roxbury) | 152 Hampden Street Boston, MA 02119
Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Through the lens of a COO, Director of Finance, Director of Marketing General Manager and staffing firm “EZ hire”, we will discuss how to keep a cannabis business running successfully. What to look for in hiring, operational best practices, bookkeeping and more will be discussed during this interactive day of events.
Special Guests:
Brian Keith, Founder at Rooted In
Andrea Dolan-Rivers, Director of Finance and Corporate Strategy at Rooted In
Holly Alberti, VP of Marketing at Rooted In
Jose Diaz, General Manager at Rooted In;
EZ Hire