CAJUN CANNABIS CONFERENCE – Get your admission tickets to see this event and keep the cannabis conversation going! EARLY BIRD General admission, just $50!
OUR SPEAKERS
Brandon Deboer
Cultivation Manager, Ilera Holistic
Biography
Brandon Deboer attended college at Delaware Valley University and graduated with a horticulture degree. He worked in the hydroponic greenhouse growing lettuce, tomatoes, strawberry’s and, eventually, hemp. He also worked on orchid tissue culture for a research project and presented research at a convention in Washington DC for ASHS.
After graduating, he worked for Ilera healthcare in Pennsylvania as a cultivation tech working on IPM (integrated pest management), irrigation management, and created the tissue culture department. He then took the cultivation manager position Louisiana at Ilera Holisitic and started up the cultivation department from scratch.
Brian Bolyer
Owner, Okhish Mound Farm
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Biography
Brian Bolyer was born in the small community of Coushatta, Louisiana. Brian took over the family business in 2006 and is a third generation automotive technician. While running a successful automotive business in Coushatta, Brian and his family lost their son Jakob from seizures in 2009.
Now a single father raising two children, Brian started reading articles about how cannabis was “curing” seizures in children, which was a breath of life. This led to research on the benefits of the cannabis plant.
After much research, Brian wanted to help others so he furthered his efforts by creating Okhish Mound Farm.
Created in 2020, Okhish Mound works with LSUS in it’s “Careers in Cannabis” continuing education course and is amongst the first members of the National Hemp Growers Co-op (NHGC).
Okhish Mound is the seed coordinator for the NHGC assisting ULM, LSU, and farmers on both sides of the Mississippi Delta.
Brian Bolyer and Okhish Mound are at the forefront and driving the new Hemp industry in the South.
Cedric B. Glover
LA State Representative, Dist. 4
Biography
Cedric Bradford Glover, born August 9, 1965, is a Democrat and a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 4.He was earlier the two-term mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, the first African-American to hold that position.
Rep. Glover was sworn in as the 47th and first African-American mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, on November 28, 2006. In November 2010, Shreveport citizens returned him to office with an overwhelming 65 percent of the vote. The wave of popularity, credibility and public support he rode during his first term continued during his second term.
He first made local history in 1990, when he became the youngest person elected to the Shreveport City Council. In 1995, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served on the Executive Committee of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and was later named Legislator of the Year and Legislator of the Month for instituting the first computer-automated crime victim notification system in the state of Louisiana.
Rep. Glover is a supporter of the medical marijuana program in Louisiana and has introduced numerous bills to the legislature including:Act 499 (House Bill 775) legalizes equipment or devices used for the inhalation of marijuana for state-registered medical marijuana patients.HB 774 – Provides relative to expungements for certain amounts of possession of marijuanaHB793 – Provides relative to nurse practitioners and medical marijuana prescriptions
Dr. Edgar Feinberg
Thoracic Surgeon
Biography
Dr. Edgar Feinberg, a native of Bogalusa Louisiana, is a practicing Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon who has seen patients benefit from healthy lifestyle habits that include diet, exercise, and stress reduction. Consequently, indexing with patients who have CV disease he would often see lifestyle choices and stress as significant contributors to CV problems.
Natural remedies have often been overlooked in favor of more lucrative pharmacological approaches.
Dr. Feinberg began seeing patients with decreased stress and anxiety as a result of cannabinoids and was compelled to begin researching cannabis. As a result of his research, he has co-developed a software tracking program that allows patients and providers to gather information regarding the interaction of cannabinoids and their impact on a healthy lifestyle.
Greg Morrison
Owner, Delta Medmar LLC
Biography
Greg Morrison is the owner of Delta Medmar dispensary with business partner William Windham.Delta Medmar LLC dispensary is located at 111 McMillan Rd in West Monroe.
Jacob Irving
Vice President of Consulting Services at Bridge West Consulting LLC
Biography
Jacob Irving J.D. will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Panel Sessions. Jacob is a Louisiana licensed and experienced medical cannabis compliance lawyer and dedicated patient advocate driven by his personal experience with cerebral palsy.He graduated Order of Barristers from the 2018 class of the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law Center and worked as the Compliance Officer, Lobbyist, Director of Compliance and Governmental Affairs, and Chief Operating Officer for Ilera Holistic Healthcare; one of two medical cannabis production and processing companies in Louisiana.Currently, Jacob works as the Vice President of Consulting Services at Bridge West Consulting LLC where he assists clients in finding legal ways into the cannabis business and guides clients toward operating a successful cannabis businesses.
Jennifer Boudreaux
Pharmacist, HOPE Dispensary Shreveport
Biography
Jennifer Boudreaux, R. PH.
Jennifer is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University, and has special training in Nutritional Symposium, Functional Endocrinology, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, and Compounding Instruction.
Jennifer is co-owner with Doug Boudreaux of HOPE Dispensary, located in Shreveport, Louisiana.
John W. Sutherlin
Chief Innovation Officer, ULM
Biography
John W. Sutherlin, PhD is the Chief Innovation & Research Officer at the University of Louisiana Monroe. As such, he is responsible for the research and development of all intellectual property at ULM. He is a patented inventor, author and has produced and directed documentary films for PBS. Dr. Sutherlin sat on the Board of Directors for an environmental company based in the UK. His expertise in environmental regulations, technology, and management has allowed him to travel around the world. Dr. Sutherlin has advised governments, nonprofit groups, and corporations in South and Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. Dr. Sutherlin was instrumental in changing Louisiana state law regarding industrial hemp and research.
Kevin Caldwell
Southeast Legislative Manager
Marijuana Policy Project
Biography
Kevin Caldwell joined Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in December 2021. As the Southeast Legislative Manager, Kevin leads MPP’s lobbying efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, and Kansas.
Kevin founded CommonSenseNOLA, a grassroots cannabis reform organization, in 2012 and was the President until 2021. He served as a board member of Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana from 2014-2020.
Kevin has advocated and lobbied on the municipal and statewide levels for medical cannabis, removing criminal penalties for cannabis possession, and tax and regulate bills, in addition to other criminal justice reforms. Kevin worked at the City of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and was a board member/Vice President of the Broadmoor Improvement Association from 2006-2012.
Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of New Orleans. He was born and raised in Northern Virginia but has made New Orleans home since 1992.
Kym Corbett
Panelist
Biography
Kym Corbett is a native of Richland Parish and grew up in the cotton fields and cow pastures in Northeast Louisiana.
“I am diabetic and medical marijuana helps me keep my sugar levels in check with no other diabetic prescription medications. It’s liberating to be LEGAL AND HEALTHY!” says Kym. Watch for Kym on the Physician/Panelists panel at Cajun Cannabis Conference.
Michael Lawson, Jr.
Cannabis Media Collective
Biography
Michael Lawson, Jr. is a mental health professional, entrepreneur and cannabis advocate who’s vision is to educate, empower, and change the cannabis narrative in the U.S. and abroad. Michael is a Los Angeles native who witnessed the evolution of the cannabis industry with the passage of California Proposition 215 which permitted the use of medical cannabis. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. While studying clinical mental health counseling Michael discovered the Endocannabinoid System and developed a deeper understanding of the therapeutic value of the cannabis plant. Michael soon realized the majority of medical professionals, consumers, and cannabis manufacturers were not familiar with contemporary science behind medical cannabis. The mission of the Cannabis Media Collective is to educate consumers and practitioners, empower producers and manufacturers, and ultimately change the cannabis narrative in mainstream media. CMC aims to accomplish this by creating innovative and groundbreaking content partnering with medical professionals, industry leaders, brands and manufacturers.
Michelle Williams
Pharmacist, Owner The Medicine Cabinet
Biography
Michelle D. Williams, R.Ph is the owner of The Medicine Cabinet, one of the designated medical marijuana pharmacies for Louisiana.
Michelle was born in Baton Rouge, LA, and knew at a young age that she wanted to be a pharmacist. She graduated from ULM (formerly NLU) and worked as a retail pharmacist for over 19 years with K&B/Rite Aid in Alexandria, LA.
In 2007, her dream of becoming a pharmacy owner was fulfilled when she and her husband, Joe, opened an independent retail pharmacy. For over 13 years, they owned and operated three locations of The Pill Box Pharmacy in the Alexandria area.
In April 2018, they were awarded one of the nine Therapeutic Marijuana permits by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and opened their doors to The Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy a little more than a year later.
Michelle has a true love for patient care and she says, “Meeting with new patients to discuss their specific needs as it relates to cannabis has been quite fulfilling.” She is encouraged by all of the success stories that so many patients share with her on a daily basis and she is thrilled about the growth that she has seen in this industry in just the first two years.
Pamela Bordenave Wiltz
Marketing & Sales Director, Ilera Holistic Health
Biography
Pamela Bordenave Wiltz was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pamela has worked in sales and marketing for the past 15 years. She is employed by Ilera Holistic Healthcare as the Marketing and Sales director. She works directly with the nine license dispensaries and physicians educating on products and the medical marijuana industry.
Prior to Ilera, Pamela worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a Territory Business Manager for Mead Johnson Nutrition. In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, she also worked as a business consultant with BB&B Service Solutions. Under BB&B Service Solutions, she is responsible for researching and analyzing bid opportunities and contracts. The role of a business manager has allowed Pamela to interface with multiple health care, private organizations, government agencies, and school systems in New Orleans and surrounding areas.
Prior to her career with Mead Johnson and BB&B, Pamela was employed as a sales manager with US Foods. She also spent four years with LeTriomphe Property Group and three years in advertising and marketing for Bally’s Casino New Orleans.
Pamela graduated from the University of New Orleans in Business and Marketing and later received a degree in dietetics.
Peter Prevot
COO, Bridge West Consulting
Biography
In 2014, Peter dedicated his career to the cannabis industry after learning about the unique tax and banking regulations surrounding legal marijuana in the U.S. and he formed a consulting firm to serve the industry.
Peter merged his practice with Bridge West CPAs and Advisors in 2018. Peter is responsible for ensuring that the Firm’s clients have the necessary resources and information to make sound business decisions, retain more of the bottom line for business growth, and comply with laws and regulations.
His core professional competencies include regulatory analysis, license procurement, management consulting, corporate governance, accounting information systems, banking regulations, and internal controls. Peter previously held board seats with the Louisiana Cannabis Association and the Pointe Coupee Enrichment Fund and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Upbeat Academy Foundation and the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Louisiana Association for Therapeutic Alternatives.
William P. Davis
Owner, Euphoria Eats Co.
Biography
William P. Davis, President of Euphoria Eats and Cannabis Consultant for Southern Greauxers, is from the great state of Texas with Louisiana roots.
Southern Greauxers was created to provide entrepreneurs the opportunity to embark into the Cannabis business. This network of relationships and business partners allow start-ups to gain access to the resources needed to navigate within the industry. Davis felt this company would be essential for others because of the uphill climb it took for Euphoria Eats to get to the main stage. The US Army Veteran used his passion for creating tasty recipes to create an alternative way for others to consume Hemp/CBD through food
Davis obtained his BA from Louisiana Tech and MBA from Grand Canyon University. Davis started out as a caterer and created his own barbeque sauces and receiving applause and awards for his tasty creation.
Euphoria Eats Co provides gourmet Hemp/CBD infused condiments/T.V dinners. Euphoria Eats’ condiments are award- winning in taste, as well as character. The hemp/CBD is lab tested for quality from one of the premiere labs in America. Hemp/CBD is a component in the plant that doesn’t contain ( >.3% ) THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) . “Hemp/CBD is used for a plethora of things and why would a person not like to taste Louisiana in every bite along with hemp/CBD. Our mission is simple- give consumers an alternative way to consume hemp/CBD and enjoy great tasting condiments,” explained Davis.
Euphoria Eats Co has been featured in several publications such as Voyage Dallas, Lab Zero (Japan), numerous blogs, and the USA CBD Expo in Atlanta, GA. The thriving company recently received a 9/10 endorsement on Master P Reviews as the next up and coming company in the CBD market. Mr. Davis was recently name one of the top (entrepreneurs) talents in the Cannabis Industry by Lab Zero and also was selected in the inaugural COHORT sponsored by Parallel and Black Canna Business.
