My name is Andrew Silver, and I currently serve as the Director of Planning for Ascend Wellness Holdings, where I also recently had the opportunity to step into the role of Interim Senior Director of Operations for our Franklin, New Jersey facility.

I’ve been with Ascend for just over five years, and it’s been an incredible journey. I started my career with the company as a cultivation tech in 2021, moved through Compliance in 2022, before moving into Production Planning for PA and NJ in 2023, eventually becoming Director of Planning for the 6 state network at the end of 2024, and now helping oversee operations in NJ. One of the things I’ve appreciated most about Ascend is the opportunity to continue learning and taking on new challenges while working alongside talented teams across the organization.

Hello, my name is John Eitner. I’ve had a passion for growing plants for as long as I can remember. Before entering the cannabis industry, I spent the better part of a decade building a foundation of horticulture and agriculture knowledge. Earlier in my career I worked in greenhouses growing potted annuals and managed the field production of various fruits and vegetables. Those experiences gave me a deep, hands-on understanding of what plants need at every stage of growth.

For the past five years, I’ve focused that expertise on cannabis cultivation. I joined AWH nearly four years ago as a Veg Supervisor. Prior to that, I was working as a Cultivation Tech and later IPM Lead for another operator. Currently I am the Director of Cultivation for the Franklin site. It is my responsibility to oversee our growing operations from clone until harvest, drawing on my past career to produce consistent, high-quality cannabis.

Danielle Wildstein is the Founder & CEO of Blue Oak Dispensary, a New Jersey cannabis retailer recognized for combining operational excellence, customer experience, and community-centered leadership. With more than 20 years of experience spanning healthcare, operations, organizational strategy, and business leadership, Danielle has built Blue Oak into a respected retail brand focused on education, accessibility, and elevated consumer care.

Before launching Blue Oak, Danielle began her career at Accenture, where she worked with major pharmaceutical organizations including Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. Her work focused on clinical trials, product launches, supply chain integration, FDA-regulated processes, organizational design, and enterprise transformation initiatives. She partnered closely with executive leadership teams on large-scale operational and strategic initiatives, developing deep expertise in systems, accountability, and high-performance organizations.

Gabriella Wilday is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Molly Ann Farms, one of New Jersey’s leading independent cannabis dispensaries (https://mollyannfarms.com). She leads the company’s vision, brand, marketing, and culture — shaping the customer experience and the community relationships that define Molly Ann Farms in its market. Where her co- founder anchors the buy side and operations, Gabriella owns the brand and growth strategy that connects the dispensary to its customers and its hometown.

Since co-founding the company, Gabriella has led Molly Ann Farms from concept through licensing and into a high-performing retail operation. She authored the original business plan, secured the real estate, navigated the full regulatory build-out, and cultivated the municipal relationships and community partnerships that earned local support — building the company’s identity and customer base from the ground up.

Gian Lombardi is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Molly Ann Farms, one of New Jersey’s leading independent cannabis dispensaries (mollyannfarms.com). He oversees buying, inventory strategy, business analysis, sales performance, marketing, and brand partnerships — sitting squarely on the buy side of the wholesale market, managing negotiations with the brands competing for shelf space.

Since co-founding the company, Gian has helped lead the business from concept through licensing and into a high-performing retail operation, with a focus on disciplined buying, margin protection, and data-driven growth.

Prior to entering cannabis, Gian spent more than 25 years building and leading high-performing B2B sales organizations in the digital media and ad-tech industries. He held senior revenue and sales leadership roles at companies including DoubleClick (later acquired by Google), YuMe (IPO’d), White Ops (acquired by Goldman Sachs), and STAQ (acquired by Operative), where he consistently scaled teams, opened new markets, rebuilt underperforming sales organizations, and drove significant revenue growth and successful exits.

Established in 2015 in the vibrant heart of Jersey City, New Jersey, we are proud to be a small, local, minority woman-owned cannabis edibles company. Transitioning from grassroots to legal prominence, ButACake proudly went fully legal on 12/14/23 in New Jersey. As a trailblazer in the cannabis edibles realm, we’ve mastered the art of infusing indulgence with innovation.

At the core of our delicious offerings is CannPowerment, New Jersey’s pioneering minority woman-owned Class 2 licensed independent manufacturer. Fueled by passion and expertise, CannPowerment ensures that every ButACake creation is crafted with precision and care, bringing you an elevated cannabis experience like no other.

Bango Distribution is one of California’s first licensed cannabis distributors, built to facilitate legal purchasing from the Emerald Triangle and deliver to medical dispensaries statewide.

In 2023, Bango opened their NJ cultivation and distribution facility, expanding Elyon and other brands to the East Coast.

Ronald Ferraro, Founder of Bango Distribution, brings extensive experience in business and the cannabis industry. Matthew Ferraro, Co-Founder of Elyon Cannabis with his brother Ron, is a seasoned cannabis entrepreneur.

Bango has expanded into cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution across multiple states, supplying hundreds of retailers with trusted, compliant cannabis products.

Suzan C. Nickelson is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University New Brunswick. Suzan is the founder and CEO of Holistic Solutions LLC is led by a woman of Jamaican, African and Taino descent.

Suzan is also the founder of Ital Daughters LLC a cannabis and hemp consulting company, which specializes in assisting minorities, women, veterans along with local municipalities and stakeholders in understanding the compliance and regulatory aspects of the industry.

Ital Daughters LLC supports entrepreneurs in scaling and growing their companies and accessing resources . Suzan is a business entrepreneur who has assisted and help scale companies who are opening retail, cultivation and manufacturing licensing approval in NJ.