Tag:
Images (seperated by semicolin):
Advisory Board
Dr. Gerry Bedore has 18 years Mid Management, Sr. Management and Executive experience in ground up building and scaling of technology enhanced and technology based learning programs. Gerry is widely recognized for his work in building and supporting many of the most successful online education organizations in the world today.
Gerry has degrees and advanced degrees in biological sciences, forest management, business, and education. In addition, he is a certified master gardener with a highly successful background in growing and horticulture. Gerry feels the sum total of his life’s work and experiences has positioned him to advance cannabis sciences on many levels.
Some of Gerry’s key accomplishments include leading a team to build the Art Institute Online and scaled it to support Education Management Corporation (EDMC) in acquiring South University, Argosy University, and Brown Mackie Colleges that provided the foundation for creating Education Management Corporation Online Higher Education (OHE). EDMC went from a $200 million dollar a year company to 41% of the company being acquired by Goldman Sachs for $3.2 billion dollars in a seven year period. Gerry’s team built and positioned EDMC to be a “player” in the online higher education market. EDMC OHE is a demonstration of his leadership; ability to function as a team player; and his ability to lead and build a quality organization.
ROBERT CALKIN
Mr. Calkin's experience in the cannabis industry is deep and broad. In addition to being an original member of the American Hemp Council, with cannabis pioneers Chris Conrad and Jack Herer, Robert started Green Dot LA, a collective that has compassionately helped thousands of patients with their medical marijuana needs for more than a decade.
He founded CannaWorx, Inc., which owns and operates the Cannabis Career Institute, founded in 2009. He has also written curriculum for Oakland’s Oaksterdam University, which was the basis for his 2008 cannabis entrepreneurship bible “Starting Your Own Medical Marijuana Delivery Service: The Mobile Caregiver’s Handbook.” He is currently the instructor of Delivery 102 at Oaksterdam University.
In 2011, Mr. Calkin created the industry’s leading job listing and business development resource, Cannajobs.com, the most comprehensive online source for news and information relating to the medical cannabis industry. Mr. Calkin’s experience, knowledge and extensive network in the cannabis industry is invaluable.
EDWARD MANOLOS
Mr. Manolos is one of the most accomplished pioneers in the Medical Marijuana industry, having opened the very first Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Los Angeles County in 2004 called CMCA. He is also credited with starting Los Angeles’ first Medical Marijuana farmers market referred to as “The California Heritage Farmers Market,” which attracted local and international media attention and was the first of its kind.
Mr. Manolos is also the founder of many successful companies, such as Everest Biosynthesis Group and Natural Plant Extracts USA (NPE), a leading producer of pharmaceutical grade CBD that holds the largest market share in the USA. He also Co-founded oCcen Communications Inc. in 1997 (NASDAQ: OCEN), an Asia-focused internet communications service provider transmitting voice, fax, and data communications for consumers, carriers and corporations. His diverse entrepreneurial focus led him on to launch the Kiwiberri Frozen yogurt franchise in 2005. The company is a California-based frozen yogurt franchised that has opened several locations throughout Los Angeles, Nevada, and Florida.
Mr. Manolos has provided consulting services to several companies in the cannabis industry and has helped them obtain retail and production licenses in California and Washington. He graduated from the University of California Riverside with a double major in Computer Science and Business Management.
DR. RICHARD STAACK
Dr. Richard Staack is President of Staack & Associates. Dr.
Staack has more than 25 years of experience in the nutrition and health market
as a leader in identifying innovative and new emerging technologies and
launching science-backed products to the functional beverage, dietary
supplement and functional foods industry. Dr. Staack founded Staack & Associates with
a mission to represent a new concept of introducing branded, science-driven
products to the functional beverage and food markets.
Dr. Staack
has a broad experience in ‘business to business’ marketing, and sales
management, for value added, nutritional ingredients and ingredient systems,
with comprehensive client network and solid
business relationships. He has worked with fortune 500 companies on new and existing
core products to maximize revenue by incorporating new innovative technologies
and commercializing finished functional beverages (concept to consumer). Dr. Staack has a proven track record in Sales, Business Development and Sales Management and an expert
in the sales of nutritional ingredients sold into the functional food/beverage
and nutraceutical industries, on a national and global basis. He has
successfully
commercialized several dietary supplements, functional food/beverages and
value-added ingredients.
Dr. Staack has held executive
positions, directed business growth through strategic mergers and acquisitions,
and has guided several leading companies through extensive business
development. Before forming Staack &
Associates, he was the Vice President of New Business Development at Avatar and
the Global Nutritional Business & Market Development Manager at Cognis
Nutrition and Health, formerly Henkel. Dr. Staack also served as
Assistant Director for the Human Nutrition Research for USDA.
