Cannabis Conference Webcast

Justin presents at numerous professional conferences each year educating accountants on financial, regulatory, and market changes. Justin also served as an Associate Professor of Accounting at Ohio Wesleyan University and instructed courses in financial accounting & reporting, tax accounting, and auditing & assurance services. Prior to joining the faculty at OWU, Justin served as a faculty member at Lake Erie College where he taught courses relating to financial accounting, fraud & forensic accounting, auditing & assurance services, tax, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, he assisted in the creation of a fraud and forensic accounting concentration. Prior to joining the world of academia, Justin had extensive professional work experience in public accounting, and still has a passion for helping individuals and organizations navigate through the world of accounting and related topics.

Michelle Rutter Friberg is the Director of Government Relations for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and has been lobbying for the cannabis industry for nearly a decade. Prior to working for NCIA, Michelle was a research analyst at a government affairs firm in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed and tracked legislation on numerous issues. Michelle graduated from James Madison University in 2012, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History. Michelle currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband, dog, and two cats.

Raymond Owens is an experienced tax manager with Withum Smith + Brown, practicing out of the firm’s New York City region. With over 10 years of professional experience, his expertise ranges from providing tax, accounting, and consulting services.

Casey Myers is a Senior Accountant with Withum’s Cannabis Sector Services team. He is a certified public accountant specializing in cannabis assurance and accounting services. Casey is experienced with cannabis audit engagements and provides exceptional client service to distributors and retailers alike.

Todd is a partner at Sax with more than 30 years of in-depth auditing and accounting experience. He has been tasked with kick-starting several new practice areas for the firm over the years from conception to long-term success. Currently, Todd leads the firm’s Cannabis, Transaction Advisory and Not-for-Profit Practices. As the leader of Sax’s Cannabis Practice, Todd understands the intricacies of the rapidly expanding and evolving industry, and provides advisory services to cultivators, dispensaries, extractors, investors and manufacturers to help structure entities and accounting practices. As Head of Sax’s Transaction Advisory Practice, Todd assists private equity companies by thoroughly analyzing and validating financial, operational and strategic measures that capture opportunities and minimize loss and liabilities through the transaction process. In addition, he has presented over 100 educational programs to professionals and to the public and has lectured on various accounting and auditing matters. He is actively involved in the training and education of clients and staff on the new auditing standards put forth by the Auditing Standards Board. He is also the creator of the Smart Good podcast.

Stacey is a director of Valuation and Litigation Services at HBK Valuation Group, which specializes in valuation, forensic accounting, economic damages and litigation support services. Her experience includes valuations of businesses and professional practices for purposes of estate and gift tax planning and compliance, divorce, business succession planning and mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, she has prepared damage study reports in connection with stockholder, insurance claims, and lost profits litigation, as well as reports in connection with bankruptcy proceedings utilized by the courts and trustees. Stacey also provides accounting and tax services for closely-held and family businesses including financial statement preparation, business and personal income tax planning and compliance, estate and business succession planning. She is a member of the AICPA, NJCPA, NACVA and New Jersey NACVA, and was previously the leader of the NJCPA Cannabis Interest Group.

Renata is the manager for the Cannabis Advisory Group at Citrin Cooperman. She serves as vice-chair of the cannabis committee of the NYS Society of CPAs, and a member of the Small Business Committee of the Institute of Management Accountants. Renata We provides a wide range of accounting, tax, valuation, consulting and litigation services in the cannabis space across all states within the US and abroad. She is the winner of the 2023 Green Market Report Women's Leadership Ancillary Award which honors women from the cannabis industry.

Charles Felix is the owner and publisher of South Florida Hospital News & Healthcare Report. Founded in 2004, South Florida Hospital News, a 48-page monthly newspaper quickly established itself as the premiere chronicle of the healthcare industry in South Florida. It now represents the only monthly healthcare publication available in South Florida. When medical cannabis became legal in the state of Florida, Cannabis News Florida was incorporated into the original newspaper and now focuses on local, state and national news from leading authorities about medical and business developments in the medical cannabis, CBD and hemp industries. A certified public accountant, certified in financial forensics as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant, Mr. Felix earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in public accounting, from Bernard Baruch College in New York City. Mr. Felix’s early career focused on commercial real estate management, specializing in multi-family construction and management in the Southeast.

Steven Monacelli serves as a tax partner with an expertise in providing tax planning strategies and forward-thinking solutions to closely held companies, particularly to firms in the cannabis and real estate industries. Prior to joining Withum in November 2021, Steven was a Co-Founder and Partner of Restivo Monacelli LLP, an innovative tax, accounting, and business advisory firm with offices in Providence, RI and Boca Raton, FL. As a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in both Rhode Island and Florida, with more than 30 years of accounting tax, and business consulting experience, Steven helps clients nationwide implement growth and exit strategies that maximize their business value and personal wealth and ensure compliance with complex tax laws. In 2015, Steven received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition in honor of being named one of the “Top Public Accounting Professionals for Rhode Island.” Steven has provided firms in the U.S. cannabis industry value in accounting, tax, and consulting services since 2011. Steven has present on accounting and tax issues confronting cannabis companies nationally. In additional, he has successfully represented business and individual clients with multinational interests, multistate taxation, and in complex tax examinations of federal and state level and he assists business owners and corporate executives with personal financial planning designed to grow and protect their income and assets. Steven’s areas of expertise are buying and selling businesses, procuring and negotiating financing alternatives, succession planning, including ESOP consulting, dissenting shareholder disputes, results-driven growth exit strategies for cannabis companies across the U.S., Tax strategy & planning for real estate investments; hospitality, cannabis and service industries including professional services firms and manufacturers, Representing businesses and high-net-worth individuals with multinational interests and multistate taxation, Personal financial planning for business owners & corporate executives.

As the President of Opus Consulting, Jacques brings years of leadership experience in the entertainment, tourism, financial services and technology industries. His expertise lies within business strategy and management, new business ventures, due diligence, accounting, process improvement, financial systems, planning and analysis, and sales and marketing strategy. Prior to founding Opus Consulting, Jacques began his career at Ernst & Young and Universal Pictures in Paris, France. Since moving to the US in 1999, Jacques has held several executive positions and engaged in an array of consulting assignments. In his free time, Jacques enjoys riding his motorcycle, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and two daughters. Jacques is a member of the board of directors for the Turnaround Management association’s (TMA) Northeast Chapter. Jacques holds a degree from EDHEC School of Management in Lille, France with a concentration in Finance.

Mother, wife, attorney and cannabis entrepreneur. Sarah was born and raised in New Jersey and now advocate for expanded access for medical marijuana patients in the State and the creation of an equitable adult-use cannabis industry in the State.