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Our Team

The WM Policy staff—with decades of legislative, regulatory and public policy experience, and an impressive record of achievement in local, state and national political campaigns; far reaching and impactful policy development; effective and creative public awareness efforts; and powerful, change-making coalition building—works with lawmakers, advocates, industry groups and other allies to forge safe, fair and accessible cannabis policy across the country and around the world.

Alex Spyropoulos

Regional Legislative Associate, East Coast
Alex is a part of Weedmaps’ Government Relations team on the East Coast, where he works to engage with government officials and other key stakeholders to drive forward cannabis legalization and reform to states. Prior to joining Weedmaps, Alex worked for several years at a top lobbying firm in New York City, in addition to experience in government and on political campaigns. Alex is an avid sports fan and enjoys exploring different communities via their culinary scene.

Anthony Misiak

Government Relations Intern

Anthony is currently working as a Government Relations intern, primarily focused on the Western U.S. He is currently working towards a Master in Public Policy degree from Duke University. Anthony lives in Durham, NC by way of Chicago with his wife Ashley and his dog Luca.

Bridget Hennessey

Vice President, Public Affairs

Bridget offers 15 years concentrated experience working on government relations, communications, strategy development, campaign management, and public relations at all levels of government. She is a political junkie and soccer mom.

Candy Angel

Head of TEAL - Together for Equity, Access & Legalization

As the first woman to join Weedmaps in 2010, Candy has been an integral force in understanding the importance of corporate social responsibility. Candy has created new divisions and programs including T.E.A.L which stands for “together for equity, access, and legalization,” has restructured and built departments, and has leveraged her relationships and networking prowess to capitalize on sponsorship opportunities that are minority and female-focused. Today, Candy manages relationships with multiple organizations across the country, develops Weedmaps social justice and social equity initiatives, and is working to incorporate more programs and partnerships to diversify the internal staff and the industry as a whole.

Carl Fillichio

Vice President

Cedric Haynes

Associate Vice President, Public Affairs

Cedric brings a wealth of political, policy and procedural experience to Weedmaps as Associate Vice President of Public Affairs. Prior, Cedric has led Weedmaps’ Emerging Markets team, overseeing legislative, regulatory, coalition building and advocacy efforts in newly-forming marketplaces and the federal government. He also collaborated with the public policy team on research, strategy and relationship building as Director of Public Policy and Partnerships. Cedric’s prior experience includes leading the Transportation Security Subcommittee in the US House of Representatives, as well as representing some of America’s largest corporations and prominent startups to state and local governments, largely focusing on technology and transportation. When Cedric is not gushing about his hometown (Jackson, Mississippi)… nevermind, he is always gushing over Jackson, Mississippi.

Christy Umfress

Associate Project Manager

Christy has been with Weedmaps for over 6 years and provides strategic, logistical and administrative support for the Public Affairs department. Managing the day to day operations and special projects for the team, she strives to ensure goals and deadlines are seamlessly met. Prior to Weedmaps, Christy worked for Mercedes Benz under Research and Development as an Operations Specialist. Her perfect weekend includes visiting Disneyland and listening to Dolly Parton.

Ian Grady

Government Relations Director, International Emerging Markets

Ian leads Weedmaps’ public affairs efforts in international markets including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. He has been involved in advocacy and campaigns for more than a decade — spending the early years of his career on campaigns to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in the United States before expanding to a host of issues and causes across the country and around the world. Ian is a passionate runner and cyclist who lives with his husband in downtown Los Angeles.

John Cleveland

Associate Director, Government Relations - West Coast

John Connor Cleveland is a member of Weedmaps’ public affairs team on the West Coast, where he supports the company’s legislative and regulatory priorities across thirteen states. John brings more than a decade of experience in federal and state government, public affairs and the non-profit sector, including four years as director of policy and external communications for the governor of South Carolina. John is an avid skier, reader, writer and live music enthusiast. He lives in Sonoma County, California, with his fiancee, Allison, and his dog, Leo.

Justin Pressfield

Associate Vice President, Public Affairs

Justin Pressfield has over 15 years of experience working in government and media relations on complex policy and electoral matters at the federal, state and local levels. He focuses efforts on opening new markets and expanding existing markets through legislative, regulatory and initiative processes. Justin believes in comprehensive approaches marrying public relations, public affairs and direct engagement at grassroots and grasstops levels. He’s a weekend warrior (but that is too strong a word) who loves exploring the mountains near his home in Northern California with his wife and two sons.

Keegan Gendron

Policy Research Associate

Keegan focuses on policy research and analysis at Weedmaps, including authoring policy papers and helping develop company positions on legislative and regulatory cannabis policy. He brings a strategic and abstract mindset to policy work that he honed during his time in the utility industry working on renewable energy policy. With being in the cannabis industry and his education in environmental economics from Michigan State University, its safe to say that Keegan is all about “green”. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at northern Michigan wineries and photographing nature.

Lizzie Kirshenbaum

Associate Director of East Coast

Lizzie focuses on government relations for Weedmaps’ on the East Coast. She works with government officials and industry partners to bring legalization and cannabis reform to the East Coast. Prior to joining Weedmaps, Lizzie worked on the Public Policy team at Airbnb working on community mobilization, campaign operations and eventually global policy development.

Mike Burten

Government Relations Intern
Mike is a Government Relations Intern and current third year law student with a passion for equitable cannabis policy and retroactive justice. He is a former U.S. Marine who deployed twice to Iraq. Prior to law school, he served as a congressional staffer for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for four years. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his two dogs, Charlie and Chloe.

Rebeca Herrera-Gonzalez

Government Relations Associate
As a Government Relations Associate, Rebeca works with the international markets team, where she brings invaluable experience in U.S-Mexico relations, the Mexican federal government, and public diplomacy. She also works with the corporate social impact team, where she supports to drive forward the company’s social equity initiatives. Prior to joining Weedmaps, Rebeca worked at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. and the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, where she currently lives. Inside and outside of Weedmaps, Rebeca enjoys being involved in leadership positions with groups and organizations that serve women and the Latinx / Hispanic communities within the cannabis space. Rebeca was born and raised right at the Mexico-U.S. border in Mexicali, Baja California, a place that awakened her love for traveling, gastronomy, music, and nature.

Summer Fox

Manager of Policy
Summer heads the public policy tracking, research, and analysis efforts at Weedmaps and helps develop the company’s position on all things related to cannabis policy. She also manages the content on wmpolicy.com and the WM Policy social media accounts. Summer joined Weedmaps in 2019 while completing a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Irvine. She loves national parks, scuba diving, and theme parties.

Thanh To

Grassroots/Advocacy Campaign Associate
Thanh is the Grassroots/Advocacy Campaign Associate and focuses on spreading awareness of the many benefits of cannabis legalization and regulation – whether it be advocating for its medicinal use for patients, the social justice impacts it has on communities and individuals affected by its prohibition, or the untapped revenue potential it can generate for all levels of government. He joined the Weedmaps team in 2018 immediately after completing his Master’s in Public Policy and has been passionate about shifting the narrative about cannabis through government relations ever since. Thanh also holds a license from the Federal Aviation Administration to dispatch aircrafts; however, he ultimately chose to help people (instead of planes) get higher.

Tiffany Ingram

Associate Director of Government Relations, Midwest

Tiffany Ingram has over 15 years of dedicated experience in regulatory law and government relations with a specialization in energy and cannabis policy. Most recently she served as the Deputy Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer for Policy and Legislation for the State of Illinois. As Deputy she focused on implementation of the recently passed adult use cannabis law and promoted policies to expand access and remove barriers to the cannabis industry. She has served in various capacities in the government and private sectors. She has served as the legal advisor to the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, legislative counsel for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office under the Daley Administration and the Midwest Advocacy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Tiffany has also practiced law in private practice where she represented public utility companies, renewable energy companies, energy trade associations in regulatory proceedings. Tiffany believes that the impossible can be made possible with a team bonded by trust and dedication to advance a common cause. She lives in Chicago with her loving husband and two children, Alexander and Rilee.

Tim Sullivan

Senior Director of Grassroots Advocacy

Tim leads Weedmaps’ grassroots campaigns nationwide, working to empower cannabis patients, consumers, and entrepreneurs to speak their truths to power and help shape laws that allow safe access and fair business opportunities. Prior to joining the Weedmaps team in 2018, he managed public affairs campaigns aimed at ending state prohibitions on sports betting and daily fantasy sports. Tim earned a master’s in political management from George Washington University and is a graduate of the University of Delaware.

Cannabis Industry Overview

National Overview

Economic Impact

Overview of License Types

Public Opinion Polling on Cannabis

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