Meet The Team

Leon is a repeat founder and experienced executive with over 25 years of experience across a variety of businesses.  He's been in leadership roles across diverse businesses and   has founded both boot-strapped and venture backed companies.  A life-long New Yorker and hippie at heart, Leon is excited to support local businesses and to help orchestrate a thriving, just, and equitable cannabis industry in NY.  He Graduated from Bard College.

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Colin is a seasoned CMO, Executive Creative Director, and strategic leader with deep experience in start-up environments as founder, partner, and advisor.  Colin is a champion of benevolence and empathy.  He's worked in leading agencies and directly for leading brands; most recently as CMO for Charlotte's Web (formerly Stanley Brothers Holdings Inc.).  He graduated from Syracuse University and has lived in New York for half his life.

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Johnny is an experienced entrepreneur, technologist, and community builder. He's developed software systems, led multi-state operations, and built a nationwide community of over 130,000 paying members. He has extensive experience helping early stage businesses and is founder and GP of  the Hudson Valley Startup Fund.  Johnny grew up in the Hudson Valley  and  would prefer his business meetings occur while snowboarding, hiking, or at a music festival.

Bear Reel is a globally recognized scientist, business operations executive, and sustainability advocate in the agriculture sector specializing in medicinal herbs. During her tenure as VP Cultivation R&D at Charlotte's Web, she established one of the best breeding programs in the world and was responsible for 5+ patents granted by the USPTO during only 4 years of operation.  You might catch her speaking at conferences, closed-door legislative meetings, or as a guest lecturer at universities.

Dan has built one of the most successful plumbing and HVAC businesses in the Hudson Valley so he has experience with business ops and environmental systems including with building cannabis drying and curing facilities. All that and a bona fide hero too.  He is a Lt. in the Newburgh Fire Department, and is a recipient of the Christopher Prescott Medal for Bravery, for running into a burning building in the South Bronx to evacuate residents before the fire department arrived.

Claire Raper is an agent for calm in a sea of chaos. With extensive experience across theatre and education, Claire enjoys finding the processes to create a dream team function. A passionate traveler, she is always preparing for the next great adventure. She is pleased to call the Hudson Valley home where she has raised her family and pets for the last 15 years.