WHO WE ARE
Sara Stewart
Malcolm Simkoff
Malcolm Simkoff
Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer
Sara is a pioneer in cannabis hospitality with experience opening and operating two of America's first licensed cannabis lounges: Lowell Cafe in West Hollywood and Rise Mundelein in Illinois with Green Thumb Industries. Sara also spent 15 years in some of the country’s most lucrative and successful rest
Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer
Sara is a pioneer in cannabis hospitality with experience opening and operating two of America's first licensed cannabis lounges: Lowell Cafe in West Hollywood and Rise Mundelein in Illinois with Green Thumb Industries. Sara also spent 15 years in some of the country’s most lucrative and successful restaurants and five years working in LA's prominent nightlife scene managing celebrity guest lists and front door services for major events including the Golden Globes and American Music Awards. Sara also provided valuable insight into regulatory conditions in new markets such as Nevada and Illinois. She has a BA in Marketing and a deep passion for finding solutions in every aspect of the merging of cannabis and hospitality-driven operations.
Malcolm Simkoff
Malcolm Simkoff
Malcolm Simkoff
Co-Founder / Chief Operations Officer
Malcolm has a deep and comprehensive background in hospitality management including high-end Michelin star rated concepts A10, Elizabeth, and Acadia in Chicago, IL to name a few. He also oversaw and operated multiple properties with James Beard Award Winning Boka Restaurant Group before opening celebri
Co-Founder / Chief Operations Officer
Malcolm has a deep and comprehensive background in hospitality management including high-end Michelin star rated concepts A10, Elizabeth, and Acadia in Chicago, IL to name a few. He also oversaw and operated multiple properties with James Beard Award Winning Boka Restaurant Group before opening celebrity chef Rick Bayless’s Leña Brava Restaurant and Cruz Blanca Cerveceria on Chicago's "Restaurant Row". Malcolm’s success in the hospitality industry helped him land successful consulting positions internationally in Tulum, on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Some of the luxury properties include: World Best top 50 Restaurant & Bar in Latin America, Arca, Gitano (now in New York and Miami), and luxury boutique hotel property; Hotel Esencia, named "Town and Country’s Winner of Top 100 Hotels in the World", as well as Conde Nast Gold Winner of Best Hotels in the World 2018 & 2019. Prior to returning to the U.S. for work, Malcolm assisted the hotel and its team in opening two new concepts and winning a Forbes 5 Stars award. Malcolm has a BA in PR and Advertising from DePaul University.
Andrew Mieure
Malcolm Simkoff
Andrew Mieure
Director of Compliance & Strategy
Andrew has an extensive and proven track record within the cannabis industry overseeing regulated cannabis dispensary and cannabis hospitality operations in over seven states. As a trusted consultant, Andrew has won dozens of licenses for his clients in multiple regions throughout the United States in high
Director of Compliance & Strategy
Andrew has an extensive and proven track record within the cannabis industry overseeing regulated cannabis dispensary and cannabis hospitality operations in over seven states. As a trusted consultant, Andrew has won dozens of licenses for his clients in multiple regions throughout the United States in highly competitive markets. Andrew also submitted lengthly and detailed cannabis lounge SOP's around cleaning, sanitation, and operations to the Nevada Regulatory body that were directly implemented into state regulations. Mieure and his company, Top Shelf Budtending, have successfully served 70,000+ consumers, spanning five adult-use legal cannabis states. He is often quoted in Forbes, High Times, Rolling Stone, CNN, FOX, VICE, Newsweek and numerous mainstream publications for expert insights related to on-site consumption operations, regulations and the evolution of cannabis hospitality.
OUR ADVISORY BOARD
Rosie Mattio
Rosie Mattio
Rosie Mattio
CEO & Founder of Mattio Communications
Rosie is the founder of MATTIO Communications, the preeminent cannabis marketing agency in the U. S. She helped usher in the New Cannabis Age, garnering global media coverage in mainstream publications for clients, including the first cannabis article ever published in Oprah Magazine. Ranked the #1 ca
CEO & Founder of Mattio Communications
Rosie is the founder of MATTIO Communications, the preeminent cannabis marketing agency in the U. S. She helped usher in the New Cannabis Age, garnering global media coverage in mainstream publications for clients, including the first cannabis article ever published in Oprah Magazine. Ranked the #1 cannabis PR firm by Green Market Report, Rosie is a strategic powerhouse, industry connector and influencer. Rosie has been named a High Times Female 50 and Forbes Fifteen Powerful And Innovative Women In Cannabis.
Aman Bhan
Rosie Mattio
Rosie Mattio
Vice President of Elevance Health
Aman Bhan is a seasoned finance leader with over 15 years of experience transforming the landscape of the healthcare industry. During his professional journey Aman has held several executive roles, leading finance organizations while also serving as a change agent and thought leader for the business. Aman
Vice President of Elevance Health
Aman Bhan is a seasoned finance leader with over 15 years of experience transforming the landscape of the healthcare industry. During his professional journey Aman has held several executive roles, leading finance organizations while also serving as a change agent and thought leader for the business. Aman has delivered for both Fortune 100 and non profit organizations, pioneering progressive business models and championing strategies to positively disrupt and evolve the industry ecosystem.
His passion lies in helping people, leading impactful change and creating value for the organizations he serves. Aman received a bachelors in Business Administration from Boston University and an MBA from Boston College.
Emily Paxhia
Rosie Mattio
Emily Paxhia
Co-Founder / Managing Partner POSEIDON
Emily is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Poseidon, one of the longest running investment funds dedicated to the cannabis industry. Emily has been investing in cannabis businesses with her brother/co-founder since 2013. Emily has reviewed thousands of companies in the cannabis industry and has w
Co-Founder / Managing Partner POSEIDON
Emily is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Poseidon, one of the longest running investment funds dedicated to the cannabis industry. Emily has been investing in cannabis businesses with her brother/co-founder since 2013. Emily has reviewed thousands of companies in the cannabis industry and has worked with countless founders in many capacities. Emily has held board seats for multiple portfolio companies and participates as an adviser to multiple teams. Extremely active in the investment decision making and ongoing investment oversight processes, she works closely with her partners to create meaningful deal structures, ensuring that proper governance is carried out at the company level.
