OFFICE HOURS - OUR ACADEMY
Book office hours with industry experts
Who should you talk with?
The colored squares indicate stages of the process where we HIGHLY recommend you work with the respective advisor in their group or 1:1 office hours.
Use this table to find the right person below to book time with:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
When to book Fundraising Office Hours with |
If you do not have funding yet are in the early stages of fundraising. | If you are actively fundraising right now. | If you're fully funded or are in the final staged of funding. |
|
When to book Finance Office Hours with Devan McLaren, Eduardo Cabral, or Matthew Greenberg |
If you are lacking strong financials, do not have a pro forma yet, or have one but it isn't realistic | If your financials are in place and you are still taking on investment. If you're securing a location and/or working with DASNY and have multiple unknown location costs. |
If you've identified location costs and they are accounted for in your pro forma. If you are developing staffing and your financials are in order. |
|
When to book Operations Office Hours with Sean Kelley or Michelle Mendoza |
If you do not have a location in mind yet or are not focused on this yet. If you are not focused on the SOP building process yet. |
If you're in the process of securing a location and are reviewing terms and conditions and/or working with DASNY. If you're starting the SOP building process. |
If your main focus is implementing technology, security systems, and need help with tech compliance. |
Kimberly Dillon
Fundraising
If you have no or only some funding as of yet, and are looking for help with fundraising strategy, follow-up strategy, or setting up your data room for investors, Kim's office hours are perfect for you.
Fundraising office hours with Kimberly Dillon are every Friday from 12 PM to 2 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Kimberly offers 1:1 office hours.
Fundraising office hours with Kimberly Dillon are every Friday from 12 PM to 2 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Kimberly offers 1:1 office hours.
Devan McLaren
Finance & Pro Formas
If you're lacking strong financials, have no pro forma yet (or an unrealistic one), or have either in development, Devan's office hours are perfect for you.
Finance / Pro Forma office hours with Devan McLaren are every Tuesday (Group) and Thursday (1-on-1) from 12 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Finance / Pro Forma office hours with Devan McLaren are every Tuesday (Group) and Thursday (1-on-1) from 12 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Sean Kelley
Retail Operations & Technology
If you've found your location, or are about to sign a lease and are moving into the buildout phase, Sean's office hours are going to be helpful for you.
He'll be exploring tech stacks, both for a high level understanding of the landscape as well as the details of things to consider before the final vendor selection or you start implementing your techstack.
He'll also be helpful if you are starting your SOP process (including tech, security & staffing SOPs) or currently implementing them.
Retail operations and technology office hours with Sean Kelley are every Monday and Wednesday from 12 PM to 1 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Sean also offers 1:1 office hours which can be booked with the Calendly link.
He'll be exploring tech stacks, both for a high level understanding of the landscape as well as the details of things to consider before the final vendor selection or you start implementing your techstack.
He'll also be helpful if you are starting your SOP process (including tech, security & staffing SOPs) or currently implementing them.
Retail operations and technology office hours with Sean Kelley are every Monday and Wednesday from 12 PM to 1 PM Eastern (schedule permitting).
Sean also offers 1:1 office hours which can be booked with the Calendly link.
Matthew Greenberg
Startup Financing
Matthew Greenberg, CFA, is OCM's top economist, overseeing internal economic modeling and architecting the passive investor framework. With over five years of cannabis investing experience and a track record of deploying over $20 million in capital, he's also helped startups raise more than $35 million in capital as an outsourced consultant. His expertise has been instrumental in OCM's success and growth.
Eduardo Cabral
Finance & Community
Eduardo Cabral is a consultant and analyst with Triple Beam Advisors. He brings a unique background blending venture capital, cooperative finance, and community organizing. Previously, he led the corporate development for Obran Health, from inception to being the largest worker-owned cooperative home healthcare business, and worked as an associate at Bengal Capital, an investor in leading cannabis businesses such as Green Thumb Industries and Jetty Extracts. Eduardo graduated from Harvard in 2016 and now lives in Baltimore with his wife and their little dog.
Michelle R. Mendoza
Retail Strategy & Operations
With over a decade of experience in the cannabis retail industry, from prohibition to legalization within the largest global market, Michelle is a a data-driven strategist specializing in inventory control, product assortment, curation and building community relationships through intentional and innovative inventory buying strategies and purpose-driven partnerships. She excels in outlining retail operational frameworks and designing strategic employee facing training plans to set organizations up for success. Additionally, Michelle's extensive knowledge of consumer and market trends has consistently driven revenue and increased profitability across the landscape of multiple national markets.
Mar Fitzgerald
Municipal Process & Public Engagement Expert
Mar Fitzgerald guides cannabis entrepreneurs through the complexities of municipal processes and local public engagement. Whether you've found a location, have a prospective site, submitted your Notification to Municipality, signed a lease, or begun your build-out, Mar will help you navigate the specific municipal requirements for your business.
In New York State, cannabis retail and on-site consumption businesses must give at least 30 days' notice to the municipality where they plan to operate. The names of the decision-makers may differ—such as Planning Boards, Town Councils, or Community Boards—but these local bodies play a crucial role in advising the state on your application. Their input carries significant weight in the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Cannabis Control Board (CCB) review, forming part of the official record that determines whether your license is granted or denied.
Mar offers 1:1 office hours Mondays & Tuesday 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM
In New York State, cannabis retail and on-site consumption businesses must give at least 30 days' notice to the municipality where they plan to operate. The names of the decision-makers may differ—such as Planning Boards, Town Councils, or Community Boards—but these local bodies play a crucial role in advising the state on your application. Their input carries significant weight in the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Cannabis Control Board (CCB) review, forming part of the official record that determines whether your license is granted or denied.
Mar offers 1:1 office hours Mondays & Tuesday 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM
