Team – CCTA

Meet Our Team Members

Brian Applegarth | Founder and Executive Director

Brian Applegarth founded the California Cannabis Tourism Association in 2017 and is the creator of The Cannabis Trail, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the cannabis history of California. Brian is a cannabis tourism subject matter expert, educator and international speaker on the topic. Brian has lived, worked or traveled to over 50 different countries and holds a BA in International Studies from U.C. Irvine. Brian is inspired by building bridges between the travel and cannabis industries, and he helps businesses develop and implement customized cannabis-related tourism strategies that drive success.

Amanda Reiman | Board Member

Dr. Reiman is the Head of Community Relations for Flow Kana, a branded cannabis distribution company. She is an internationally recognized cannabis expert and public health researcher as well as a leader in the field of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs, having presented her research all over the world. Also an expert in cannabis policy on the local, national and international level, Dr. Reiman was the first Chairwoman of the Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission and also sat on the Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Jerred Kiloh | Board Member

Omar Figueroa | Board Member

Yvonne Brown | Assistant Director

Angelica Muhammad | Community Manager & Events Assistant

Advisory Board Members

Antonio Flores | Advisory Board

Antonio Flores is currently the General Manager at Hotel Zeppelin in San Francisco. A rebellious hotel that celebrates San Francisco’s counterculture tradition with a mischievous approach to hospitality. Antonio brings more than 20 years of experience to his role as General Manager at Hotel Zeppelin. Prior to joining Viceroy Hotel Group, Antonio held positions with Kimpton Hotels as General Manager at both Hotel Triton and The Prescott Hotel, both in San Francisco since 2006. He was previously with Hilton Hotels for several years in Southern California.

Jonathan Grella | Advisory Board

Jonathan Grella launched JAG Public Affairs in 2019, specializing in high-impact advocacy and communications. For the past 20 years, Grella has built a stellar reputation as a dynamic leader, communicator, and advocate across a wide array of arenas: political, corporate, association, and professional sports. For six years, Grella quarterbacked the U.S. Travel Association’s renowned public affairs operation as executive vice president, leading the association’s government relations, communications, marketing, research, grassroots and political action committee (PAC) to new heights. Since Grella’s arrival in 2013, U.S. Travel bolstered its stature and success. Under his stewardship, National Journal and APCO’s comprehensive TradeMarks study rated U.S. Travel as one of the top four associations overall and first in three categories. He has been honored as a top association advocate in The Hill for the past two years.

Regional Leads

Keiko Beatie | Southern California

Keiko Beatie has been a practitioner of Ayurveda, Chinese and Holistic Medicine since the 1970’s and is the Director of Education for Coral Cove Wellness Resort located in Jamaica. Keiko is a Board Member for various organizations including OC NORML, The Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member for Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo, and Head Judge of Edibles for The Emerald Cup. She has studied at Esalen Institute, Twin Lakes Holistic College, Alive Polarity Institute, CIIS Calif. Institute of Intralegal Studies, UCLA and LA College of Massage and Physical Therapy. Keiko’s extensive background also includes assisting in starting Women Grow OC, writing for several publications and founding multiple companies.

Duane Cofield | Greater Los Angeles

Duane has been an advocate for the Cannabis Industry for over 20 years. He currently operates Med Tours LA, a Cannabis Experience Tour in Los Angeles which he started in his Toyota Camry (now has a bus) in 2017. Duane has been trained as a marketer earning his MBA in business as well as working in the entertainment marketing industry. Duane serves as an adjunct professor teaching business and marketing at local universities. Duane is also a husband and father of 3 and loves spending time with his family and surfing with his long-board.

Morgan Cooper | Emerald Triangle

Morgan Cooper is a former cannabis sales executive with a focus on sustainable legal cannabis, social responsibility, equity, advocacy, culture, and community. Born and raised in Humboldt County, California, the heart of cannabis culture, Morgan has experience in both the traditional and legal markets throughout various legislative and regulatory changes. She is a member of the California Cannabis Tourism Association, Redwood Women’s Foundation, and volunteers with Sweetleaf Collective to help provide free cannabis to terminally ill patients that are low income.

Laurie Light | Bay Area

Laurie Light is a multi-certified cannabis educator who is well-versed in the benefits of cannabis for health and wellness. A founding team member of Octavia Wellness, the first direct-to-consumer cannabis company focused on older adults, and Daytrip, a California based CBD-infused sparkling beverage brand, Laurie is dedicated to helping adults navigate the cannabis marketplace through educational events. Laurie has authored and presented cannabis classes to baby boomers, women of all ages, athletes and wellness professionals. In 2019, Laurie created CocoCanna Consulting to offer personalized, one-on-one, cannabis education for the canna curious.

Barbie Sommers | Desert

Barbie Sommers is the President of Faerie Jane, a cannabis consultancy specializing in helping clients successfully navigate this vast emerging industry. With over twenty years in asset management and six years building and facilitating networks in the cannabis industry, she is passionate about connecting investors to deals, creators to markets and people to information. Barbie is also Founder of High Dining and the Chief Operating Officer of Mary Jane University. Additionally, she is the Founding Co-Chair of Women Grow Orange County and former Co-Host of “The 420”, a news show on the first cannabis-based TV Network, the US Weed Channel.