our founding board of directors

Mack Hueber, Board President

Headquarters: Lafayette, NY

Website: ayrloom.com

Beak & Skiff is a family-owned and operated apple farm, agritourism destination, and hard cider producer outside Syracuse in Lafayette, NY. Over the five generations of family ownership, the business has adapted by turning agricultural commodities into value-added products while cultivating a large customer base. Their hard cider and liquor brand, 1911, has grown to one of the most popular on the East Coast and hundreds of thousands of people flock to their farm for apple picking and to attend their concert series. 

Today, they’ve built a popular cannabis brand, Ayrloom, anchored by their beverage line and apple-inspired edibles distributed across New York. 

Generations of adaptation have given the company experience in farming, food & beverage processing, hospitality, nationwide logistics, and navigating highly competitive markets.

Brian Lane, Board Vice President

Headquarters: Rochester, NY

Website: nowave.com

NOWAVE is a Rochester, NY-based adult-use licensed cannabis processor, distributor, cultivator, and hemp retailer. NOWAVE uses a variety of cannabis extraction methods, producing premium quality isolates, broad/full spectrum distillates, and water-soluble using proprietary extraction methods.

Partnered with local farms, all our cannabis is pesticide-free and heavy metal-free. NOWAVE also offers co-packing services, toll processing, private labeling,

custom formulations, and lab testing for various brands and farmers. Off Hours, Luci, and Weed Water are the in-house brands NOWAVE produces.

NOWAVE was created by a group of six Rochester-based individuals who brought a range of experience from the international e-liquid industry into the New York pilot hemp program in 2019 and eventually earned the adult-use licenses in 2024.

Nicolas Guarino

Location: Hoosick Falls, NY

Website: naturae.com

Located in New York’s Capital Region, Naturae (and their brand name Jaunty) is a 100% New York–owned company specializing in cannabis extraction and manufacturing since 2017. From the launch of New York’s adult-use market, Jaunty has produced and distributed the finest solventless hash, live rosin, and distillate oil in its mission to bridge the gap between flower and oil products.

Licensed for all supply chain activities outside of retail, Jaunty is a leading brand for oil-based cannabis products in the state. 

Lucas Seymour

Located: Hudson, NY 

Website: hudsoncannabis.co 

Hudson Cannabis is a cultivator, processor, and distributor located outside of Hudson, New York. Founded by women, owned by farmers, and powered by regenerative agriculture, Hudson Cannabis is committed to cultivating a higher-quality product that positively impacts our bodies, communities, and ecosystems. The company was one of the original hemp farmers and processors, bringing functional CBD supplements to the market under the brand Treaty. 

They deliver to over 230 dispensaries across New York State, with a portfolio of top-performing brands, including Rove, 1906, Holiday, Lowell Smokes, Tyson 2.0, and our in-house brand, Hudson.

Ross Gartenlaub

Headquarters: Cortland, NY 

Website: floristfarms.com

Florist Farms and NYHO Farmer Group is dedicated to crafting premium cannabis products for a diverse family of brands. Our certified organic farm utilizes regenerative farming practices, ensuring top-quality products while prioritizing environmental health. Our state-of-the-art extraction facility is powered by solar energy and reflects our sustainability commitment. Driven by a passion for innovation and quality, our team focuses on growing responsibly and creating cannabis products designed to be safe, effective, and tailored to specific needs.

Luis Delgado

Headquarters: Wellsville, NY

Website: florette.com

Casa Verde Farms is a large-scale cultivation, extraction, and manufacturing operation located in the heart of Western New York’s farm country.

Family run and operated, they have quickly build one of New York’s most recognizable flower brands.

Jason Minard

Headquarters: Milton, NY

Website: hepworthsungrown.com

Hepworth Pura LLC is a licensed cultivator, processor, and distributor of adult-use cannabis strategically located in the Hudson Valley and serving all of New York State. They specialize in cultivating holistic sun-grown cannabis across our partner farms and manufacturing premium products for local and national brands. They serve as a crucial link in the supply chain by bridging cultivators to the marketplace.

Hepworth, originally established in 1818 in Milton, has a deep history of growing food for New Yorkers. Sisters Amy and Gail Hepworth are the latest generation to operate the farm, transitioning into organic and sustainable practices specializing in tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, cucumbers, and many varieties of greens. In 2024, they substantially increased their food distribution efforts in and around New York City through partnerships with NGOs and government organizations, including their ongoing collaboration with the NY Regional Food Bank.

Peter Shafer

Location: Endicott, NY

Website: nanticoke.co

Nanticoke has a long history in agriculture in the Southern Tier of New York. A garden center located just outside of Endicott since 1973, they added cannabis to their mix of greenhouse crops in 2017 by growing Hemp for CBD as one of the very first industrial hemp research licensees. In 2022, Nanticoke received its Adult Use conditional cultivation and processing licenses and utilized their state-of-the-art greenhouses to produce high-quality cannabis. 

Today, Nanticoke brand products are found in almost 200 retail stores and span the categories of flower, edibles, beverage enhancers, vape products, and more. In addition, Nanticoke distributes for 4 other brands in the legal market, including oHHo, 5 Boro, Back Home Farms, and Ready to Roll.

Headquarters: Poughkeepsie, NY 

Website: hpicanna.com

HPI is is at the forefront of building New York’s cannabis ecosystem. From a state-of-the-art cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, and distribution facility set on 434 acres in New York’s Hudson Valley, HPI Canna supports a diverse portfolio of partners. These range from national industry leaders to New York-based social impact brands, all working together to drive growth in this emerging market.

Established initially as one of New York’s leading hemp farms, HPI Canna’s seasoned team transitioned into the regulated cannabis market with a vision to create a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Their goal is to bring best-in-class brands to market while fostering innovative partnerships across every level of the supply chain. Today, HPI Canna has become one of New York State’s leading cannabis companies, supporting a thriving network of over 40 cultivators, 15 brands, and more than 200 retail outlets.