As Calgarians aim to grow the economy into different industries, Cannabis has become a major opportunity for startups. In fact, Cannabis is set to outpace soda sales in Canada by 2020. Calgary Cannabis startups are leading this birth of a new industry by leveraging global connections to ensure their place on the world stage. Join us June 27th as we chat with three of the top leaders in this space.
Startup Grind Calgary is proud to present:
Regulatory advocacy expert: Lindsay Blackett, President of the Canada Cannabis Chamber and former Alberta MLA. Lindsay will lend his expertise and advice for navigating the new and exciting regulatory space set to drop when Cannabis is legalized.
Branding and retail expert: Walker McKinley, Partner and Founder at McKinley Burkart. Walker is poised to take advantage of exciting new opportunities by the time Cannabis is legalized, putting Calgary on the map as a global leader in the retail Cannabis space.
Production and Distribution: Jason Kujath, President of 51st Parallel Inc. Jason is sharing his concepts for the successful production and distribution of Cannabis across Alberta and Canada.
Join us for cocktails/snacks, community and these exciting premier fireside chats.
Mckinley Burkhart
Partner
51st Parallel Inc.
President
President
Canadian Cannabis Chamber
McKinley Burkart has been a leader in experiential retail design and consumer culture for 20 years. As architects, interior designers and procurement specialists they have been working with clients such as Anheuser Busch and Maison Simons across North America and globally. With the initiation of their think tank - Black Chamber - McKinley Burkart have further deepened their expertise in consumer movements, valuegraphics, global brand tribalism, digital integration and design strategies to inspire new cultural visions.
For the last 4 years both Black Chamber and McKinley Burkart have been called upon by some of the leading names in Cannabis in North American to create experience driven branding (through McKinley Burkart’s branding and graphics division Little Sister), architecture and interior design. McKinley Burkart is currently working on major rollouts of both medical and recreational dispensaries for brands such as Starbuds , 51st Parallel, and New York based Acreage.
McKinley Burkart’s interest in the cannabis space is in creating truly differentiated retail experiences across all brand touch-points and in exploring the value driven segmentation of the market. They are bringing their vast experience in hospitality, food & beverage, and retail design to the world of cannabis retailing.
Mr. Kujath is the president of 51st Parallel Inc., a private cannabis business operating in Alberta, and Vice President - Legal of CBI2 Capital Corp. a publicly traded merchant bank operating in Calgary. Jason co-found 51st in 2016 and joined CBi2 at an early stage. Previously Jason practiced tax law at Calgary offices of Dentons Canada LLP and Felesky Flynn LLP.
In 2017, Mr. Kujath and his team raised significant capital and undertook an aggressive business plan to successfully launch 51st. He has a Juris Doctor from University of Windsor, a LL.M. (Tax) from York University, and an MBA from Cornell University.
51st is a vertically integrated cannabis producer building a 110,000 sq. ft. greenhouse in Lethbridge Alberta and preparing to operate eight retail stores across Alberta by September 2018.
Lindsay Blackett is a successful entrepreneur and consultant in the cannabis industry. Lindsay draws on over three decades of diverse professional experience and acumen accumulated in various industries. Throughout his phenomenal career, he has routinely demonstrated the passion, vision, dedication and diligence necessary to be successful in both the business and political world.
Lindsay is currently President of the Canadian Cannabis Chamber, an aggregator and advocate for the Cannabis industry and a Partner/Director in Arete Cannabis Consulting Inc. which specializes in Cannabis Business development and strategy as well as helping clients with the Cannabis Business application process. Lindsay is former V.P. Business Development for Ncite Neuromedia, an educational gamification company and CEO, Chiniki First Nation.
Prior to establishing his own consulting firm in October of 2012, Mr. Blackett spent over four years as a Member of The Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary North West and as the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit for the Government of Alberta.
With a vast array of knowledge and experience Lindsay is focusing on ways to educate cannabis companies and organizations on transformational change that allows them to plan for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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