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Meet the Acannability Executives.
Jim serves as Chair of Positive Growth Ventures (d/b/a Acannability), bringing a career focus in emerging markets, new technology, and industry standards. Jim is an inductee of the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Business Administration. In 2018, Jim joined the Standards Development Organization Board of the Licensing Executives Society USA & Canada, Inc. (LES) governing voluntary consensus-based professional practices that are guided in their development by the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI’s) Essential Requirements. LES standards are designed to encourage and teach consensus practices across technology management processes.
Jim has substantial experience as a Board Director for leading technology corporations and research organizations as well as companies with critical brand management issues. He is Past President of the world’s largest technology transfer organization, having had oversight for more than ten thousand members in thirty-two countries. Jim focuses his not-for-profit efforts with organizations leveraging science and innovation for the benefit of consumers, including those located in lesser developed countries. Jim is a frequent speaker on emerging technology markets and related financial measures. He has addressed mass media audiences including Bloomberg Morning Call, Bloomberg Evening Market Pulse, Bloomberg Final Word, CNBC Closing Bell, CNBC On the Money, CNBC Street Signs, CNBC Worldwide Exchange, CBS News Radio and Fox Business National Television as well as other recognized news-based internet video channels.
As an inventor, Jim has more than twenty issued U.S. patents. He is a frequent instructor for graduate studies on IP management and markets and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame majoring in accountancy and philosophy. Jim is Certified/Accredited in Financial Forensics, Business Valuation and Blockchain Fundamentals. He is a Certified Licensing Professional and a Registered Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.
Co-Founder
Lisa brings to Acannability a deep knowledge of the cannabis industry including an understanding of cannabis as a medicine, its immense potential for industrial applications and environmental clean-up, and the history of Prohibition and fallout from the War on Drugs. Lisa has developed an extensive network of professionals within the industry, ranging from ancillary business owners and new licensees to persons at some of the largest MSOs, as well as top cannabis medical providers, and research scientists across the globe.
Lisa has completed multiple certification courses on medical cannabis, training and studying alongside world-renowned scientists. She is often invited to curate cannabis education events, advise on programs for cannabis conferences, and serve as a moderator on a variety of cannabis panels. Lisa is actively involved with social equity and social justice organizations who support the cannabis industry.
Lisa began her career helping to launch new financial products in highly regulated markets including work with the International Fixed Income Strategy Group at Morgan Stanley New York as well as the Equity Index-linked Options Group at JP Morgan Chase Investment Bank in London. Lisa’s experience includes the introduction of new products in both the US and Europe where she developed in-house and outward-facing marketing materials, introduced her firm’s sales staff and its customers to the new products, and authored required transaction agreements to execute client transactions. Lisa’s later work included advising early-stage social service entrepreneurs on marketing, budgeting, fundraising, and grant-writing.
Co-Founder &
Director of Marketing
& Public Relations
Mika is an award-winning journalist and dynamic entrepreneur known for her creative strategies in executing media and communication campaigns. Throughout her career, she’s been recognized for her creativity, hustle, and leadership, including winning an Emmy in 2008 as a Field Producer at CBS 2 News Chicago. That same year Mika opened her own firm, succeeding in both her responsibilities as a journalist and as an entrepreneur.
In 2014, Mika accepted a position as spokesperson for the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. At City Hall, Mika spearheaded the communication strategy for several high-profile policies including house sharing (addressing AirBnB and others); rideshare (addressing Uber and Lyft), increases to the Chicago minimum wage; amendments to the city’s tobacco and liquor laws; and more than 60 other consumer protection campaigns.
Mika brings to Acannability both newsroom experience and successful execution of communication strategies for front line public policy issues. She has repeatedly advised clients and stakeholders to build winning earned media, marketing, and advertising campaigns. Mika led the production of large-scale events for the city of Chicago, driving the growth of several small business expositions where she leveraged her unique network to secure high-profile keynote speakers and brands. Mika’s efforts are credited with exponentially increasing both attendance and revenue for these programs.
Mika’s high energy, positive attitude, and passion for her work have helped her lead winning teams. Today, she carries that passion into her civic engagement where she serves on the Board of Directors for the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and PAWS Chicago. She has served as the Interim Executive Director with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, is a proud Board Member for The Big Shoulders Fund, PAWS Chicago, Susan G. Komen, YWCA of Chicago; and focuses her time to raise donations and awareness benefiting the sick and less fortunate in Chicago.
Operating Executive
Gabby Pavelko has 15 years of marketing, sales, and business development experience building new product teams, strategic relationships, and advertising programs for consumer packaged goods as well as cannabis. She began her career in media at Foote, Cone & Belding and OMD Worldwide, a part of the Omnicom Group. With passion for creating innovative products backed by consumer insights and demonstrated skills to bring them to market in strategic ways, Gabby advanced her career accepting several leadership positions supporting product innovation, including for Earthbound Organic®, Del Monte®, and Smuckers®.
Within the cannabis industry, Gabby brings to Acannability established relationships with companies large and small, having proven go-to-market results and scale operations. At Jupiter Research, Gabby built the US B2B sales team, expanding into international markets prior to the company’s acquisition by Tilt Holdings. Gabby founded Good People to bring together a network of experts as a community to envision, consult, and realize a sustainable future for the cannabis industry. Gabby has a passion for plant-based medicine and is pursuing her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Advisory Board
Sparky was at the forefront of the cannabis industry from 2003 to 2006 as executive director of Compassionate Caregivers, an Oakland, California-based medical cannabis company. Sparky helped grow the business from two to seven dispensaries in just 18 months and oversaw annualized revenue growth to more than $60 million. He was also one co-founder of the Papa & Barkley cannabis brand and previously served as Chief Marketing Officer for PharmaCann.
Tyrone is the President of the Cleveland School of Cannabis, the only state approved career School for cannabis education east of Colorado. Tyrone previously served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Lehigh University. He is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and award-winning higher education professional. His advocacy, social justice work, and industry expertise make him one of the most forward-thinking educators in the cannabis space.
Joseph is a cannabis pharmacology and curriculum expert. Joseph was the founding member at Professional Dispensaries of Illinois Medical LLC, a medical cannabis dispensary owned and operated by pharmacists, nurses, and cannabis experts. He is an expert in the scientific, legal, social, political, and financial challenges facing U.S. entrants to the burgeoning medical cannabis industry. Joseph has contributed to several published articles in local and national publications and continually advocates for pharmacists’ involvement in the medical cannabis industry
Dr. Sulak is a traditional osteopathic physician and expert in integrative medicine. His clinical practice in Maine focuses on treating refractory conditions in adults and children. Dr. Sulak is an internationally-renowned expert in medical cannabis, the author of the first foundational text on its clinical use, Handbook of Cannabis for Clinicians: Principles and Practice, and a co-founder of Healer.com, a medical cannabis education resource. He is a passionate educator and leader in the field of medical cannabis.
Bill served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1974 to 1980 and the Illinois State Senate from 1980-1993. He served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee. Throughout his long legislative career, Bill was given ‘Best Legislator’ awards by numerous Illinois organizations. Bill brings to Acannability both legislative insight as well as new venture experience in a variety of industries including food service and real estate development where he has developed multiple high-rise towers in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
