PRESIDENT

Zach Sarkis is an entrepreneur, educator & plant enthusiast. He has been working in the industry since 2015, with his cannabis roots reaching back to the early 2000's. Over the years he has filled venues and zoom calls with his educational and recreational events, and continues to hone in his skills as a 21st century florist.  For the past 5 seasons he served as the Director of Operations for G-Flower LLC where he and his small team run a regenerative vegetable and cannabis farm in the Finger Lakes region of NY. He is also the Founder of the Brand and newly licensed FLWR CITY COLLECTIVE, which aims to be an employee owned business and serve as a regional processing hub for small producers. With a commitment to fair trade and regenerative practices, Zach believes that New York State is both the biggest consumer market in the world, AND also the home of the world's best flower and hash.

VICE PRESIDENT

Sarah Stenuf is a Syracuse, NY native, former U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Crew Chief, and medically retired veteran who turned her healing journey into a mission to serve others. After sustaining a TBI that led to epilepsy and PTSD, she founded Veteran’s Ananda Inc., a nonprofit and she is also the Founder & CEO of Ananda Farms, a woman-owned, SDVOB NY cannabis and hemp company rooted in sustainable agriculture and community impact. Under her leadership, the farm became Oswego County’s first licensed hemp cultivator and New York’s first U-Pick hemp experience, and now supplies organic, premium cannabis to dispensaries statewide. Through advocacy, farming, and entrepreneurship, Sarah is dedicated to creating pathways for healing, opportunity, and lasting change.

TREASURER

Matt Kachmar is one of the founders of TKS Sensei and a lifelong New Yorker with deep roots in Westchester County’s cannabis and small-business communities. Coming from a background in large-scale project management and hands-on cultivation experience developed prior to New York’s regulated market, he brings a practical, operator-first perspective to the industry. Matt believes New York craft cannabis should be built by independent operators who value quality, accountability, and community over consolidation. Through the New York Craft Cannabis Association, he supports a collaborative market that protects small businesses, honors local expertise, and creates a sustainable path forward for New York-grown brands.

SECRETARY

Cody is an innovator who works in the intersection of high-performance engineering and rugged land stewardship. As the founder of Timber Trails Forest Farm in South Bristol, New York, Cody has spent a lifetime turning a childhood fascination with "sugar-making" into a sophisticated, valley sugarbush operation.

Cody is also the owner of Forest Flower Cannabis in Canandaigua. His cultivation methods eschew chemical pesticides in favor of natural forest aquifers.  Cody continues to bridge the gap between technical precision and natural beauty, building a family legacy rooted in the unique terroir of the Finger Lakes.

BOARD MEMBER

It was in the Bronx that Julian’s profound connection with nature and agriculture began to flourish. He frequented the New York Botanical Gardens and various green spaces. In 2015, Julian was accepted into GrowNYC’s Farm Beginning program, which laid the foundation for his own farming venture. That same year, he further honed his skills by participating in Farm School NYC’s Small Farm Planning and Design course, deepening his understanding of the complexities involved in starting a farm business. He is actively involved with the Farm Service Agency State Committee, Black Farmer United’s Cannabis and Hemp Committee, the Jefferson County Food Policy Council, USDA Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers, and the National Young Farmers Coalition Land Advocacy Fellowship. 

BOARD MEMBER

Phil got his start in the cannabis world selling pot during the early 2000's in the Hudson Valley. After a few close calls with law enforcement, Phil enlisted into the Marine Corps where he served with distinction as a combat veteran in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. His service earned him a valor award and combat distinguishments, but also left him with multiple injuries that eventually ended his military career. He was awarded New York’s first microbusiness licenses for indoor cannabis cultivation where he transitioned & expanded his pre-legalization operation into a highly-recognized small-batch brand. He is also the co-founder of the New York Microbusiness Alliance, where he offers free guidance for applicants and licensees who are preparing for their first venture in the legal New York market.

BOARD MEMBER

Joshua Waterman is a longtime legacy cannabis advocate and founder of the Legacy Growers Association, with roots in the cannabis community dating back to 2005. Throughout his career, he has remained a vocal and unapologetic supporter of legacy operators and small local growers, finding his passion for representation while he served a prison sentence for drug sales in 2013, and now is working to ensure they have fair access and opportunity within New York State’s legal cannabis market. He is the Co founder of the legacy growers association started in 2023 and writes for FLX420 focused on helping Home Growers grow their own cannabis. His work focuses on protecting craft cultivation, supporting independent operators, and helping bridge the gap between the legacy community and the regulated industry.