The Cannabis Industry

Andy Lytwynec is an executive with over 16 years of experience in various strategy roles (both internal and consulting) at Fortune 500 companies; he most recently served as Vice President at Canopy Growth for the past five years. During his time at Canopy Growth, Mr. Lytwynec held leadership roles in strategy, product development, marketing, and led its most profitable business unit as a general manager.

Cameron Scott’s expertise emerges from a background in operations in five-star luxury hotels, resorts, and restaurants, providing key insights into management operations, operational efficiency, and customer experience. His industry background complements an extensive education in hospitality management. Mr. Scott holds a B.A. in Hospitality Management from Virginia State University and an M.A. in Hospitality Management from Cornell University.

Dr. Carlyn Buckler is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. She teaches courses on Digital Technologies in Agriculture, the Public Communication of Science, and Cannabis: Biology, Society, and Industry — a popular class among students. Dr. Buckler has been interviewed by Bloomberg Television, the Wall Street Journal, and other national and international press agencies. She helped to develop and is the lead faculty member for the SIPS Hemp Master’s in Professional Studies program, the first of its kind in the United States.

Cody Perez is the founder and chief executive officer of Grimm City Investors and High Life Luxury Cannabis. Mr. Perez has more than seven years of experience in the finance and real estate industries that spans real estate development, advisory, and private equity investment, as well as global cash, risk, and business management.

Grimm City Investors is a real estate investment, development, and advisory company focused on the sustainable development of communities that are socially conscious, economically empowering, and environmentally friendly through multifamily, hospitality, and cannabis investments, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically faced disinvestment.

High Life Luxury Cannabis is the ultimate luxury cannabis lifestyle brand. At the nexus of cannabis, hospitality, fashion, art, and technology, High Life Luxury Cannabis’s mission is to facilitate every aspect of the fashionable cannabis connoisseur’s lifestyle. Our brand offering includes a combination of upscale experiential events and spaces such as dispensaries, lounges, and hotels, as well as top-quality adult-use recreational cannabis products and luxury goods including ready-to-wear, leather goods, and lifestyle goods.

Prior to founding Grimm City Investors, Mr. Perez worked in various capacities at Kindred Realty Partners, Monadnock Development, and J.P. Morgan.

Jeremiah Swain serves as the chairman of the board for The Other Narrative Inc., a dynamic cannabis holding company. He is also the co-founder of 8th Wonder Cannabis Company, an innovative research-driven enterprise based in Watkins Glen, NY. Graduating in 2020 with an MMH degree from Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Mr. Swain partnered with fellow Cornell graduate Cameron Scott to establish the company. Complementing his Cornell education, he earned an Associate’s in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America and holds a BBA from Morehouse College. Mr. Swain’s vision centers around a bright future at the crossroads of cannabis and hospitality.

Michael Paz is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration. His research interests include managerial accounting topics, with a special interest in managerial control and financial incentives. Professor Paz’s current research focuses on issues related to cost management, compensation contracts, and performance feedback. His research has been published in the Journal of Management Accounting Research and Advances in Accounting Behavioral Research.