ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

NECANN has been developing engaging conventions for the Cannabis industry since 2014, expanding market opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, patients, advocates, and consumers. We feel our approach of creating unique conventions focused on the current state and potential of each local market we come to is a superior alternative to the generic national canna-convention franchises that pop up everywhere. Rather than focusing on what the Cannabis Industry can do for us, NECANN takes a collaborative approach with the local industries and communities for our conventions, which has resulted in consistently high returns for exhibitors, sponsors, attendees, and the local cannabis market as a whole, allowing everyone to benefit and grow. If you’d like to learn more about being part of a NECANN event, click the link below.

The NECANN Team

Our team is talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and so much more. To take a look at the people who make NECANN possible, look below.

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Carolyn Weston

Show Director

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Beth Waterfall

Director of Programming

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Angela Florida

Sales and Marketing

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Eve Marie

Programming Manager

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Kris Hultgren

Director of Operations

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JOHN MARSHALL

VP Business Development

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Marc Shepard

Co-founder, President

Rebekah Burns Photo

Rebekah D. Burns

Managing Director

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Kush Media Group

Our Digital Marketing Needs Proudly Serviced by Kush Media Group

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Carolyn Weston

Show Director

Carolyn Weston
Show Director

With 25 years of trade show and special event management experience, six of those at the helm of the New England Flower Show, Carolyn manages the operational, design and execution of our events with a focus on maximizing business opportunities for the show’s exhibitors and sponsors as well as the attendees.

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Carolyn Weston

Show Director

With 25 years of trade show and special event management experience, six of those at the helm of the New England Flower Show, Carolyn manages the operational, design and execution of our events with a focus on maximizing business opportunities for the show’s exhibitors and sponsors as well as the attendees.

woman business photo

Beth Waterfall

Director of Programming | Beth Waterfall Creative, ELEVATE Northeast

Beth Waterfall
Director of Programming | Beth Waterfall Creative, ELEVATE Northeast

Beth Waterfall is an esteemed connector on a mission to use education, compassion and advocacy to break stigma against people who use and work with cannabis. Recently named to BostInno’s 2019 50 on Fire class and the Boston Business Journal’s 2018 40 Under 40 list, Beth is founder and executive director of 501c3 nonprofit ELEVATE Northeast, and founder and president of cannabis marketing and events consultancy Beth Waterfall Creative.

Beth is credited with brokering some of the most impactful industry relationships in Massachusetts, and for fostering informed dialogue that has resulted in increased public acceptance and a pathway for countless entrepreneurs and small businesses to open their doors. As a business development advisor, Beth helps cannabis executives and companies grow through effective communications, strategic connections and unforgettable event experiences.

Beth is also a passionate educator dedicated to positive public relations for cannabis and is an ardent advocate for inclusion, leadership and ownership in the cannabis industry for women, LGBTQA+ and other traditionally marginalized groups. She has written for the Boston Globe, Ladybud, 1000 Watts, Freedom Leaf, and Cape and Plymouth Business magazines, and is a frequent speaker at cannabis industry, marketing, and community events. Learn more at bethwaterfall.com.

woman business photo

Beth Waterfall

Director of Programming | Beth Waterfall Creative, ELEVATE Northeast

Beth Waterfall is an esteemed connector on a mission to use education, compassion and advocacy to break stigma against people who use and work with cannabis. Recently named to BostInno’s 2019 50 on Fire class and the Boston Business Journal’s 2018 40 Under 40 list, Beth is founder and executive director of 501c3 nonprofit ELEVATE Northeast, and founder and president of cannabis marketing and events consultancy Beth Waterfall Creative.

Beth is credited with brokering some of the most impactful industry relationships in Massachusetts, and for fostering informed dialogue that has resulted in increased public acceptance and a pathway for countless entrepreneurs and small businesses to open their doors. As a business development advisor, Beth helps cannabis executives and companies grow through effective communications, strategic connections and unforgettable event experiences.

Beth is also a passionate educator dedicated to positive public relations for cannabis and is an ardent advocate for inclusion, leadership and ownership in the cannabis industry for women, LGBTQA+ and other traditionally marginalized groups. She has written for the Boston Globe, Ladybud, 1000 Watts, Freedom Leaf, and Cape and Plymouth Business magazines, and is a frequent speaker at cannabis industry, marketing, and community events. Learn more at bethwaterfall.com.

woman business profile

Angela Florida

Sales and Marketing

Angela Florida
Sales and Marketing

Angela has many years experience working business to business, with a strong background in sales and marketing. In her free time you can find her painting, playing guitar and attending and helping to organize cannabis events in Michigan. She has been a MMJ patient since 2014 with a strong passion to help the industry grow.

woman business profile

Angela Florida

Sales and Marketing

Angela has many years experience working business to business, with a strong background in sales and marketing. In her free time you can find her painting, playing guitar and attending and helping to organize cannabis events in Michigan. She has been a MMJ patient since 2014 with a strong passion to help the industry grow.

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Eve Marie

Programming Manager

Eve Marie
Programming Manager

Eve Marie is passionate about all things cannabis, connecting people and education (no matter the subject is). She is the founder of High Beautiful, a lifestyle brand that also provides marketing and event support to companies in the coffee, cannabis and hemp industries. She is excited about recently joining Boston’s first Licensed adult-use cannabis shop, Pure Oasis; a designated Economic Empowerment Applicant in the Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity program.

woman business photo

Eve Marie

Programming Manager

Eve Marie is passionate about all things cannabis, connecting people and education (no matter the subject is). She is the founder of High Beautiful, a lifestyle brand that also provides marketing and event support to companies in the coffee, cannabis and hemp industries. She is excited about recently joining Boston’s first Licensed adult-use cannabis shop, Pure Oasis; a designated Economic Empowerment Applicant in the Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity program.

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Kris Hultgren

Director of Operations | Development Director

Kris Hultgren
Director of Operations | Development Director

Kris joined the NECANN Sales and Marketing team in 2017 after a long history of event and media sales in the Maine, Mass, and RI markets, along with event management and program execution.  He’s rumored to have been an exceptional baseball and basketball player in his youth, but that seems like such a long time ago.

man selfie

Kris Hultgren

Director of Operations | Development Director

Kris joined the NECANN Sales and Marketing team in 2017 after a long history of event and media sales in the Maine, Mass, and RI markets, along with event management and program execution.  He’s rumored to have been an exceptional baseball and basketball player in his youth, but that seems like such a long time ago.

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John Marshall

VP Business Development

John Marshall
VP Business Development

John brings over 10 years of event creation, production and sponsorship sales with him to NECANN.

man posing with dog selfie

John Marshall

VP Business Development

John brings over 10 years of event creation, production and sponsorship sales with him to NECANN.

marc sheppard business photo

Marc Shepard

Co-founder, President

Marc Shepard
Co-founder, President

A life-long recreational cannabis user, Marc has served as a judge for The Harvest Cup, Terptown Throwdown, and of course the NECANN Cups, and has spoken for MMJ and cannabis legalization on many outlets including NECN’s Broadside,  the Worcester Business Journal, Pro Cannabis Media, and Ganjapreneur.com. During his 20 year publishing career he created and executed successful live events all over New England. He’s also an unrepentant silver-age Marvel comic-book nerd & the founder/owner of Salty Comics Corp. No one cares that he was a member of the {OZ} clan’s 2010 World Champion Tribes Annihilation team, and is a 3-time PH KUBB doubles champion. 

 

marc sheppard business photo

Marc Shepard

Co-founder, President

Marc is a registered Mass. MMJ patient, and member of both Masscan/NORML and the Mass Grower advocacy council. During his 20 year publishing career he has created, promoted, and executed successful live events all over New England. A life-long recreational cannabis user, he has served as a judge for The Harvest Cup, Terptown Throwdown, and of course the NECANN Cups. He has spoken for MMJ and Cannabis Legalization on many outlets including NECN’s Broadside, WAAF, the Worcester Business Journal, and Ganjapreneur.com. and is also an unrepentant silver-age Marvel comic-book nerd & the founder/owner of Salty Comics Corp.

Rebekah Burns Photo

Rebekah D. Burns

Managing Director

Rebekah D. Burns
Managing Director

Rebekah joined NECANN after a long career in the integrated media industry, leading strategic sales teams for high-growth, turnaround companies.
Once recreational cannabis became legal in the US, Rebekah searched for a way into the industry and found NECANN to be the perfect platform to serve consumers, businesses, investors, educators, and entrepreneurs in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.
Named by REV Boston as one of the top 20 female leaders in tech, Rebekah is taking her sales and leadership experience to forge new relationships in the community and join the dynamic team at NECANN.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her two boys, skiing/snowboarding, cooking for family/friends, lovin on her rescue pups and has a deep appreciation for the arts and travel.

Rebekah Burns Photo

Rebekah D. Burns

Managing Director

Rebekah joined NECANN after a long career in the integrated media industry, leading strategic sales teams for high-growth, turnaround companies.
Once recreational cannabis became legal in the US, Rebekah searched for a way into the industry and found NECANN to be the perfect platform to serve consumers, businesses, investors, educators, and entrepreneurs in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.
Named by REV Boston as one of the top 20 female leaders in tech, Rebekah is taking her sales and leadership experience to forge new relationships in the community and join the dynamic team at NECANN.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her two boys, skiing/snowboarding, cooking for family/friends, lovin on her rescue pups and has a deep appreciation for the arts and travel.