Our Team
philip lauderdale founder
Philip is an experienced corporate lawyer, deal negotiator, and trusted legal and business advisor. Currently, Philip is an associate general counsel and managing director at Ernst & Young, where he is the lead managing counsel for EY’s U.S. managed services and technology products and services offerings. Prior to joining EY, Philip worked in the legal department at IBM, where held a variety of different roles, including employment counsel, M&A team, to the large deal team.
Philip is a graduate of the Ohio State University (BA Economics), and the Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (JD.), and a former division I hockey player. Philip serves on several boards- Greenwich Country Day School, Westminster School, and the Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law national council. Philip is a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Philip resides in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was born and raised.
Brian essenter business strategy
Brian Anderson is a seasoned CEO and entrepreneur. Brian specializes in building high-growth consumer brands across such categories as fitness, wellness, sports, outdoor, recreation and travel.
Brian served as CEO of North America for Delsey Paris, the 3rd largest luggage brand in the world. Brian has also served as interim CEO or President at such companies as 2xu (portfolio company of l Catterton, the largest consumer-focused PE group in the world with $30b assets under management), and Athletic Greens, a high-growth start-up focused on natural supplements which has achieved “unicorn status.”
Brian has also played a major role in building three successful, high-growth companies: CEO and co-founder of Madd Gear (action sports hard goods), which grew from startup to $20m in 4 years; president of EB Sport Group (fitness gear), which grew from $35m to $100m in 6 years; and Senior VP of global sales and marketing of 180S (outdoor apparel and accessories), which grew from $1m to $45m in 5 years.
Brian holds a degree in chemical engineering from Virginia Tech and has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Brian lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, has three daughters, and is an avid outdoorsman.
andrew smith cannabis policy + government affairs
Previously, Andrew served as an executive vice president of government relations & external affairs for Parallel (formerly Surterra Wellness), a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis company with licenses in Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas. Andrew served as the company’s chief advocate & spokesperson to policymakers and regulators; and led the company’s advocacy and communications goals in the public affairs space. Andrew also led the company’s efforts in its expansion to international markets.
Andrew has also served as the vice chair of the Cannabis Trade Federation, the largest national trade association for multi-state cannabis operators which helps shape the industry’s growth and reform at the federal and state level.
Andrew has also been a senior vice president at McGuirewoods Consulting in Washington, DC,where Andrew represented Fortune 500 corporate clients that are highly regulated at the state and federal levels of government, which included clients in the alcohol, cannabis, health care and pharmaceutical industries. Andrew is a graduate from Georgetown University. Andrew lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has two children.