ACCCE Executive Team
ACCCE is led by qualified individuals with deep expertise in the cannabis industry and risk management.
Brion Nazzaro
President
Brion Nazzaro is a proven internal director and chief compliance officer with extensive experience in anti-money laundering/counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF), sanctions, international regulatory frameworks, loss prevention, and risk management. Brion has been the chairman on compliance committee, AML committee, and risk committee at multiple financial institutions. He has also worked with MSBs and FinTechs with various charters, both U.S. and international.
Brion holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and MBA concentrated in finance from the University of Denver. In addition, Brion has achieved recognition as a Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and NACD Governance Fellow.
MIYA GRAMPP
General Counsel, VP Finance
Miya Grampp has served as VP finance and development and advised members of the board directors for high-growth companies on exit strategy, complex legal issues, and financial management. Over the last 15 years, she has helped develop and execute strategies for all phases of organizational growth, including planning, business development, diversification, technology, and exit. She has driven business development and managed multiple complex, cross-functional, and time-bound strategic engagements.
Miya has a J.D from The Washington College of Law, American University and a holds a BBA in business honors from the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas – Austin. In addition, she has is admitted to practice in Colorado and New York.
LISA FREEMAN
VP Membership
Lisa Freeman is an experienced compliance and risk professional having worked more than 20 years as a regulator, company compliance director, officer, and trainer for multinational financial institutions and the Canadian federal government. She has chaired compliance, anti-money laundering, and training committees and was an internal director. In these roles, she has managed the risk of complex high-risk products and customer segments to create a competitive advantage. She also worked with a multinational company, based in the U.S., to develop the acceptable use policy that would allow the company to service commercial cannabis businesses in North America.
Lisa has extensive experience training others on compliance issues in highly regulated industries and applies that experience to foster a member-centric association with an emphasis on member experience and professional education. As an audit examiner, she has worked extensively with executive and senior management to provide educational outreach on issues related to risk as part of her examination process to better ensure future business success and compliance with regulations.
Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, a certificate in regulatory compliance and legal risk management for financial institutions from Osgoode Hall School of Law. She is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) and a certified commercial cannabis expert (CCCE).
PAM MAUCHER
Chief of Staff
Pam Maucher is a proven leader in risk management and advanced Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) compliance initiatives, solidified by 15 years in the financial services sector where she has assisted both banks and MSBs with AML and sanctions matters.
Prior to joining ACCCE, Pam held the role of Controls & Governance Manager for a $100 billion U.S. bank where she managed the first line of defense governance structure as it pertained to BSA, AML, and sanctions risk for all consumer and commercial lending units, branch network, and digital channels. She also assisted in pioneering the Company’s industrial hemp banking program and drafted due diligence guidance for effective implementation of the customer onboarding process.
Pam earned her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE).
ACCCE Advisory Boards
ACCCE’s advisory boards are involved in overseeing the association and the validation of the certification exams.
ACCCE Advisory Board
Our Advisory team remains true to our vision and values, putting the members’ evolving needs at the center of our business and holding up trust and community as the hallmarks of our business.
The Advisory Board’s goals are to build long-term value, including by promoting the sustainability of the Company, and to responsibly address the concerns of other stakeholders, including employees, members, customers, suppliers, governments, local communities and the general public.
BRION NAZZARO
Brion Nazzaro is the president of ACCCE. Brion is a frequent speaker at anti money laundering and financial crime compliance events. Brion has over 20 years of experience in private sector risk management.
Previously, Brion was the managing director for Copacetic Strategies, providing strategic consulting for commercial cannabis businesses; the global compliance director for WorldRemit, and chief compliance officer for NBH Bank.
Brion earned a B.S. in computer science and a MBA from the University of Denver.
Joseph C. Schwecke
Joe retired from NBH Bank, as a Senior VP, Director of Facilities and Security after serving in that capacity for seven years (Sept. 2012 – Dec. 2019). In that role, Joe led the Bank’s fraud investigations, physical security and facilities management teams in protecting the Bank’s employees, clients and assets while improving the Bank’s capabilities to do so utilizing a risk based approach.
Prior to Joe’s employment with NBH Bank, he directed the FBI’s Denver field office criminal and national security cyber investigations for six of his nearly 29 years as a Supervisory Special Agent before retiring in 2012. His varied background in white collar crime, counterintelligence matters, internet crime investigations, and high risk tactical FBI SWAT operations positioned him for leadership and collaboration roles with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
Joe has a B.S. in Accounting from Butler University.
Christopher Davis-Massey
Christopher Davis-Massey is the CFO & COO of ChoLon Restaurant Concepts, the Denver-based restaurant group that currently includes ChoLon, Cho77 and LeRoux. Christopher oversees all aspects of the Company’s business operations, including management, finance, legal, human resources, project development and investment opportunities.
Prior to becoming COO of CRC, Christopher held numerous leadership roles in the legal, banking and financial services industries for more than 16 years.
Christopher holds a B.A. in Economics from Western Washington University, and both a J.D. and LL.M. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and Daniels College of Business.
Education Advisory Board
ACCCE Education Advisory Board is led by qualified individuals with deep expertise in the cannabis industry and risk management.
BRION NAZZARO
President at Association of Certified Commercial Cannabis Experts
Brion Nazzaro is the president of ACCCE. Brion is a frequent speaker at anti money laundering and financial crime compliance events. Brion has over 20 years of experience in private sector risk management. Previously, Brion was the managing director for Copacetic Strategies, providing strategic consulting for commercial cannabis businesses; the global compliance director for WorldRemit, and chief compliance officer for NBH Bank. Brion earned a B.S. in computer science from the University of Denver and a MBA from the University of Denver.
CHRIS GUNIAS
Managing Director at CorCom
Chris Gunias has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, most extensively in AML regulations. He is a subject matter expert in BSA/AML compliance, sanctions, compliance training, independent audits and risk management. Chris also has experience as the compliance expert as a member of several Boards of Directors.
Prior to joining CorCom, Chris was the Chief Compliance Officer / BSA Officer at WorldRemit for 3 years and was at Western Union for 14 years in a variety of compliance / legal related roles.
Chris is a US Navy veteran, holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is an ACCCE Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE).
JIM VIGLAND
Managing Partner at Vigland Advisors
Jim Vigland is the managing partner of Vigland Advisors. Vigland Advisors provides accounting services for cannabis businesses ranging from month–end reporting to ad hoc financial analysis, giving management the tools they need to make decisions confidently.
Before Vigland Advisors, Jim worked in public accounting with teams to conduct financial audits and business valuations. He brought that experience to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, using a variety of financial data to identify risk and conduct financial analyses on Colorado’s marijuana license holders. Jim played a lead role in developing quantitative risk assessments and financial investigation procedures.
Jim is a certified public accountant (CPA), certified fraud examiner (CFE), certified anti money-laundering specialist (CAMS), a certified commercial cannabis expert (CCCE), and holds a B.S. in accounting from Missouri State University.
Josephine Giordano
Ms. Giordano is a Director in the Financial Forensics and Business Valuation Services Group of BeachFleischman, Arizona’s largest locally-owned CPA firm and a “Top 200” largest CPA firm in the U.S. Ms. Giordano has over 30 years of experience as a financial professional, with a diversified background serving numerous industries in the areas of internal audit, banking, tax,business valuation, fraud investigation and forensic accounting, bankruptcy and restructuring,turnaround management, court-appointed receiverships, court-appointed special master and compliance monitor, expert witness and other litigation support services.
Ms. Giordano is the Chairperson of the Arizona Society of CPAs’ Cannabis Special Interest Section. She has presented and provided training on cannabis-related topics and provides operational and financial consulting and litigation support services within the cannabis and other industries. Ms. Giordano is a cannabis industry leader within BeachFleischman.
Ms. Giordano holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Hofstra University in New York and a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from Adelphi University in New York. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), is Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), a Certified Business Appraiser (CBA), an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), is Certified in Distressed Business Valuation (CDBV), a Certified Insolvency & Restructuring Advisor (CIRA), a Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA), a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP), and a Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE).
KIRK BARRY
CEO at Clarion Compliance
Kirk is the CEO of Clarion Compliance and an ACCCE Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE). A veteran of the U.S. Army, he also served many years in law enforcement before founding and operating his own criminal and civil investigations firm.
Kirk developed the Clarion Compliance national database and local government-focused consulting model based upon his unique understanding of specific government and industry stakeholder needs. Kirk’s focus is on effective compliance solutions that the banking industry, insurance industry, and local and state governments need for early identification of non-compliant activity and the assurance of compliance from the commercial cannabis industry.
Kirk assists commercial cannabis businesses in understanding their unique risks, tailoring a risk management program that suits their risk appetite, and bolstering communication with external stakeholders, including local and state governments, banks, insurance companies, and other ancillary providers.
Sarah Balboa
Lab Director and Educator at Hemplucid
Ms. Balboa is the lab director and educator at Hemplucid and an ACCCE Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE). Acknowledged as one of the youngest female lab directors in the cannabis industry, she successfully coordinated a fast-paced, multi-faceted operation that specialized in breeding and organically growing proprietary cultivars with unique CBD and terpene profiles from the ground up. Ms. Balboa directly handled all certifications including Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan and Cruelty Free for Hemplucid.
Ms. Balboa has had considerable exposure to complex, controversial, and sensitive markets with experience in commercial cannabis operations, supply chain, product development, regulatory compliance, large scale hemp processing, and hemp food manufacturing.
She is fluent in English and French.
Other Boards
Certification Standards Sub Committee
Forming in 2020
Badge Sub Committee
Forming in 2020
Regional Advisory Board of ACCCE
North America & Asia Pacific
Forming in 2020