The key to any association is the people who make up the network. From lawyers and banking professionals, to commercial cannabis business owners and all who fall in between, we are proud of our diverse and expanding network of professional and expert members. To show our appreciation for the exceptional individuals in our community, we are highlighting Philip DS Martin this week. Please reach out and connect with him here!
Philip is a former commercial cannabis regulator and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance officer for financial institutions and FinTech’s who is currently serving as the Chief Compliance Officer and Director – Professional Services for NatureTrak, Inc. NatureTrak is an enterprise software firm that provides an automated system of BSA internal controls designed to provide full lifecycle compliance and risk management tools to financial institutions that want to safely serve cannabis businesses while maintaining a sound and effective BSA program. His work focuses on increasing the availability of financial services for commercial cannabis businesses by developing a software solution that reduces a financial institution’s risk, while streamlining banking activities for the commercial cannabis business. Philip earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Richmond, the American International University in London, has been a Certified Anti Money-Laundering Specialist (CAMS) since 2016, and a Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE) since 2020.
Philip leads implementation of the NatureTrak software solution at financial institutions, working closely with executives and BSA officers, and ensures that all levels of roles within a financial institution receive cannabis- and solution-related trainings. ACCCE helps Philip professionally by offering him a valuable resource that helps solidify common understandings of commercial cannabis risk management principles and terminology and gives him the concrete framework to discuss risk management in relation to cannabis businesses. Philip’s desire to influence new industries towards free market principles and rational regulation to achieve sustainability and safe growth brought him to his current role with NatureTrak. To say the least, NatureTrak is fortunate to have Philip as a part of their team.
Philip first heard about the Association of Certified Commercial Cannabis Experts through ACCCE president Brion Nazzaro and is an ACCCE Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert (CCCE), serving on the ACCCE Education Advisory Board. “ACCCE’s risk management framework underpins the various risk rating systems, controls, and assessments that I implement at NatureTrak. ” Philip was able to apply his political science background to his career in cannabis because of the disparate hierarchy of laws and regulations that govern the industry, as well as the banking industry in relation to their serving the cannabis industry. Philip believes that, to remain in compliance with banking laws, given the increased risk a cannabis business customer poses to financial institutions, risk management must be practiced to a very high degree.
Philip was born in Florida but grew up in a few different states in the southeastern US. He’s also lived in California and Iraq during his military service, London during university, but currently resides just outside of Denver with his wife of 7 years, and their 18-month-old child. Of all the places Philip has lived, London was his favorite because almost all the museums and galleries are free admission, so you can always find something to do. In his free time, he keeps up with English soccer as much as he can and enjoys playing in a couple different soccer fantasy leagues with friends from his years spent in London. Philip and his family love to travel both domestically and internationally and are working on visiting all the states in the US.
We are proud to have an esteemed member like Philip in our network. As our community continues to grow, we find it important to thank our members for their commitment to professionalizing the commercial cannabis industry. Thank you, Philip, for being such an important part of the cannabis community. Together, we are a part of something great.
