Board of Directors

Niel Marotta, President, CEO, Director, Co-Founder

Niel was a top-performing fund manager at a prominent U.S. firm, where he managed a portfolio of over $1 billion across several industries. He also served as Vice President, and separately as a director, for TSX listed natural resource focused companies. Subsequently, Niel worked as an investment banker, and has been involved in financings and M&A transactions exceeding $1 billion. Niel is a graduate of McGill University's commerce program.

Hugh Hamish Sutherland, Director

Mr. Sutherland is a pioneer in the Canadian medical cannabis space. He was Chief Operating Officer at Bedrocan Cannabis Corp., a leading Canadian medical cannabis firm, prior to its acquisition by Tweed Marijuana Inc. (now Canopy Growth Corporation). Mr. Sutherland continues to be involved in the Canadian medical cannabis industry today. Mr. Sutherland is an engineer by training, and also holds an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University. Mr. Sutherland also acts as Managing Principal at Initiative Capital Limited.

James Yersh, CPA, CA

Mr. Yersh is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Mitel Networks and is located in Ottawa.  He has previously held many senior finance and operational roles through his career, including Chief Administrative Officer of eSentire, CFO and EVP of Corporate Development at KORE Telematics and CFO of Blackberry. Mr. Yersh brings with him a wealth of experience in corporate governance, financial reporting and oversight.

Andre Lafleche, Director

Mr. Lafleche is a successful entrepreneur. He is currently the President of Calco Soils Inc., a business he founded in 1979. Other businesses he successfully launched include Lafleche Environmental (founded in 1997 and sold in 2010), Moose Creek Tire Recycling (founded in 2004 and continues to operate) and Lafleche-Leblanc Soil Remediation (founded in 2006 and sold in 2013).

John Marotta, Director

Mr. Marotta is the managing Director of Marotta Investments Limited. He was the President of Woodbine Truck Centre Ltd from 1984 to 2014. He retired from Scarborough Truck Centre Inc. a business which he operated from 2014 to 2017. Mr. Marotta received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1978 and his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2012, retired in 2017. He graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a B.A. (Business) in 1975.

Russell Wilson, Director

Russell Wilson is Vice President, Business Development with W. Brett Wilson’s holding company Prairie Merchant Corporation ("PMC"), a private investment company based in Calgary, Alberta. Mr Wilson has worked with PMC since the fall of 2016 where he manages PMC’s portfolio of cannabis and technology holdings, as well as participation in the company’s extensive and diversified holdings in real estate, power/energy, sports and agriculture. Mr. Wilson splits his time between Brisbane, Australia and Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Wilson also sits on the Board of Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd., a Canadian company that has established a national network of SpiritLeaf cannabis retail stores.

Rachel Goldman, Director

Ms. Goldman has 20 years of experience in institutional sales, financings and corporate transactions during her career while at several Canadian brokerage firms where she developed an extensive list of investor relationships. In February 2020, she was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp (NYSE American: PZG). Ms. Goldman also serves as an independent director of Red Pine Exploration (TSXV: RPX). Ms Goldman is a Certified Board Candidate (CDI.D) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Finance, from Concordia University. She is fluent in French and English, and resides in Montreal, Quebec.