Deborah Johnson Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Md, Us

Bainbridge Island, Wa, Us

Atlantic City & St. Louis 2024 I'm serving as Asst. Event Operations Manager which involves registration assistance, exhibitor services onboarding, sponsorship management / success, investor outreach and event promotion, panel prep and on site management.

Bainbridge Island, Wa, Us

Launched the first and only event in the cannabis industry that serves the specific needs of retail and brand executives on a national level, opening the floor for quality business while creating a loyal community. It's where your business can put itself on the map. We launched the inaugural event in October 2021 in Las Vegas: www.mjunpacked.Investor Program Manager @ MJ UnpackedInitially managed all aspects of the Money Stage with the launch in 2021. Recruited companies to present, coached companies to prep their materials for pre-event exposure, pitch decks, presenting and post event materials and introductions. At the events I managed the stage and hosted the Money Stage room.Assisted with the Detroit event Oct 10-12, 2023 Venture Summit portion.

As an accomplished professional with 20+ years of managing non-profits and consulting for various investment entities I excel at managing teams and executing strategic plans in high pressure environments. Highly engaged leader and coach who enjoys collaborating with disparate stakeholders to build consensus. Reputation for consistently delivering results against ambitious goals.

Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation is an independent non-profit developed to ensure federal regulations are informed and grounded in science, best business practices, sound public policy, and social justice. Our mission is to educate the administration, federal agencies and regulators, corporations and the cannabis industry about the positive aspects of cannabis, industry issues, regulatory schemes developed in other countries, and social and restorative justice in federal programs and regulation.CFCR was designed to provide tools, business guidance and scientific resources to support the FDA’s process to regulate cannabis compounds; to attract and educate established industry and encourage its support and investment in the regulatory process and to ensure regulations are informed by and grounded in the policies behind legalization such as access to cannabis without undue burden and restorative justice. These objectives will be achieved by a series of programs CFCR will facilitate, designed to inform and support FDA safety requirements, developing an agreed path for cannabis, building off accurate science, extensive research studies and best practices from other countries and educating and attracting hesitant stakeholders and encouraging them to invest in regulation.

Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation is an independent non-profit developed to ensure federal regulations are informed and grounded in science, best business practices, sound public policy, and social justice. Our mission is to educate the administration, federal agencies and regulators, corporations and the cannabis industry about the positive aspects of cannabis, industry issues, regulatory schemes developed in other countries, and social and restorative justice in federal programs and regulation.CFCR was designed to provide tools, business guidance and scientific resources to support the FDA’s process to regulate cannabis compounds; to attract and educate established industry and encourage its support and investment in the regulatory process and to ensure regulations are informed by and grounded in the policies behind legalization such as access to cannabis without undue burden and restorative justice. These objectives will be achieved by a series of programs CFCR will facilitate, designed to inform and support FDA safety requirements, developing an agreed path for cannabis, building off accurate science, extensive research studies and best practices from other countries and educating and attracting hesitant stakeholders and encouraging them to invest in regulation.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

Founded in March of 2010, The Arcview Group is facilitating the emergence of the legal cannabis industry by connecting forward-thinking investors, visionary entrepreneurs, and cannabis consumers in an effort to meet the expanding and changing needs of responsible cultivators, dispensaries, and customers nationwide. The Arcview Investor Network includes more than 600 accredited investors who have put more than $260M+ behind 215+ companies. Arcview Market Research publishes the State of Legal Marijuana Markets report, which is the most oft-cited market data report for this industry. Arcview provides a platform for investors to gain critical insights into the fastest growing industry in North America. Legal marijuana sales are projected to reach $50 billion annually by 2026, from an estimated $6 billion today. Marijuana is legal in some form in 30 states. Recreational use is legal in eight states, including the entire West Coast, Canada and Mexico. Public opinion in favor of legalization has reached record levels. I represented The Arcview Group to investors and entrepreneurs offering the best private equity investment opportunities in the cannabis industry throughout the world. I served as a Director for Arcview Ventures, leveraging my experience in consulting and entrepreneurship to identify top investment prospects, negotiate preferential deal terms, and educate investors to empower smart portfolio-building. I managed ~$5M AUM in ancillary cannabis investments. I also managed investor engagement and assisted our members in connecting with the right resources to help them with their investment thesis. Founder of the Arcview Women’s Investor Network (A-WIN), I strived to promote women as Funders, Founders, C-Suite and Board members.

Orinda, Ca, Us

Keiretsu Forum is the world's largest private equity angel investing network with over 2,200 accredited investor members in 46 Chapters on 3 continents, with over 1,200 of the members being in North America. Since its inception in 2000 in Northern California, K4 members in North America have invested almost $600 million into early stage companies (over $40 million being invested annually now in North America.......$71 million invested in 2015 in 130 deals and $45.3 million invested in 2014 in 79 companies). Members invest in technology, consumer products, healthcare/life sciences, real estate and other segments with high growth potential. Forum members collaborate in the due diligence, but make individual investment decisions, with rounds in the range of $250k-$2m. Keiretsu Forum's community is strengthened through education on angel investing, as well as charitable giving. Miami joined the 14 year old organization as the 31st Chapter July 1, 2014.

Fusion Pointe advances Southwest Florida’s innovation economy by connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, who will help them build their high-tech startups into investor-ready ventures and connect them with the right funders at the appropriate time. Fusion Pointe will create additional opportunities in the local economic development community by becoming a buzzing hub of venture development, where entrepreneurs will get the knowledge, connections and potential sources of capital they need to succeed, all under one organization.Our Venture Mentoring Program was developed in partnership with JumpStart Inc., a best-in-class, nationally recognized nonprofit based in Cleveland, Ohio who has developed and led programs that have fueled millions of dollars of investment and created thousands of jobs in communities across the U.S.This proven model enables local startups to access expertise from industry leaders all across the country. These experts help entrepreneurs grow their ventures faster and attract capital investment more successfully than they could do alone.

Enterprise Development Corporation of South Florida is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides advisory and support services to help position entrepreneurs, investors, and partners for success and grow South Florida’s start-up ecosystem. As part of its mission, the nonprofit organization actively facilitates connections between entrepreneurs and investors, organizes impactful events, attracts capital, and helps shape a regional agenda to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 1994, it has helped more than 300 companies per year, and its total economic impact in South Florida has exceeded $500 million. The EDC hosted a series of events connecting entrepreneurs with investors from Florida and beyond. The EDC secured a grant from the Miami DDA to host a series of events connecting Miami entrepreneurs with investors for feedback and possible investment. For this series provided uniquely valuable, accurate information to entrepreneurs on what is exactly required to secure early stage funding. There was an afternoon element of one-on-one with 4 entrepreneurs and an investor, and then a public event in the evening with Executive Director Rob Strandberg interviewing the investor. I assisted with planning all elements of the events, coordinating with keynote speakers, entrepreneurs, sponsors, marketing, event site planning, social media, website, e-vites, press.

A SW Florida running group, we had 22 races a year. These were usually 5k races, although there is a half marathon in January as well. I coordinated the volunteers for races that had anywhere from 200 - 2,500 runners. Each race required 30 - 500 volunteers. I requested, coordinated, oriented and attended the day of race for each race.

A non-profit group (501(c)3 and (c)6) with an all volunteer board, started in 2008. SWFRTP holds monthly networking meetings and an annual Award Ceremony in the spring where leaders in local technology are recognized. RTP has other key events throughout the year; National Day of Civic Hacking (Hack-a-thon), CIO Roundtable and TECHmatch (connecting students with employers regionally). The mission is to be the leading technology interest group in SW Florida and to encourage the development, growth and attraction of technology companies and resources in our region. The core strategies are: Catalyze, Cultivate and Connect.I assisted with administrative functions: board management, membership, sponsors (cultivation and management/promotion), website updates (Wild Apricot), emails, social media, meeting arrangements, event planning, press releases and representation of organization at appropriate venues.In 2016 I was elected Secretary of the group.

Naples, Florida, Us

VenturePitch SWFLOur goal was to stimulate opportunities for entrepreneurs and angel investors to connect in the SWFL region. We (Tamiami Angel Fund II and I) initiated this by syndicating VenturePitch (founded by Dennis Pape in Orlando) to the SWFL region with events in Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota. I assisted with planning all elements of the events, coordinating with keynote speakers, entrepreneurs, sponsors, marketing, event site planning, social media, website, e-vites, press. I also initiated VPSWFL Founder Talk, a bimonthly speaker series with a Founder regarding the challenges and success of running a startup.

GCVF supported the entrepreneurial and business community through the organization of Angel Investors and engagement of Seed Stage Start Up Entrepreneurs. I coordinated presentations, educational events, mentoring, funding and vetted deal flow.I assisted with administrative duties such as membership, sponsorship, meeting/event planning, registration and execution. Also assisted with board / strategic meetings. Responsible for updating website, Facebook and Twitter, press releases, marketing and representing the organization at appropriate events throughout the state.Fusion Pointe is the evolution of GCVF (Gulf Coast Venture Forum). Fusion Pointe recognizes increasing the number of new high growth businesses is the first step in establishing entrepreneurship as a major driver in the regional economy. The venture development organization is focused on providing Southwest Florida's most promising entrepreneurs with the capital, expertise and connections they need to begin turning their ideas into investor-ready companies. www.FusionPointe.org

HOST - Housing Our Streets One At A TimeNon-profit built green SFH for first time buyers Market and sold affordable housing; identified buyers, introduced buyers to lenders, showed homes, wrote up sales agreements, negotiated for buyer and seller, assisted with closing, staffed home buying fairs, worked with HOPS (employment) partners. Closed over 80 homes with HOST within 30 days of completion. Created sales contract specific to HOST homes. Met and exceeded demographic goals set by board. Designed, promoted and facilitated monthly orientation to potential buyers. Led organizational marketing, represented HOST to outside entities, both industry and non-profits. Negotiated with architects and builders for the best possible product still affordable to first time buyers.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Relations And Affairs

Education record