Zero-Sum Consulting specializes in assisting small and large businesses in highly regulated industries to meet revenue and operational goals while mitigating regulatory risk.

Key Accomplishments:• Accelerated growth of company revenues to $1MM+ in year two by expanding services into a dozen new jurisdictions including newly legalized U.S. states, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and other countries, despite challenges caused by COVID-19.• Achieved 99% success rate in securing hundreds of regulatory licenses by hiring, training and leading a diverse professional team to prepare licensing applications.• Regulatory expert on multiple legal and business teams who successfully negotiated and drafted multiple multi-million-dollar Management, IP Licensing, Loan, and Security Agreements and Disclosures.• Assisted multiple clients in national and international multi-million-dollar expansions through regulatory analysis for multiple companies’ business model and operational strategies, including analysis involving large export-based projects.• Successfully impacted the language and enforcement interpretations of multiple regulatory bodies by advising policy makers and enforcement officers in industry impacts, finding solutions that ensured public safety while not being overly burdensome to businesses.

• Grew company revenues to seven figures and 30% profit margin in first year.• Empowered clients to realize 200% increases in market share or save millions by analyzing market and industry trends and suggesting strategies to capitalize on trends.• Secured 40 licenses+ in California and with local governments by hiring, training and leading a diverse team of professionals to prepare successful licensing applications.• Created and Instructed a novel marijuana compliance certification course as a subject matter expert with the College of the Desert (Palm Springs, CA)• Helped manage multiple Start-ups to reach over $40MM in combined operations. This included navigating multiple business issues including insurance claims, human resources, workplace injury, business identity theft, regulatory infractions, vendor loss, and corporate ownership/financing disputes.• Streamlined regulatory requirements to minimize operational impact through assisting with the designs of physical facilities, operational procedures, and business models, including authoring multiple business standard operating procedures and financial pro forma.

• Aided the growth of multiple small start-ups into corporations with annual revenues from $400K to $2MM.• Secured competitive privileged licenses and permits for 16 business operations in multiple states and municipalities through the provision of consulting services.• Created multiple sections of applications to ensure regulatory compliance within a manageable budget for areas including security, product traceability, safety, product sanitation and standard operating procedures• Customized applications to address special requirements like a detailed OSHA compliance plan for the construction of an extract processing facility using explosive solvents

The Cannabis Training Institute (CTI) is a digital institute that offers courses on political policy, science, and business as they relate to the cannabis industry. It is the only such institute to ever be awarded a government contract for mandated training (D.C.).• Administered HR responsibilities and drafted contracts for a national sales team of independent contractors, including altering contracts for unique terms specific to a contractor, advising on the legal ramifications of those terms, and drafting the company’s non-compete and non-competition agreements. Reviewed company policies to ensure contractors did not legally become employees. Also administered HR functions for all company employees, including two full time employees, three independent contractors and the negotiation and onboarding of a new company CEO.• Reviewed and assisted in the amending and drafting of licensing contracts for multiple content providers of the intellectual property used to create the company’s teaching modules, including the successful signing of a contract with Harvard Medical School to provide Continuing Education Courses for physicians on the Endo Cannabinoid System. Drafted legal release forms for the filming and recording of educational lectures used for later publication.• Managed the marketing, event planning and administration of a live 2 day educational seminar and training in Alaska. When the trade conference where the event was scheduled to be held was canceled within a month of the seminar, located new venue and arranged all amenities and equipment while maintaining costs within budget.

Life Gardens is an I-502 licensed, tier 3 producer/processor of recreational cannabis and has been one of WA’s top ten recreational cannabis wholesalers since it began sales in October, 2014.• Conducted legal research and identified solutions to novel legal problems posed by a brand new industry in conflict with federal law. Negotiated exceptions to legal restrictions on waste removal, water use, building permitting and other matters, saving thousands of dollars each week in otherwise unanticipated expenses. Monitored legislative, regulatory and municipal legal developments as they effected Life Gardens’ long term business planning. • Served as Chief Compliance Officer and Regulatory Liaison in charge of interfacing with state regulatory agencies and enforcement officers. Designed, administered, and monitored the company’s safety and compliance operating procedures, called “the most sophisticated and impressive” compliance schemes he had ever seen by central WA’s WALCB enforcement officer. Life Gardens did not receive a single regulatory violation during my tenure, despite multiple regulatory problems caused by natural disasters (wind storms, rockslides, etc.), major issues with the industries newly designed traceability software and being one of the first companies to operate with WA newly created regulations. • Created and administered Life Gardens’ financial and back office procedures designed to create employee accountability and minimize company liability during audits and compliance checks. Included cash and check acceptance and tracking procedures with and without traditional bank resources, order processing procedures from initial order to delivery of product, and creation and fulfillment of long-term contracts for purchase of products of unknown quality.

The Care Wellness Center, DBA Hope Clinics, is a small privately owned chain of naturopathic clinics located in the greater Seattle Area.• Managed five clinic locations, including a staff of five administrative employees and six physician contractors. Oversaw the successful opening and build-out of two satellite clinic locations, drafted a commercial lease, and hired staff. Oversaw the implementation of multiple marketing campaigns, which utilized traditional print and digital marketing. Successfully resolved difficult customer service issues, including dealing with patients suffering from mental imbalance. Maintained business licenses for all clinic locations, interacted with state and federal regulatory agencies and resolved document requests issues, including answering subpoenas for medical records from state and federal agencies and courts of law. Audited employee performance by reviewing documentation, reviewed clinic financials to prevent theft and ensured The Care Wellness Center surpassed its financial goal of generating $400,000 in 2014 net revenue.• Conducted compliance audits of marketing materials, contracts and forms to assure compliance with HIPPA regulations, WA law and health regulations. Reviewed all legal disclaimers, waivers and agreements given to patients. Updated website to ensure up-to-date legal information was provided on the State of WA patient’s rights. Reviewed and worked with attorneys in the drafting of agreements for the hiring of independently contracted physicians. Reviewed and updated employee HR policies, and drafted the company’s confidentiality agreement, commercial leases, and medical rights pamphlets.• Oversaw the administration of the successful sale of The Care Wellness Center for just under $1M. Participated in negotiations, audited all of the company’s tangible and non-tangible assets, compiled all company documents and financial information, and facilitated the transfer of all accounts, licenses and leases.

Reviewed, edited, and help to draft several documents sent to Regulation Agencies; Used software to monitor company cash flows, expenses, and asses company balance sheet; Ensured client billing was correct and timely; Worked with company accountant to prepare company's annual tax filing.

Interviewed and counseled clients; performed initial client intakes; brain stormed with managing attorneys about legal strategies; drafted legal answers, motions, and contracts; investigated legal claims; performed title and official record searches.

Compiled statutes relating to domestic violence in twenty different states; evaluated and summarized applicability of civil, criminal and procedural statutes to domestic violence victims.

Managed team of five Assistant Article Selection Editors; assigned articles submitted to JTLP for review; evaluated strength of arguments; cite checked selected articles to ensure conformity with Bluebook requirements.

Ensured all medical documents submitted for billing met Medicare standards and requirements; monitored service providers to prevent fraudulent billing.

Served as one of three administrative staff members reporting directly to the appointed Insurance Commissioner; created, organized and maintained physical and electronic database of all Florida insurance providers; gathered information for legal subpoenas.