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Cannabist industry executive shares knowledge during two events

Samer Abilmona set as October Economic Roundtable Luncheon speaker

by Gi Smith

Marietta, OH (09/26/2024) — Samer Abilmona, Executive Director of Operations for The Cannabist Company, is set to share his extensive knowledge and insights into the cannabis industry during two upcoming events. The first, a Business Q&A session, will take place on October 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Alma McDonough Auditorium at Marietta College. The session, titled "Cannabis Industry: Past, Present, Future," is free and open to the public, inviting both campus and community members to learn about the industry.

The following day, Abilmona will be the featured speaker at the Economic Roundtable of the Ohio Valley Luncheon at the Parkersburg Country Club in Vienna, West Virginia. This event, scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m., will provide another platform for Abilmona to delve into the current landscape and future potential of the cannabis sector.

Abilmona brings over a decade of experience in the cannabis industry, having entered the field in 2012. Currently serving as Executive Director of Operations at Green Leaf Medical, LLC (The Cannabist), he has a robust track record of success. His journey began with cultivating cannabis for 17 years, and he credits his immigrant, entrepreneurial background for instilling in him the values of hard work, passion, and adaptability.

Since joining gLeaf in June 2019, Abilmona has made changes that have improved the company's operations and market standing. Under his leadership, gLeaf established a flagship retail operation in Maryland, achieving a threefold increase in revenue and a 10 percent rise in profit margins. He also oversaw the development of a state-of-the-art 82,000 square-foot facility in Virginia, which includes a dispensary and a full manufacturing lab, solidifying gLeaf's pioneering role in that market.

Abilmona's strategic insights led to impressive operational gains, including as a 5 percent increase in overall yield and a 40 percent increase in terpene percentage across multiple states. Among his accomplishments, he managed the design and construction of a new processing facility in Pennsylvania, which expanding the company's capabilities.

Beyond his current role, Abilmona has held significant positions in the industry, including Director of Cannabis Operations at Black Hawk Funding in California, where he managed a wholesale distillate extraction lab, and Co-Founder of Ambary Gardens in Colorado, where he helped develop high CBD hemp genetics.

His expertise has earned him accolades such as the 2015 High Times Cannabis Cup and the 2024 Leaf Bow in Maryland.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers more than 50 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

Media Attachments

Samer Abilmona, Executive Director of Operations for The Cannabist Company, will be a guest speaker for the upcoming Marietta College Business Q&A session and the October Economic Roundtable of the Ohio Valley Luncheon.

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