The Cannabis Alliance Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse roster of leaders in business, policy, government affairs, and logistics. Their expertise helps define our direction, assess our impact, and drive our vision for a fair and prosperous cannabis industry in Washington state.
Executive Boad of Directors
Board of Directors
Adjunct Boad of Directors
Staff
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Caitlein Ryan, Executive Director
Caitlein Ryan was appointed Executive Director of The Cannabis Alliance in 2019, and has previously served as the organization’s Board President and Interim Executive Director.
With over a decade of experience, Caitlein is an expert advocate for sensible adult-use cannabis, collaborating with businesses, organizations, legislators, and government agencies to develop policies that have shaped the industry in Washington and beyond.
Caitlein holds a PhD from Arizona State University, with a focus on arts education, qualitative research, and social justice.
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Kristen Angelo, Membership & Marketing Director
Kristen Angelo joined The Cannabis Alliance in 2023, bringing two decades of experience in marketing, branding, creative direction, web design, and media to her new role as Membership and Marketing Director.
As the founder of a cannabis marketing and media company, she has worked with respected names from all facets of the industry, from legacy farmers to corporate producers, lifestyle brands to tech and services companies, and beyond. Her work has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Cannabis Now, Marijuana Venture, HEMP, and Northwest Leaf, among others.
Kristen holds a degree in criminal justice and legal studies, and is currently pursuing dual degrees in ethnic, gender, and labor studies and art, media, and culture at the University of Washington.
Advisory Board
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Ray Carveth, Strategic Advisor
Ray Carveth is the visionary owner of Purple Ink Solutions, a company dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to shape their futures with purpose and clarity. For the past eight years, Carveth has advised The Cannabis Alliance, guiding the organization in innovative ways to activate our members and volunteers and enhance our operational efficiency. This strategic approach enables board members to concentrate on critical areas such as policy development, liability reduction, establishing a sustainable Board of Directors, and mentoring and development systems. By focusing the organization’s efforts, Carveth ensures that The Cannabis Alliance remains viable and financially sustainable for the long term. Carveth’s guiding principle: “It is amazing what nonprofits can accomplish when they are focused on having impact.”
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Dr. Alan Schreiber, Agricultural Advisor
Dr. Schreiber is widely recognized as an expert in Pacific Northwest agriculture and has written extensively on the subject including a book about agriculture. He is also the Executive Director of the Washington Blueberry Commission, Washington Asparagus Commission and Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. He conducts approximately 35 research projects on microbial products annually. Dr. Schreiber has a Ph.D. in entomology and pesticide toxicology from University of Missouri and has worked as an analyst for the Environmental Protection Agency and on a faculty at Washington State University.
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Al Ralston, Contract Lobbyist
With nearly 40 years of lobbying and public policy experience at the federal, state, and local government level, Al’s network of relationships and knowledge base on issues is unprecedented. Al’s career is best defined by his 21 successful years as the Senior Political Strategist, Corporate Leader, and Lead Lobbyist for the Boeing Company. Prior to working for Boeing, Al served as the Senior Representative for Government Relations of Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, the Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the City of Seattle, the Program Development Director for the National Indian Activities Association and a Research Analyst for the Washington State House of Representatives.