Council Members
The Social Equity Council, as dictated by the adult-use cannabis law, Public Act 21-1, consists of 17 members, eight (8) of whom are appointed by legislators, five (5) of whom are appointed by the governor, and four (4) of whom are state agency members.
Kyle Abercrombie
Department of Economic and Community Development designee
Kevin E. Walton, Sr.
Governor’s Appointee
Kelli Vallieres, Ph.D.
Governor’s Appointee
Daniel Karpowitz
Office of Policy & Management designee
Andrea Comer, Chair
Office of the State Treasurer designee
Shirley Skyers-Thomas
Department of Consumer Protection designee
Vacant
Speaker of the House Appointee
Michael A. Jefferson, Esq
Senate President Appointee
Edwin Shirley
Senate Majority Leader Appointee
Corrie Betts
House Minority Leader Appointee
Avery Gaddis
Senate Minority Leader Appointee
Ojala Naeem
House Majority Leader Appointee
Melvin Medina
Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (BPRC) Chair Appointee
Andrea K Hawkins
Office of the Governor Appointee
Fanita Borges
Office of the Governor Appointee
Tina Beamon
Office of the Governor Appointee
Charles Venator Santiago
Puerto Rican and Latino Caucus (PRLC) Appointee
Staff Directory
Karen Colebut
Paralegal Specialist
Mariedy Collazo Cruz
Legal Director
Kristina Diamond
Communications & Legislative Program Manager
Jennifer Edwards
Program Manager
Vera Lembrick
Reinvestment Program Manager
Brandon McGee
Executive Director
Jennifer Stevens
Associate Accountant
Caesar Valentin
Research Analyst