Speakers

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Adam Bazaldua is a dedicated father and husband, a former Dallas ISD teacher, accomplished chef, andpassionate community advocate. Raised just south of Dallas in DeSoto, Adam began his professional journey by pursuing a career in culinary arts. His talents took him to New York City, where he worked for over five years before returning to Dallas to work under renowned chef Stephen Pyles. 

Though poised for a continued career in high-end kitchens, Adam chose a different path—becoming a teacher in Dallas ISD to spend more time with his young family and give back to his community in a more direct way.

In 2019, he was elected to represent District 7 on the Dallas City Council, becoming the youngest person elected to the Council under the current form of

government. Since then, he has been a driving force for equitable, people-centered policies across the city. His

leadership has been instrumental in advancing initiatives such as The G.R.A.C.E. Act, working with former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia to deprioritize low-level marijuana charges, and securing historic state funding for Fair Park in collaboration with key

community stakeholders.

He has served on several council committees, including Quality of Life, Arts & Culture (as He has served on several council committees, including Quality of Life, Arts & Culture (as Chair), Government Performance & Financial Management, Transportation &

Infrastructure, Workforce, Education & Equity, and Parks, Trails & Environment. His

committee work has led to significant efforts around Short-Term Rental regulations, enhanced library access for residents, and safer mobile food 

unit policies.

His leadership extends beyond Dallas. In 2023, he was elected to the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, named Vice Chair of the Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO), Chair of the NLC Large Cities Council, and appointed to the Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Texas Local Progress Chapter Organizing Committee. In June 2024, he was elected Deputy Mayor Pro Tem for the 2024–2025 term, continuing his

strong track record of public service rooted in community, equity,

 and progress.

Eric Berlin leads the US and global Cannabis teams at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm.

Widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on

 cannabis and hemp law, Eric
dedicates 100 percent of his work to clients involved in, or impacted by, the legal cannabis or hemp industries. He has worked on some of the industry’s biggest deals and counsels several of the top companies in the cannabis ecosystem. Eric’s own involvement in this area goes back more than a decade, when he worked pro bono with legislators and other interested parties to help draft and pass legislation creating medical cannabis programs in Illinois and Ohio.

Eric has represented large, publicly traded companies that sell products or services to the cannabis industry, companies involved in financing the industry, vaporizer manufacturers,
cultivators and processors, and dispensary operators.

Additionally, Eric previously represented non-cannabis industry clients in high-profile health care and antitrust litigations. Some of his successes include a trial in a $2.3 billion Sherman Act and Robinson-Patman Act case; a False Claims Act case against major pharmacies; a bundling antitrust case against a large medical distributor; an international arbitration between agricultural companies; and appeals in the US Courts of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth Circuits.

Eric’s groundbreaking efforts for businesses and industry

 organizations have been well
recognized. He is ranked in Band 1 for Cannabis Law by Chambers USA, 

earned “MVP of the Year in Cannabis Law” by Law360 in 2020, 2022 and 2023, and was named a “Leading Lawyer in Cannabis” by The Legal 500 US, 2021 - 2025. Eric graduated from Dartmouth College in 1989 and from Wisconsin Law School, Order of the Coif, in 1993. 

Mitch Fuller, a Gold Legacy Life Member of the Robert John Lehman VFW Post 10427 in Leander, Texas, was hired as the full time Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Department of Texas on March 1, 2021, and re-appointed the National/State Legislative Chairman by State Commander Dave Walden at the 105th VFW Department of Texas State Convention held in Dallas, Texas in June 2025. He was also appointed as a 

Deputy State Inspector.
He was appointed by VFW National Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt to serve as the Chairman of the VFW National Legislative Committee for the 2024-25 year and has served on the VFW National Legislative Committee for 5 years. Mitch served as Commander of Texas VFW District 28 in 2023-24, achieving All-American and All-State status and previously served as the Commander of Post 10427 in Leander for two years, achieving All-American and All-State status in 2021-22. He is also a Past All-Star Grand Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie

 Grand (State) of Texas, 2023-24.

Comrade Fuller earned his VFW eligibility serving in the Iraq War.  He served in Iraq from January 2005-December 2005 with the 56th Brigade Combat Team of the Texas Army National Guard.  He also served on short temporary duty tours in South Korea and Kosovo during his more than nine (9) years of active duty with the Texas Army National Guard. His military decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

He was honored as a recipient of the 2022 Congressional Veterans Commendation (CVC) from Congressman John Carter in October 2022 and as the 2020 Leander Citizen of the Year by the Leander Chamber of Commerce in October 2020.  Mitch served on the Cedar Park City Council from August 2007-May 2014, including two periods as Mayor Pro Tem (December 2012-June 2013 and from May 2010-May 2011).  He also represented Cedar Park on the Board of Directors of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA), a regional water utility for the cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock, from 2008-2014—three of these years he was the President of the Board.

Mitch was appointed to the Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications (also known as  9-1-1 Commission) by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2010 (this appointment was confirmed by the Texas Senate in 2011) and served as a Commissioner for six (6) years.  In 2016, he was commissioned by Governor Greg Abbott as an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy, the highest civilian honor for a Texan.  Mitch continues to be involved in his community: he served on the Board of Directors of the Leander Chamber of Commerce (2016-2023), the Leander ISD Bond Oversight Committee (since 2018), and previously served on the Cedar Park Bond Task Force (2015; appointed by the City Council) and the Williamson County Citizens Bond Committee (2019; appointed by the County Judge and Commissioners Court). He lives in Hutto and is a proud father of two young adult children. 

Thomas Graham has led TABC as executive director since July of 2022. Before becoming executive director, he served at the agency for 17 years in various capacities – as an auditor, director of Excise Tax and Marketing Practices, and as interim director of Licensing.

During his time at TABC, Director Graham has transformed TABC into operating more efficiently and transparently with customer service as a top priority.

Director Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. 

Susan Hays is an attorney and advocate with more than 30 years’ experience in Texas politics.  For the last 10 years, she has focused her practice on cannabis law, whether compliance, rulemaking, or lobbying.  In the legislative arena, her greatest strength is being the trusted source of policy information to drive legislative drafting.  She also serves as the public representative on the Department of Public Safety’s working group to advise it on the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).  She is board certified in Civil Appellate Law and Legislative and Campaign Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  She lives outside of Marfa, Texas, and maintains an office in Austin.   

Courtney Holmes, RN, IFNCP, is the Founder & CEO of Eleeo Health & Wellness and Co-Founder of The Parkinson’s Project Foundation. With more than two decades of experience spanning hospital care, the pharmaceutical industry, and healthcare innovation, she brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, health systems knowledge, and personal insight to the evolving conversation around plant medicine and psychedelic therapies.

As a Board-Certified Integrative and Functional Nutrition Practitioner, Certified Cannabis Healthcare Professional, and Registered Nurse, Courtney has dedicated her life to redefining how we approach complex neurological conditions. Her work bridges science, spirituality, and advocacy, educating others on safe, evidence-based, and compassionate approaches to healing beyond conventional medicine.

Courtney’s lived experience as a caregiver, alongside her extensive medical background, uniquely positions her to lead conversations at the intersection of science, policy, and purpose. As a caregiver to her husband, Joe, who lives with Young-Onset Parkinson’s, and one of her daughters, who has a neuroimmune condition known as PANS/PANDAS, she has witnessed both the deep failures of our healthcare system and the urgent need for more compassionate, integrative models of care that truly support healing.

She is a trusted educator, advocate, and speaker in the field of cannabis therapeutics and psychedelic-assisted healing. With unwavering conviction and faith, Courtney is helping build a future where real healing is possible, one rooted in truth, access, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
 

Jason is a native Texas who graduated from Klein Forest High School in Houston in 1998. He earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 2002 and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.

After three years of active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer, he transitioned to the reserves and returned to Houston to attend law school at South Texas College of Law Houston.

While at South Texas College of Law Houston, Jason was selected as one of only 12 students from his first-year class to join the prestigious South Texas College of Law Advocacy program. He became a traveling Mock Trial Advocate and received recognition as a top-10 Mock Trial Advocate multiple times. His exceptional performance led to him being awarded the “John O’Quinn Heart of an Advocate” award.

After graduating from South Texas in 2011, Jason served as a Judge Advocate with the Texas Army National Guard, defending soldiers charged with wrongdoing under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Texas Code of Military Justice.

In 2013, Jason founded The Kercheval Law Firm, primarily handling criminal, family, and probate cases in Montgomery, Harris, and Grimes Counties. In 2015, he became a Defense Attorney for the Montgomery County Veteran’s Treatment Court and started the Veteran’s Treatment Court Support Fund, a 501c3 non-profit agency. Jason ended his tenure as defense attorney for the Montgomery County VTC in 2016, but continues to serve as President of the Veteran’s Treatment Court Support Fund.

Jason’s focus on family law led him to join Price & Price in 2017, a well-regarded firm in The Woodlands known statewide for its family law practice. He concentrated on family law cases there, enhancing his skills and experience.

Jason and his wife Jaime, whom he met during law school, are proud parents to their daughter, Jenevieve, born in 2017.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jason took advantage of the situation by earning a LLM (advanced law degree) in Dispute Resolution from the Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University.

Jason and his wife restarted the Kercheval Law Firm in 2023 after Jason’s tenure at Price & Price came to an end due to retirement of Jimmie Price.

In March 2024, Jason accepted the opportunity to join the Ramos Law Group as a Senior Associate, and is now the managing senior associate attorney at the firm, managing and mentoring the other associate attorneys at the firm while handling dozens of active cases of his own, including a recent child custody case where his client's prescription for low-THC cannabis was a central, and decisive, fact for the Court.