Association for Cannabis Banking Leadership

Meet the team behind ACB

ACB’s team brings together cannabis banking education, financial services strategy, events, program operations, payments, policy, emerging markets, and practical implementation experience.

The people behind ACB help shape the organization’s education platform, certification pathways, CBX event experience, member resources, standards, and collaborative work with the Emerging Markets Coalition.

About ACB Executive Committee EMC Partner Page
4 leadership profiles
ACB education and events
CBX conference leadership
EMC partner collaboration
Association for Cannabis Banking team founders and Emerging Markets Coalition partner leadership
ACB’s team supports the organization’s education, membership, certification, events, standards and partner-resource community.

Founders and partner leadership

Meet the people supporting ACB’s cannabis banking education platform and its work alongside Emerging Markets Coalition.

Erin O’Donnell, Co-Founder & CEO at ACB

Erin O’Donnell

Co-Founder & CEO

Founder, educator and event strategist focused on ACB’s cannabis banking education, membership, certifications, conferences, and CannaChix community.

Education Events Strategy
J. Michael Beird, Co-Founder at ACB

J. Michael Beird

Co-Founder

Financial services strategist with decades of banking, research, advisory, operations, and cannabis banking education experience.

Banking Research Advisory
Meridith Beird, Co-Founder at ACB

Meridith Beird

Co-Founder

Event manager and education operations leader supporting program delivery, quality assurance, customer support, research, and international learning.

Programs Operations Quality
Kirsten Trusko, CEO & Founder, Emerging Markets Coalition at ACB

Kirsten Trusko

CEO & Founder, Emerging Markets Coalition

Fintech, payments and policy leader advancing emerging market financial services through education, advocacy, protection and promotion.

EMC Payments Policy
ACB leadership at a glance including Erin O'Donnell J. Michael Beird Meridith Beird and Kirsten Trusko
The Founders focus on helping financial professionals with four pillars of relationship building critical to building and expanding the skills and knowledge of members and students nationwide.

What this team brings to ACB

The leadership team is currently and actively engaged in the cannabis industry, bringing their expertise around:

  • Financial services, banking operations, research, advisory and customer experience expertise
  • Event management, virtual learning, certification, membership and online education experience
  • Program delivery, quality assurance, customer support, research and international education background
  • Fintech, payments, policy, emerging markets and public/private coalition-building experience through EMC

Leadership connected to the full ACB platform.

ACB’s leadership is directly connected to the programs, resources, and experiences that define the organization—from professional education and certifications to CBX, standards, accreditation, EMC collaboration, and the ACB book.

Education Catalog Certifications Book
Educate Courses, credentials and professional development.
Connect CBX, member programs and peer networks.
Guide Standards, guidelines, accreditation and resources.
Collaborate EMC and allied industry relationships.

Built around education, execution and trust

ACB’s team is connected to the work visitors care about most: credible cannabis banking education, practical resources, professional events, and year-round support for the cannabis financial services industry.

  • Plan and deliver professional education, courses and certification pathways
  • Build the Cannabis Banking eXperience and community programs like CannaChix
  • Support practical tools, standards, guidelines and resource development
  • Strengthen cross-sector collaboration between banks, credit unions, fintechs, service providers, cannabis operators and public-interest groups
The people behind ACB education connection guidance and collaboration
The ACB Founders Team here to help you meet your educational needs.

Explore the work this team is building.

Learn more about ACB’s education catalog, certifications, membership options, standards, CBX conference, book, and partner resources.

View the Catalog Explore Membership Attend CBX