Showing Up Where It Matters
Salal Credit Union strives to meet our members where they are, whether that’s at their business locations, at local industry events, or at the largest cannabis conferences in the nation. Throughout 2025, our Business Banking Officers have made the effort to reach out to current and prospective members, and we’ve got our eye on the upcoming MJBizCon event in Las Vegas, too.
A Year of Industry Connection
During this past year, we’ve attended events as diverse as WACA, Hall of Flowers, and Cannabis Means Business in New York, and we serve
on committees for organizations such as NCIA and Women in Cannabis. We’ve hosted industry Happy Hours, which aim to be more casual and fun, and we’ve gotten down to business at Tribal Conferences, Cannabis Equity Illinois, multiple MCBA Equity workshops, and the Washington Cannabis Summit. We’ve also worked to establish affiliations with organizations as unique as Indigenous Cannabis and Alaska Industry Alliance, and there’s no limit to whom we’d like to connect with. If you have suggestions for how we can reach out, we want to hear from you.
Making Space for Tribal Dialogue
For Tribal Banking Officer Christa Kemp, the most memorable experience this year was organizing the first Washington Tribal Cannabis Meeting. “It was incredibly meaningful to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, tribal representatives from across Washington, cannabis regulators, a CANNRA executive, and a tribal lawyer, for a focused, solutions-driven conversation around Tribal participation in the cannabis industry,” Christa said.
Christa had the pleasure of personally choosing the venue and ensuring that lunch and refreshments were provided, creating a welcoming environment that encouraged open dialogue. “I was also proud to secure sponsorships to support the event and help make it accessible for all participants,” she said. “Together, we explored a wide range of solutions, from Comploy HR for payroll services, to CLIC Risk Retention Group for insurance options, to deeper engagement with the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA).”
Engaging Members Across the Map
Earlier in 2025, Business Officer Michael McIntyre attended the WACA conference in Walla Walla, as well as other events, even as far north as Alaska. “Alaska has been really interesting in getting to know folks up there and understanding the market dynamics and challenges,” said Michael. Michael also enjoyed the Hall of Flowers event in Ventura, California, where he had the opportunity to meet with many of our members and make new acquaintances.
Even more distant from Salal’s Washington-state headquarters, Business Loan Officer Fady Nasiem visited his first Benzinga Capital Conference in Chicago, as well as the inaugural Cannabis Means Business expo and Hall of Flowers expo in New York City. “These conferences provided great insight into the East Coast cannabis markets,” said Fady. “During my conversations with licensed-cannabis producers and manufacturers, financial services providers, and a host of ancillary businesses, we were able to gain an understanding of many of the challenges that owners are experiencing in these markets.”
MJBizCon 2025: Our National Moment
Now that it’s autumn, we’re planning to attend MJBizCon, including our leadership. Business Services Vice President Munzer Sukhun and Business Banking Sales Manager Christoffer McCollom will be joining the team to connect with attendees. “MJBizCon is the premier networking event for both the cannabis industry and ancillary leaders in the United States,” said Christoffer. “It provides unprecedented opportunity for ongoing growth and development, exposure to industry innovations, and networking opportunities. It is the who’s who of cannabis.”
Building Partnerships That Matter
Christoffer is looking forward to conversing with key stakeholders to foster ongoing partnerships. “I am excited to learn more about current trends, best practices, and strategies for success, in the hope of sharing these with our members,” he said. “The cannabis industry is extremely complex. By working collaboratively, we can help individuals navigate it more effectively, leading to greater success.” To cultivate this collaboration, Salal is ensuring that most of our Business Officers will attend this Las Vegas event.
Meeting Members Face-to-Face
MJBizCon runs from December 2 to 5 this year, and Michael will be one of the Officers on site. “MJBizCon will be a packed week of tradeshow, meetings with clients, networking events, and making new contacts,” said Michael. “Because there are so many of our members there, it is a fantastic opportunity to see a lot of people in a few days.”
Likewise, Fady will be at the conference and has already started scheduling appointments with our members. “As this will be my third year in attendance, one common theme observed is that the Salal brand is widely recognized and consistently praised as a leader in the industry,” said Fady. “A common phrase I’ve heard the past two years is ‘I’m familiar with Salal, my vendor or customer banks with you.’” For Fady, this has led to fruitful conversations, and he looks forward to deepening relationships with our members by aligning their needs with crafted solutions.
Expanding Access and Advocacy
And of course, Christa will be at MJBizCon to convene with Tribal Nations, both those already operating in the cannabis space and those exploring opportunities to enter the industry. “I want to be a resource and an advocate in any way I can,” she said, “whether that’s helping navigate financial systems, making strategic connections, or simply offering support from someone who understands the unique challenges and opportunities in this space.”
Christa will also be available to build bridges to other communities, seeking to expand equity and long-term business associations. “I’m deeply committed to developing relationships with women-owned, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC-led businesses,” she said. “These communities continue to face barriers to entry and growth in cannabis, and I’m eager to support them with tools, information, and partnership opportunities that can make a real difference.”
Let’s Meet at MJBizCon
Two other Business Officers, Jessica Dues and Sylvia See, will also be attending MJBizCon. Ahead of the conference, all of our Officers are scheduling MJBizCon meetings and appointments with our members, so feel free to reach out this month and share your availability. We look forward to seeing you in December!
