Gerald Greenspoon is the Chairman of OSCR. Mr. Greenspoon recognized the evolving needs of the cannabis business community and launched a national Cannabis Law practice group at Greenspoon Marder in mid-2016. Now with offices in several states that provides counsel to clients on the complex issues impacting cannabis-related companies, Mr. Greenspoon understands the necessity of having sensible laws and regulations in place. As such, Mr. Greenspoon launched OSCR in 2017 following the passage of Amendment 2 in Florida with the goal of promoting laws that create a broad, well-regulated marketplace.
Matthew Ginder manages the day-to-day operations of OSCR. Mr. Ginder is senior counsel in the Cannabis Law practice group at Greenspoon Marder. He has played an integral role in the firm’s development and expansion of its Cannabis Law practice group nationwide. Mr. Ginder now dedicates his time to the new and developing medical marijuana industry in Florida.
OSCR LOBBYING TEAM
Steve Geller was a member of the Florida Legislature for 20 years (9 House, 11 Senate), where he served as the Minority Leader of the Florida Senate. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1988 to 1998, and was a member of the Florida Senate from 1998 to 2008. Even though a Democrat, Mr. Geller was appointed as a Committee Chair by two different Republican Senate Presidents. Prior to his recent election to the County Commission, he served as the Government Affairs Director at Greenspoon Marder, a major Florida Law Firm with a substantial political presence in Florida.
David K. Sigerson is a private attorney and governmental and political consultant with 30 years of Florida State legislative experience having served in a number of different capacities connected with the Legislative process, including: Press Attaché for the Florida House of Representatives, Legislative Staff Attorney serving as committee staff in both the House and the Senate, Chief Legislative Aide to a State Senator, Executive Director of the Broward Legislative Delegation, and for the last 19 years in private practice as a lobbyist and governmental and political consultant.
William “Bill” Helmich was the Staff Director for Marco Rubio when he was the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. It was while running Rubio’s race for Speaker that Mr. Helmich first met and began working with current Speaker Richard Corcoran. He has spent almost twenty years developing strong relationships with Florida Legislators both as a political consultant and as House of Representatives staff. Mr. Helmich is effective on both sides of the aisle and has extensive political experience. During the 2016 Session, he represented clients before the Florida Legislature including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a statewide educational foundation, the Florida pawn industry, two (2) municipalities, and an international conservation group, among others.
Richard Coates is a lobbyist and prominent Governmental Ethics attorney in Tallahassee. He has served as outside counsel to the House and Senate Republican conferences since 1992. Mr. Coates is President of Tidewater Consulting, Inc. Mr. Coates has over 25 years experience lobbying the legislative and executive branches of government. Mr. Coates represents numerous clients in both the public sector and private business interests.
Michael Cantens is a partner at the Flagler Group, a Governmental Affairs firm in Miami. Prior to that, he served as the Department of Health Director of Legislative Affairs. Michael has years of experience, including serving as a staff member for a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, working for a former member of the House of Representatives, Marcelo Llorente, and began his career as an aide to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz.
Alex Miranda is a political consultant and founding member of Flagler Strategies. Alex began his career managing the campaign of Representative Carlos Trujillo. Alex later served as Chairman Trujillo’s Legislative Aide and also served as Chief of Staff to Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine. Alex most recently worked for the Republican Party of Florida’s “House Majority 2016” initiative — a campaign led by Speaker Richard Corcoran of the Florida House of Representatives. Alex was responsible for coordinating the activities of 10 legislative campaigns throughout Florida.