Leadership

John Kagia

John Kagia serves as the Acting Executive Director for the Office of Cannabis Management. He leads the team responsible for policy development and implementation for the medical, adult use, and cannabinoid hemp programs in New York. John also manages development of research and data systems to measure and track industry performance, and he oversees deployment of the Office’s educational public health campaigns.

Since joining the cannabis industry in 2014, John has been a pioneering industry analyst delivering groundbreaking research into emerging global markets, investment and capital flows, supply chain trends, product innovation, and evolving consumer behavior. He works with policy makers, investors, and business owners to capitalize on emerging opportunities, hedge against risk, and predict market defining trends. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, John spent a decade delivering market research and strategic intelligence to high-performing organizations across the federal government, technology, and non-profit sectors.

Shirley Paul, Esq.

Shirley Paul, Esq., serves as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). She leads the agency's efforts to ensure effective communication and collaboration across OCM teams to evaluate, develop, and implement the vision of the Office.

Shirley has joined OCM after serving as the Director and Counsel for New York City Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Mayor. Prior to that, she served as Senior Advisor and Assistant Counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul. Shirley's experience also includes serving as the Director of Legislative Affairs at SUNY Systems Administration, working as a law clerk in the New York State Court System, and practicing law in private practice. She started her career in public service in the office of then-Senator Joseph R. Biden.

Shirley is a member of several civic associations and professional organizations and holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Delaware State University, a master’s degree in urban planning and administration from Brooklyn College and earned her JD from New York Law School.

Dr. June Chin

Dr. June Chin, D.O. is a nationally recognized expert in cannabis therapeutics and integrative medicine, with over two decades of experience at the intersection of patient care, public health, research, and regulatory policy. As Chief Medical Officer of the Office of Cannabis Management, Dr. Chin leads the agency’s public health initiatives, clinical engagement strategies, and evidence-based cannabis research. Prior to joining OCM, Dr. Chin founded and operated integrative medical clinics across California, New York, and Connecticut. She played a key role in developing internationally accepted cannabinoid formulations, clinical protocols, and provider training programs—helping to expand safe and equitable access to cannabis care for thousands of patients.

Dr. Chin holds a degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and earned her medical degree from Touro University California. In addition to clinical practice, she has led and contributed to research focused on cannabis safety, healthcare utilization, and the integration of cannabinoid medicine into traditional care models.

An experienced educator, Dr. Chin has taught Cannabis Health and Science courses at New York University and Syracuse University. She is also the author of Cannabis and CBD for Health and Wellness, and a longtime advocate for health equity and science-based policy. Dr. Chin previously served as Vice Chairperson of the New York State Cannabis Advisory Board, where she helped shape key initiatives related to medical access, research, and safety. Through her leadership, she remains committed to building a cannabis framework that prioritizes patient well-being, community trust, and scientific integrity.

Elana Frankel

Elana Frankel serves as the Director of Communications for the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Elana comes to OCM with numerous experiences in government, regulated industries, media, and public trust. She is a proven leader in shaping high-stakes narratives, translating policy into clear public messaging, and managing communications in politically sensitive environments and a recognized advocate for equity, workforce development, and community engagement with a track record of guiding agencies, boards, and executive leadership through complex public-facing work.

Stephen Geskey, Esq.

Stephen Geskey, Esq. serves as the Executive Deputy Director over Licensing, Compliance and Laboratories. In this capacity, Steve oversees OCM’s regulated operations. Steve comes to the OCM with a breadth of public sector legal and executive management experience. Steve began his legal career serving as House Judiciary Counsel, for the Michigan House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus, drafting legislation and providing strategic policy counsel. From there, he served as an Assistant Attorney General under three Attorneys General (Michigan Department of Attorney General) and during his near decade of service, Steve drafted opinions of the Attorney General, served as legal counsel for the State Board of Ethics, and litigated employment and campaign finance cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. Later, Steve was appointed to serve as the chairperson over an appellate-level quasi-judicial tribunal presiding over unemployment benefit and contribution cases. In this capacity, Steve oversaw rule promulgation processes, cast the deciding vote in contested case proceedings, and drafted select Board decisions.

Barbara Graves-Poller

Barbara Graves-Poller serves as the General Counsel for the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Ms. Graves-Poller has over twenty years of legal experience, including practicing commercial litigation before entering public service in 2008. She also spent nearly five years as the Corporation Counsel for the City of Kingston. She is an experienced litigator who has represented New York City in state and federal appellate courts and clerked for the Honorable George B. Daniels in the Southern District of New York before serving in legal nonprofit organizations where she advocated on behalf of low-income clients. Ms. Graves-Poller holds her JD degree from New York University, School of Law, in addition to her New York University, Master’s degree.

Daniel G. Haughney

Daniel G. Haughney serves as Director of Enforcement and Investigations at the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). He is responsible for all operations within the Enforcement and Investigations Division, including policy decisions, procedures, agency regulations, investigations, and liaising between OCM and enforcement leads at other state and local agencies. Dan has more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, handling both criminal and administrative investigations, at positions with the State University of New York, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and the New York State Gaming Commission. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Plattsburgh State University.

Robert MacGiffert

Robert MacGiffert serves as Director of Audit, Quality Assurance, and Internal Control (AQI), reporting to the OCM Executive Office. In this role, he is responsible for establishing policies governing all aspects of auditing and compliance, which includes testing the reliability of OCM internal controls and quality assurance systems. Rob will develop and execute OCM’s annual audit plan and assess and ensure that the assets and resources of OCM are adequately safeguarded and utilized appropriately.

Prior to his role in OCM, Rob worked for OCFS for over 25 years in the Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth. He held several roles including the Director of Quality Assurance and Improvement. Most recently, Rob served as the Associate Commissioner for the OCFS Office of Facilities Management. During this time, he was responsible for the general oversight, compliance, and operations of juvenile justice facilities across New York State.

Patrick McKeage

Patrick McKeage serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Cannabis Management. Patrick has worked on the cannabis file in New York State for the past five years helping to implement the cannabinoid hemp program, expand the medical cannabis program and create the adult-use cannabis program.

Patrick has extensive knowledge of cannabis policy and regulations and has been managing the operational logistics associated with implementing the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act and standing up the new Office of Cannabis Management. Patrick brings prior experience working in New York State Government from previous roles at the Department of Health, Office of General Services and the Department of Taxation and Finance. Patrick also has experience working in the New York State Assembly and an Albany based government relations firm.

John F. Udochi, Esq.

John F. Udochi, Esq. serves as the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Cannabis Management. With over 27 years of progressive experience in administrative law, John Franklin Udochi has dedicated his career to ensuring fairness, integrity, and impartiality in adjudicatory proceedings.

As a former Supervising Administrative Law Judge at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services—overseeing regional hearing operations in New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. Judge Udochi brings a wealth of expertise in managing complex legal processes and developing best practices for judicial decision-making.

A certified trainer for Continuing Legal Education and an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Judge Udochi combines his extensive legal background with a commitment to serving diverse communities. His insights into effective adjudication and leadership in promoting inclusive practices make him a distinguished voice on issues of diversity and equity.

L. Simone Washington

L. Simone Washington serves as Chief Equity Officer for the Office of Cannabis Management where she leads the Social and Economic Equity and Internal DEIA teams and is responsible for ensuring the integrate of equity across the agency’s operations. As an equity practitioner, Simone focuses on driving progressive change at the intersection of racial and economic equity.

With nearly 2 decades of experience, Simone has worked with numerous preeminent social justice organizations and mission-led corporations to implement equity-first principles across their value chains, including the Ben & Jerry's, BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) and Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, where she was spearheaded global equity & inclusion operations designed to improve internal culture as well as external business practices. Simone is the co-author the 2021 World Economic Forum Lighthouse Action on Social Justice Through Stakeholder Inclusion report, 2018 Initiative of Change Community Trustbuilding Fellow, former civil rights attorney and mediator.

Amanda Wilson

Amanda Wilson serves as the Director of Administration. She is responsible for planning, developing, and supervising the operations of the Administration team, and managing the teams responsible for Fiscal Management Services, Employee Support Services, Space Planning and Strategic Planning.

As the Director of Administration she also represents the agency on task forces making decisions and commitments on behalf of OCM. She brings experience as the Operations Manager for the Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Hemp programs. Amanda was with the medical program since its inception in 2014 and was instrumental in meeting the implementation dates outlined within the Compassionate Care Act. She has overseen compliance of the Registered Organizations which manufacture and dispense products to certified patients, the customer service team which assists practitioners, patients and caregivers with registering with the program, and performed administrative functions, including but not limited to management of each of the Program’s budget, staffing, contracts and application systems. Additionally, she stood up the Cannabinoid Hemp Program in 2020.

Amanda previously worked on the implementation of the New York State of Health Marketplace, to expand the access of health insurance for all New Yorkers. She has worked collaboratively with other New York State agencies, vendors, and external stakeholders to support each of these programs.