The mission of ICBWA is to help women unleash their power and potential as business owners in the cannabis industry. We will stand as a premier resource in their ventures as business owners and help catapult them in the emerging cannabis market.
Our vision is to ensure that all women have the opportunity to hold a valuable, equitable and powerful position in the cannabis space. At ICBWA we envision a more diverse and inclusive industry with women from all backgrounds at the forefront of growth and innovation.
International Cannabis Consulting Business Women’s Association ICBWA is a 501(c)3 not for profit business.
Sophia Felix
President
Sophia Felix, Founder and CEO of HBM Talent & Management and Public Relations for Y+M CBD, is a multi-dimensional professional with substantial experience in the cannabis industry, non-profit and in talent management. Sophia is an award winning entrepreneur and devout philanthropist. She has made a name for herself as a passionate advocate and educator for the therapeutic uses of CBD in the cannabis industry. Her speciality and passion lies with helping individuals with PTSD and mental health issues.
Read more...
She has been honored, awarded and nominated by many distinct organizations including the 2020 ABC 10News Leadership Award, 2018 Latina Corporate Executive of the Year nominee & Honorable mention by Latina Style Magazine, recipient of the 2017 California Hero award presented by Senator Joel Anderson, recipient of a Telly Award, as well as Inspirational Woman of the Year and Rising Star nominations hailing from the National Latina Business Women’s Association of Los Angeles.
Dennise Mejia
Vice President
Dennise was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and migrated to the United States at the age of five. She is a self-made, serial entrepreneur and the founder of several companies across diverse industries. In 2003, she became the Founding CEO of California Physician Network LLC, a company that provides professional consulting services, non-emergency medical transportation, and workers’ compensation lien litigation support to medical providers and applicant attorneys.
She was also the Founder and CEO of Donaly Express Inc., a Southern California-based trucking and freight logistics company.
Read more...
Dennise is a well-respected civic leader and has held numerous leadership roles across political, business, and social equity platforms. She served as a State Delegate for the California Democratic Party, participating in the Electoral College, and was a Founding Board Member of the Chicano Latino Immigrant Democratic Club of Los Angeles County. She previously served as Vice President of the National Latina Business Women’s Association – Los Angeles, Founding Board Member of the Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses and Past Director of the Climate Change Committee with the World Green Growth Organization (WGGS)
Current Community Roles, Dennise is:
- Co-Founder and Vice President of the International Cannabis Consulting Business Women’s Association (ICBWA)
- Current Strategic Leadership Council of BIZFED, Board Member of Latino Coalition of Los Angeles, and Board Member of Ofiso Community Foundation
Her recognitions include honors from:
- Mayor Eric Garcetti
- Senator Jimmy Gomez
- Senator Susan Rubio
- Senator Seven Bradford
- Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio
- Congresswoman Nanette Barragán
- Assemblywomen Patty Lopez
- She has also been nominated for several awards:
- LA Style Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year (2019)
- Los Angeles Business Journal Entrepreneur of the Year (2020)
- Los Angeles Business Journal Diversity & Inclusion Award (2021)
- October (2022) issue of Vegas Cannabis Magazine
- Biz-Fed High Achiever Award (2024)
- Luxury Gala Oscar Viewing Awards Samira Network Inspiration Leadership Award (2025)
Dennise is a sought-after business consultant and influencer with over 28 years of experience in industries such as workers’ compensation, logistics, marketing, cannabis, distribution, and sustainable energy. She specializes in business development, team building, and social equity entrepreneurship—especially in emerging sectors like green technology and cannabis.
Her mission is to mentor and empower the next generation of diverse leaders, particularly women and young entrepreneurs, by creating inclusive, innovative platforms that drive opportunity, advocacy, and education—especially in historically marginalized communities.
Suzie Ortega
Co-Founder
Suzie Ortega is cofounder of ICBWA. Suzie is an advocate for cannabis and expert in health and wellness. Suzie’s inspiration is providing holistic physical and emotional pain relief to help heal others. She has vast experience working with high profile sports organizations with professional athletes, individuals experiencing mental health symptoms, and children with physical disabilities in Los Angeles.
Suzie is also owner of Artistic Rejuvenation. She is a leader in the health and wellness industry providing therapeutic treatments and experienced in incorporating CBD. Suzie is passionate about helping all walks of life to feel rejuvenated and stress-free. With over fourteen years of experience as a certified Soft Tissue Therapist and Health Educator, her skills and unique approach to the human body helps clients powerfully unwind their tension and stress. Artistic Rejuvenation believes in the importance of public awareness for understanding holistic therapy techniques and specializes in custom treatment plans to be better efficient in self care.
Read more...
Suzie is trained in various modalities of Soft Tissue Manipulation, including Myofascial Release, Trigger Point, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Cupping, Sports Therapy, Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST Level 2), and Percussion Therapy. Along with these modalities, she can deliver a well balanced relaxation massage.
In 2018 Artistic Rejuvenation was nominated for San Fernando’s Best Small Business by the San Fernando City Chamber of Commerce. In addition, in 2025 Suzie Ortega earned her state license to become a phlebotomist.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bernard Rivera
Board Member
Bernard Rivera began his online marketing career in 1999 and has a passion for building companies and relationships. Having live and worked in the USA, Colombia, and the Philippines, Bernard’s proficiency lies in international online marketing and communications. On the corporate side, he has contributed to the success of companies by creating a culture that fosters teamwork between sales, support and technology departments. His resume of cannabis advocacy began with helping pass California Proposition 215 – the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 – and continues to this day by supporting sensible policies across the country. His extensive experience in website design and marketing is an asset to ICBWA.
Carol Ortega
Advisory Board Member
Carol Ortega, Founder & CEO of Muisca Capital Group, the first Latino investment management firm strategically focused on the emerging legal industry of medicinal cannabis. Carol is the Founder of the first “Shark Tank” type platform in LATAM called “Latino Investment Summit – Cannabiz HUB / B2B Digital Pitch and Expo” an event that is set to be summit of choice for regional and global sovereign wealth funds, family offices, private and institutional investors and high-level fund managers. Founder of the first Scientific Cannabis Symposium in Spanish in the world “Latino Science Forum – Ciencia Cannabica / B2C Digital Symposium and Expo”. Carol serves on the Colombian government’s cannabis policy making committee which has the ongoing challenge to improve the existing regulation and was instrumental in Colombia’s efforts in developing medicinal cannabis.
Read more...
She has co-written the accounting and financial standards for Colombia. In the US Carol has been an active regulator member in Oregon and California, states where Carol’s input has been instrumental in law writing and regulations affairs for cannabis recreational legalization efforts. In terms of venture capital, she has experience as a consultant for fundraising in start-ups and at companies in different stages of growth, winner of several international awards in which she holds first place in the “fast pitch competition”, space generated by the Portland Social Venture Society, in order to mobilize capital towards disruptive ventures with great potential and impact.
ADVISORY BOARD
Cecilia Mota
Advisory Board Member
Cecilia Mota Entrepreneur Women Empowerista Speaker Producer, Media Coach & Founder @Women in Media Productions Cecilia Mota is an award-winning influential Latina business leader in the women empowerment space and a personal branding expert, who after 20 years of serving in the nonprofit sector advanced her career into Radio, TV Hosting and Production. As a busy single parent of two very smart teenagers, Sylvana & Christian, she divides her time among multiple roles. In 2019, Cecilia was appointed by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Foreign Relations to serve as Special Events Coordinator for the Dominican Republic General Consulate in the West Coast, a role she embraced with great pride.
Read more...
As Founder of her own production company, Women in Media Productions, following her radio and TV hosting experience, Cecilia now coaches, mentors & trains entrepreneurs and industry experts who want to launch their own podcast or digital show. Among her recent accomplishments as Executive Producer in partnership with Latina VIDA, the nonprofit she presided, she launched her first podcast project called Career Power Hacks, a career tips mini podcast geared toward the underrepresented Latinx Executives aspiring to reach the C-Suite
Adelia Carrillo
Advisory Board Member
Adelia Carrillo is the CMO of EventHi. Eventhi is an online ticketing platform for cannabis-related events. With Adelia’s professional experience she is set to help bring life to ICBWA’s brand, vision and mission.
Adelia’s first position in the cannabis industry was as CEO of Direct Cannabis Network. DCN was a leading digital B2B news network highlighting the latest tech, entrepreneurs and innovative companies in the cannabis industry.
With her roots in the corporate and consumer electronics industry, her passion for technology, business and marketing has been a key strength in her transition into the cannabis space. Adelia is building an inspiring yet prominent voice in the world on the topic of cannabis and the event industry.
Philip Fusco
Advisory Board Member
Philip Fusco, is a multi-dimensional professional Model, Personal Trainer and Entrepreneur with substantial experience in both the fitness/nutrition and entertainment industry. Philip studied Business and Finance and received his Bachelor’s degree in marketing at State University of New York at Old Westbury.
After quickly rising to make a household name for himself in the modeling industry as one of the top male models in NYC as well as acquiring 1 million followers on Facebook he signed with an international modeling agency. He was booked as the face for several high profile fitness and fashion campaigns including modeling for underwear and swimwear fashion designer Gregg Homme, which immediately made him one of the most sought after Italian-American models in the world.
Read more...
Philip has been featured and published on dozens of book and magazine covers and is passionate and very ambitious about promoting health and wellness.
Neal H. Patel, D.O.
Advisory Board Member
Neal H. Patel, D.O. is a board-certified family medicine physician currently practicing in the city of Orange, and he obtained his medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences in 2016. Dr. Patel is an educator, innovator, and visionary, and his practice focuses primarily on the geriatric population. He is an active member of the community including volunteering at the Lestonnac clinic and giving educational talks with the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County. He also serves as the president of the Young Physician’s Section of the Indian Medical Association of Southern California.
His passions include serving his community, finding holistic approaches to treat his patients, and creating a more nurturing and sustainable medical health care environment.
Read more...
Dr. Patel is fluent in English, Spanish, and Gujarati, and in his free time enjoys writing lyrics, hiking, exercising, philosophy, and traveling. He believes in the quality of medical care versus the quantity, and approaches medicine in a holistic manner. Patient care has always been his top priority, and he continually strives to provide it at the highest level.
“It is truly an honor and privilege to serve my patients with the utmost humility, and I look forward to working as a team to help my patients attain their highest physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.”
Magaly Espada
Advisory Board Member
Magaly ‘Maggi’ Espada has more than 25 years, experience in fitness, wellness, sales, marketing, photography, and employee development. Founder of Onelia Magazine, a magazine that celebrates beautiful cultures and artists.
Attended Lesley University and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts. She is a certified master fitness trainer, exercise therapist and holds a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Maggi received first place from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and additional community service recognition awards from the City of LA for her contributions.
Read more...
While on the board of the Reseda Neighborhood Council as Chair of Health and Wellness, she created several educational formats for the community, Reseda Fit, The Good Herb, and Cannabis Life.
She has worked for Essences Magazine, Stuff Magazine, John Casablanca Modeling Agency, Aveda Corporation, and Apollo Theater in NYC.
Maggi is a strong supporter and dedicated advocate for important women issues and causes such as victims of abuse, education, women’s businesses, fitness and wellness, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, community involvement, and voting. She is in Connecticut and is a great advocate for the education of the therapeutic uses of cannabis on the East Coast with ICBWA.
Rebeca Herrera-Gonzalez
Advisory Board Member
Rebeca Herrera-Gonzalez began her career in the cannabis industry as co-founder of Everday hemp-derived CBD brand based in Los Angeles, CA. Rebeca holds a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in Peace Studies and a minor in Women’s Studies from Chapman University. She was born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Rebeca worked in public diplomacy for the Government of Mexico in the United States. She served at the Trade and NAFTA Office in the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. during a critical time for the U.S.-Mexico relationship: NAFTA’s renegotiation. She also worked for the office of the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy, where she managed travel logistics of Mexico’s Cabinet officials and diplomatic clearance for state aircraft in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State.
Read more...
Before that, Rebeca served as the Executive Assistant to the Consul General at the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, where she provided administrative support and served as liaison with the Committee of Students and Young Entrepreneurs(CEJE) as part of the Government of Mexico’s initiative Mexico Innova. She also worked in the Consulate’s Department of Political Affairs, where she helped lead the development of political strategies to promote bilateral cooperation with local governments and political organizations.
Supporting Partners and Sponsors
