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ABOUT EMC

What is the Emerging Markets Coalition?

The Emerging Markets Coalition (“EMC”) is a 501c6 – a not-for-profit member-driven advocacy and educational organization for financial services in highly cash based and underserved markets. Our 1st targets are the cannabis related industries (hemp, CBD, Cannabis). EMC advocates and drives for the normalization, electronification, and increased accessibility to full financial services for the cannabis-related industries – enabling these businesses to operate as do other legal businesses in a growing, regulated, emerging market.

BANKING

INSURANCE

INVESTMENT

PAYMENT SOLUTIONS

LEADERSHIP

KIRSTEN TRUSKO
CEO & CO-FOUNDER
Former President & Executive Director,
NBPCA

“A cash-heavy, fast growing, regulated market with little access to full financial services. This seemed like a problem to be solved, especially by our Founders, who have successes in normalizing banking for several cash-heavy industries – so we founded EMC to bring together the best industry players to do collective/ collaborative work needed to benefit all.”

DAN HENRY
EMC CO-FOUNDER
CEO – DAMA FINANCIAL
Former CEO – Netspend

“DAMA has joined EMC as a Founders’ Circle member to play a leading role in setting the gold standard for compliance and risk. The founders of EMC did this in prepaid…another cash intensive industry…and will do the same here but faster … to get out ahead of the speed of dramatic growth while assuring full transparency, security and trackability.”

Founders’ Experience with Emerging Markets:

The founding members have successfully helped to normalize banking for a number of underserved, cash heavy markets. Most recently, they led the prepaid industry when it was similarly situated – driving collaboration across the industry, to Educate and Advocate with legislators, regulators, media, and advocacy groups. Now prepaid is a mainstream product, and normalized into the US financial services market. EMC is seeking to do the same with cannabis financial services – to proactively establish and engage with government, media, and civic organizations for positive, factual, transparent influence and impact.

EMC ADVISORY BOARD

JOANN NEEDLEMAN

LEADER CLARK HILL PLC,
CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE GROUP

MICHAEL FLORES

CEO
BRETTON WOODS

HUGE MEADOWS

EXECUTIVE,
FINANCIAL SERVICES MEADOWS CONSULTING, LLC

MEMBERSHIP
JOIN EMC

Why join EMC?

Be part of the powerful joint voice of top financial services and cannabis-related industry players, to proactively drive relationships and workable legislation, regulation, and public perception. By pooling resources, expertise, influence, and networks – the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and than any one player acting alone. The return on investment (“ROI”) in EMC Membership is over 20x. EMC membership is open to all stakeholders in this ecosystem, who agree to follow EMC Best Practices and Code of Conduct.

Membership is open to all stakeholders in cannabis related industries and financial services. Membership tiers are based on the size of the organization and the level of influence, presence and benefit desired.

To learn more about your organization will benefit by joining EMC, contact us at 202.843.8611 or send us an email

WHY INDUSTRY LEADERS JOIN EMC

Trent Sorbe

Regardless of the legislative status surrounding cannabis banking, the industry will always need an organization to lead the development of best practices. We joined EMC because we recognize its potential to foster collaboration and thought-leadership.

Zane A. Gilmer, Partner
STINSON LLP

As the need for solutions to the cash basis for the emerging markets grows, we joined EMC to work with other leaders in the space to identify solutions that work in the legal and regulatory environment.

Paul Bryant, CEO
CMoney

“The EMC and its members will provide the financial expertise needed to solve the current financial challenges that frustrate everyone who has a stake in cannabis industry — including business owners (who cannot secure banking services), political entities (who cannot collect taxes) and members of the public (who are concerned about the dangers associated with the accumulation of large sums of cash).”

Spencer Schmerling, CEO
Cascade Financial Technology Group

There is a tremendous need to end the cash-dominated ecosystem legal dispensaries operate in and instead provide them with 21st-century financial tools that are more secure, efficient, and trusted.

MEMBERS

POLICYMAKERS

EMC works with government stakeholders, law enforcement, civic organizations, media, and the financial services and cannabis-related industries to create a strong, secure network and ecosystem.

QUICK FACTS FOR POLICYMAKERS

NEWSROOM

Cannabis’ Black Market Problem

California has a reputation for being one of the most cannabis-friendly places in the world. In February, though, newly elected Governor Gavin Newsom (an advocate for legal cannabis) proposed moving 150 National Guard troops to Northern California to help...

Despite Legislative Progress U.S. Cannabis Banking Plan Far From SAFE

Further legislative and regulatory action is needed to clear the lingering haze around the banking issue facing the U.S.’ legalized cannabis industry, despite the recent passage of a landmark bill by the House of Representatives. The House's landslide...

Five Ideas That Can Solve the Cannabis Banking Problem

Despite this exponential growth, the cannabis industry still suffers from the lack of even the most basic financial services. It’s a problem that over-anxious legislatures have simply avoided and swept under the rug, so as to not disturb the potential tax...

CONTACT US

Contact Us

info@emcoalition.org

For more information contact:
Kirsten Trusko, CEO
202.843.8611
ktrusko@emcoalition.org

communications@emcoalition.org

Thank you for your interest in EMC. If you’d like to learn more about us, including our upcoming events, please complete the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.