ACAMS Buffalo Chapter January 2026 Virtual Event Cannabis Banking: Maintaining Compliance Through the Legal Haze

Tony Repanich is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Shield Compliance, where he leads the company’s strategic direction and serves as the principal architect of its compliance solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including two decades as a senior executive at a Washington State-based community bank, Tony brings deep expertise in banking operations, regulatory compliance, and risk management. At Shield Compliance, he leverages this experience to help financial institutions navigate the complex regulatory landscape of serving high-risk industries, including the legal cannabis industry. His leadership drives the development of purpose-built solutions that enable banks to manage risk, streamline operations, and expand into high-growth markets. Tony is a member of the boards of the US Cannabis Roundtable (USCR), Association for Cannabis Banking (ACB), and Emerging Markets Coalition (EMC), contributing his expertise to shape industry standards and policy.

Chris Chapman is a Supervising Investigator with the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Enforcement and Investigation Division in Buffalo, NY.  Chris leads three teams of investigators, covering the 22 counties in the western half of NY, targeting the illicit cannabis market. 

Prior to this position, Chris retired after 25 years with Homeland Security Investigation in Buffalo, NY as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge, overseeing the Human Trafficking/Sex Trafficking Task Force, Child Exploitation Investigations Group, the two groups of the Nickel City Financial Task Force, and the HSI Rochester office.  

Mr. Chapman held other significant positions, such as the HSI Liaison to FinCEN, Financial Crimes Group Supervisor, Resident Agent in Charge of the Office of Professional Responsibility, and Program Manager in Domestic Operations, and assigned to offices in San Diego, CA; Washington DC; and Buffalo, NY.

Chris is a former US Marine, a graduate of Hilbert College, and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS).

Ryne is a Manager in Wolf’s Regulatory Compliance Services Group. He is responsible for assisting in the development and execution of compliance reviews for the Firm’s financial institution and FinTech clients. Ryne Joined Wolf & Company in 2024.  Previously he held roles as a BSA Officer and VP of Risk Management within regional banks and a large credit union. He is an adjunct university professor where he instructs courses in business applications, fraud prevention banking and data analytics.

Jonathan Mack is currently the BSA Officer at Needham Bank and has served in that role for over three years, and served as the Assistant BSA Officer prior to that. Before joining Needham Bank, Jonathan was in various roles in AML/BSA at a super-regional bank in the financial intelligence unit and governance. Prior to his career in AML, Jonathan ran a private practice concentrating on criminal defense. Jonathan is currently licensed to practice law in MA, as well as the United State District Court for Massachusetts, has his CAMS, and PBC Level II Certification.